> GILES CLARKE: SELECTED STORIES

Quay Arts, Isle of Wight
2 August 2019

Giles Clarke: Selected Stories - New York-based Getty Reportage photojournalist Giles Clarke, who grew up on the Island, returns to present a site specific exhibition of images curated from a global catalogue of projects exploring, primarily, humanitarian issue awareness in troubled regions.

Tonight we joined Giles Clarke, in conversation with Paul Armfield, for an artist talk, short film screening of the acclaimed ‘The Guardian Angel Of Guatemala’ followed by a Q&A session discussing his work. The eve was brought to an upbeat end with an auction of two signed works.

Honduras dump boy by Giles Clarke

Giles Clarke

Dave and Alex in the gallery

Intense and incredibly moving, the work of Giles Clarke is impossible to forget. Giles talked candidly about his experiences in these troubled parts of the world and the power of the human stories that he uncovers. Acting as the 'eyes of the world', Giles plays an important part in raising awareness and giving a voice to the victims of wrong.

10 out of 10

> RICHARD LONG ON THE IOW

Quay Arts, Newport, IOW
8th April 2017

Richard Long - ahead of 'the Isle of Wight as six walks', Richard Long discusses his work past and present with Les Buckingham, former Director at Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth. We go to the Quay for a very special audience...

Turner Prize winning artist and Britain’s leading figure in Land Art, Richard Long presents a series of photographic and text works as well as a monumental floor installation made from flint - on lone from Southampton Art Gallery. Spanning over four decades and presenting a variety of locations – England, Wales, Africa, Nepal and Bolivia, he is an artist who embarks on long distance walks to create his work and was even once drawn to the Isle of Wight. A never-before seen vinyl text installation ‘The Isle of Wight as Six Walks’ 1982, from which the exhibition takes it name, is on display representing coast to coast walks by roads and paths on the Isle of Wight, as well as a bespoke ‘wall drawing’ using local mud from the River Medina.

What a treat to be able to listen to a true art legend in conversation at our local Art Gallery. We got to know the artist behind the concepts and it was super to be part of an audience that contained so many important IoW artists and creatives. The Quay is going from strength-to-strength, it's really stepped up. It's become a vibrant and well used hub for the local artistic community. Richard long's show is beautiful and has been getting plenty positive feed back, it can only help to raise the profile of our favorite Island art space.

I have always been curious about the work of Richard Long. He is an intriguing character. I find his works memorable and satisfying. Photographic works capture the essence of his conceptual journeys and his interactions with the natural world beautifully. His arrangements of found material translate well into the gallery. Structure and layout, form and detail are strong. The mud line painting created with local river mud is a stunning piece. It has depth, movement and fluidity... I hope the Quay find a way to preserve it on the gallery wall past the exhibitions run...

The Isle of Wight as Six Walks - 1982 

I am left with questions: Is Richard Long on a journey to bring order to our natural world? His use of mathematical structure suggest he is attempting to constrain and take ownership of the elements? Is he a frustrated graphic designer - surely not?

I don't actually mind what the outcome is... Long may his wonderful journey continue!

Medina Mud Line - 2017 

Wessex Flint Line - 1987 

Mud line detail 

Flint close up

10 out of 10.

> CLAYSON SINGS CHANSON

Quay Arts, Isle of Wight
9th December 2016

Clayson sings Chanson - an emotional journey into a world of words, stories and music...

An entertaining and informative eve at our favourite Isle of Wight arts venue. Chansons are powerful, lyric driven French songs about life. Clayson was fantastic. To start our eve, the charismatic Paul Armfield delivered an eclectic, personal selection of Chanson inspired music... this perfectly complimented the absorbing repertoire of Alan Clayson.

CLAYSON SINGS CHANSON has been on the road since 2011, initially to tie-in with the most recent edition of Alan Clayson’s Jacques Brel biography, La Vie Boheme.  Media coverage has been fulsome with phrases like ‘mesmerising’, ‘a man possessed’, ‘a wonderful evening by a master raconteur at the top of his game’.

If much of the repertoire is from Brel’s portfolio, Alan Clayson delivers items by other chansonniers, Gallic and English, and ventures into curious but connected realms. Prefaced by a explanatory talk that is as entertaining as it is educational, this show will appeal to both Brel devotees and those interested generally in Gallic culture.

The presentation’s origins lie in 1999’s acclaimed Ne Me Quitte Pas: A Celebration Of Jacques Brel, an all-star album on which Alan Clayson’s contributions were highlights, attracting rave notices. Prior to his renown as a music historian, Alan Clayson was popular in the late 1970s as leader of the legendary Clayson and the Argonauts and has since become ‘one of the more extraordinary figures to emerge from rock ‘n’ roll.

10 out of 10.

> CONTEMPORARY BRITISH PAINTING

Quay Arts, Newport, IOW
27th August 2016

Contemporary British Painting - This exhibition in the West Gallery features the work of 40 artists from the group to coincide with the 40th Anniversary of Quay Arts this year.

This is the inaugural Summer Exhibition of the Contemporary British Painting group. Founded in 2013 by Robert Priseman in conjunction with Simon Carter, the group was formed to seek ways to explore and promote current trends in British painting through group exhibitions, talks, publications, art prizes, as well as the donation of paintings to art museums both in the UK and around the world.
Contemporary British Painting represents some of the most exciting, emerging and award-winning artists, painting in the UK today.

The groups members represent some of the most exciting emerging and award winning painting in the UK today and include European Sovereign Painters Prize winner Susan Gunn, Pollock-Krasner awardee Kelly Jayne, East London Painting Prize winner Nathan Eastwood, John Moores Prize winner Nicholas Middleton, British Academy awardee James Quin, Birtle Prize winner Simon Burton, Venice Biennale exhibitors Marguerite Horner and Phil Illingworth and Griffin Prize exhibitor Matthew Krishanu.

Study for Wharf Piping - Day Bowman

Amulet - Ben Cove

Two Cut - Lucy Cox

Brush-off - Pen Dalton

Bambi - Annabel Dover

Sheffield -  Barbara Howey

(impossible) woman2 - Wendy Saunders

Exciting to see Quay Arts hosting such a prestigious show. A dazzling collection of abstract, landscape, portraiture, still life and multi-media 3D... ensurring there is something for everyone. Contemporary and conceptual is much more the tone and as you walk around the gallery, the emotional energy dips and climbs, a sign of good curation. I was interested to note the various methods of colour application... how does the artist leave a mark with paint? Joyous daubs or delicate strokes?... Fine colour washes or blocky solids?... It's all here to enjoy! Remember, go with an open mind and you will not be disapointed. Cobra by Freya Purdue shown at head of post. Show runs through to 15th October 2016.

10 out of 10.