Reveal Rossendale Valley Art Trail

Ella Cole continues to catalogue Daves work (the pieces shown here are from last week's 'discoveries'), and she is helping me organise the studio in Haslingden so it's ready for a guided tour this coming Sunday morning as part of Reveal Rossendale Valley Art Trail.

We've decided against opening Dave's Haslingden studio for the Art Trail. In previous years we've been overwhelmed by visitors and found it impossible to keep an eye on all the work. Plus with the steep stairs, small rooms, and increasingly overcrowded spaces and we've decided to just have one guided tour on the Sunday (which is already full). But to make up for this The Whitaker (Rossendale's Museum and Art Gallery in Rawtenstall) are using the walls of the new cafe space to mount an exhibition of Dave's work. 

So Saturday 28th (10 - 4) and Sunday 29th (11-4) the local artists studios and galleries will be open to the public - you can pick up a brochure at any of the studios or the Boo - and the Whitaker also has a group show, chosen by the curators, in their main gallery space. Should be a good weekend - not to be missed!

Life returns to 54

It's been a quiet summer for the Dave Pearson Trust. Holidays of course, but mainly other work being done by the trustees is to blame. But now we expect things will begin to pick up again.

We sold the lovely ink drawing 'Yellow Cat' (above) over the weekend, and will soon be making preparations for Dave's work to be shown at Olympia as a part of Art 14. In addition there's the Rossendale Valley wide 'Reveal Arts Trail and Open Studios' on the weekend of the 28th/29th September - and although we're not opening Dave's studio it will be possible to join an organised visit through The Whitaker (Rossendale's Museum and art Gallery). 

If anyone wishes to see Dave's studio over the Reveal weekend then please contact Jackie Taylor at jackie@thewhitaker.org and she will try and fit in a special visit. The reason we're not able to open the studio itself to the public is that every room is now functioning as storage space, so there simply isn't enough display space to show work in anything like reasonable conditions. Ella Cole, who works for the Trust in cataloguing Dave Pearson's output, is also in the process of arranging the top floor in an orderly way - with shelves and drawers of work all properly labelled and numbered in line with the catalogue of work (see photo below), rather like a library, and naturally we can't afford this work to be spoiled.

Reveal 2012

Reveal - Rossendale Artists Open Studio weekend was, this year, deliberately held on the same weekend as the Horse + Bamboo Puppet Festival in Waterfoot. This enabled both events to their share publicity costs and was entirely sensible - making a larger event with lots on offer for both adults and children. The one downside for me was that I needed to be at Waterfoot for almost the whole weekend and so unable to enjoy a visit to the artists studios. So with the exception of one 15 minute visit to see Dave's exhibition at the See Gallery I saw none of the studio shows - I saw lots of great puppet shows, but no painting.

The See Gallery, which has a history of low attendances during the Open Studio event (probably because people choose to go to those exhibitions that are only open to the public once a year rather than one that is open for most of the time) had, this year, a large number of visitors. Dave's work looked great in the re-furbished gallery (above), and sales of his works on paper have been excellent - with something like 50% of the exhibits having been sold. 

A forthcoming exhibition in Rossendale

This week I've been working with Julian Williams of the See Gallery in preparation for a new exhibition of Dave's work - DAVE PEARSON: WORKS ON PAPER. This is to be part of the Reveal Open Studios weekend on the 22nd and 23rd September, although it will continue until the beginning of November. 

Julian and his partner Jackie have selected the work, which is currently being framed, but I've been helping them with the publicity - including mailing lists and the press release: 

"2012 has been a year in which Dave Pearson's reputation has been seriously enhanced by an important exhibition in London; the publication of a catalogue containing major essays on his work by the noted art historian and writer Edward Lucie-Smith, and others; and coverage of his work by BBC TV.

"Interest in Dave's work has never been greater, and to follow up that interest the see gallery in Crawshawbooth has used its unique access to Dave's output to put together an exhibition that traces the artist's development throughout his 50-year career by focusing on his work on paper. Starting with drawings from the 1960s relating to his obsession with astronauts, and then the life and work of Van Gogh, through to the tremendous drawings of the 1970s based on English Calendar Customs, the Byzantium poems of WB Yeats that became his major inspiration throughout the 1980s and 90s, and then culminating in his late drawings and collages exploring his periods of ill-health. 

"This is the first exhibition to look at the artist's long career in this way and it will be a fascinating opportunity to follow his development through the graphic work on a long and always stimulating journey of discovery."

Opening times will be, for the Reveal Open Studio Weekend,  

Saturday 22^nd September 10am – 4.30pm

Sunday 23^rd September 10am – 4.30pm

After this the gallery will be open on Thursday and Fridays 10 – 4; although other times can be available by appointment. The exhibition finishes on the 2nd of November. 

The address is - the see gallery, Oddfellows Hall, Crawshawbooth, Lancashire, BB4 8AA.

Works on paper

I'm back from a (partly) working holiday and straight into a meeting at Dave's old studio in Haslingden. Julian and Jackie from the See Gallery want to discuss their plans for an exhibition of Dave's work on paper as part of the Reveal Open Studio weekend in September. This will also mean the re-opening of a re-vamped See Gallery, and a great opportunity to show examples of the often overlooked output of Dave's drawings, pastels, gouaches, and prints. 

Julian and Jackie had already been through some of the folders and drawers that Margaret and I haven't found time for; and they have unearthed some gems. These will all need to be framed, and as the number of pieces are substantial the chosen works need to be at the framers by this weekend. 

So I spent an hour or so looking through their choices. The idea is to represent all stages of Dave's creative life, and I was continually astounded and surprised by the inventiveness and sheer joy of these works. 

This will be a very special exhibition. Mark 22nd and 23rd September in your diaries - the date of the Open Studio weekend, although the See exhibition will be open for a longer period than just that weekend. Full details of dates and opening times will follow.

REVEAL 2011

A reminder that on Saturday and Sunday 10th and 11th of September we're holding the annual REVEAL Open Studios event in Rossendale. 


Once again Dave Pearson's old studio in Haslingden will take part, this year with a completely new exhibition and also a special showing all weekend of the new film 'TO BYZANTIUM' about Dave's life and work. 


Julian and Jackie of the See Gallery have sent out invites now for the launch of the film the previous weekend at the Cornerhouse and we're beginning to get replies. We're particularly delighted that Edward Lucie-Smith will be able to travel up from London for the showing.

A holiday break

I'm taking a holiday break in a few days time so inevitably there are a lot of jobs to be undertaken in preparation both for the launch of the film and for the Open Studio weekend (10th/11th September). Fortunately Julian Williams of the See gallery will be working on things in my absence; so yesterday and today we met with Chris Pearson to discuss the jobs and make various arrangements. 

First a dozen pieces of work were selected from those that remain at Dave's old house (where his son Chris still lives). These are pieces on paper from the last period of Dave's life - mainly gouaches of his hospital experiences. Despite this subject they are glowing with colour and life. They have never been seen so the Open Studio event will be exhibiting 6 or 7 of them for the first time. Julian will take this selection to be framed in the next few days. It is very much a selection - there are probably another 100 in the house. We also noted a minimum of another 1000 pieces of work on paper on the top floor. It never ends....

Julian and Chris will also start moving some of the large pieces between the house and the studio next week, so we can rearrange the display and have new pieces on show for Reveal Open Studios. The film 'To Byzantium' will also be shown that weekend.

Reveal

We had over 120 visitors at the weekend; most of them staying about an hour exploring Dave's old studio. So most of the time it was busy and buzzing with chat and enthusiasm. This was a good number as it meant Margaret or I were able to speak individually with just about everyone who came through our door to explain a little about who Dave was; why the studio in Haslingden was there; and what our plans were. Several people had even made the journey from London to Haslingden specially in order to visit us. 

I got out for short period and visited two of the other studios in the Valley, but run out of time to see more. I think this was typical of most of the artists involved - so busy with their own studios that they didn't have the time to see what us others were up to. The feedback was that the weekend was a great success, although the See gallery had far fewer visitors than the studios, possibly as a result of people deciding that they would focus on visiting those venues that weren't normally open to the public. 

At 54 Manchester Road we also managed to sell 6 pieces of work, and there several people who took my details so they could arrange another visit in order to buy at a later date. There was a really enthusiastic response from almost everyone - a good weekend, and many thanks to Susan, Barbara, Dave, Steve, Kay and Anne who helped us out.

Getting sorted for Reveal

On the weekend of the 12th and 13th of June we're opening up Studio 54 between 11.00am and 4.30pm as part of Reveal: Rossendale Open Studios. 

But the place is still chaotic from the move of the big paintings in April, and the two 'gallery' spaces, that should be the areas where we can exhibit some of Dave's work with a measure of order, are still full of paintings left on the floor or in boxes. Both Margaret and myself are very, very busy with work and it's becoming a big problem working out how we'll make things presentable for the open weekend. 

Yesterday I grabbed a few hours and made some headway on the top floor - repairing a plan chest, and rationalising some of the shelving. If I can find the equivalent of a day between now and the 12th there's a fighting chance I'll be able to put up a few more racks and make up some shelving for the note-books. If I can do this things will be fine, even if not brilliantly arranged. The single biggest problem is I'll need at least another 2 strong people to rehang Asylum 2 - one of Dave's largest pieces, which otherwise dominates the downstairs exhibition room.

Further interesting developments

Last week I met with Julian and Jackie from the See gallery to sort out sales from the recent exhibition, plus their own purchases and we discussed some ideas for how the relationship between the gallery and the Trust might develop in future. They have been truly considerate and engaged partners in this project and we are keen to continue this constructive relationship. 

There have continued to be a few sales and interest in viewing the studio. This I'm squeezing into a busy work schedule, and Margaret too is entering a busy period. It's this kind of situation where a partnership with the See could be very useful. 

I'm also help to plan the Reveal Open Studios weekend (12th and 13th June) when the local artists studios throw open their doors to visitors. Dave's old studio in Haslingden will take part in this and there are a number of jobs we need to get sorted in order to have the studio ready as it's still in a mess from the recent move.

Publicity of the Trust and Dave's work continues. Yesterday we were visited by Emma, a reporter, and Claire, a photographer, from Lancashire Life. They spent a long time with Margaret and myself; not rushing but asking serious and sensible questions about the work and our relationship with Dave. It was a relief after the cursory and rushed visits by some of the national press. We are seriously considering commissioning a film documentary to capitalise on and expand the interest that has grown from the recent interest in Dave and his work.