My work is currently based around the sights, textures and colours of the shingle coastline of Suffolk. I use the pebbles of the beaches together with the material that forms the basis of the physical substance of the area to create a sense of place. The patterns that one finds amongst the stones, the shells, the rusty metal and the palimpsest of the oft-repainted structures that make up the fabric of the coastline provide a source of inspiration for my paintings.
With this in mind I have been visiting galleries in the local area to get a feel for the options for exhibitions and to see how other artists present their work. The main artistic centres along that part of the coast are the towns of Aldeburgh and the Maltings at Snape. Aldeburgh has several commercial galleries that represent local artists and two larger sites, one of which is the Aldeburgh Lookout and Art House. This consists of a large house on the seafront which forms a gallery and is run by international art dealer Caroline Wiseman, and a second building the Lookout Tower which is on the beach itself where members of the Arts Club Aldeburgh Beach hold individual exhibitions. It has to be said that the membership of the club seems to be a rather select group featuring people such as Antony Gormley, Peter Blake RA, Maggi Hambling, Anthony Horowitz, etc etc.
https://www.aldeburghbeachlookout.com
The second major site is another gallery, formerly known as the Peter Pearce Gallery it has been totally re-furbished over the past two years and is now known as Ballroom Arts. This also overlooks the beach and consists of two sections, upstairs is the large main gallery but downstairs there is a second gallery known as the Courtyard Gallery.
This is ideal for solo or small group exhibitions and given its location next to the beach would be an ideal site for my degree show exhibition. At my last visit to the gallery I was able to chat to one of the exhibiting artists who, by sheer coincidence, turned out to be a good friend of one of our neighbours back in Cambridge. I was able therefore to get some good advice and information regarding hiring the gallery, including the recommendation that early booking was advisable. This turned out to be valuable advice.
The ‘white cube’ style of gallery would I feel provide the best way of displaying my works and the size of the gallery means that I could fit several of my larger pieces along one wall to have maximum impact and to catch the eye of people walking past the large glass doors opposite to the long wall.
(Paintings by Honor Surie, Furniture by Dan Hussey)
Details of the application process and the outcome will follow in a later post.