21 March – 11 April – New by Artsite Associates
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6 April – 19 April – Movement 2000 by David Bent
I painted these pictures during the last few years of the 20th century. I wanted to do a significant piece of work to mark the millennium and my own 50th year.
I tried to make a comment about the state of the human condition as seen by me at that important time. I conjured up Movement 2000 in my mind. The primary point I wanted to make is that our lives, like our planet, go around in endless circles and that for many, life, often through no fault of our own goes down as well as up. People from all parts of the world can find themselves discipled from their “normal” existence and then have to move to seek an alternative (hopefully better) life for themselves. I wanted to hint at the many and varied reasons for this endless diaspora – war, natural disasters, plague and pestilence, disease, political, religious and economic – to name but a few. For effect, I sprinkled them with doses of visual trickery, geographic caricature, satire, humour, sexual innuendo and double entendre.
These paintings hide a number of sub-plots and contain specific references to a range of major global events that ran parallel to my own life in the last half of the 20th century. These include the fall of the Berlin wall, the Ethiopian famines, the death of Princess Diana (the grey lady in Crool Brittania) and many other occurrences that you may pick up on and relate to.
I am pleased myself that the work still seems relevant, if not more so 10 years further on. This is the first time that Movement 2000 has been shown in Swindon. I hope that you find it interesting, challenging and informative and that you enjoy look at it. I would like to thank Artsite and the Post Modern gallery for hosting my work, and Mike Pringle from Swindon Cultural Partnership for asking me to contribute to the Think Swindon Cultural Festival.
You can see more of my work at http://www.bentartgallery.co.uk
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28 April – 1 May – Interface by Swindon College 2nd and 3rd Year Students
For more information see: http://blog.the-interface-exhibition.co.uk
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9 May – 30 May – Enchantment (Open)
Fairy Tales.
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12 June – 20 June – Oil and Steel by Gordon Dickinson
Swindon artist Gordon Dickinson has worked and lived in Swindon for over thirty years. Gordon states, ‘I like my work to be noticed.’ and it’s hard not to notice his bold paintings and spellbinding sculptures. Here are just a few pieces of art by Gordon.
More can be found at http://www.gordondickinson.co.uk
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1 July – 11 July – Swindon Academy and New College Student Exhibition
Swindon students will be exhibiting their ‘A’ Level art work.
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28 July – 15 August – Mask (Open)
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12 September – 3 October – Autumn Salon by Artsite Associates
Over the weekend of September 12th & 13th this exhibition also formed part of Swindon Open Studios 2009
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10 October – 15 October – Performance by Lawrie Quigley
Lawrie Quigley is an eclectic painter, but through his various subjects runs a powerful, obsessive thread.
For him, the skin of the world, the first level we encounter, is a mere illusion – a sham, full of flattery and pretence.
This is why so much of his work is performance or literature related and inspired.
His paintings suggest modern day allegories or narratives which seem to allude to more timeless or universal themes relating to the human condition.
The artist allows spectators backstage to look behind the masks and eavesdrop on what the audience cannot see or hear.
Quigley has made good use of history: Goya and Picasso have contributed their black humour and menacing sense of play.
Balthus and Rego also come to mind, as the paintings exude a disconcerting air of intrigue and unease – Bomberg’s passionate brush strokes are there too.
We are plunged into a mysterious, dramatic and often threatening environment, armed with an incomplete guidebook.
Whom should we trust? Which direction should we take? – Oliver Bevan.
Lawrie Quigley studied at Loughborough University and the Royal Academy of Art.
He has exhibited widely, having work represented by several London Galleries – as well as showing abroad.
He has won many awards and bursaries, and has work held in both public and private collections.
He is an experienced Lecturer, and is currently Section Head for Fine Art at Swindon College, validated with Oxford Brookes University.
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18 October – 28 October – Painting from Rome by Tim Carroll
29 October – 14 November – Rats are Hicks by Adam Crossland
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16 November – 19 December – Angels, A Christmas Gift