Outside In Award Winner showcases skills in solo exhibition (30 August- 2 October)

Pallant House Gallery is delighted to announce a new studio exhibition showcasing the colourful and imaginative work of David Jones, Outside In 2009 award winner and contributor to the Community Programme at Pallant House Gallery. 


‘Xtensions Part 1’ is a special solo exhibition awarded to David Jones, one of six award winners of Outside In 2009, an Open Art Competition and the main vehicle for the project, set up to bring work by marginalised and outsider artists to a wider public.  As well as his own exhibition, David was also given an artist residency at Pallant House Gallery where he could come and work on pieces for the exhibition.

Speaking of David’s artistic journey, Marc Steene, Head of Learning and Community at Pallant House Gallery said ‘During the time since the 2009 exhibition, David has been coming to the Gallery regularly to paint and has become a popular and energetic member of the Gallery's growing community.’ As a result of David’s hard work, the exhibition will showcase an array of accomplished pieces including surrealist works such as ‘Love Leaks Out’ and the Japanese inspired ‘Madame Butterfly’, and as Marc comments ‘the exhibition is

full of personal reference and often draws from and refers to other artists’ work; his is a unique voice from an individual with an interesting and important story to tell.'

Although David has always been interested in art, it was only when he was in prison for a year, following years of drug addiction that he picked up art again through the prison art group. Unable to sleep at night, he spent hours drawing and painting which he says was a ‘therapeutic tool’ for him. After leaving prison, David then went on to sell The Big Issue, which he has now been selling for ten years and got involved in Creative Futures, a Brighton-based project that develops and promotes marginalised artists. It was Creative Futures who entered David’s deeply moving work entitled ‘In Awe’ into the Outside In exhibition, and visitors can see a similar piece inspired by this award winning painting in the forthcoming exhibition.

When asked how he felt about having his own exhibition at Pallant House Gallery, David said ‘It feels amazing. I’m absolutely thrilled but also a little scared!’ and said ‘when I tell people I’m involved with Pallant House Gallery you can tell they’re envious. A combination of the space, the staff and the vibrations of the gallery, provides a really positive environment for marginalised artists to work in’ David wants to continue to stay in touch with Outside In which he says has given him the confidence to be more ambitious in his goals. He is now working towards his BTEC diploma in Fine Art, and hopes to continue to grow as a professional artist.

Visitors won’t want to miss this intriguing, colourful  and personal collection of art and with all works for sale, visitors can take home their own ‘xtension’ of David’s exhibition.

Xtensions Part 1 is free to the public and runs from 30 August – 2 October 2011

Outside In 2012 is now open for submissions. For more information visit www.outsidein.org.uk

*Please note the studio at Pallant House Gallery is sometimes closed for workshops. Visitors are advised to phone in advance to guarantee entry.

For more information about Pallant House Gallery, visiting, and admission prices visit www.pallant.org.uk

Knitted mohair knit cardigan, £50 Topshop; Blue floral pring pleated skirt, £58 Romwe; ASOS Aztec Pattern Coat £100; Blue loafers, £30 River Island, Kimchi and Blue handbag, £48 Urban Outfitters; Polkadot shorts, £34 Topshop
 

Ten Days in Venice at Pallant House Gallery- 2 August– 28 August 2011

Pallant House Gallery is delighted to announce a new solo exhibition of works by Stephen White, runner up of Outside In 2007 and member of the Outside In Advisory Group. This exciting studio exhibition will showcase 20 paintings inspired by the architecture of the beautiful city of Venice.


Stephen White was given the unique opportunity to exhibit at Pallant House Gallery as a recognition of his hard work and contribution to the Community Programme. His artistic journey began when Stephen joined The Hans Feibusch Club at Pallant House Gallery, which was set up to offer free art workshops for people who require additional support to access art. Although Stephen had always ‘dabbled in painting’, working with others and learning more about art in the context of the Gallery, gave him the confidence to develop his skills as an artist. Stephen went on to win runner up for Outside In in 2007 for his colourful painting ‘Let the Blue Birds Fly Free’. The biennial Open Art Competition is the main vehicle for Outside In, set up to bring work by marginalised and outsider artists to a wider public.

Stephen believes that it was by taking part in workshops at the Gallery which reintroduced art and creativity into his life, that he found an outlet for his mental health issues. He has also developed new skills taught through ‘Step Up’, part of the Community Programme at Pallant House Gallery which provides professional training for marginalised artists. Through this he learned how to run classes, and got involved in researching the collections at Pallant House Gallery in relation to the lives, stories, impact and work of outsider and marginalised artists.


The subject of outsider art and marginalisation is of particularly interest to Stephen, who is currently studying BA Fine Art at Northbrook College. His dissertation, entitled ‘Is Outsider Art a style?’ addresses the important issue of ‘marginalisation’ and ‘outsider art’, which he says are ‘very broad terms’. Speaking on whether he sees himself as an outsider artist, he said ’We live in post-modernist times, therefore I can be whoever I want to be!’


Stephen has also been able to put into practice his experience, contributing ideas for Outside as an Advisory Member. Speaking of his solo exhibition, Stephen said; ‘It’s brilliant. Art is my life and to be able to share this with others is a rare opportunity which I am very grateful for’. Visitors will see my impression of Venice, my response when I was there and the feelings it provoked’. With inspiration taken from artists such as Willem de Kooning and Frank Auerbach, but with an original and vibrant quality, Ten Days in Venice is sure to charm and delight and with all works for sale, visitors can take home their own glimpse of this fascinating city.


Ten Days in Venice is free to the public and runs from 2 August-28 August 2011


Outside In 2012 will be launched on July 21st 2011 with submissions opening on 22 July. For more information visit www.outsidein.org.uk

Review: The Good Cook

To quote Grace Dent writing in The Guardian Guide a few weekends back, "Every TV chef needs a quirky gimmick, and Simon's is that he is 'good at cooking'." She is referring, of course, to the latest addition to the increasingly tedious line up of Friday night TV, the BBC's The Good Cook, featuring delicious recipes by Simon Hopkinson, former chef and renowned food writer and critic. Grace Dent's angle of her review is that nowadays, TV chefs all have a gimmick, and that Simon's new show is without. Whether it be Jamie Oliver and his 'alwight/luvly jubly/jack the lad get-up, or Nigella Lawson and her come to bed gaze as she licks cream off a perfectly manicured finger, cooking, it seems, is never simply cooking and Grace goes to great lengths to spell that out. 


With this in mind, I decided to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon catching up on the first few episodes of The Good Cook. I sat down, ready to watch a normal, regular man cooking. In reality however, what ensued was the same pattern that every food programme follows. Granted Simon didn't swear every time the producer in his ear told him to. And yes I'll agree that there was no mention of a celebrity father or sexual undertones to everything he did. Yes The Good Cook is without gimmicks. That is, if Simon really does play old fashioned vinyls every time he cooks, and if he is actually part chef/part Neo from the Matrix. Afterall, there's not many chef's i've seen that can suddenly switch to slow motion when they stir their sauce or pour in their olive oil.  Oh and of course, there's the little deli and Butchers where everyone knows your name and will greet you with open arms whenever you arrive; 'Good morning Simon! What'll it be today!?'

This show is without gimmicks, if Simon really is a stereotypical British music snob but I fear that actually, he's pretty normal and Grace Dent really wanted to write a funny review at the expense of all the other celebrity chefs. I almost hate myself for being sucked in by yet another witty Guardian review without thinking for a second that the writer might be wrong! 


Until a cookery show comes along featuring just a chef who cooks, I think I'll stick to good old Saturday Kitchen for my cookery kicks.


To see what the hell i'm jabbering on about have a look for yourself.