Friday Lunchtime Talk

Before Christmas Sophie Cummings, Curator at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery gave her last FREE Friday lunchtime talk on the exhibition in the small part of the gallery. As regulars to Sophie's talks will know, they are carefully thought out, very informative, and give insights into the thinking behind the exhibitions. I have attended lots of the talks, and will miss Sophie's witty and insightful comments about paintings and artists. I have thoroughly enjoyed the talks and know I speak for many others when I say she will be missed, and would like to say a big 'thank you' for the talks and the meticulous preparation which went into them, although this was never obvious in her smooth, confident delivery.

The exhibition of prints is called Hit repeat: Prints from the Swindon Collection of Modern British Art. As the  museum's website says:

'Printmaking can take many forms, from lithographs to etchings to woodcuts and even digital prints.

This exhibition brings together a selection of prints from Swindon’s Collection, so visitors can explore this vital and engaging art form for themselves. The exhibition includes work by Allen Jones, Basil Beattie, Christopher Nevinson and Katherine Jones.'

 I have included all the photos I took of Sophie talking to the group of people who came. The one above gives an idea of the atmosphere in the gallery when Sophie is talking Ian Hamilton Finlay's screenprint 'The Battle of Midway' can be seen in the background.

 This one above is similar, but showing the audience, below Sophie has moved to the other side of the room and discussed Allen Jones' 'One Night Only' just seen on the right.

 and in this one, round the corner, and into the main gallery, Sophie is talking about the new Nevison print.

 which you would be able to see if there wasn't a head in the way!!

 I took a few photos of prints Sophie talked about, although feeling a bit emotional, I haven't remembered much of what was said. I've photographed some of the information sheets, so that might help.

 Above is 'Goshawk' a wood engraving by Charles Tunnicliffe. Wood engraving and woodcuts are some of the earliest forms of printmaking and date back to the 14th century. The design is carved into the wood, the surface is then covered in ink and pressed onto cloth or paper, the cuts create white areas, inverse to the cuts made.

 Above 'Narcissus' an etching by Michael Ayrton, an etching is made by covering a metal plate in wax and the artist scores the design into the wax. The plate is then dipped into acid which reacts with the metal where the wax has been removed. Etching creates precise prints with dark lines and areas of shadow.

 Above one of the three photocopied pages and collage by Monster Chetwynd 'Catpeople 2,3 and 4' 2017

 Above Martin Brewster's Rabley No.4 2009, a photogravure etching.
The exhibition runs until the 4th of January, if you haven't yet seen it, there are only 2 days left.