All Things Considered

The RE Annual

We were pleased to make it to the recent opening of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers’ Annual Exhibition - one of the busiest ever - showcasing the broad range of RE members’ work from the smallest of wood engravings to substantial screen prints and etchings.

A favourite of mine is ‘Metroland’, a linocut of a London tube train carriage, echoing the work of Cyril Power, by Gail Brodholt.

Also launched on the evening was ‘Printmakers’Secrets’ by Anthony Dyson VPRE (A&C Black) which offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the unique working practice of individual printmakers.

The exhibition runs until 7th June. Open daily 11-6. For full details see www.banksidegallery.com

Our next solo exhibition

We're in the final stages of preparation for the first solo exhibition at our newly located gallery - appropriately featuring Angie's work. Her recent lithograph 'Autumn' (below) is one of the prints featured.

The exhibition forms part of the Norfolk Open Studios scheme - Angie will be at the gallery on Saturdays 16th, 23rd and 30th, Sundays 17th, 24th and 31st and Monday 25th, between 10am and 4pm.

Angie will be printing further copies of some current editions throughout the course of the exhibition so if you're unable to visit on the opening weekend, don't let that put you off. There will be plenty of work to view - including some one-off collages and a small selection of her working drawings.

For full details please visit our gallery website.

David Mellor

Best known for his classic cutlery (and not, perhaps, for his traffic light re-design) , designer David Mellor passed away on 7th May 2009.

"David Mellor, who has died aged 78, was the outstanding British flatware designer of the last century and a remarkable man who, with integrity and consistency, ran a workshop which produced superb cutlery for more than 50 years.

Mellor, a handsome, bluff, meticulous, self-effacing, but determined Yorkshireman, understood, and insisted upon, the essential relationship between making things and designing them. He thought of much that masquerades as modern "design" in the words William Boyd used to describe modern art: 'A wet fart of faddery and flim-flam.'"

Read the Guardian obituary in full or visit the David Mellor website for further information.

Ditchling vs. Kabul

An unusual story picked up via MADE...

"Surrounded by tight security and watched by baffled US servicemen, the tourists from Ditchling Cricket Club were beaten by 124 runs over 25 overs on Friday 1st May.

Ditchling's unlikely journey to Kabul began three years ago with an Afghan cricket tour of the UK. A chance meeting between a Ditchling player and an Afghan official prompted an open invitation to play the village side." Read the article in full

Rosa banksiae ‘Lutea’

When we moved to a red-brick Norfolk cottage it seemed that roses round the door were corny but inevitable - giving me the opportunity I’d been waiting for to plant Rosa banksiae ‘Lutea’. In no time at all it has obligingly grown up and curved over our front door. With its clusters of small pale yellow flowers it really looks stunning. Despite its delicate flowers and leaves, it’ll compete with our wisteria which has sadly failed to come up with the goods this year - producing not a single flower (quite an achievement) - though maybe I should study the pruning regulations a bit more closely in future?

Roger Eagle

Passion-fuelled blogging at its best... Caught By The River have been running a series of blogs dedicated to the memory of club promoter Roger Eagle who ran a nightclub in Liverpool called Eric's. Opened in 1976, I probably became aware of Eric's first when they were hosting gigs by Teardrop Explodes, Echo & The Bunnymen etc. If you want to find out more - and for the chance of downloading a couple of commemorative goodies (for a couple of days only) head to Caught By The River.

Elle Decoration

Thanks to Elle Decoration for the mention of our gallery in their May issue. We're now well settled into our new home and are looking forward to our first solo exhibition - a selection of Angie's prints, as part of Norfolk Open Studios 2009. Opens on Saturday 16th May.

Janette Ray Books

We had a brief stop in York the other day and were introduced to Janette Ray, a book dealer specialising in architecture, design, gardens and fine art. It's wonderful walking into a shop where you feel the selection of books on offer is almost custom-made for you. A parking meter deadline limited the time we could spend browsing but we did manage to select a few books - including a copy of "On Trust For The Nation" by Clough Williams-Ellis, illustrated throughout by Barbara Jones. You can view Janette's stock at www.janetteray.co.uk

Friendly Fires

I'm a sucker for cowbells and (some) boy bands and last night I enjoyed a little bit of both.

Friendly Fires - four lads from St Albans - played at Norwich's UEA following sets from two American bands tipped for great success, Boy Crisis and Hockey (yes, more boy bands).

Friendly Fires make a cool mix of pop and rave (nu-rave?), lots of percussion and heavy drums. Their music reminds me of the excellent LCD Soundsystem - both are full of energy and attitude but Friendly Fires win the dance accolade with some damn fine uninhibited shape shifting from the talented lead singer, Ed McFarlane.

The Magpie Eye

Took a trip up to Scarborough on Sunday to visit the art gallery there for the current 'East Coasting - Art & Design By Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious' exhibition that includes Mark Hearld's inspirational collection of objects old & new - all in a room under the title of 'The Magpie Eye' (which we featured previously). The exhibition closes on Monday 4th May - if you're anywhere near do try and make it. In the photo below Mark explains some of the room's contents to Angie and Marie. For gallery details visit their website.