The Garden and Beyond
The artist on duty at "The Garden and Beyond"
Having been a member of Bedford’s “Eagle Gallery” for a while I took the plunge and applied to hire the gallery for a week to showcase my own work. October 2013 was my allotted slot and so preparations began.
I used the same title as an exhibition I’d been in at the Luton Hoo walled garden. This fitted in well with my work up to this point. I found this “retrospective” an interesting exercise as one can really start to see the direction of one’s work when it is all up at the same time. It was also interesting to get feedback from visitors.
I used the same title as an exhibition I’d been in at the Luton Hoo walled garden. This fitted in well with my work up to this point. I found this “retrospective” an interesting exercise as one can really start to see the direction of one’s work when it is all up at the same time. It was also interesting to get feedback from visitors.
The yellow flower paintings
The right hand wall
First section of the display
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Some of Andrew's winter paintings
The rear of the gallery
View through the gallery window
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As part of the “Garden” wall, I included my collection of Rudbeckia interpretations. These were displayed on a mountain of the gallery’s display blocks lit with modern Ikea lamps. I felt this added a bit of variety to what would inevitably by a predominantly 2D exhibition. To display these all-in-one go shows my progression/ obsession with the subject.
As well as promotional print material, I enjoyed creating some merchandise. This included printed mugs, Calendars in CD cases and my pre-existing array of greetings cards. I have to say the calendars proved the most successful of these items – though it has to be said any item will never have enough mark up to recoup the in-cost unless you sell all of them. To this day a have a box of mugs in my art studio!
As well as promotional print material, I enjoyed creating some merchandise. This included printed mugs, Calendars in CD cases and my pre-existing array of greetings cards. I have to say the calendars proved the most successful of these items – though it has to be said any item will never have enough mark up to recoup the in-cost unless you sell all of them. To this day a have a box of mugs in my art studio!
Computer realised elevation of the right hand gallery wall
My background in exhibition design informed my use of scaled elevations and plans of the gallery to plot out each item. From access to the gallery to opening is only half a day, so I was keen to keep decision making time at the hang to a minimum.
The display included several commissions that had not previously been on show which added value and exclusivity to the event. These were the garden painting in the window and the three dogs at the rear of the gallery.
The display included several commissions that had not previously been on show which added value and exclusivity to the event. These were the garden painting in the window and the three dogs at the rear of the gallery.
I also filled a browser with bits and pieces from old sketch books etc. I feel it’s good to show a wide breadth of price points to give all customers an opportunity to buy.
The opening evening private view was well attended and it was humbling to receive such positive feedback from friends and relatives.
The opening evening private view was well attended and it was humbling to receive such positive feedback from friends and relatives.
The artist applies a label as the hang nears completion
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Untangling the hanging wires
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Panoramic view of the gallery
Poster for Andrew's first solo show
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Video walk round of the show
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