PRESS RELEASE

Preview Night 23rd May
7pm – 10pm

Exhibition starts 26th May runs till 19th June

Gallery open Tuesday-Saturday 10am – 4.30pm

‘Earth-Water-Concrete-Steel-Brick’

The exhibition will focus on photography, Painting and sculpture that attempts to epitomise an equilibrium of Architecture in the natural landscape.

Organic architecture is a philosophy of architecture which promotes harmony between human habitation and the natural world through design approaches so sympathetic and well integrated with its site that buildings, furnishings, and surroundings become part of a unified, interrelated composition.
An example of one particular Architect who exemplifies this philosophy is Frank Lloyd Wright. ‘The geometries within his designs attempted to imitate the asymmetries within nature’.(1) Not only did his designs work seamlessly to the natural surrounding in the literal sense, his buildings were designed to stimulate the illusion of a living, breathing organism.

A superb example of Wrights living, breathing design is the world famous Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. I believe the source of inspiration may have been a spiraling shell which in terms of Philosophical aspects the construct of the building relates to understanding nature and phi, the mathematical ratio throughout nature.
In terms of art, Constructivism was on the forefront of being both Architecturally composed and socially aware. ‘Artists such as Alexander Rodchenko were absorbed by industrial production and the Art led to an developed sense non – objective abstractions of the movement ‘Suprematisim’ with more utilitarian aims, creating ideal Constructivist cities.’(2)
The Artists selected for this exhibition will be inexorably tied to Architecture/Landscape through renditions of buildings and cities that pivot against natural surroundings.
(1)Truth Against the World: Frank Lloyd Wright Speaks for an Organic Architecture, ed. by Patrick Meehan (1987, Wiley;)
(2)S. Khan-Magomedov, Alexander Vesnin and Russian Constructivism (Thames & Hudson 1986)

Simone Santi

Simone is an enthusiastic travel photographer. His interest in photography has grown constantly throughout the years, and has developed into a true passion in recent times. Thanks to his numerous travel opportunities, both for business
and pleasure, Simone has been able to discover the beauty of this form of art in places
as remote as Syria, India, Mozambique and Korea.
Having spent half of his life away from his native Italy, Simone has developed a truly international mindset and a deep interest in cultural diversity. He has lived in countries as far apart as USA, Argentina, Portugal and Hong Kong, UAE and photography has accompanied each one of his traveling experiences.
His work focuses on three main subjects:
Motion: nothing in life is still, everything is constantly changing. These images freeze movement in time, although delivering a clear message that the very same moment is gone forever.
People: we are so many, so diverse, but at the same time have so much in common. Traveling
is a way to discover what we share and what makes us unique, photography is a way to capture it all
Places: nature and mankind have sometimes worked together to surround us with breathtaking wonders. It would be a pity not to explore the surprising beauty of our world. Simone has recently returned to London, following 2 years in the Middle East. He has recently participated in the “Travel Photographer of the Year”, "Wanderlust Travel Photo of the Year" and the "IPA - International Photo Awards" competitions. He has recently
been invited to participate with some of his portraits to an upcoming charity book project: “Children - moments of humanity”.

All funds raised throughout the project will be used to subsidise children help/care/support organizations.
Simone has exhibited both in East and West London and details of his past and
upcoming exhibitions can be found in the "Exhibitions" links of his website.
An exhibition on his recent work in Yemen will be held in Dubai in October at the Total Arts gallery.

The photography Simone took while visiting Dubai focuses on the skyline of the city and its beautiful architecture. There were numerous shots taken using experimental long-exposures to abstract some of the illuminated architecture. These photographs have been selected by Lloyd, as they embrace a correspondence to movement of natural elements such as air and water.

Simone Santi, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Lambda Print famed, 42cm x 29.5cm, 2009

Heather davies

Heather was born in Farnborough, Hampshire. After leaving School, Heather Joned the Civil Service, during her Career as a Civil Servant; She worked for the Ministry of Defence (Army Department) in London and Hampshire.
Her interest in Art was rekindled after a watercolour workshop with the Artist Terry Harrison in January 2004. During July 2004, Heather attended The Chelsea School of Art London, Summer school.
Deciding on a Career change, and with a move to Somerset, Heather enrolled on the Foundation Diploma course at Weston-Super-Mare’s Westchliffe Art College in 2006. The foundation Course lasts for two years and enabled Hather to broaden her horizon’s within the Art curriculum. Textiles, Printing, Sculpture, Painting, Ceramics, Photography and life drawing were the subjects covered.
Heather soon realized that ceramics was the subject that she enjoyed most. Ceramics introduced her to Raku firings and Sagga firings, clay could be unpredictable, and there was always a challenge. Pieces of work coming out of the kiln could be so surprisingly good other times it can be a disaster.
Heather enjoyed working with Porcelain for its versatility, colour and texture. Heathers work combines Porcelain slip with lace and wood. Heather explores the use of Sculptural aesthetics by introducing copper wire as a boundary/containment for the Porcelain.
Heather finds taking costal walks a deep inspiration and as her mind connects with the natural surroundings it is here were the work begins.
Serveral great Ceramic artists, two in particular have influenced Heather. Netty Van Den Hauvel for her specialized work in porcelain. Netty’s interwoven pieces are so delicate and fragile. Serveral of them resemble pieces of coral.
Sebastain Blackie has produced a number of excellent saggar-fired pots. A favourite piece of Heathers is coiled and pinched, saggar-fired stoneware pot entitled ‘Sink’. The distinctive white, black and grey colours achieved by sagger-firing.
Lloyd found her ceramics translate geological fundamentals such as platonic plates of the Earth as they shift and cause Earthquakes. The porcelain is in a state of flux as its energy contorts and resembles white water crashing on rocks.

Heather Davis, St Ives, Porcelain glazed-burnt out lace. Porcelain slip sagger-fired. Earthenware clay with oxides, L18.5cm x w 11.5cm H13cm, 2008.

Harry Bell
Harry has always drawn since the time he stole an assistant’s pencil stub from the Co-op when he was four. His route to painting, however, was circuitous, involving several years detour into cartooning for the world of science fiction fanzines (He was Fan Guest of Honour at the World Science Fiction Convention in 1979). In 1989 he began seriously to paint in spare time from his Civil Service employment, and with help from the Open College of the Arts, was able to progress sufficiently to win prizes and to be given his first solo show in 1995. Taking early retirement from the Civil Service in 1997, he began a BA (Hons) degree course at Newcastle University and graduated in 2001.

The majority of Harry’s work has always found its source in the urban environment. The play of light on buildings attracts him and he uses the effects of light and shadow to make paintings based on strong abstract compositions. However, he would describe himself and the work he produces as contemporary realist. Travels abroad, where the light is stronger, the colours brighter, have had a profound effect on his sense of colour and in recent years he has concentrated on developing that aspect of his work

Although he occasionally draws and paints from the subject, Harry sees that only as a way of maintaining hand to eye co-ordination and securing a continued connection with the world outside his studio. Primarily a studio-based artist, most of his work comes from his own photographs. These are always manipulated to a greater or lesser extent, by methods including cropping, photocopying, collage and computer program. Drawings are often produced as an intermediate stage, so that the final oil painting can be produced from aspects of several processes. Developing a photographic likeness is never Harry’s aim.

Harry Bell Millennium Bridge, London, Oil on canvas 50.8 cm x 50.8 cm, 2007

Lucy Chapman

Lucy studied for her BA in English and graduated in 2000. More recently Lucy studied on a short course at Camberwell college of Art in Screenprinting and it is here where she developed her passion for printing. Lucy has had many successful exhibition’s, most recently a solo show titled ‘The view from nowhere’ prints of South East London, You don’t bring me flowers, hither green, East London, 2008.
Lucy is inspired by the psycho-geography of urban environments: details that are familiar but uncelebrated; land earmarked for demolition and redevelopment; echoes of industry and trade. Her work explores landscapes in transition and the layering of time through the built environment.
Lucy uses a mixture of photography, collage and drawing, which She screen print’s using photo stencils. Lucy produces small runs of prints and handprint each one. The hand printing process produces tiny variations in each print so each artwork is unique.

Lucy Chapman, Cressingham Road, edition of 5, 76x40cm, 2008

Simon Palmour

Simon has worked as a photographer for over 20 years, working with a variety of clients and exhibiting at venues that have included the Royal Geographical Society and Actor’s Institute. Ten years ago Simon moved to York.

In the last four years he has developed his photography into a new direction with a primarily monochrome series of more abstract images of textures, buildings and landscapes.

Simon has exhibited successfully as part of York Open Studios for the past three years. His portrait work and on-line sales have continued to flourish.

His work was featured in the Yorkshire Post in 2008.

Simon Palmour Airport Madrid, Photographic print, 43x33cm, Madrid, 2007

Emma Condliffe
Emma returned to painting nine years after graduating from the University of Plymouth in 1998. She now lives and works in South London.

Her work considers the reality that photography captures and translates it to describe the very essence of a certain place in time. It aims to offer the viewer more than a still representation, capturing the atmosphere in a busy street or the mood of the subject, using movement to providing the viewer with more than the traditional still-life.

The street scenes are also concerned primarily with the colossus and the permanence of architectured structure and the juxtaposition with the transient, and fragile figures, depicting the constant movement of people journeying through these urban spaces.

A variety of mediums seeks to enhance this juxtaposition between the figures and the theatrical settings that they are put into, but also allows a freedom to experiment with and manipulate a scene. Emma curated & participated in Group Show at Number 22 during Aug 2008. Emma's work participated In a Solo Exhibition - Number 22, Herne Hill during Feb to Apr 2008. Emma was commissioned portrait for Punchdrunk's ‘Masque of the Red Death’
During Sep 2007.

Emma Condliffe, Empire state, chalk & charcoal on paper, 70cm x 100cm, 2008

Lloyd Austins
Lloyd Austins is a painter dedicated to painting portraits and his surroundings in Wolverhampton and the West Midlands. He works furiously, producing powerful paintings and drawings charged with great energy.
When painting, oil paint is applied direct to the canvas from the tube with a knife. This bold handling coupled with the intense colour of the paint allows the artist to create expressive, vital works.

Lloyd Austins Study for a London landscape, Charcoal on paper, 150 x 60cm, 2008.

Melanie Henderson

After working for many years as a photographer in a fashionable portrait studio in London’s West End where the emphasis was on control, both of light, style and subject, Melanie now spends much of her time capturing the landscape where the opposite is true.

Her studies of the outdoors whether natural spacious and flowing landscapes or iconic gritty urban cityscapes rely on her ability to see the minute changes in tone, colour and angle of natural and available light.
Her unique photographic style combines the bold graphic finesse of the portrait photographer with the almost spiritual quality of calm and serenity of someone who can understand the natural environment.

Melanie Henderson, Brooklyn Bridge, photographic print, print size 10x8 framed -(frame size 16x20 in) 2006