Tag Archive for 'VGM'

Artwork of the Week – Ray Kyte

Published by Ian Jackson on June 7, 2010 09:27 in Art of the Week. Closed Tags: .
'Around the Table' Ray Kyte

'Around the Table' Ray Kyte

Liverpool artwork of the week 2010-23. ‘Around the Table’ 1979 by Ray Kyte in A Break with Tradition: 100 years of the Contemporary Art Society at University of Liverpool Victoria Gallery & Museum. 28 May – 14 August 2010.

I really love this large painting, it is beautifully detailed and the sense of the sunlight illuminating the central area is so real it brightens up the whole gallery.

It’s a very nice exhibition overall featuring material from the diverse collection of gifts given to the University of Liverpool by the Contemporary Art Society (CAS).

Kyte likes to experiment with light. Areas of light and shade have been carefully created here.

In the 1970s there was a trend for photo-realism. Acrylic paint produces less noticeable brushstrokes than oils, helping Kyte to achieve a smoother finish resembling a photograph.

Kyte studied graphic design and photography and designed the Virgin logo for Richard Branson in the 1970s – allegedly on the back of a beer mat!

A Break with Tradition: 100 years of the Contemporary Art Society
28 May – 14 August 2010
Numerous contemporary artists’ work feature in this exhibition including Bridget Riley’s wallpaper designs for the Royal Liverpool Hospital, Philip King’s Heart sculpture and Dennis Creffield’s Autumn Equinox I inspired by JMW Turner.

Published by Ian Jackson on June 7, 2010 09:27 in Art of the Week. Closed Tags: .

Tate Liverpool – Critical Forum. Political Picasso

Published by Ian Jackson on April 13, 2010 15:08 in Talks. Closed Tags: , .

Click for full details and booking – Tate Liverpool|Symposia|Critical Forum.

Critical Forum
Political Picasso: Peace and Freedom in the Cold War

Friday 21 May 2010, 11.00–18.00

Political Picasso: Peace and Freedom in the Cold War sets out to radically reassess the significance of Picasso’s involvement in the Cold War dominated politics of the late 1940s-60s. The conference investigates the understanding that Picasso’s politically inspired artworks had in a range of European countries inside and outside the Soviet bloc, and in the world beyond.

Issues of ‘peace’ and ‘freedom’ continue to dominate our horizons as they did those of peace activists inside and outside the Communist parties. The conference also seeks to consider whether the moral, aesthetic and ideological weight associated with Picasso’s major paintings of the time (Charnel House, 1944-5, Massacre in Korea, 1951 and their prefigurative model, Guernica, 1937) belongs to a lost age. Could visual art in our time ever again take on this burden, and if the answer is ‘no’, then what does this reveal about our contemporary culture and the place and power of art within it?

Speakers include Andrew Brighton, David Caute, Brigitte Leal and Diana Widmaier Picasso.

There will be an opportunity for conference attendees to view the exhibition Picasso: Peace and Freedom at Tate Liverpool from 9.00-11.00 on the day of the conference. Conference attendees will also have the opportunity to attend the Private View of the exhibition following the conference, from 18.30-21.30 at Tate Liverpool.

Please note this conference takes place in the Leggate Lecture Theatre, Victoria Gallery & Museum, Ashton Street, University of Liverpool

Published by Ian Jackson on April 13, 2010 15:08 in Talks. Closed Tags: , .

Contemporary Chinese Calligraphy at VGM Liverpool

Published by Ian Jackson on March 30, 2010 23:35 in Art Review. Closed Tags: , .

vgm-china-031

Another exhibition which opened a while ago (around the time of Chinese New Year) that I’ve only just caught up with. It’s quite fascinating to see the traditional Chinese characters altered subtly or in some cases dramatically, in one case even turned upside down (’Feeling and Passion’ by Wang Dongling pictured above).

Such radical experimentation is not something I’d normally associate with calligraphy – very refreshing.

Strokes of the Brush – Contemporary Chinese Calligraphy
12 February – 15 May 2010
at University of Liverpool Victoria Gallery & Museum

The exhibition, Strokes of the Brush, draws on a selection of works from the British Museum’s world-class collection to highlight the beauty and virtuosity that make modern Chinese calligraphy such an engaging and exciting art.

Continue reading ‘Contemporary Chinese Calligraphy at VGM Liverpool’

Published by Ian Jackson on March 30, 2010 23:35 in Art Review. Closed Tags: , .

Calligraphy at the Victoria Gallery Museum

Published by Ian Jackson on February 16, 2010 21:04 in Course / Workshop. Closed Tags: .

Free Chinese Calligraphy Workshops
Wednesday 24 February & Wednesday 24 March 2010 2.30 – 3.30pm.
Booking advisable via the University of Liverpool Victoria Gallery Museum, but places may be available on the day.
Meet in the foyer.
Local calligrapher Cathy Wu will lead this practical calligraphy session which will introduce participants to this ancient art. There will also be a chance to visit our ‘Strokes of the Brush’ exhibition, showcasing contemporary Chinese calligraphy.

Published by Ian Jackson on February 16, 2010 21:04 in Course / Workshop. Closed Tags: .

TALK: Sculptor Stephen Hitchin at VGM Wed 11 Nov 09

Published by Ian Jackson on November 10, 2009 23:19 in Talks. Closed Tags: .

TALK: As Long As It Takes – Sculptor Stephen Hitchin
imageWEDNESDAY 11 November 2009, 13.00 at VG&M

Stephen Hitchin will be talking about his work and his current sculpture exhibition (see the details)

tel: 0151 794 2348 www.liv.ac.uk/vgm

Published by Ian Jackson on November 10, 2009 23:19 in Talks. Closed Tags: .

Forthcoming Events At Victoria Gallery and Museum

Published by Ian Jackson on October 23, 2009 14:28 in Art Preview. Closed Tags: .

Lots of events coming up at the University of Liverpool’s great gallery in Brownlow Hill. Including Pete Clarke’s talk tomorrow (Saturday 24 Oct 2009)

FREE Family Saturdays!
Last Saturday of every month (excluding December) Drop-in between 1.00 & 4.00pm. No booking required
Join friends, family and artists for our drop-in creative workshops.  Most suitable for children aged 4 – 11 years but everyone is welcome.

Lunchtime Gallery Talk by Pete Clarke
Saturday 24 October 1.00-2.00pm  Gallery 6. No booking required
Artist Pete Clarke introduces his new exhibition: ‘Looking Backwards; Facing Forwards’.

School of Music Recital
Wednesday 28 October 1.00pm Leggate Theatre. No booking required

Open Debate: Body Image and the Media
Thursday 29 October 5.00pm  Leggate Theatre. No booking required
Chaired by Roger Phillips.

Family Saturdays Halloween Special
Saturday 31 October 1.00-4.00pm  No booking required
Come and meet spiders, cockroaches and snakes… if you dare.  Then make a head dress to take home with you.

Lunchtime Gallery Talk by Stephen Hitchin
Wednesday 11 November 1.00 – 1.45pm Wednesday 3 February 1.00 – 1.45pm  Sculpture Gallery. No booking required
Sculptor Stephen Hitchin introduces his new sculpture show.

School of Music Concert
Wednesday 18 November 1.00pm Leggate Theatre. No booking required
Featuring the University of Liverpool Chamber Choir directed by Curtis Perriman.

Lunchtime Gallery Talk by Pete Clarke
Tuesday 24 November 1.00 – 2.00pm Gallery 6. No booking required
Artist Pete Clarke introduces his new exhibition: ‘Looking Backwards; Facing Forwards’.

Swedish Guitarist Stefan Ostersjo

Wednesday 25 November  Leggate Theatre. No booking required
Stefan will be playing both classical and electric guitar.

Family Saturday
Saturday 28 November 1.00 – 4.00pm No booking required
An arts and craft afternoon for children and families.

Christmas Carols
Wednesday 9 December    No booking required
University singers provide an afternoon of seasonal cheer with a selection of Christmas favourites.

http://liv.ac.uk/vgm/

Published by Ian Jackson on October 23, 2009 14:28 in Art Preview. Closed Tags: .

Pete Clarke at Liverpool University VG&M

Published by Ian Jackson on October 9, 2009 19:55 in Art Review. Closed Tags: .
Pete Clarke. Liverpool Gardens Triptych 1982. Myrtle Gardens, The Closure, Caryl Gardens

Pete Clarke. Liverpool Gardens Triptych 1982. Myrtle Gardens, The Closure, Caryl Gardens

University of Liverpool VG&M – Looking Back: Facing Forward – Mistakes and Metaphors
2 October 2009 – 23 January 2010
An exhibition of Paintings, Prints and Drawings by Pete Clarke. The retrospective is a critical overview and selection of significant works by Pete Clarke from the 1980s to recent paintings including works produced for Sheffield City Art Gallery from the collections of the Arts Council and Liverpool University.

And very good it is too. It’s the first time I have seen a proper collection of Clarke’s work and it is so much better than just seeing an individual piece here and there amidst group shows etc.

Although the work is not hung in chronological order you still see the journey from early 80s when he arrived in Liverpool to teach at the Art College through to recent work, becoming more abstract, maybe less overtly political, brighter colours. The influence of poetry and printmaking is always present.

There are sketchbooks and other academic material and a very nice catalogue which includes interviews and more information.

You can also hear my interview with him on our podcast service at defnetmedia which I think is well worth listening to.

Pete Clarke moved to Liverpool in 1978 after studying at Chelsea School of Art, West of England College of Art [Bristol Polytechnic], Burnley Municipal College and living for a time on the Isle of Wight and then London. The changing face of this city has fascinated him and in many ways it represents the social and cultural history that personifies the shifts and developments of ‘modernity’ and concepts of the regional in the international. He is the MA Course Leader and Principal Lecturer in Fine Art at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston. He leads the artists’ initiative ‘Eight Days A Week’, arranging reciprocal exhibitions, projects and events in Liverpool and Cologne. He makes paintings, prints and installations with the artist Georg Gartz from Cologne exploring collaborative strategies within contemporary practice questioning individuality, authorship and authenticity in a European context.

www.unclan.ac.uk/centrecontemporaryart
www.peteclarke.org.uk

Pete Clarke. Losing the Plot. 2006

Pete Clarke. Losing the Plot. 2006

Published by Ian Jackson on October 9, 2009 19:55 in Art Review. Closed Tags: .

The Mersey Sound Exhibition at University of Liverpool

Published by Ian Jackson on September 2, 2009 18:49 in Art Review. Closed Tags: , .
Roger McGough, Catherine Marcangeli and Brian Patten

Roger McGough, Catherine Marcangeli and Brian Patten

The Mersey Sound at VGM
8 May – 12 September 2009
The exhibition charts the development and sources of inspiration of Liverpool poets, Roger McGough, Brian Patten and the late Adrian Henri – writers who were central to the city’s literary, music and visual arts scene of the 1960s.

Can’t believe it was early May that we went to the opening of this excellent show in the University’s Victoria Gallery. McGough and Patten (my Poetry heroes) were there along with Catherine Marcangeli the partner of the late Adrian Henri. We went back again last week for another look.

If, like me, you are a fan of the Liverpool Poets then you won’t want to miss this but there was a lot more to the Mersey Sound than poetry. I would say these guys were at the leading edge of multimedia and performance art at the time. There were the poetry readings, music from the Liverpool Scene, Scaffold, Mike Evans etc. and the ‘theatrical hunour group’ The Liverpool One Fat Lady All Electric Show.

The late Adrian Henri in particular seemed to love ‘happenings’ and organised several around Liverpool, starting with ‘City’ in the Hopie (Hope Hall which later became Everyman Theatre) as part of Merseyside Arts Festival. The happenings included poetry, jazz, dance and live painting.

Its great ot see that this era is so well documented in the exhibition, there’s the posters and flyers, badges and handwritten or type-written poems and notes, this is all pre-digital of course. There are several of Henri’s paintings, copies of the poets books, album covers, photographs etc.

Well worth a visit before it ends on 12 September 2009.

The University acquired the poets’ archive in 2007 following a significant grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and a number of other generous benefactors.  The funds have allowed an archivist to catalogue the collections, which will now be showcased to the public at the VG&M for the first time.  This exhibition contains photographs, notebooks and manuscripts from the ‘Liverpool Poets’ archive.

merseysound-2

Published by Ian Jackson on September 2, 2009 18:49 in Art Review. Closed Tags: , .