#the lightbox

The Lightbox, Woking, UK On 31st January we held a private viewing of our UCA Photography MFA student work, The Gathering (you can see information about it now on the Exhibitions page). On the way out, in the evening, I stopped to photograph these glass sculptures with variable colored lighting in the entrance park. I couldn’t find any information about them.

The Lightbox, Woking, UK John Davies’ sculpture is outside the room where our student show, The Gathering was housed. I was struck by the sculpture and how the colored window striping and lights contrasted with it.

The Lightbox, Woking A gold-foil wrapped counter at The Lightbox.

Blog Note My MFA class has an exhibition at The Lightbox in Woking running now and I have a couple of images from my Meadowlands series in it. I traveled there last Sunday to see it. If you’re in the UK, please come by and see it, thru February 5th. Click any image above to see them all enlarged.

Picasso at The Lightbox, Woking to 24 June 2018

From the PRESS RELEASE: Pablo Picasso is renowned for his insatiable curiosity and tireless urge for creativity which often led him to mediums beyond painting. Spanning almost seven decades of the artist’s life, the exhibition celebrates Picasso’s experimentation with drawing, printmaking and ceramics and explores the relationship between these different mediums and the ways in which they fostered his creativity.

Installation shot

Installation shot

'Dishevelled Woman' 1963 (The one I wanted to take home with me)

Jacqueline in Profile turned to the right - Lithograph 1958

Head of a young boy - lithograph 1945

Plus

Lee Miller: Picasso Portraits to 17 June 2018

American model turned Surrealist photographer, Lee Miller first met Picasso in the early 1930s and thus began their life-long friendship. Miller became a muse for Picasso, as well as a lover, which gave her unique access to the artist, captured in the informality of these photographs.

Picasso and Lee Miller in his studio, Liberation of Paris, Rue des Grands-Augustins, Paris, France 1944 by Lee Miller

I’ve visited the exhibition, finding much to enjoy and appreciate in his ceramic works. While I understand the way Picasso challenged art convention, and his experimentation in various art forms are outstanding, and much revered, generally his drawings aren’t to my taste. Yes, I admit it, I’m an old fogey.

I like ceramics, especially hand thrown works with artistic designs and in different glazes. I warm to Picasso’s ceramic art, and strangely find much to appreciate in his works in clay and ceramics, even though they have similar artistic forms found in his paintings that I find more difficult to like. I think it’s to do with the fact that the ceramics can be held, and used, leading to a tactile appreciation not possible with his paintings and prints.

Now, the exhibition at The Lightbox has both prints, drawings and ceramics. As I’ve said, I’m unappreciative of the prints and drawings. However, his ceramic works are hugely to be enjoyed. What I learned from the exhibition that much of the works on view were collected, over many years, by filmmaker Lord Attenborough, and gifted to the Leicester Arts & Museum Service.

Here are a couple of the plates. How I’d love to have such plates to hold fruit, or whatever. [Click on image to expand]

Museum Monday #4: The Lightbox in Woking

While The Lightbox isn’t in Surrey Heath, I think it’s near enough to qualify. Now in it’s 10th year, oh, how time zips by. The museum is an arts and heritage centre, with museum, art gallery, and education studio. I know they’re lucky to have the support of Chris Ingram, entrepreneur and Woking resident, who has lent The Lightbox part of his collection of Modern British and Contemporary Art. The…