It’s one of those seasons of the year once more when attention is focussed on preparing material for exhibition. Exhibitions seem to be rather like the proverbial London busses. You wait for ages for a bus and then two arrive together. That is exactly my situation at the moment.
I’ve just returned from delivering material to a new gallery that has opened only recently. It is the Apothecary Gallery, in the nearby village of Thornton. Its curious name reflects the fact that back in the nineteenth century the place which is now the gallery was then the village apothecary. It think that is rather nice, suggesting that art actually does you good. The show in which my material is to be included will be a group event, specifically for the Christmas season. I have found it very difficult to decide what to offer in this context, so it will be interesting to see how things go. In the event I’ve decided to put forward framed pictures, mounted prints and greetings cards. I suppose that the indications I receive from this occasion might be useful in relation to the solo show I’ve been offered for next year. No doubt there will be a discussion with the proprietor, Patrick Whitehead, in order to see what lessons are to be learned.
The other event in which I’m involved at the moment is one of the regular group exhibitions at the South Square Centre. There is a curious story to be told about this. The theme of the exhibition is Small. It will be interesting to see the response which my work receives, as I have taken a very different interpretation of it from that adopted by everybody else. The prevailing response to the title has been to produce works which are very small, possibly in the expectation that small pieces might be attractive at this time of the year as potential Christmas presents. What I have decided to do, however, is to submit quite a large piece depicting a diminutive creature. I hope that my colleagues don’t regard it as cheating, but I will no doubt find that out at the opening this evening.
The story is interesting. Many years ago I was walking in the Julian Alps when, crossing a footbridge over a ravine, I found myself waylaid by a very small lizard. I was amused by the fact that in this big scenery a large climber carrying a large pack and wearing large boots was brought to a standstill by a creature only 10cms. long. (Not only brought to a standstill but brought to his knees!) I thought that this event could be regarded as a supreme tribute to smallness.*
Now that the preparation for both of these events is behind us I hope that I can return to some sense of normality.
*The picture is included in the “gallery” entitled Not only but also, elsewhere in this website.