tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16999067968584051812024-03-14T09:03:20.963+00:00Nice Things in Ramsgate Day to day activity around the creative side of Ramsgate, things I enjoy as part of my life and work in my shop and gallery, working with makers, artisans and artistsSuzyhumphrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629847947733654623noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699906796858405181.post-21470807602876797062018-07-21T00:16:00.001+01:002018-07-21T00:16:01.495+01:00Steven McGuinness exploring styles with a series of local scenes<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the gallery at Nice Things here in Ramsgate, we have a second exhibition by Pegwell Bay-based painter Steven McGuinness. He had one of his first solo shows here in February and has returned for another exhibition focusing on paintings of the local area, Ramsgate to the North Foreland lighthouse. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmo4jJ9fa9wk0yVdNnOsvFJY4-jfAsld-kATMqirfkTsUCO2oTVoFq4YxvP8VD1W3pvZ6rJWxVNgJJW_Z8LkH9AwFTabYLZygYfXyCKOM7VWxEt6OqvXYARS-D5aP9lP_5tfwDr-LTWo/s1600/IMG_4588%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmo4jJ9fa9wk0yVdNnOsvFJY4-jfAsld-kATMqirfkTsUCO2oTVoFq4YxvP8VD1W3pvZ6rJWxVNgJJW_Z8LkH9AwFTabYLZygYfXyCKOM7VWxEt6OqvXYARS-D5aP9lP_5tfwDr-LTWo/s320/IMG_4588%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been looking at the varying styles he is working in. I enjoy them all, starting with his linear block work, like this one of Pegwell Bay, with sky and sea divided into angular spaces with glowing colours that capture the light in this naturally beautiful area of the coast. It's extremely light, with delicate interpretation of the cliff and buildings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Other works are in a much more impressionistic style, with the most extreme this image of the Smeaton-designed lighthouse at Ramsgate's royal harbour. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyN784T8936C2DBba8q0s2Edgg-lonTUp19F0xC0MTn4on5xD_I7Di7hyGgh7D2uHJKD1U2QSgqnFVr6FVN3uTcM_zIbtr_7aaCniWTrN4jNfIRcqdAh3V7hQYN6jJoOLhEvm6agov8U/s1600/IMG_4586%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyN784T8936C2DBba8q0s2Edgg-lonTUp19F0xC0MTn4on5xD_I7Di7hyGgh7D2uHJKD1U2QSgqnFVr6FVN3uTcM_zIbtr_7aaCniWTrN4jNfIRcqdAh3V7hQYN6jJoOLhEvm6agov8U/s320/IMG_4586%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">Ramsgate lighthouse</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been really enjoying this picture of Broadstairs' Viking Bay beach, </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">it's warm and cheerful,</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">capturing the charm of summer that anyone who's visited the beach will know well. It must be one of England's most iconic beaches, it oozes childhood memories of 'going to the beach'. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And then there's this painting of Ramsgate harbour - a touch of the linear approach, with a really delicate look to the colourful buildings that surround the harbour, with soft dark pencil used to emphasise lines, add detail, making it intriguing to explore as you get closer and closer to look. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We'll all look forward to seeing more of Steven's work in the future, which includes large abstract canvases, as well as his beautiful local scenes. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTFZAmCyoBXP20srjziDsS10_mHNnoqwTfmfZ4k57BnsDYrmdMRH9WHOLc9t35xfTxfpHtKFmBP1N7rFkSVcEysVsVjHcWwHxG9j2I_4V3RxCT9ntoEBqNBKrFjCLRU6LS1X3gySBJV8/s1600/IMG_4589%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTFZAmCyoBXP20srjziDsS10_mHNnoqwTfmfZ4k57BnsDYrmdMRH9WHOLc9t35xfTxfpHtKFmBP1N7rFkSVcEysVsVjHcWwHxG9j2I_4V3RxCT9ntoEBqNBKrFjCLRU6LS1X3gySBJV8/s400/IMG_4589%255B1%255D.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Broadstairs Viking Bay beach<br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpo1iVlpVB-bvKQMhEg_agFxp7VhTsXu7kSL1mLWbGeGTnSnZbOVesTOt7o5HUjHMxttnYgM4PC0bW413l9PdyP66fBLRzvQMH6lqgP3YsT4yMj-K2SrZliZn-G5T94qUzeoPLLYfPk1M/s1600/IMG_4585%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpo1iVlpVB-bvKQMhEg_agFxp7VhTsXu7kSL1mLWbGeGTnSnZbOVesTOt7o5HUjHMxttnYgM4PC0bW413l9PdyP66fBLRzvQMH6lqgP3YsT4yMj-K2SrZliZn-G5T94qUzeoPLLYfPk1M/s400/IMG_4585%255B1%255D.JPG" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
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Suzyhumphrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629847947733654623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699906796858405181.post-64925869149966922772017-09-18T10:08:00.001+01:002017-09-18T10:08:14.242+01:00Sir Peter Hall - a life in theatre<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was very sad when I heard last week that Sir Peter Hall had passed away. We knew he wasn't well, but it's the passing of an era and there's to be no more of this person's genius and contribution to the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of my life has been focused around theatre and developing artists. Peter Hall was a big influence and figured hugely in my 12 years at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, as the director of the Masterclass programme (for 10 of those years). The picture here, from Miro Magazine, is how I'd like to remember him - talking to people about theatre, about Shakespeare, passing on his knowledge and immersive passion for it. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLgW8hDekZojKleiTltQsspQdDUYi11-VM4uRjJJdmuEJwbNswO2ILMsm3bRiUoxWNt6MapEDJ-IYigqJVZwglE2OazlGmOwwKtiI85qFyj3CYPu4_v3Y83fjBOLrz5AxLP1PVOHCLb8/s1600/Peter-Hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="725" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLgW8hDekZojKleiTltQsspQdDUYi11-VM4uRjJJdmuEJwbNswO2ILMsm3bRiUoxWNt6MapEDJ-IYigqJVZwglE2OazlGmOwwKtiI85qFyj3CYPu4_v3Y83fjBOLrz5AxLP1PVOHCLb8/s320/Peter-Hall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhUbCSpV8hjC0D6s6HksYF2M2IhIzny8BYvRjompAemJMxkHdAJHdgssFMcVT18owNgErAAiK3PHBG93xr1jnO6QUoQKeaunuait2jWxE0SMAffqhM_vVDMNseEcLLrXXRFDyesIaCVI/s1600/TheatreRoyalAtNightAdobeRGBVersion-700x455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Theatre Royal Haymarket" border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="700" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhUbCSpV8hjC0D6s6HksYF2M2IhIzny8BYvRjompAemJMxkHdAJHdgssFMcVT18owNgErAAiK3PHBG93xr1jnO6QUoQKeaunuait2jWxE0SMAffqhM_vVDMNseEcLLrXXRFDyesIaCVI/s320/TheatreRoyalAtNightAdobeRGBVersion-700x455.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Theatre Royal Haymarket, looking particulary pretty!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to work for Arnold Crook, the owner of the Theatre Royal Haymarket, back at the start of 1999. Arnold, passionate about this theatre, passionate about the need for young people to have chances and aspiration in life, had asked Peter Hall to become the founding patron of a project they called Masterclass - opening up this most beautiful of theatre buildings during </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">day, when </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">there's no show on, to young would-be </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">theatre practitioners, and students. Peter, with his son Edward, nowadays Artistic Director at Hampstead Theatre, put together an inaugural season at the end of 1998 with such luminaries as Tom Stoppard and Phyllida Law. The idea had legs and so I went there to become the first director of the project, to bring it to fulfillment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd totally admit that the prospect of meeting and working with Sir Peter Hall was entirely terrifying. My experience of theatre was good, but in a very different arena, no world-famous gold-encrusted theatre, no artists who are the most accomplished and revered in the world. But he is and was the most charming, supportive and inspiring person I could imagine. Over the years, he was always willing to come and give his own Masterclass and to ask some of the world's greatest actors, directors and writers to take part. He, along with Maureen Lipman, led our 10th anniversary celebration; an abiding memory will be him tripping off, up the Haymarket at the end of the event, with a tiny Humming Bird Bakery cupcake in it's special anniversary box, holding it carefully to get it home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Listening to Peter talk about Shakespeare, in his soft warm voice, is something I'll always remember, and the debt I have to him and the other amazing people I worked with and learned from in that beautiful glorious theatre. As the director who set up the Royal Shakespeare Company and launched the National Theatre, it does feel that this is the passing of someone who created our modern era of theatre, to whom we owe so much. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Suzyhumphrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629847947733654623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699906796858405181.post-49103325549797922082017-09-16T21:04:00.000+01:002017-09-16T21:04:03.921+01:00Pugin's designs, inspiring Robert Dawson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning, before opening up the shop at 11am, I rushed to catch an exhibition at St Augustine's Church before it closes tomorrow. I'd promised to go and see it and time was well and truly running out! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUUJI6I9tqZtZg5qG8e4tXyMwF_Gzy09KuSuMsXoKCDrlGKdZbGcTC2eDpS9t4cRYMhUiv_V_Y7l_as7kAR0RCFAXXTfKrPtdDZbJoB2-sDwohucK2X_JagB99PoIxj5qINxyzMDunQg/s1600/IMG_2644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUUJI6I9tqZtZg5qG8e4tXyMwF_Gzy09KuSuMsXoKCDrlGKdZbGcTC2eDpS9t4cRYMhUiv_V_Y7l_as7kAR0RCFAXXTfKrPtdDZbJoB2-sDwohucK2X_JagB99PoIxj5qINxyzMDunQg/s320/IMG_2644.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was glad I'd made it. The church was built by Gothic Revival architect AWN Pugin, next door to his family home he also designed and built, up on the west cliff of Ramsgate. It was loved by Pugin and hugely embodies the spirit of all that was important to this Victorian genius. The building recently completed a new visitor and education centre, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and I'm ashamed to say this is the first time I'd got inside to see the development. Really great to see, finally, a display and interpretation to honour Pugin and his relationship with Ramsgate. And it was enhanced by the work of Robert Dawson and his exhibition 'En Avant'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dawson works from his studio 'Aesthetic Sabotage' in London and specialises in using clay in developing pattern and print. His 21st century interpretations of some of Pugin's patterns give them a new life and I smiled at the panel on the far left of this picture, which puts the icons for Apple, the ethernet, 'power on' buttons and such like, alongside patterns familiar from encaustic tiles. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was intrigued about how the panels were made, how the fine designs were actually accomplished using clay. Some had layers of cut paper or fabric as well, creating a series of textures, helping to bring the patterns to life. The panels definitely brought added interest to the spaces in the church and seeing the designs made you think about Pugin himself, and his work and obsessions with perfection in design of every aspect in the buildings he created - from the architecture to the items within them. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcu6qxyDbYgKFeHKiz7D1glzPNVEy9WbLsBfBpmlWqhWHZO8NUY_SzXVxL18CavcjgUvaDR6y-JS-tPwfMmN5bDuG7_ZTOJLrShOb_unUKAJtssIczbvCIxZH9pdNchPUnnECSpX44j4/s1600/IMG_2646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcu6qxyDbYgKFeHKiz7D1glzPNVEy9WbLsBfBpmlWqhWHZO8NUY_SzXVxL18CavcjgUvaDR6y-JS-tPwfMmN5bDuG7_ZTOJLrShOb_unUKAJtssIczbvCIxZH9pdNchPUnnECSpX44j4/s400/IMG_2646.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't know anything about Robert Dawson's work, but I'm interested now in finding out more. From his website it told me: </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_14" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dawson began working with historic ceramic sources, which he manipulated and reapplied to china tableware and ceramic tiling. His re-workings of the </span></span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_14" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Willow Pattern</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_14" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> included the enlargement, distortion, and cropping of elements within this familiar chinoiserie decoration, and his new style of working has been widely imitated. Dawson soon moved on to the creation of large-scale public art works.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_14" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I can see why he was a perfect artist to link with the new centre and Pugin's church. <b>"</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif;"><b>Dawson embodies the artisanal spirit of Pugin himself, while revitalising his designs for the twenty-first century." </b>- seems to be pretty true! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif;">References: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.aestheticsabotage.com/en-avant">https://www.aestheticsabotage.com/en-avant</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ramsgateandminster.com/shrine-of-st-augustine/">http://www.ramsgateandminster.com/shrine-of-st-augustine/</a></span>Suzyhumphrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629847947733654623noreply@blogger.com0Ramsgate, UK51.335545 1.419894999999996851.295868500000005 1.3392139999999968 51.3752215 1.5005759999999968