In September 2022 in joined Chalk Gallery Lewes. Every member of this extraordinary art cooperative has different roles to run, promote and grow the art business. Also, each one of us has to dedicate a few days a month to open the gallery to greet customers, talk art and make sales for everyone. Chalk Gallery was established in 2005 with new exhibitions every nine weeks. Our address is 4 North Street, Lewes BN7 2PA, East Sussex. It opens Thursday to Sunday – 11am to 4pm
Exhibition pieces
My first group show in Sept 2022 was called ‘Harvest’ and was part of Art Wave Festival. The pieces I entered were: ‘Triptych landscape of Lewes. ink on marker paper’, ‘House portrait’, ‘Self Portrait’ and ”Study of San Geronimo mural in Seville, calligraphy brush work’ and ‘Pip Soft Sculpture and Ink and Gold Gouache Life Drawing’ I chose these pieces as very personal, a bit experimental and very idiosyncratic of my work.
‘Pip Soft Sculpture and Ink and Gold Gouache Life Drawing’
‘Pip’, master of many trades, is also a puppeteer @pipandthepuppets. This year, during one of the life drawing sessions I run @brightondrawsmen at @sussexcountyartsclub , he modelled for us. During that session I asked Pip to hold a pose inspired by a painting by Glyn Philpot of wrecked circus acrobats resting backstage, exhausted after their performance. Though Pip, when he held that pose, the way his limbs were lifeless echoed the shape of puppets when they are stored in a box with no tension in the wires, no lifelines. It was obvious to me that Pip had naturally inherited that mannerism whilst at home, living surrounded by many of his creations. It was so lovely to see this vision with many layers of meaning.
Then, I decided to revisit this theme and close the circle I created from this life drawing a puppet, a soft sculpture, I painted on material the sewing patterns and my friend David put it together. Soft sculptures interest me much, especially since meeting in 2017 artist Jann Haworth, who creates beautiful soft sculptures.
