'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.

'Great art picks up where nature ends'

...so said Marc Chegall.

This statement can perhaps be applied to our current 'Quay and Coast' exhibition where we have seen artists work directly from the Cornish coastline as impetus for their collections, picking up where nature ends; bringing rich, jewel-like ocean greens and blues to our gallery in St Ives.

We have paired together some photographs of Cornwall taken by our Gallery Assistant Izzy, to give you an insight into the inspiration behind some of the works currently on display in Porthminster Gallery.

Sea and Stone - Ceramicist Peter Beard draws inspiration from the colours of the coast.

Stormy Seas - Angela Charles' 'Wettest on Record' captures the force and strength of Cornish waters.

Harbour wall, boats and buoys - Craig Underhill's ceramic work echoes the colours and textures found in traditional Cornish Quaysides.

 

 St Ives' pink skies - painter Erin Ward's inspiration comes from glorious Cornish sunsets.

'Quay and Coast' is on display at Porthminster Gallery until 10th May 2014.

All photographs courtesy of Izzy Adams.

New exhibitions: 'Quay and Coast' and 'The Language of Sculpture'

Kathy Ramsay Carr with her new paintings in our 'Quay and Coast' exhibition

We have been non-stop in the gallery since the start of March with the opening of our two new shows 'Quay and Coast' and 'The Language of Sculpture'. These group exhibitions feature large collections of new work by an impressive list of artists including: Kathy Ramsay Carr's atmospheric landscapes and Craig Underhill's contemporary, painterly ceramics in 'Quay and Coast'; and Peter Hayes' textured ceramic sculptures and highly-sought after St Ives Modern and Modern British names in 'The Language of Sculpture'.

Both exhibitions opened with great excitement at the private view event last weekend (Fri 7 March) and run until 10 May 2014.

We are working on blog updates with many more photographs and information on these fantastic new shows - coming soon.

New Beginnings 2014 - Exhibition Tour and Private View

For those who are yet to visit our newly opened 'New Beginnings' exhibition, we have put together a selection of images alongside narration by gallery assistant and artist Izzy Adams to help put across why this show is a must see:

Ruth Naylor's work makes an impression upon entry to the gallery.

Ruth Naylor's dynamic oil paintings, humorously titled and somewhat dream-like are brilliantly eye catching, drawing the viewer to the back of the gallery. 

A large painterly canvas depicts St Micheal's Mount in vibrant yellows, blues and pinks engulfed in an inky black surround, whilst the beautiful Cornish coastline painted in 'The Peregrine'  is background to a large outline of a Falcon. Ruth combines her great skill as a landscape painter with a vivid palette and unusual narrative, resulting in works that always demand a second look.

_______________________________

A close view of Sam Houston's detailed oil paintings.

Sam Houston's mysterious and ethereal paintings and prints have gained much attention. His unusual figures fade into earthy landscapes and ghostly buildings that are scarcely visible. Sam's palette is rich in tone and colour, influenced by his time as a student in Cornwall, with deep greens and rust reds. Suggestions of lost and clouded memories run throughout Sam's collection in layers of familiarity and intrigue and displaying his skill as both a painter and printmaker.

_______________________________

Rebekah Lockley's unique and topical ceramics placed infront of Sam Houston's work.

A detail of Rebekah Lockley's decorative sgraffito technique.

Rebekah Lockely's red earthenware sit before Sam's paintings. Rich cream glazes combined with matte earthenware provide the base for highly detailed illustrations exploring the topic of the UK's dairy industry.

Rebekah's contemporary political explorations add a narrative element to her ceramics and are created using the traditional Sgraffito technique; a decorative technique popular during the Italian Renaissance amongst experts such as Caravaggio and Raphael. Rebekah's interesting juxtaposition of old technique and current politics creates completely unique works that are worthy of the position of the sole ceramicist within our show.

_______________________________

Olivia Jones' work hung beside Sam Houston's

Olivia Jones' three 'St Ives Collage' works, graphite on board.

Olivia Jones' delicate graphite collages of St Ives sit to the right of the gallery's back wall.

Wonderfully intricate, Olivia has produced three drawings combining recognisable and well loved landmarks of St Ives such as the RNLI Lifeboat Station, the Tate St Ives and Smeatons Pier. These sit between two powerful, large works, displaying the unique process of laser cutting which Olivia fuses with her traditional draughtswoman skill to etch fine channels into the artworks.

_______________________________

 Charlotte Keates' work (left) alongside Mimi Robson's (right)

Charlotte Keates' collection of paintings on display.

Charlotte Keates' collection of work, explores a combination of both interior and exterior. Charlotte's specific concoction of Rabbit Skin Glue and French Chalk is worked onto board creating a mottled effect as a base to detailed interiors with fifties touches and clusters of birch trees. The blurred lines between 'inside and out' and stylish architecture combined with unusual and unique composition make Charlotte's work incredibly striking, with subtle references to Hockney and Freud.

_______________________________

A detail of Emily Goodaker's silver jewellery, showing a cast of the 'Carn Brae Coin'.

Emily Goodaker's work is displayed on bespoke stone plates.

The jewellery of designer and maker, Emily Goodaker, has a strong affinity with Cornwall. Named the 'Carn Brae Collection', the display, which includes earings, bangles and necklaces, incorporates the recurring motif of the 'Carn Brae Coin'. The gold slater coin, believed to be dated 54 BC, was found in Carn Brae, Cornwall, in 1749 and is held at The Royal Cornwall Museum.

Having gained unique access to the Museum's archive, Emily has been able to cast this ancient relic and fuse it with her contemporary hand-made jewellery.

With each cast being reshaped, every bespoke piece is cast in silver at the Royal College of Art where Emily is currently studying for a Masters in Goldsmithing and Silversmithing.

The strong narrative in the 'Carn Brae Collection' makes for an impressive display yet, equally, each individual and very wearable piece demands much attention, the intricate detail making them a delight to wear.

                                       _______________________________                                              

A detail of 'What is the Moonlight For?', etching by Mimi Robson.

Mimi's work hung above the work of ceramicist Tim Andrews. (image courtesy of Matt Caldaralo)

Mimi Robson's love of the sea resonates within her incredibly skilled body of print-work.
The collection of mono-prints and etchings in gradients of turquoise and teal reflect the churning force of tide and wave with Mimi's experience as a surfer proving an integral inspiration. A strong presence of black within the work adds strength and confidence to the otherwise pale and delicate tones, reflecting the power of the sea as well as beauty.

_______________________________

Izzy Adams' work displayed above the ceramic work of local artist, Tim Lake.

Izzy's prints reflect the shapes found in traditional ceramic work..

Again the sea proves a strong influence, as to Mimi, in my work. Since the beginning of my time in Cornwall three and a half years ago, the coast of Cornwall has been constant impetus for my artwork, this inspiration is reinstated daily as I watch it, ever changing, from my desk at the Porthminster Gallery.
In this collection of prints I have focused in particular on the dense, heavy mist which so often hangs over the sea by the coast. I have emulated the grey-blues which shroud the horizon in printing inks, working with varying consistencies to produce degrees of transparency.

I have printed on a specific Japanese paper which has a unique fibrous quality, soaking up the ink which is able to stain and seep into the surface. The paper is printed on both sides, the shadow of the print on the reverse is subtle and barely visible, again influenced by the way mist distorts visibility, smudging all recognisable landmarks.

My time working at Porthminster Gallery has reignited my admiration of ceramic work, inspiring me to explore traditional ceramic forms within my prints, giving a contrast to the two 'Open Ocean' works which reflect the endlessness of the ocean, and encasing the prints within the shapes of Chinese tea caddies and French Jardiniére pots.

_______________________________

 

From left: Ruth Naylor, Sam Houston and Rebekah Lockley's display.

This exhibition has been fantastic to be involved in, both as a participating artist and as a member of the gallery team.
Supporting graduates at the very beginning of their career has proven to be a great success at Porthminster Gallery over the past seven years; this year's strong, diverse group of artists have reestablished the exhibition as an important fixture on St Ives' Arts calendar, an exhibition not to be missed.

_______________________________

An Evening of 'New Beginnings'

Friday 7th February saw Porthminster Gallery host the private view for the New Beginnings show. Despite the weather, many came out to enjoy and admire the diverse, new collection of work and to celebrate with the artists the opening of this much anticipated show:

Visitors admire Ruth Naylor's humorous and bright canvases.

Artist Olivia Jones viewing the work of Sam Houston and Rebekah Lockley.

Emily Goodaker's handmade silver jewellery is displayed infront of the printwork of Mimi Robson.

Artist and gallery assistant Izzy Adams talks to artist Gary Long about the work of Olivia Jones.

All private view images courtesy of Matt Caldaralo

'New Beginnings' (8 February - 1 March 2014) | An overview

Our first show of 2014 'New Beginnings' is now open with a fresh and energetic line-up of upcoming artists, all of whom are recent graduates from one of the UK's leading arts institutions, Falmouth University.

Paintings, prints and drawings by Ruth Naylor, Sam Houston and Olivia Jones with ceramics by Rebekah Lockley on display as part of the 'New Beginnings' show

The ‘New Beginnings’ show, hosted at the gallery at the start of each year to showcase new artists, has proven to be an exhibition highlight in our programme of shows over the last seven years. Success stories include Mirjana Smith, also a recent graduate of Falmouth University, who's quirky, mixed media, assembled teapots were first shown through our 2011 ‘New Beginnings’ show. Since then, Mirjana has gone on to be one of our permanently represented artists with inclusion in high profile shows such as her supporting collection in the exhibition ‘Sir Peter Blake: Signed Prints’ in August 2013, alongside the “Godfather of Pop Art” himself.

'Double Carn Brea Ring', Emily Goodaker

This year’s noteable names include Contemporary Crafts graduate Emily Goodaker, who has recently won a scholarship towards a highly respected postgraduate masters in Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery at the Royal College of Art. Her collection of contemporary jewellery takes inspiration from a significant artefact at the Royal Cornwall Museum, a gold slater coin, found at Carn Brea, Cornwall, during 1749. After working with conservators to take a cast of the original gold coin, the form is cast and fragmented in silver to create intricate pieces that explore the narrative to the coins discovery and its Cornish history.

        'Milk for Life', Rebekah Lockley        

Also a graduate from the Contemporary Crafts course is ceramicist Rebekah Lockley whose illustrated, hand built red earthenware vessels appropriate elements of Traditional English slipware to chronicle the changes within the modern English countryside - in this collection's case, the UK's dairy industry. Using the sgraffitto technique, Rebekah's skillfully hand etched imagery and text react to falling milk prices, anxieties in the supply chain and the impacts of poor weather on farmers in a style veiled with dark humour.

'Vessel III', Olivia Jones

Sam Houston, Olivia Jones, Charlotte Keates and Ruth Naylor champion a variety of unique, stylised drawings and paintings within the show; exploring mark, technique and tone. All graduates from 2013 in BA (Hons) Fine Art from Falmouth University, each artist demonstrates a confident and personal style of working that has already led to a combined exhibition history that stretches across the UK; including the currently touring Jerwood Drawing Prize exhibition which features Olivia Jones' shortlisted 'Vessel I' (2013). Olivia, a draughtswoman and sculptor, was one of 76 shortlisted for the prestigious prize, selected by judges out of over 3,000 submissions. Her 'New Beginnings' collection includes 'Vessel III' (2013), from the same series as the shortlisted drawing, as well as three exquisite, small pieces created just for the show of St Ives.

Inspiration from the Cornish coast is also very evident in the works of printmakers Izzy Adams and Mimi Robson who display the traditional crafts of etching, aquatint and woodblock printing: 

          'Open Ocean II', Izzy Adams         

Izzy Adams' monoprints on delicate Japanese paper reference dense sea mist, pale grey-blue swirling sea and heavy white cloud, in wide, borderless works and contained shapes that explore both the endlessness of open sea and the enclosed pen of a harbour. 

            'In Crescendo', Mimi Robson           

While Mimi Robson's combination of monotypes and copper etchings have emerged from her relationship with the ocean as a surfer: capturing curling waves and salty spray, the luminous sea against the slate grey cliffs and the gentle rhythm of the ocean felt when sitting in the line-up, waiting for the next rolling set. 

All eight Falmouth University gradates within the show have been handpicked by the gallery for showing great promise at this early stage in the careers and the exhibition marks an exciting opportunity for both artist and viewer to view the beginnings of young, bright artistic careers.

‘New Beginings’ will be on view until 1^st March 2014 and all of the works within the show can also be viewed on our website.

2014 New Beginnings

The gallery will be closed from Sunday 12 January for 3 weeks for our annual winter break and will open again on Saturday 1st February, 11 - 5pm.

In the meantime, we leave you with enticing images of works to be included our first show of 2014 'New Beginnings' (8 February - 1 March 2014). The exhibition will showcase a handpicked group of nine promising young graduates from Falmouth University and is to feature a selection of paintings, drawings, prints, jewellery and ceramics.

Full collections by all of the artists will be revealed on our website at the end of January. Join our mailing list to be updated by email as soon as the works are available to view.

The private view for the exhibition will be held at the gallery on Friday 7 February, 6 - 8pm.

All are welcome, please RSVP if you are able to join us.

Find out more of our plans for 2014 exhibitions on our website.

Welcome and Happy New Year

We are celebrating the New Year with the launch of our new blog!
Here you will be able to keep up to date with gallery news, view our exhibitions in more detail, read interviews with our artists and much more.

Festive Lights, St Ives