The Cardinal Bird

Hello Everyone

I thought I'd tell you a lovely story connected to this stunning painting, currently being exhibited in our Small and Perfectly Crafted exhibition:

'Homecoming' by Fiona Jappy
I am a real fan of Fiona's paintings: they are always so beautifully concieved and painted.  And I love the fact that her paintings always have an interesting story attached to them, and a slightly 'other worldliness' feel to them.

After graduating from Edinburgh College of Art, Fiona moved to the US to complete her Masters at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.  I'll let her take up the story:

"When I moved to America and arrived in Carbondale it was night so I couldn't really see much of me new 'home'.  The next day, when I got up one of the first things I did was go outside to see where I had come to.  I discovered that the house I was living in had a beautiful garden, and as it was such a beautiful sunny day I sat out on the porch and observed everything that was going on around me.  I was busy watching the birds when my landlady came out to see how I was getting on.  I asked her what type of bird I was looking at as it was so pretty, and she told me it was a Cardinal, which happened to be the state bird of Illinois.
Forward on many years, back in Elgin, and one Saturday I went down to the local mart to have a look at the stalls they have there.  There's always one stall that I go to that collects for charity, and when I was looking I couldn't believe what I came across.  It was a beautiful little suncatcher....shaped like a stylised Cardinal Bird.  So through different spaces and time, two of my 'homes' were connecting themselves."

And so, there is a stunning little Cardinal Bird in a cage in the foreground of this painting.  It's tiny, so if you want a proper look you will need to come into the gallery before Feb 14th.

And here is an image of a real Cardinal Bird:

 

Beautiful, isn't it?

And leaving you with this:

Artist Christine Clark popped in while we were hanging the exhibition, and here she is having a good look at her friend and fellow artist Imogen Alabaster's new work.

Have a good weekend everyone.....  

Little by little

All great things are only a number of small things that have carefully been collected together.Anonymous

Hello everyone

Greetings to our latest blog followers. Nice to have you with us Ms Patterson!

So we are continuing with the little guys theme. Lets start with this beauty:

"Tortoiseshell" by Jenny Matthews.

When you get over how perfect that little butterfly (who is only 5cms in width) is, you will start to notice other amazing things about this painting. Bottom right hand corner, on the stalk of the pea plant there are tiny, minutely observed, strands peeling away from the stalk. That's so good! If I were told I was going to be boiled alive at dawn I could not do anything a 10th that good. I was also keen to see a 'black' painting on the black background - rather slick I think. If you still can't see what I mean about the stalk, come in and I will show you.

"Dark Place II" by Siobhan O'Hehir.
At only 30x30cm there's an awful lot of work that's gone into this striking little painting. The oil and beeswax combination give this painting a really rich finish. Again, I was keen to see this painting on the black background too.

And this little cutie:

"Tiny Cup on Blue" by Ruth Addinall.
I really, really like this little treasure. I have even been lucky enough to share coffee and chocolate with artist Ruth Addinall, using this very tea cup. The coffee was a small serving...the chocolate was not!


Have a great weekend all.

SAD?

Hello everyone

Apparently today is the most depressing day in the calendar. Dubbed 'Blue Monday', psychologists say that a combination of the weather, post-festive blues and financial worries make this the most depressing day of the year.

So, at UNIONgallery we are going to look at things a bit differently. Firstly, after today 'Blue Monday' will be over - a thing of the past - and you will only have 348 days left to make the best of 2011. It IS a new year and I have higher hopes for the artists, gallery visitors and for the gallery itself than ever before. I truly believe that even in these difficult times brilliant things can be achieved. I also believe that artists - creative, resourceful and forward-thinking individuals - are the very ones to pull together and to make a difference for the better.... for everyone's benefit. Indeed, with the world seeming an increasingly brutal place, I believe that there is even more need for art. I know this: I am lucky enough to experience it, day in and day out.

Always remember that at UNIONgallery we have an 'open door' policy. The inspiring and uplifting artwork we exhibit is to be shared and enjoyed by everyone, and I am convinced that just a look will help to alleviate any Blue Monday or SAD symptoms.

This will put a smile on your face:

Artists Imogen Alabaster, Mark Nicholas Edwards and Christine Clark worked hard throughout the freezing temperatures to achieve what is now affectionately known as 'The Wonder Wall'. Their work may be on a small scale, but it is the epitome of what 'Small and Perfectly Crafted' is about.

Leaving you with this, which I hope will create more smiles:
There has been much talk about the new man in my life. Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing......HENRY:
  

I have given him a test drive over the weekend and it's true.....we are inseperable. My New Year's Resolution? Clean up my act!

Speak soon.....

"SMALL AND PERFECTLY CRAFTED"

Hello everyone

Overinduldged at Christmas? Did everything supersize?

The perfect little fix is here.....

and......

If Santa was good enough to put some cash in your stocking, then this is the perfect exhibition to treat yourself to something really special.

Big can be beautiful, but tiny treasures can hold there own.

There are some real stunners in this exhibition and, in spite of the smaller scale of the work, there is no shortage of quality.

Last weekend to view "The Hunt" and many other beautiful artworks from the Christmas show.