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Yesterday was an important step for the Dave Pearson Trust. Firstly the auction was very successful, and we raised several thousand pound to start off the bank account for the Trust and so we now have some capital with which to pay the bills we’ve accumulated (the website, some frames etc) and to begin to plan for the future.
The viewing days were well attended, including many who weren’t able to get to the auction itself but wanted to see the work. A few tears were shed; in particular by ex-students who remembered Dave’s influence on them. I heard so many odd and typical and unexpected stories and anecdotes. For me it was a privileged time, looking at the paintings and drawings, listening to music, and meeting people who had been touched by Dave. About 40 people came to the auction, of which nearly 30 were bidding for work. I had hoped to raise £3000, and we comfortably exceeded this.
Then on to the exhibition at the See Gallery. Julian had got carried away the previous days and we added extra pieces to the show – large panels from the Byzantium series that went into the kitchen/reception/living room, and a vast and very heavy relief from the early 70s – Asylum 2, plus a blue papier-mache figure ‘On the Edge of Infinity’ (I think that was Vincent’s title). The show looked great, and we drunk wine and enjoyed the music, the atmosphere and the conversation. The gallery began to sell too, and by the end of the evening Julian and Jackie seemed very happy with things.
Chris and Florence, Dave’s son and daughter, were at both events, as well as many colleagues and ex-students of Dave’s from MMU. For me a very enjoyable day – almost like a Horse + Bamboo event but without the anxiety, as Jonny pointed out, of having your own creative head on the block.
The viewing days were well attended, including many who weren’t able to get to the auction itself but wanted to see the work. A few tears were shed; in particular by ex-students who remembered Dave’s influence on them. I heard so many odd and typical and unexpected stories and anecdotes. For me it was a privileged time, looking at the paintings and drawings, listening to music, and meeting people who had been touched by Dave. About 40 people came to the auction, of which nearly 30 were bidding for work. I had hoped to raise £3000, and we comfortably exceeded this.
Then on to the exhibition at the See Gallery. Julian had got carried away the previous days and we added extra pieces to the show – large panels from the Byzantium series that went into the kitchen/reception/living room, and a vast and very heavy relief from the early 70s – Asylum 2, plus a blue papier-mache figure ‘On the Edge of Infinity’ (I think that was Vincent’s title). The show looked great, and we drunk wine and enjoyed the music, the atmosphere and the conversation. The gallery began to sell too, and by the end of the evening Julian and Jackie seemed very happy with things.
Chris and Florence, Dave’s son and daughter, were at both events, as well as many colleagues and ex-students of Dave’s from MMU. For me a very enjoyable day – almost like a Horse + Bamboo event but without the anxiety, as Jonny pointed out, of having your own creative head on the block.
I'd like to pass on my thanks to the members of the trust and all those who have worked so hard to make the auction and exhibition possible. I am now privileged to have something to commemorate such a great teacher and lovely person. It was a poignant occasion and had more than an element of sadness to it but I was pleased to see his work again and remember his vibrancy and sheer exuberance which he always encouraged in his students.
ReplyDeleteValerie