Chris Cowdrill
When I was a student one of my lecturers had an exhibition titled 'Meat and potatoes' and I remember never really getting the title at the time, however I found myself revisiting these thoughts this weekend. I went to a private view on Friday at The Works gallery in Birmingham by a group of local artist who are working under the umbrella Indigo Octagon. I returned to this idea of 'Meat and potatoes' and the notion that creativity in any form, if it is going to be successful, first and for most has to come from something simple, and uncomplicated: A desire and drive to share/make sense of the world around us. A love of colour, or surface. A connection between space and sound. I really enjoyed the exhibition and if you get chance go and see it its on until 23rd November.
 |
| Box of Knives and paintings by Shaun Morris |
I also went to The New Art gallery Walsall on Saturday to see Artist Fiona Rae talk about her paintings. I liked her work when I was doing my degree so was interested to see how I felt about it post degree, knowing how different my interests now are. I have to say it was really interesting, and also fell straight into those meat and potato thoughts id been having since the private view the evening before. It was great to hear an established artists be open about their work and processes, in a very down to earth, playful way (not over theorised). She said (and how true it is) it can be embarrasing and daunting revealing your inner world to others. I often feel its very exposing making any kind of work and always feel a little nervous about sharing new things I have made. I liked the use of found/constructed titles with the paintings, they were quite romantic, and suggestive of actions or situations which could be interpreted in whatever-way the viewer deemed. Fiona Described them as proposals which she makes and we chose to or not to take. I liked her playful use of colour even though it is saccharine in places. I even liked the glitter (should I say that?) But most of all I was really interested in the fact she wanted to see what she could do with paint, and how she allowed the work to generate itself, responding to mark making, mistakes and space within the frame as the paintings developed.
P.S Painting isnt dead; you just read too many books that told you it was.
