Cache; Hidden Treasures

Cache: noun Hidden treasures

... is a new exhibition at The ACE Centre featuring the work of 11 different artists; work that isn’t seen very often, work that has come from ‘behind the wardrobe’, ‘the osteopaths waiting room’, and ‘the small back bedroom’. Work that is normally hidden.

Have a look at some of the works below and I have talked to some of the artists too...

Artist: noun

Philip Pearson

Philip’s stone carvings are again items that have never been exhibited before. Philip started wood carving over 20 years ago and then had to give this up due to illness. It was a chance conversation with a stone artist that encouraged him to try stone carving as this can be easier.

(I was interviewing a few artists together at this point and we were all shocked – carving wood is harder than carving stone?)

Philip explained that the wood has a grain and a pattern it naturally wants you to go down and carving against this can be very difficult physically and there is no such issue with sandstone. The only drawback is that stone is a lot heavier than wood.

Philip tends to work figuratively although abstract and is influenced by the life drawing class he and Tina Foran (see below) run on Wednesday evenings.

These particular works are the first carvings Philip has done in a very long time. He free-carves. Stands at the stone and just does it. The stone itself does influence him.

Man Sat on his feet
Philip Pearson
£250

Just look at this face!

Woman Sat on Stool
Philip Pearson
£325

Artist: noun

Ben Hunt and

Aimi O’Donnell

Emerge
Aimi O'Donnell and Ben Hunt
£400

C'mere
Aimi O'Donnell and Ben Hunt
£530

Artist: noun

Chris Moore

Chris is an artist and illustrator who sells his work internationally from his home studio in Pendle. He mostly designs book covers and has done nearly all the UK covers for popular science fiction author Philip K Dick.

When I spoke to Chris he had just got back from a fantasy art convention in the USA which featured about 90 artists who are the best international specialists in fantasy art, or Goblins and Dragons as it could be described. Chris was one of only 4 UK artists represented.

Chris rarely shows his work and doesn’t really exhibit at all so these works are truly hidden. To see more of his work, you can visit his website here

One of the works on show of Chris’ is here and he describes this work as “The best thing I’ve ever done”

WE CAN BUILD YOU

Chris Moore

£300

Here is a copy of the book it was a cover for.

And here is the book on display, with a book all about Chris' work, title; Journeyman.

Special Deliverance
Chris Moore
£50

Dawn over Pendle
Chris Moore
£200

Artist: noun

Iain Broadley

Iain Broadley is a freelance artist and part time occupational therapist. He was into Punk and groups like CND when he realised that you can’t change the world unless you change things for yourself. He is interested in ideas of peace and Buddhism and quantum physics, but the side of these that is fun and accessible, “not preachy”. Iain now does a lot of work freelance which links to these ideas, all about empowerment and helping people reach the stage where they can make their own decisions, “you don’t have to watch X Factor just because its on, you can go and see a live band or even play some music yourself”.

The work we are exhibiting here reflects two of Iain’s eclectic interests; world peace and his love of Burnley Football Club and are linked by clothing and superstition. The idea of wearing lucky clothing or following rituals before a match is fairly well accepted in sporting terms, yet in day-to-day life is seen as slightly bizarre. Iain questions whether this is superstition or whether we do actually make an impact with our actions.

The work Iain is showing here today has never been on show in a public gallery before. It has come to us from Iain’s front room, where his paintings are stacked and as he says, ‘the walkway through keeps getting smaller and smaller…’

Iain is currently working on a project called Ground UP in Burnley, you can see more about this here

The Lucky Sock
Iain Broadley
£250

The Lucky Sock itself
Iain Broadley
NFS

Pants for Peace
Iain Broadley
£200

Artist: noun

Denise Wheeler

Gerbera
Denise Wheeler
£185

Midsummer Blues
Denise Wheeler
£185

Glorious
Denise Wheeler
£275

Artist: noun

Graham Dean

Graham has exhibited with us here before and has brought a mix of new works and old favourites.

He works at home and has the small back bedroom full of frames on racks, computer and big printer in there. He does still have room for a bed-settee though, I asked!

Graham does go out and about taking photo’s regularly and he is excited as has lots of new material on his camera and now is at the stage of deciding what to work with and manipulate and seeing what images inspire and excite him.

I’m looking forward to seeing what he comes up with next, and here are some of his works on display.

West Pennine Spring
Graham Dean
£36

Some Like it Hot!
Graham Dean
£36

Artist: noun

Jill Wright

Jill has brought some works from her studio in Clitheroe, where she has had a space for 6 months now. Jill’s style is around texture and nature and she can often be found using wax, beads or glue on her work although she likes to work with decorators caulk and a knife most of the time.

Two of the works she has brought along are from her scrapbook and have never seen the light of day before. Others are new pieces which have only been finished in the last couple of weeks.

A couple have been seen before – Poppylicious has had an airing at the Stewards Gallery in Clitheroe Castle and then moved to an osteopaths waiting room for the last year.

Jill likes to put her art in places where people wait or look around; hairdressers for example and has had commissions come from putting her work in such places.

(As I was interviewing Jill in the group I mentioned before the group agreed that putting art in unusual places is a really good idea. Philip has had work in hairdressers and nightclubs too, and Tina has had work in Manchester Prison before now. Graham hadn’t but thinks he may well try this now! And, dear artist readers, this could be an idea to consider?)

Inspired
Jill Wright
£140

Poppylicious
Jill Wright
£250

Artist: noun

Sophie Gibson

The First Untitled
Sophie Gibson
NFS

Controlled Passion
Sophie Gibson
£250

Artist: noun

Tina Foran

Tina has brought some brand new works for exhibition, which is her latest body of work. The youngest was only 6 days old when it arrived here. So these are truly hidden treasures.

“This work is based around crows, as crows are everywhere and the colours are amazing”. When Tina started work on this it was a visual appeal but when she researched crows she found a darker side, particularly the Jim Crow Laws which mandated racial segregation in the USA.

 Tina has done a previous body of work around pigeons, despite being scared of birds.

I can empathise as a fellow Ornithphobe! (Not sure if that is a real word or not but it sounds right to me).

Tina works from a studio in Sowerby Bridge and is one half of 2 b-arts alongside Philip Pearson.  

Series 'Crow'
Tina Foran
£45

Series 'Crow'
Tina Foran
£65

Series 'Crow'
Tina Foran
£125

Artist: noun

Kath Heywood

Kath has only recently started painting again after a long absence and her paintings are rather hidden. Kath has exhibited the odd piece of work with Pendle Artists and in the Todmorden Open but has never exhibited a few works together. These artworks have only ever been on display in one office at the NHS. But I’ll come back to that in a bit, first a little more about Kath herself.

She has worked with textiles a lot and has always made her own clothes and been quite crafty. I had to know more and she told me about one particular outfit from the 1970’s; Purple hotpants that Kath made while still at school, which she used to wear with a psychedelic blouse, a full length maxi coat and black wet-look boots with a shiny buckle. When Kath was explaining she said ‘think ABBA! ‘

Kath also used to run Clix Wool Shop on Barkerhouse Road in Nelson during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.

Kath took early retirement from teaching and since then has been painting again. She also works part time for the East Lancashire NHS as PA to the Director. She was there during the move to Walsall House and the Directors new office had large empty walls. Kath brought some of her artwork in and since then has sold a few works. However only people meeting the Director get to see her work. These particular artworks are usually kept behind the wardrobe, a true hiding place!

Radiance
Kath Heywood
£50

Pink Cloud
Kath Heywood
£35

Doors of Opportunity
Kath Heywood
£80

This is more of a symbolic painting where there are three doors; the black door represents one that is shut forever, the middle door is open and the end door is white and represents opportunities to come. Kath painted this while she was at a crossroads career wise and it came about from looking at the terraces in Blackburn one day and admiring the shape of the doors.

So there we have it folks!
This exhibition is open until 31st January. There are more works on display than I have shown here, so do try and get along and see it for real.


Thanks,
Kirsty