Impact

Hello everyone,

A warm welcome to our latest followers. It's nice to have you with us.

I noticed this lovely message left in award-winning artist Janet Melrose's visitors book:

"I don't know if I've ever looked at a painting in a magazine or online and felt the same impact as when seeing it face to face".

The comment is spot on of course, and I believe goes someway to reinforce the importance of galleries as public spaces....for all to experience, share and enjoy.
I have likened Janet's exhibition to a 'stage set' in that it is perfect, intriguing and transports you to another world. The overriding opinion at Union Gallery is that it's to a better world.
Here are some tasters:

and...

I simply can't get enough.

 
Leaving you with some more impact:

"Antonine Hill", oil on canvas by Philip Braham.
Philip Braham is another award-winning artist who has shown all over the world. Philip's solo exhibition, "Still". will open during the Edinburgh Festival in August. Please contact Union Gallery for more details and to ensure an invitation to see something with serious impact.

Speak soon

Delicate Things

Hello everyone,

I would like to draw your attention to a very special number in Janet Melrose's solo exhibition, "A Still Life". Firstly though, by way of introduction, I wanted to show you this:

Oddly enough, this time last year I was out walking Union Gallery hound Harry, and came across this perfect little birds nest. And, like last year, I will stress that I didn't hijack it from a tree, I simply came across it on the path. I couldn't resist the urge to pick it up and inspect the fine craftsmanship. I also said in that blog that I immediately thought of artists Janet Melrose and Jenny Matthews, believing that they would also appreciate this perfect piece of nature.
And so, one year on, we have another work of perfection:

"Delicate Things", acrylic on canvas by Janet Melrose.
Artist Janet Melrose has, in the past, made comment about her 'generic' birds. Yes, it's true to say her birds are often stylised, but this is not to be confused with being frivolous or cartoon-like. Janet's seemingly effortless birds are captured in the moment, skillfully recording their very essence. To me, the bird featured in "Delicate Things" is anything but generic. Her beady eye is alert and watches anxiously, staring right at you whilst she sits protectively over the fragile fruits of her labour.
I have a feeling that who ever secures this treasure will also have an eye for all things delicate and special.

Leaving you with a couple more delicate and special things:

No. We did not prepare them earlier! These tiny visitors are the gorgeous twin girls of our good friends Sam and Nina Gough.
Little Cassia is on the left and Poppy is on the right.....we think!

Speak soon x

Look Closer

Hello everyone,

Firstly, a huge thank you to all who have been in to view award winning artist Janet Melrose's solo exhibition, "A Still Life". And thank you to those who have been in many times now as "it makes me feel good". I completely understand this and my old habits of sneaking in early and leaving a wee bit later have returned ten-fold.
A closer look at this:

"Look Closer", acrylic on canvas by Janet Melrose.
Janet Melrose's exhibition was always going to be special and was the perfect celebration for the month of May. Ok, we seem to be experiencing 'April Showers' this month, but the long, dark cold nights of the incredible winter of 2010 are far behind us. It's time for people to feel better and Janet's work offers calm and inspiration to all who see it. I find it intoxicating and feel Union Gallery currently offers sanctuary.
For me, the above painting goes someway to explain the beauty and sensitivity in Janet Melrose's work. I think it's fair to say that we are living in challenging times, in reality brutal times, Yet I look at this enchanting painting (even the title is perfect), and I am encouraged. If you are daring enough to take 10 minutes out of your gruelling schedule, or have the need to get out out of the office at lunch, then go for a walk. I do this as often as I can to get some thinking space and calm time. To see the birds, bees and blossoms reminds you that there are still perfect and beautiful things in the world. Janet Melrose's exhibition really does encourage you to 'look closer' and focus on the things we often take for granted.
Janet herself described the process of making the work for this exhibition as 'carthartic'. I can feel this completely and for those who see it, there is a similar sensation. Here's a comment from Janet's visitor's book: "May 11th 2011. Crap day. Came into the gallery again to clear my head. The paintings are a breath of fresh air, clearing my brain, filling it with an empty space of beauty, now can go out and handle the crap without it getting me down".

"New Beginning", acrylic on canvas by Janet Melrose.

Have a lovely weekend.

Janet Melrose: 'A Still Life'

Hello Everyone

It may be true that a picture paints a thousand words, but for Janet Melrose's first solo exhibition in Edinburgh, just the right words exist:
http://bit.ly/m6RWIR
Written by Jan Patience, art writer and blogger extraordinaire (http://janpatience.blogspot.com)

Great writing, I am sure you will agree.

Tweet soon...

Waiting for the Tulips

Watching...

Waiting.....

The wait is over:

"Waiting on the Tulips", acrylic on canvas by Janet Melrose.

"A Still Life" opens Thursday 6-8pm. Intoxicating!