City Museum announces major Autumn art show
Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery has just confirmed its Autumn/Winter 2013 programme which includes a headline exhibition showcasing 50 works of art from internationally celebrated artists.
‘Artists Make Faces’ (21 September to 7 December) is the vision of Monika Kinley OBE, a pioneering curator who moved to the Plymouth area in 2005 and who was recognised in the 2012 New Year’s Honours List for her services to the arts.
The exhibition is a realisation of a long-held idea of Monika’s to create a show of works where artists have taken the face and used it as a canvas to explore different themes, rather than just producing standard portraits. It will feature a distinctive and personal selection of works from public art galleries and collections including Arts Council England, Tate and the Whitworth Art Gallery. Some of the works that will be on display have not previously toured.
The exhibition will be presented in partnership with Peninsula Arts, Plymouth University.
“Artists Make Faces is a significant show for Plymouth, celebrating not only the artists on display but Monika herself, who has an amazing story of her own,” said Deputy Council Leader, Peter Smith.
“She worked at the Tate Gallery (now Tate Britain) shop in the 1950s where she developed contacts with many artists, critics and writers.
“From the 1960s, she devoted herself to discovering and promoting the unknown artists she admired - some of whom are considered to be among the greatest of their generation today.
"We’re very pleased to be working with such an influential figure from the UK’s post-war contemporary art world - and to exhibiting works by so many different artists in this show.”
Artists Make Faces will include works by famous names such as LS Lowry, Frank Auerbach, Gilbert and George, Eduardo Paolozzi and Lucien Freud.
It will also feature works by 'outsider artists' such as Sava Sekulic, Albert Louden and Richard Nie - artists who do not belong to a specific movement or school but who are no less significant than their mainstream counterparts - and who Monika has championed throughout her career.
"We are absolutely delighted to support Artists Make Faces, which recognises the important contribution of Monika Kinley and features an amazing line-up of significant artists from the 20th Century,” said Sarah Chapman, Director, Peninsula Arts. “Peninsula Arts is committed to bringing the highest quality arts and culture to the communities of Plymouth and the region and we are pleased to be able to continue this through our partnership with Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery."
Artists Make Faces will be backed with an event programme that will include special guided tours, short talks highlighting key artists, lunchtime lectures and family workshops. Special events will also take place at Peninsula Arts, Plymouth University and Plymouth Arts Centre.
The Museum’s Autumn/Winter programme will also include a second exhibition called ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ which will highlight examples of abstract art from the permanent collection that are very rarely on public display, including works by Patrick Heron, Ian Davenport and Justin Knowles.
Other Autumn/Winter events will include The Big Draw, Halloween and festive activities for families plus a brand new series of lunchtime lectures and Art Bites for adults.
The new ‘Adventures in Music’ series for under 5s will also be back with a bang following a short break over the summer and will feature high profile musicians such as African drum and harp maestro Seckou Keita and hang player Manu Delago. The UFO-shaped hang is one of the newest and most fascinating instruments in the world and Manu has previously travelled the world playing it as part of Icelandic singer Bjork’s band.
To stay up-to-date with all of the City Museum and Art Gallery’s exhibitions and events visit www.plymouthmuseum.gov.uk, call 01752 304774 or drop in during opening hours to pick up a brochure.
