Art, McManus Gallery and Meffan Gallery

Over the last few of weeks I’ve been to a couple of exhibitions. The first was the re-opening of the McManus in Dundee (above) . This old Victorian building has been closed for almost 4 years for major refit works. When the building was originally erected no one seemed to care that it was sat on boggy marshland on the outskirts of the city. It’s not on the outskirts of the City any more but the problems of building a heavy gothic building on a marshy plot without properly draining the ground and strengthening the foundations finally took revenge and work had to be done. What was supposed to be a refit lasting a year and costing 8 million turned into a major rebuild costing 12 million and lasting 4 years. BUT; at last we have our McManus back, refitted, bits added, bits taken away, bits strengthened, bits totally renovated and lots of new staff with new uniforms all with permanent smiles fixed the their rather harassed faces. It’s so nice to be able to see some of my favourite paintings again, they have mostly been in storage for the last 4 years. This is one of my all time favourites by John Duncan, Dundee artist and a Celtic revivalist from the turn of the century.  It tells the story of local legend and fairie people.

Riders of the Sidhe, by John Duncan, 19th c. Scottish artist.

Read more about the McManus here.
http://scotland.stv.tv/see-do/160242-dundees-mcmanus-galleries-and-museum-reopens-after-three-years/
and here
http://www.dundee.com/news/mcmanus-refurbished-and-reopened.html
and here
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1626076?UserKey=
I also visited the Meffan Gallery in Forfar and saw the James Watterson Herald exhibition. I didn’t know much about this man before going to the exhibition but it was well worth a visit. He was such a prolific artist. He was local, born in Forfar in 1859, painted prolifically for most of his life, was never really given the recognition he deserved while alive and died a sad penniless man who liked his drink too much. The works I have managed to find online and show here are not his best and give no indication of how brilliant he was, I really wish you were all able to see this exhibition because he was such a talented man and still unknown to so many people.

James Watterson Herald - The Complete Collection

Dates:     23rd February 2010 - 13th March
Times:     10am - 5pm
Venue:     The Meffan
20 West High Street
Forfar
DD8 1BB
View Map
Telephone:     01307 464123
Email:     the.meffan@angus.gov.uk
Website:     James Watterson Herald - The Complete Collection
Write up from the gallery web site;
http://www.forfardispatch.co.uk/sv/MEFFAN-EXHIBITION-OF-JAMES-WATTERSTON.6080395.jp
The latest exhibition at The Meffan in Forfar is by the popular Angus artist James Watterston Herald, who was born in Forfar in 1859
 From a young age James was encouraged to pursue his artistic ambitions and over the years his interests developed into an outstanding talent.
He studied art at the High School of Dundee where he was regarded as a most promising pupil. He acquired a local reputation for his fine drawing skills and it became obvious that he had the artistic ability to make a career from his talent.He was encouraged to continue his art studies and he moved with his parents to Edinburgh in order to give him a better chance in his career. The city made a great impression on James and he produced an impressive body of work, mainly inspired by the streets and closes of Edinburgh's Old Town.It was during this time in Edinburgh that Herald's work began to meet with critical acclaim. Several of his works were exhibited by the Royal Scottish Academy and a painting was purchased by the Scottish Society for the Promotion of Fine Arts.His work began to move towards impressionism and he became fascinated by the paintings of Arthur Melville, one of the 'Glasgow Boys', who was himself originally from Angus. Both artists used the 'blottesque' technique where drops of pigment are applied to wet paper and manipulated with sponges and brushstrokes.Herald moved to Arbroath around 1888, and in 1891, with the proceeds of his painting, Herald enrolled at Herkomer's School of Art at Bushey in Hertfordshire to continue his studies.Herald then moved to London and enjoyed the Bohemian life it offered. He was charmed by the city and immersed himself in his work with great vigour, filling his sketch books with impressions of London streets, the river, the wharves and the characters which inhabited them.
Herald returned to Arbroath around 1900 after ten years in London, contentedly painting, drawing and sketching the world around him. This period in Herald's career witnessed some of his greatest artistic successes, and in 1910 a one-man exhibition of his watercolours and pastels was shown at the Baillie Gallery in London. It was a great success and two of the exhibits were bought for presentation to the British Museum and a third for the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Herald was to remain in Arbroath for the rest of his life, content to earn no more than a living. He was uninterested in personal gain and refused to capitalise on his work, often giving away his paintings and paying for drinks and meals with tiny ink or pencil drawings. His final years were spent in gradual physical decline. He fell ill in 1914 and died at the age of 55, and was laid to rest in Arbroath.
Today the reputation of James Watterston Herald continues to grow and his works can be found hanging on the walls of many homes and galleries throughout his native Scotland and beyond.He is known for his complete command of watercolour and masterly use of pastel, with an emphasis on decorative colour, subtle tone and harmony of composition. His work remains extremely popular and is often of a delicate nature, capturing reflected light and luminosity.
His subject matter was extensive, from figure and portraiture to land and seascapes. Herald saw in light and colour, never in outline, and his work is filled with hints and suggestions of the subject matter, often conveying more to the viewer than a realistic painting.

The exhibition at The Meffan opens on Saturday 13 February and runs until Saturday 13 March.

It is a chance to see Angus Council's entire permanent collection of work by this popular artist. A full colour catalogue will accompany the exhibition. In addition there will be a gallery talk on Herald's work by Norman Atkinson on 24 February at 10am. Admission is free and there is no need to book.

And finally off to Kinblethmont where I saw the spring exhibition of various contemporary local artists. Visit the exhibition here
http://www.kinblethmontgallery.co.uk/current.html

Spring Exhibition at Kinblethmont
Exhibitions
Dates:     5th March 2010 - 14th March 2010
Times:     11am - 5pm
Venue:     Kinblethmont Gallery
Kinblethmont
by Arbroath
DD11 4RW
View Map
Telephone:     01241 830756
Website:     Spring Exhibition at Kinblethmont
A mixed exhibition of contemporary art by Susan Winton, Norma Maclean,
Jackie Gardiner, Kirsten Harris, Eugen Jarych, Susie Lee, Tony Morrow, Harriet Radcliffe and Elizabeth Watson.
Kinblethmont is a new gallery set in a Victorian country house, positioned in mature woodland in rural Angus, 4 miles north of Arbroath, built on an ancient and historic site. The south facing, lower ground floor has been converted into three art galleries and the gardens are ideal for sculpture display. Currently there are 4 or 5 exhibitions per year, each lasting for 2 weeks.
We are pleased to announce a new project in colaboration with Letham Grange Hotel where we will be exhibiting works by some of the best contemporary artists in the area.

And here are a couple of ladies who are exhibiting this year.
http://www.kinblethmontgallery.co.uk/elizabethwatson.html


http://www.kinblethmontgallery.co.uk/normamaclean.htm

Hope you enjoy these exhibitions as much as I did,

delete reply greenwytch wrote on Mar 8, '10 what beautiful selections from you as always, Loretta. i always learn so much from your blogs. ; D

delete reply philsgal7759 wrote on Mar 7, '10 I really like the ones from Kinblethmont. I think we all have spring fever!

delete reply bennett1 wrote on Mar 7, '10 I love the soloist with violin; I stared at it for quite a while. The shapes and lines are so well done. The hands are exquisite.

delete reply djdx wrote on Mar 7, '10 And here I thought dropping pigment onto wet paper was quite modern. :-)

delete reply nemo4sun wrote on Mar 7, '10 wonderfull work both so dreamy, soft and enchanting :)

delete reply kathyinozarks wrote on Mar 7, '10 excellent blog-thank you

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Mar 7, '10 mitchylr said As a photographer, I find both the McManus and Kinblethmont yes me too Mitch, next time I am at either of then I'll take photos for you, these little ones were just taken from the net.

delete reply mitchylr wrote on Mar 7, '10 As a photographer, I find both the McManus and Kinblethmont fascinating buildings in their own right, and I'd love to shoot both of them. I did find the work of Herald quite interesting, would be good to see more.

delete reply hedgewitch9 wrote on Mar 7, '10 Brilliant! You always take us on such enriching journeys and stories! Love the art here... especially the one of Bridhe :))

delete reply brendainmad wrote on Mar 7, '10 Thanks for taking us along.