- Venue
- Gallery On The Square
- Location
- South West England
Now we all know about Poundbury in Dorset; Prince Charles’s utopian village. Like Marmite, those that visit seem to either love it or loathe it. However evolving within Poundbury are some really exceptional places to visit. In what will be the centre of this unique extension of Dorchester you will find the Gallery on The Square. Opened in November 2011 this welcoming gallery also has a superb separate cafe and gift shop. The owners Stephanie and David Murdock have already made their mark in Poundbury, building up a regular clientele from all over West Dorset. Exhibitions of carefully selected local artists are curated on a revolving programme by both David and Stephanie.
The current exhibition Coastal Expressions similarly involves the superb partnership of another couple; Jan and David walker. David’s pottery structures are tactile that evoke a sensual response. However it is Jan Walkers paintings that have entranced me. Jan’s work draws inspiration from a particular stretch of The Jurassic Coast; the cliffs around Portland.
The Jurassic coast is some 91 miles wide. This world heritage site consists of complex geological landforms. The area surrounding the Isle of Portland is particularly fascinating; the stratum reveals varying levels of ancient rocks and limestone and exposed within these layers can be found ancient fossils. Examining these rocks reveals a web of intricate patterns formed over thousands of years.
Jan’s work depicts this multiple geological layering by painting directly onto wood. Laying down delicate and restrained lines of colours together with engraving and gouging out subtle marks from the solid wooden surface, she depicts the form of the strata just as the force of natural elements around the coast takes its toll on the slowly eroding cliffs. This creates perceptive images that allow the viewer to consider and contemplate the levels of time portrayed within the subtlety of the work. Jan has sensitively portrayed the thousands of years that it has taken nature to build these layers; she has created an impression of the nuances and signifiers of an ancient landform whilst presenting us with contemporary abstract pieces of art that also draws references from expressionism; bringing us close to the surface of the subject evokes an emotional response of awe that could not be depicted in mere realistic imitation.
David and Stephanie have done an amazing job seeking talented local artists and curating such an exhibition which would hold its own in any contemporary gallery in ‘The Big City’. It is a real ‘must see’ for anyone visiting Dorset or passing through to Devon or Cornwall for their summer holidays. Having previously exhibited a couple of mixed exhibtions Coastal expressions is a uniquely curated show which I’m sure will be followed by other such shows; continuing to surprise and excite all that visit.
I’m really looking forward to seeing more work exhibited at this venue.
