Scorcher, Femi Kuti on the Pyramid, Glastonbury 2010, Mixed media on linen, 200 x 320cm.
PRESS RELEASE
Falmouth Art Gallery, Cornwall. 9 April – 18 June 2011
One of Cornwall’s most successful and exciting artists is marking his 50th birthday with a major new exhibition at Falmouth Art Gallery.
“Kurt Jackson at 50” celebrates the artist’s milestone birthday and is a thank you to him for his great support over the years.
A dedication to, and celebration of, the environment is intrinsic to Kurt Jackson’s art. Much of the work is set in places that he has explored regularly throughout his life, and is seen through the eyes of an artist with a deep and rich understanding of natural history and politics, ecology and environmental issues. He says: “Capturing a fleeting impression doesn’t interest me. In all my work the aim is to convey my feelings and sense of awareness in that particular environment.”
A leading British landscape artist, Kurt has been described by the distinguished art critic, John Russell Taylor, as ‘one of the great originals of British painting’. His reputation continues to rise and his first book, published last year, was a sell-out.
Born in Dorset, Kurt has lived and worked in Cornwall for the last 27 years where the ever changing landscape and environment continues to enthral and inspire him.
He explained: “As an artist I am totally wrapped up with ‘a sense of place’ and I always love places that are on the edge. Being in a place that is still largely governed by the elements where you can always feel the wind blowing and can see the weather coming in over the sea makes me feel very at ease.”
The exhibition will feature a variety of new paintings and sculptures including a number of works painted by Kurt during his time as Artist in Residence at last year’s Glastonbury Festival. Working from the top of a specially constructed 40ft high platform, built for him by Festival organiser Michael Eavis, Kurt had a panoramic bird’s eye view of the festival site inspiring works including two immense canvases, one of which will be on show for the first time at the exhibition.
The show has been organised by Falmouth Art Gallery working in conjunction with the prestigious Truro based Lemon Street Gallery which will be staging its own Kurt Jackson exhibition entitled ‘Tree:Gwedhen’ this Autumn.
Falmouth Art Gallery has also planned an exciting programme of FREE workshops and events to accompany the exhibition. Activities include experimenting with ‘flick, drip, splash’ and ‘texture’ painting, creating colourful fabric collages and mono-printing to name a few. Family workshops take place every Saturday, just drop in from 2 – 3 pm.
‘Kurt Jackson at 50’ can be seen at Falmouth Art Gallery from 9 April – 18 June 2011. The gallery is open Monday to Saturday 10 am – 5 pm. Admission is free. For details about accompanying workshops and events please contact the gallery on 01326 313 863 or email info@falmouthartgallery.com
‘Tree:Gwedhen’ can be seen at the Lemon Street Gallery, Truro from 10 September – 8 October 2011. The gallery is open from Monday – Saturday 10.30 pm – 5.30 pm. For more details please call 01872 275 757 or email info@lemonstreetgallery.co.uk