The Art of Newcastle ~ The Biscuit Factory ~ Jan 2019

Posted in Adventures, architecture, art, Fuji, Fujifilm X100F, photography, uncategorised, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , ,
    The UK’s largest independent commercial art, craft & design gallery set in the heart of Newcastle’s cultural quarter

A commercial art gallery, café, and restaurant converted from a former biscuit factory which was operated by the Gibson family between 1860 and 1870. It has four floors, two of which were submerged when the street level was raised and these now serve as basement studios which are available for artists to rent.

The gallery has everything, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, glass, textiles, furniture, and jewelry!  So much to see.

As you walk in the space is clean and airy and nicely set out with groups of ceramics, pottery etc.

Pieces complement each other in their settings, so Jane Walkers print goes nicely with Alan Balls ceramics.

I am not really a fan of ‘modern art’ or rather I wasn’t! I did like this by Trevor Price.

Trevor Price born in 1966 specialises in drypoints and etchings, handmade and printed by the artist from his studios in St. Ives and Bermondsey, south London. He is a member of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers (since 1992) and the Vice President 2013 – 2018.

I also loved the sculptures by Peter Sales.  I wanted this Ostrich for my garden!

Peter Sales lives and works in County Durham, UK. His sculptural work predominately represents animals, fish, and birds, and celebrates the incongruity of nature. He aims to imbue a feeling of movement and a sense of frailty and vulnerability, which brings his pieces to life. Peter’s sculptures have a unique style and strike a balance between realism and humour. They are constructed from reclaimed steel and sheet metals, and he achieves their vibrant colours using car spray paint and thick lacquer.

There were a few of his pieces around, I’d have had them all!

These made me smile by Susan O’Byrne

Susan O’Byrne was born and grew up in Cork, Ireland. In 1991 she received a Certificate with Merit from the Grennan Mill Craft School in Co. Kilkenny. From there she moved to Scotland and the Edinburgh College of Art, graduating in 1999 with a First Class Honours Degree in Design and Applied Arts and a Post Graduate Diploma in Ceramics in 2000.

Apologies for not getting this artists name, really should take notes!!

I liked the beauty and simplicity of this wooden bowl by Jane Crisp

Jane works from home in a studio and workshop surrounded by beautiful countryside in Hale Fen, Cambridgeshire. Jane loves the qualities of natural materials like wool, wood, copper and brass and experiments with the mythologies of making amplifying traditional techniques in a contemporary way.

The gallery gives space to the sculptures so you can look all around them without knocking anything over (which is always a risk with me fat bum and camera backpack!)

Portrait of a Diva by Christy Keeny

The gallery runs an interest-free loan scheme which I think brilliant as it means art is affordable and the artists don’t have to encheapen themselves to make a living.

That’s it for today, but still more art to come so stay tooned!

46 thoughts on “The Art of Newcastle ~ The Biscuit Factory ~ Jan 2019”

  2. Definitely not a fan of modern art myself, but I really have to admit that there are some really beautiful pieces here. The ostrich looks really cool…but…let’s not forget the pictures themselves are every bit as amazing! So cool 😊

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      1. You are welcome 😊 It’s been a bit of a bad week healthwise, but today I’m doing okay, and taking plenty of rest😊 (Even doing some blogging today 😀). Thank you for your concern. I appreciate it! 😊

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  6. How amazing !! I love finding repurposed buildings .. esp. with art and.. artists . Wow. Like you , everything u showed us, I live and would gave water to but .. fir sure!!! I’m sure the price tags were hefty ?! Maybe I really would had tried to buy those little birdies .. as well 🙂 what a great place Fraggy , I’m nit familiar with anything like that here , may have to travel back home to find one.. another thing in my list:)
    Thanks for sharing Have an awesome Sunday !!!! XX

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