SACRIFICE : ione rucquoi at the bowie gallery Totnes

We opened this stunning exhibition on Thursday July 7th and it looks great. Hoorah for reclaiming the white space and for the challenging unmissable work from this young artist. Dealing largely with her experience of the physical and emotional changes that pregnancy and motherhood bring, the artist presents work that will resonate with those who are prepared to extend their mind out of the box of convention. The visceral nature of giving birth overwhelms us in "the offering" - forget the tendency of american woman to have caesarians and avoid the rigours - childbirth is a bloody fight for life and this image is spot on.

exhibition runs until July 16   07956 412 278

things said in art galleries...

check out my twitter page for thngs said in art galleries - makes amusing reading. Today an apparently normal guy came in and after a moment or two asked me if I sold fish.....he was looking at a Catherine Forshall painting of fish - so I said " what real fish?"  "Yes " he said. "Does this look like a fish shop?" say I " Oh" he said, I'm in the wrong place." Duh yes right!

TWO DAYS ART CATCH UP IN LONDON

Couple of days in London, having a change of art scene, beginning with Tate Modern - I enjoyed Miro - although not as much as I hade expected to. Something about the changes that have taken place in the mark-making language over the years. I was surprised to find myself feeling slightly bored. The works were reminiscent of drawings that Lorca was doing and it made me recognise how much things have changed over the C20th / C21st. Tate is always worth a visit and this time didn't disappoint - either with Miro or  with State of Flux, which I often drop into; Tuesday brought us to the RA Summer show, where the prints showed signs of a rampage by buyers.  I resisted a Tracey Emin limited edition entitled Bleeding ( no prizes for guessing..) but may return and purchase. Instead bought a silk screen by Frank Kiely. A favourite painting was FAMILY by Tom Hammick at just under £20K,also liked Elizabeth Blackadder Still Life with Ribbon and Fruit £38,000.
Then enjoyed Haunch of Venison - great public gallery, behind the RA currently showing Richard Long - worth a visit. 
On to White Cube for Baselitz but unlike his last show these bored us;
Saatchi Gallery omigod if that is the state of things to come...has he bought these or is he showing us what we have become - STIMULATING THOUGH, not least for the gallery space, which is amazing.  Many of these sculptures made me feel that the more I know the less I understand..... Then Somerset House to be wowed by Ai Wei Wei heads - see them as soon as you can they are great accessible public art. There is another exhibition of Ai Wei Wei right now but can't remember where and didn't manage in in the time.
Now back at the bowie gallery Totnes Devon wanting some antioxidants!

Last week I was in Leicester and I visited Leicester Museum where they are hosting a fantastic exhibition of Picasso ceramics.

The collection belongs to Lord and Lady Attenborough, and is dedicated to the  memory of his daughter and grand daughter who died in the Tsunami in Thailand on Boxing Day 2004.

The ceramics really are something. Most of these pieces are beautiful editions, with two completely original pieces made by Picasso – they are worth a visit!

the bowie gallery currently has a little bowl made by Picasso’s muse and model Lydia Corbett, aka Sylvette David. Gotta be worth a flutter!

OTHER NEWS

English Wine Week is being celebrated from May 28 – June 5 and we will be setting up a small exhibition in  Sharpham Winery. Original prints by Hilary Soper and Anita Reynolds, plus one or two other pieces. Sharpham will be celebrating with lots of events this week so do go along and enjoy what’s on offer. I can recommend the al fresco style café without any hesitation!

ione rucQuoi solo

the bowie gallery will be hosting a solo exhibition of work by this intriguing artist, in July 2011. Titled SACRIFICE this promises to be a challenging exhiibition.

This show is made up of a selection which include  some of the artist's post-pregnancy imagery and new works which lean towards a large scale installation ‘Sanctae’ she is currently working on. This will be a great opportunity to view pieces that have been exhibited widely in Europe and  London and now for the first time in the South West UK, mostly concerned with body image and perceptions of the female.

SACRIFICES runs from July8 - 16   2011.

Lamb - ione rucQuoi

LATEST SALES

It has been a great April - maybe buyers are feeling a bit more relaxed.
Yvonne Coomber pretty one sold towards the end of the week and Alice Leach fabulous Hyena painting this w/e - re assuring that good taste prevails! What is it about art that intrigues us? Whatever it is it's a GOOD thing - it reminds us we are human.