New Art Gallery!

To call this an Art Gallery may be a bit of an over-statement! What we are doing is using the area of the landings and stairs as a gallery space, open to the public.

This is just the way you come up from the ground floor. The blue door leads up to Dennis Crawford's picture framing premises, "Simply Frames", and the studios of Clinton Kirkpatrick and Pat Callaghan. The painting at the left is one of mine, then one of Pat's and a couple of Clinton's.

Coming up to the main, broad landing area, these are another two of my paintings. A door here leads to Jill Graham's jewellery business.

Next to the large window overlooking Market Square, three more of Clinton's paintings.

Next long wall, a couple of Pat's.

Heading up towards the second floor, this is some of Andrew Cranley's work.

Further up the flight of stairs to the second floor there is quite a bit of potential display space still being developed.

This is along the final stretch of corridor, to Andrew Cranley's studio and my own. These are a couple of my own paintings.

At the moment, the display of work is a bit haphazard, but this should improve. When we are properly organized, it could be a good idea to have some sort of open day, when members of the public could visit our studios, as well as the exhibition.

Clinton Kirkpatrick's, ‘Through The Eyes Of The World’ exhibition

Clinton with his painting,

"The Road Ahead", oil on canvas, 75 x 100 cm.

Went to see Clinton's new exhibition on Friday, 30th July (missed the opening unfortunately). Very impressed. I like Clinton's abstract work, but his figurative work has more appeal for me personally. "The Road Ahead", with it's image of death on a road under a burning sun, is very powerful.

"Fires Rage", oil on canvas, 100 x 150 cm.

This painting is another one inspired by Clinton's recent visit to Australia. The split between the massive image of fire in the background and the cool foreground with its isolated house, gives the painting a tremendous feeling of threat and fury.

The exhibition is on until 6th August 2010 at the Safehouse Gallery, Donegall Street, Belfast. Open every day from midday, but Clinton will be there in person from 4.30 - 7 pm every evening. Well worth a visit, if you can get there.

See http://clintonkirkpatrick.com/

Art, Music and Poetry at the “Noughtie” Exhibition

Saturday, 14th November, I was at the Reception for a group exhibition by Clinton Kirkpatrick, Emily Mannion and Kelly Ratchford at Studio 23. Very enjoyable! In addition to the paintings, there was some music provided (sorry, didn’t get their names) and poetry by Séamus Fox.

"As Far As I Can See", by Clinton Kirkpatrick.

Some work by Kelly Ratchford

A few of Emily Mannion's drawings.

Séamus in full swing, background hangings by Kelly Ratchford.

The Exhibition is on until 28th November at Studio 23, The Cutts, Dunmurry Industrial Estate, Derriaghy, BT17 9HU.

Originally published: Sunday, 21st June 2009 in the Creative Collective Blog

“Yesterday’s News”, Clinton Kirkpatrick: Safehouse Gallery, 25 Donegall Street, Belfast

Clinton in front of his paintings, Colour Field(s) 1-8.

I went to Clinton’s Reception Evening at the Safehouse Gallery on Friday, 19th June. I had seen a few of his paintings before at his studio space in Studio 23, Dunmurry, but this was the first time that I had seen his work properly presented and “en masse”. It makes a major difference to see work in the right setting. I particularly liked the display of eight of Clinton’s painting that I photographed with him in front. Each of the Colour Field paintings is for sale individually (and good in its own right), but they would be stunning if they were kept together and displayed in the same way in a modern, possibly minimalistic, room.

The exhibition organiser, Danny Burke, giving a brief talk introducing Clinton’s work. He is standing in front of two of Clinton’s paintings, “What Lies Beneath” (top) and “Slightly Ajar”, (bottom).

A lot of Clinton’s work is semi-figurative and powerfully coloured, making reference to the visual culture of today, its news flashes and headlines. I would consider that it is well worth a visit before it closes on the 9th July.