GERALD CRITTLE, DEBBIE SMITH & MAGALIE BRIAND - IT'S BEST TO POP IN FOR A PROPER LOOK
- sixteen online
- Mar 18
- 3 min read
SIXTEEN GALLERY | 14 -- 20 AUGUST
IT'S BEST TO POP IN FOR A PROPER LOOK IS AN EXHIBITION FEATURING ABSTRACT PAINTINGS AND QUIRKY WALL OBJECTS BY GERALD CRITTLE, ALONGSIDE FUSED GLASS WORKS BY DEBBIE SMITH AND HANDMADE PAPER-BASED TREASURES CREATED BY BOOKBINDING ARTIST MAGALIE BRIAND. ALL ARE BEST EXPERIENCED IN THE GALLERY, RATHER THAN ONLINE.
Experiencing live music is a completely different experience from listening to a recording, and the same is true for art. Photographs on social media often fail to capture the texture, shapes and depth of abstract artist Gerald’s paintings and the way Debbie’s fused glass reflects and refracts light. Online images often fall short of conveying the intricate craftsmanship of Magalie’s one-of-a-kind books, notebooks or boxes. Her work must be seen in person to fully appreciate the fine textures and subtle details that define each handmade piece.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
ABSTRACT ARTIST GERALD CRITTLE
I am looking forward to showcasing a range of new work, which can be grouped into five categories.
The first collection features some new, big and bold paintings that can be tricky to show when sharing a space with other artists. There will definitely be planets and images of faraway galaxies! Sixteen Gallery is a fantastic space in which to exhibit larger paintings.
The second set is subtitled ‘Not every painting is blue’. Not everyone wants or has room for large paintings, so I have created some mid-sized works in a range of colours. It also demonstrates that not all my paintings are blue!
Next is art created from reclaimed timber. During previous exhibitions, wall objects created from old floorboards have been well received, which has encouraged me to make more in a range of sizes. Some on show during It’s Best To Pop In For A Proper Look are very different from previous creations.
It has been rewarding that over the last couple of years many of my small paintings on birch panels have found new homes. These are made from offcuts from a joinery company and are fun to create, offering something different from a framed painting. Like my larger paintings, I’ve used texture and mixed media. They make up the fourth collection on show during the exhibition.
The fifth group is quirky items created from treasures found at the Cheltenham Antique Market and reclamation yards; vintage oddities that find a new life as wall art. All of the above can be tricky to photograph, so it’s best to pop in for a proper look.
FUSED GLASS ARTIST DEBBIE SMITH
I’m very excited about my first exhibition in Sixteen Gallery. It’s an opportunity to showcase a range of fused glass techniques, making the most of the different ways glass transmits and reflects light.
Some of my work uses the ‘Hard Edge’ style, which is based on the precise arrangement of many individual pieces of art glass. It requires accurate cutting and creates bright pieces of work with crisp, clearly defined edges.
In complete contrast, my framed pictures rely on the soft effects created by layering glass powder and small glass particles to create scenes based on nature. These typically require repeated firings to obtain depth of colour and layers of texture.
Other items on display combine these styles with other techniques as I experiment with different ways of working in this versatile medium.
Glass is notoriously difficult to photograph and also has a lustrous quality that does not come across on a screen, which is why we invite you to come in and see it for yourself!
BOOKBINDING ARTIST MAGALIE BRIAND
Comments