Catherine Yaffe visits The Art House in Wakefield for the first time and was impressed …
I’d like to open this review of The Art House Wakefield with a small confession. For many years I have driven past the unimposing building on Drury Lane in Wakefield city centre not really knowing or understanding what it was home to. From the outside, with its black and white art deco patterned tiling I’ve often commented that it reminded me of a swimming pool – absolutely no logical explanation for that, but this is my confession after all. So, on Wednesday evening when I was invited along to The Art House to review new work by acclaimed artist Duncan Pearson I jumped at the chance.
The ‘Some you win, some you lose’ artist is The Art House first resident of 2014, and his work is on display until 12th March. The exhibition this evening was open free to the public as part of Wakefield Art Walk.
A quiet, unassuming and seemingly reluctant man of the moment, Duncan was quite shy when initially describing his work though once in his flow it was clear to see that he was unusual in his approach. Duncan works on several pieces at one time, and if he’s not happy with the way a piece is going then he simply works over it rather than starting again – the idea of a completely blank canvas is not an appealing one!
Now I’m no art critic and can only tell you from a layman’s point view what I thought about the art displayed but I was particularly drawn to ‘Feeling Rejected’, a colourful mixed media collage. It struck me as an accident almost, layer upon layer of random colours and textures – reminiscent of Duncan’s favoured artist Picasso. I liked the feeling of spontaneity and impulse, of the materials dictating their own role, with Duncan as careful curator and guardian.
Trial and error, using new techniques such as Collagraph (a print making process) and having the base to work from has made a huge difference to Duncan, who also cited the large studio space, extra support and mentoring as all being fundamental in allowing him to develop his crafts.
And that was the thing that struck me as I wandered around The Art House; a space accessible to all artists of all ages and abilities, with state of the art tools and techniques at their fingertips and an unprecedented level of support. Even more excitingly, 2014 sees the start of the conversion of Drury Lane library, the Grade II listed building next door which will create 34 new artists’ studios as well as a digital media centre and areas that can be used and shared with the public.
Wakefield is undergoing a cultural revolution, thanks in no small part to the powerhouse that is The Art House.