Merry Christmas 2016

 Gloriole

Just delivered my last commissions and am now hanging up my scissors for Christmas. As a rather strange year draws to a close, in which we mourned our beloved Prince, and politics around the world appears to have gone mad, I would like to take the opportunity to wish you a very merry, and peaceful Christmas. I would also like to thank all readers of this blog for your support and kindness, especially all those who were good enough to support me by purchasing pieces. I would also like to thank the galleries who show and sell my work for their continued support. I will of course keep you updated on up and coming shows that I will be exhibiting in throughout 2017, and of new pieces that I create, (I have a couple of little stunners to be revealed shortly). In the meantime enjoy the festive break.

Merry Christmas!

A Christmas Card for 2016

On the subject of Christmas cards. This year's Scissorhands Christmas card has gone out to a select few.

Season's Greetings.

ARTIST ROOMS: Andy Warhol

Whilst in Manchester I found myself at the Whitworth on the same December weekend as their Frost Fair. It was great to see the galleries packed with adults and children, and to hear the sounds of a live band playing inside to entertain the crowds. This huge puppet  and the team controlling her entertaining the crowds outside the gallery were fantastic.

The main draw however was the current show containing wall after wall of wonderful Warhols.

ARTIST ROOMS: Andy Warhol
until 16th April 2017
The Whitworth 
Oxford Road
Manchester
www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk

The Art of Paul Peter Piech

On a trip to Manchester I really enjoyed this survey of strong, graphic prints by Paul Peter Piech (1920-1996), at The People's History Museum. The prints were a perfect fusion of type and image, and given the political dramas and general upheavals across the globe this year it is a very timely and relevant exhibition. Piech is an artist who pricks our conscience with imagery which urges us to respect all other human beings in this world and their rights, irrespective of their race or creed. His art espouses love, peace and equality, and the works for which he became renowned are executed in the wonderful medium of lino cut.

Piech was an American, who after studying at the Cooper Union School of Art in New York, settled in Britain after the Second World War, married, and attended Chelsea School of Art before working in advertising for a number of years, and then going on to teach at various art colleges and then working alongside the master of the linocut - Edward Bawden - at Leicester.

Piech then set up his own Taurus Press, producing books and prints which expressed his views on equality, pacifism and social justice. Perhaps influenced by his Welsh wife, he later moved to Wales and began to reference the prose of Welsh poets in his work. He passed on to the world of spirit in 1996.

Above, a picture of Piech at work in his Hertfordshire studio, and below woodcut and lino-blocks and rollers used by the artist displayed in the exhibition.

I really loved this image also in the exhibition (below), by Mancunian Ern Brooks, who was a member of the Artist International Association who played a role in the peace and labour movements. He was also responsible for selecting work for the Artists For Peace exhibitions of the 1950s which featured the work of Picasso and Matisse. Piech joined and exhibited with the group at a later stage.

These images below about Piech's obvious love of jazz music are really happy, positive and celebratory. They are the perfect antidote to some of his other images about man's inhumanity to his fellow man. I really enjoyed this exhibition and the positive humanitarian qualities of Piech's art which brought to mind the work of fellow American Ben Shahn. There is also another selling exhibition about Piech's work currently in London at Waterhouse and Dodd on Albemarle Street until 17th December.

Dedicated To All Defenders of Human Freedoms: The Art of Peter Paul Piech
until February 12th 2017
The People's History Museum
Left Bank
Spinningfields
Manchester
www.phm.org.uk 

A Living Advent Calendar - Peace To The World

A new initiative was started in the borough of Kensington this year by The Rev'd Stephen Fielding of St Mary Abbots church, to engage with the various businesses of the borough. The idea was to create a Living Advent Calendar, where each day, participating businesses in a different location would unveil a window display to create an advent calendar across the parish. Each business would ask an artist to create an artwork for their window which would illustrate the Christmas theme of Peace To The World, and each day at the unveiling of the window, a small celebration would be held to unite businesses, locals and visitors to the area to add to the sense of community.   

St Mary Abbots, Kensington High Street

I felt really privileged then to be asked by Chris at The Rowley Gallery to create an artwork especially for the occasion. I had just begun to create a series of pieces entitled Gloriole which contain combinations of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, moths, bees, and foliage, and it was suggested that I create one of these on a large scale for the window. This particular Gloriole piece is in silver-leaf, measures 67cm x 121cm in an ash box frame, and is a celebration of creation, eco-systems and the myriad forms of flora and fauna that we share this earth with. 

I felt this was a fitting response to the Peace To The World theme. The Rev'd Stephen Fielding says these Advent Windows are about community and hospitality. 'We are looking to unify our community at a very important time of the year'. 

Unfortunately I was unable to be at the grand unveiling which took place last Friday on 2nd December, but it looked like a really good event with Father Gillean leading the  singing of Away In A Manger after an address, and then mince pies and mulled wine being dispensed. The following are some pictures of the unveiling event taken outside the Rowley Gallery.

For more information about this project and to see the other advent windows across the borough contact St Mary Abbots here.

 The map of the Advent trail (Rowley Gallery is no.5)

The artwork Gloriole can be viewed at the front of the Rowley Gallery (besides a lovely display of Chris Corr watercolours), over the Christmas period and in the run up to the New Year. There is also a smaller version of Gloriole for sale at the Rowley (below).

The Rowley Gallery
115 Kensington Church Street
London
W8
Tel: 020 7727 6495
www.rowleygallery.com