A wonderful exhibition of prints from the collection of Newport Museum was opened yesterday evening by Derek Butler. He longingly recalled the atmosphere of the old Newport Arts College with distinctive welcoming smell of turps and cannabis smoke. The building is now being converted to luxury riverside flats.
The Sunshine Roof: Cyril Power
The exhibition is titled Limited Edition / In Response. Some of the prints have rarely been on exhibition in the past 70 years. The most striking, I found, to be from the only British school of painting - Vorticism. These powerful stylised prints are a delight.
The new cable : Sybil Andrews
This style of painting was short lived. It is characteristic on the twenties and thirties. The stylised figures and the powerful overall design separate the Vorticists from all other art fashions.
Hurdlers: William Greengrass
Derek Butler, who was formerly the head of graphic design in Newport spoke of the generosity of a former curator of the museum who allowed him to borrow very valuable prints. One he hung in his own flat. His wife, the present A.M for Newport west Rosemary Butler, was exceptionally impressed with one of the etchings which was proudly displayed in his bachelor flat. Alas she was trapped into marriage before she discovered that this expensive painting was being claimed back by the museum.
In full cry: Sybil Andrews
The exhibition is rich and varied. Perhaps a unique feature is a group of prints selected by the children of Maindee Primary School. The childrens' fascinating reasons for their choice are displayed. It is refreshing to see the wise and wonderful of the artistic elite proclaiming that the judgement of ten year olds has a validity compared with their own.
Wisdom at one?
Tomorrow I will lock horns with a moonlighting Tory MP on the subject of MPs second jobs. He is among the least guilty. He keep his hand in as dentist. The interview will be on Radio Four in the World at One show. I hope to focus on the worst offenders - especially those who use the revolving door to capitalise on their ministerial experiences.
I wonder how I can bring Vorticism into the discussion.
fascinating images! Not aware of them previously.
Not sure about the claim, "...from the only British school of painting - Vorticism."
Posted by: philip | November 04, 2011 at 09:06 PM