New city gallery ready to open after two months of renovation work
UNDISCOVERED artists are to be given a new gallery to showcase their talents in Lincoln.
Gallery owner John Pooley has spent the past two months renovating Lincoln Art Works, in West Parade, ahead of its opening on Monday, September 20.
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Gallery owner and abstract artist John Pooley.
The 59-year-old says he wanted to create a space to display contemporary art in the city after struggling to find galleries interested in taking his work.
Mr Pooley moved to Lincoln to look after his mum, Doris, 88, after spending time in London and Spain.
The artist was previously based in a workshop in The Terrace, in Lincoln's cultural quarter.
Mr Pooley, of Birchwood, said: "I live in Lincoln and look after my mum, who has dementia, and art is my respite.
"The Terrace is a great workshop, but it's not great for sales as most people don't know where it is. I started going round various galleries to see whether they would like to sell my work.
"I didn't get any joy as they just don't really do anything that is different, it's all very traditional. I thought this was a bit crazy, so started meeting other artists. You can go to college or university in Lincoln and they are teaching contemporary art, but galleries are not taking their work. It's ridiculous. I thought I would set up my own gallery."
Mr Pooley said he was initially aiming to have the gallery open seven days a week, from 10am to 3pm.
About 40 artists are signed up to exhibit their work and Mr Pooley said he was aiming to hold weekly shows.
Mr Pooley said: "I've been painting since I was a kid, but the abstract world I now live in only happened in 2007. I was in Spain in an art group run by a Dutch guy. I went along for a couple of hours and he said the work they did was abstract."
Lincoln artist James Hoy, 24, of Doddington Road, said it could be a struggle for people wanting to display their work in existing city galleries.
Mr Hoy said: "It's hard. I've had shows before and it can be quite expensive and there is no guarantee people will come along in Lincoln.
"Traditional galleries don't want contemporary work and even if they do, it would not interest the people going.
"If we had somewhere specifically for contemporary art, I know people would go. The market is there."
3 Comments
by Karen, Lincolnshire
Monday, September 13 2010, 12:52PM
“As an artist myself I've been (nicely I must say) turned down by galleries in Lincoln even though owners say my work is "excellent" and "really really good!" Then it's a case of not matching the galleries house style. Each to their own and the more opportunities for artists the better. We should support each other. There's room for everyone and the more colour in this world the better, in my humble view.”
by Emma, Lincoln
Thursday, September 09 2010, 9:45AM
“Well if it's that easy, lynn, why don't you do it? Just think of the fame and fortune - you could be in Heat magazine every week regaling an even bigger readership with your fascinating anecdotes about home made wine and your family's criminal activities.”
by lynn, lincoln
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 4:16PM
“Abstract paintings boil down to personal taste, I've never seen much in them to be honest. The right environment is needed to show them off to their best advantage.
I think a child or a chimp could produce the same artistic offerings.”