'St Ives Modern: Abstract Motifs and Symbols' and 'Ceramics Showcase' opening.

On the glorious afternoon of Saturday 17th May we officially opened our two highly anticipated new exhibitions 'St Ives Modern: Abstract Motifs and Symbols' and 'Ceramics Showcase'.

With one half of the gallery dedicated to a fantastic collection of work by Matthew Lanyon, Iain Robertson and prints and originals by Sandra Blow and Sir Terry Frost, and the other focusing on the work of five highly respected ceramicists, the opening was a chance for many to have a preview of what is to be a very exciting exhibition.

'St Ives Modern: Abstract Motifs and Symbols' explores the lexicon of motifs and symbols in the abstract works of selected contemporary and modern St Ives artists.

'Orange Field', silkscreen print, Sandra Blow

Sandra Blow RA (1925 – 2006), a pioneer of the British post-war abstract movement, first visited Cornwall and St Ives in the late 50’s and spent the next fifty years developing a celebratory abstract expressionist response to the light, expansive space, and rhythms of West Cornwall. The paintings, collages and prints selected for this show, feature controlled geometric shapes and motifs, overlaying a mélange of natural forms. Inspired by the view across Porthmeor Beach from her studio in St Ives – and informed by the effects of line and shape created by the tides in the sand – ‘V’ waveforms, grids, and squares recur throughout Blow’s later works.  

'Newlyn Quay Rhythm', oil and collage on canvas, Sir Terry Frost

Sir Terry Frost RA (1915 – 2003) took his inspiration from nature; the sun, moon, water, boats and the female form are recurring motifs in the works here on show. Abstracted into sensuous circles and curves, dramatically coloured in blues, reds, oranges, yellows and black, Frost believed that the interplay of colour and shape could realise an event or image more successfully than imitation.  

 

Matthew Lanyon's work currently on display.

Matthew Lanyon (b. 1951) creates landscape-based, symbol-laden paintings, which seem to be alive with multilayered motifs and references to quantum physics, Greek mythology, and the artist’s own odyssey back into the pre-history of Penwith. A thrilling, dramatic sense of aerial perspective in some of Lanyon’s larger canvases is informed by his love of gliding above the West Penwith landscape.

A detail image of a work by Iain Robertson showing his great skill as a colourist

Iain Robertson (b. 1955) has, over the past fourteen years, been developing his vocabulary of abstract symbols and motifs in richly worked canvases and prints, where expressive motifs tumble and collide. The works in this exhibition owe something to the expressionist CoBrA art movement’s use of vivid colours and spontaneous interplay of line and colour (Robertson been previously been exhibited with CoBrA artists in Denmark). Robertson has lived and worked in Cornwall since 1999,  working from his studio at the historic Porthmeor Artist Studios in St Ives.





'Ceramics Showcase' displays the collections of five highly respected ceramicists working in varying techniques. The works of Tim Andrews, Clare Conrad, John Pollex, Antonia Salmon and Sasha Wardell  

Ceramicist John Pollex with his work in the gallery.

Plymouth-based ceramicist John Pollex attended the opening of the exhibition. With around 40 years worth of experience as a successful ceramicist, John has perfected technique's unique to his work, making them highly recognisable and collected.
John's vibrant, bright glazes combine his skill as a painter with that of a potter.

Internationally acclaimed ceramicist Tim Andrews' diverse collection displaying his skill with the 'Raku' technique.

Sasha Wardell's unique, layered bone china.

Clare Conrad's textured glazes reflect the rugged and rich features of Cornwall's Coast.

Each year the gallery selects a Cornish charity to support and raise awareness for. This year we will be collaborating with Cornwall Food Foundation, registered charity no.1119341.

 'The Foundation was set up to give disadvantaged young people in Cornwall a platform to discover their true potential. We believe food skills are life skills that can unlock the true potential of the most challenged individual.By working with people and food we can improve the economy, environment and health of Cornwall.'

We have set off to a great start with fundraising, offering Prosecco and cakes at the opening of the current exhibition in return for donations. 

We look forward to our upcoming collaborations with the charity and hope that you will all be able to join in!

Gallery Director Dee Calvert with Cornwall Food Foundation CEO Matthew Thompson.

Prosecco and cake provided by Olives cafe in St Ives, raising money and awareness for Cornwall Food Foundation.