The Blind Spot - Exhibition and Talk by Cathy Lomax

I was drawn to this exhibition with its focus on 1950s Hollywood glamour icons; my earliest memories are of my mother sitting at a dressing table, not to be disturbed, looking not unlike some of these women. I was particularly drawn to the brittle quality of the cardboard cutouts in the glass case. Cathy calls them' flattened people defined by their surfaces'

 I've taken a few close ups, the one below is entitled 'Mrs Stone Reflects 1' a work inspired by Vivien Leigh in the film, The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone.

 The next two cut outs are titled 'Identity Crisis' and feature Jayne Mansfield seen below and

 Tippi Heden seen below here

 The one below is entitled 'Switchback' and shows four views of Diana Dors.

Here are a few more of Cathy's paintings:

 The one below is titled 'Show Girl'

Below is The Merry Maidens series inspired by a neolithic stone circle on the road to Lands End which is said to represent 19 maidens who were turned to stone for dancing on a Sunday. Images of the women have come from a wide range of sources, they have been given names from the most popular baby names.

 This painting is called 'Static Electricity'

 This painting called 'Adors' is the partner painting of 'Black Venus', the painting that won the Contemporary British Painting Prize. It's of a bronze head is modelled on the portrait bust of Diana Dors by Enid Mitchell.

Our September talk was Cathy talking about her exhibition, methods of working and her inspiration.
It was intriguing to hear her talking about her fascination with the world of 1950s glamour film stars, and reflecting on the fact that in many ways things haven't changed that much in the way women are depicted in film.

 Above Cathy just before the talk, and below talking about images she takes from films she watches which might make it to the painting stage

 The painting below depicts tights on women in the universal shade of American Tan, very popular at one time:

 And here is the Merry Maidens stone circle in Cornwall which inspired the 19 portraits

A great exhibition and fascinating talk, more on Cathy Lomax here:
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