Margate Gallery Exhibitions: A Review of 2012
December 21, 2012
2012 has been a busy year for us at the Margate Gallery we have strived to produce new and exciting exhibitions each month that not only represent new artists to the gallery but also artists who have been with us since the beginning. Our motto of working with professional local, national and international artists was well achieved in 2012 when we kick started our year with Lovers of Light, a joint exhibition between Sally Trueman and Patricia Castle. Sally went on to exhibiting her work successfully in galleries throughout France and continued collaborating with us throughout the year. Following our sunny Winter show was the exhibition very aptly named Spring. The Spring exhibition brought together artists Catherine McTurk, Mary Woodin, Kirsten Jones and Carol Gay whose artworks featured images of colourful garden flowers, buds, birds and vegetables. From March to April 2012 we held the inaugural Dawn Cole Solo Exhibition that focused on print-works inspired by the archive of WW1 VAD Nurse Clarice Alberta Spratling. Dawn’s arts project Resting Place was awarded public funding earlier in the year by the National Lottery and the Arts Council of England and most recently Dawn has been shortlisted for the Art Foundation Award, which will be announced in January 2013 by none other than the infamous artist Antony Gormley – we have our fingers crossed for Dawn!
And whilst we are on the topic of memorable exhibitions from 2012 our April-May exhibition entitled Memories featured two new artists to our gallery Laura Boswell and Ann Bridges. Laura and Ann’s successful show presented a vibrant selection of prints and paintings devised by subject matter that had been either imagined or experienced. Laura’s unique take on Japanese printmaking led to popular workshops later in the year for Pushing Print Festival 2012 at the Pie Factory Margate. The Turn, Turn, Turn… exhibition showcased work by over 40 members of the Printmakers Council, an artist led group who formed in 1965 to promote innovative contemporary print exhibitions and associated events.
I would have to say a highlight for me this year was Andy Tuohy’s retro-spective exhibition in June and July. Andy’s retro inspired prints and posters of Britain’s architecture and landmarks certainly made their mark on Margate with national press coverage on the BBC South East and not to forget the launch of the popular Margate Rising poster and magnets now sold at Turner Contemporary. Following on from Andy’s show was Claire Gill’s Seascapes which revealed a new series of Kent inspired photomontages. Claire’s rich poetic imagery is still alive in our gallery today where her limited edition prints Wallscapes, Seascapes and Margate Series that boast images of Thanet icons that are admired daily.
During September 2012 Margate Gallery aimed to do something just that little bit different with Untouched: Photographs by Benedict Johnson and Dan Bass –two events photographers employed by various international art galleries throughout the UK. Their compilation of works explored natural and physical elements found and inspired by the sea. Dan’s work revealed undesirable items washed up onto the Thanet shoreline and Benedict’s work revealed unpredictable subject matter evocative of spectacle and awe.
Pushing Print Open Submission Print Exhibition was held throughout October 2012 in conjunction with the family friendly Giant Steamroller Event and other fringe events held in Margate Old Town. The open submission print exhibition was carefully selected by Pushing Print Curators, Gill Saunders, Senior Curator of Print at the V&A and Ian Brown, Master Printer at Volcanic Editions.
To wrap up the year we have at our current exhibition Aerial View which perfectly divulges our aim to collaborate with artists on interesting topics. Looking at architectural and industrial structures through various methods and media this exhibition has brought together eight artists based locally and in London who have not yet exhibited together before. Most of our art exhibitions this year have been thoughtfully promoted by Thanet Gazette journalist Laura Archer who we thank very much for all her continuous support. So as another successful year comes to an end, we thought it would be nice to highlight some of our favourite exhibitions below. Thank you to all our loyal customers and supporters, have a wonderful Christmas and we look forward to welcoming you again in 2013.
