Reveal Open Studios weekend

Things seem to be moving slowly - the sale of the studio is 'with the solicitor', so it still feels slightly premature to be calling in quotes to treat the dry-rot and generally improve the condition of the building in readiness for it becoming a suitable place to store Dave's work.

However, things are still moving forward - next week I'll visit a storage unit that I hope will hold the bigger paintings whilst the work is being done on Dave's Haslingden studio, and next weekend (Sat/Sun 6th/7th June) we're participating in REVEAL - an Open Studios weekend also including four of the artists' studios in Rossendale plus the See Gallery. This will be an opportunity to show a small selection of Dave's larger paintings. The auction of work and exhibition at the See were almost entirely of smaller pieces, so it will be good to see some of the larger work in the spacious hall of the Boo in Waterfoot. It will also be a great opportunity to visit the Rossendale artist studios, which house some of the most interesting artists working in the region. The Boo is a good starting point where you can see Dave Pearson's work and pick up a leaflet and map of the other studio and gallery locations.

For more details of Reveal you can to: 

http://www.horseandbamboo.org/openstudios.htm

and find a map and complete programme for the weekend.

Authentication - the best way?

We've had another request to provide a certificate for one of Dave's pieces of work that was sold at the recent exhibition at the See Gallery. As I mentioned a few blogs ago, I've designed a form that the Trust issues to prove the provenance of the work, so dealing with this particular request is no particular problem.

I think this is an interesting issue. Up until taking on responsibility for Dave Pearson's work I had really thought that whether a painter signs their work or not was simply a matter of personal preference or style, but dealing with the estate I now see the other side of the equation. Dave signed very few of his pieces. Those he has signed are usually pieces that had been exhibited, which are relatively few. I wonder if anyone else has had a similar issue to deal with, and how they resolved it. At the moment our Certificate of Authentication is an A4 sheet of paper signed by one of the three members of the Trust and also gives details about the title, media, size etc of the piece.  I've heard of a stamp being used. Any one out there with experience of this? 

New and old homes

Spent the weekend moving Dave's paintings. Yesterday we took  a large panel from the Byzantium series to Kendal in the Lake District, to a buyer who had seen the painting at the exhibition at the See Gallery. It was a tall, thin painting - unusual, but it fitted the space at the bottom of her stairwell perfectly. Something rather special about seeing a piece of work moving from the unvisited studio and starting a new life with someone who loves and appreciates it.

Then today I moved the remaining paintings and other work from the See back to the old studio. So that episode is over. It has served us well, both marking and supporting the formation of the Trust. Although we would like to see another exhibition of Dave's work soon, it's inevitable that our efforts will now be focused in sorting out the studio.

The long break between these blogs has been, in part, because we've been making arrangements to purchase Dave's studio from Chris Pearson. This has meant, of course, finding the money to make the purchase; agreeing on the price; and setting up the process with a solicitor. Now these crucial steps have taken place they're easier to write about here. This is a major development for the Dave Pearson Trust which, after the sale has taken place, will lease the studio back at a rent which covers rates, insurance and heat and light. 

Our timetable now is for the purchase to take place asap - hopefully by the end of June; then the artwork to be moved into temporary storage whilst builders move in to deal with the dry-rot, and then the basic building works that are required such as re-wiring, plastering and painting. Our aim is to have this sorted by October, when the work can be returned to the studio and properly ordered. 

So, now we're able to look back 9 months after Dave's death at some considerable achievements:  

• The setting up of a Dave Pearson Trust
  
• Setting up a website for the Trust
• Raising money for the Trust from an auction and a successful exhibition
  
• Starting the process of cataloguing Dave's work
  
• Buying the studio in order to establish a proper archive for the work.
  

That we've been able to achieve so much in such a short time is due in part because of the help we've received from a large number of people and businesses; from the local artists who were Dave's friends at Globe Arts and other local artist studios, from Julian and Jackie at the See Gallery for their support and encouragement; and from Dave's friends and family who have supported us at the auction and exhibitions.    

On behalf of the three trustees - thank you everybody for all of your help and support.