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Elizabeth Knowles, who as director of Newlyn Art Gallery did so much to
make possible the capital scheme for the developments at the gallery
and at the former Telephone Exchange building in Penzance, has retired,
and James Green now takes over. One who has had to jump in, as it were,
at the deep end, just as the building work is beginning and the
preparation and planning for what will surely be the most sweeping
changes at the gallery since it first opened its doors in 1895, has to
be done, James Green, as he says, is not only comfortable with but
relishes the challenge the future holds.
Fortunately,
having already had the experience of restoring a gallery in Lancaster
and of carrying out a number of freelance projects with other
galleries, he is aware of the rough waters that lie ahead and has
already donned his life-jacket and fastened his safety belt.
Although,
as he says with a smile: "I could well lose my hair in the next few
months", he is, in fact, no stranger to the ups and downs, the cut and
thrust, the speed of traffic in the arts administration lane.
Born
and bred in Nottingham, he gained a fine arts degree at Bristol, and it
was while practising as a painter and printmaker in his own right that
he felt drawn towards arts administration and subsequently worked in
Cardiff at the National Museum of Wales before moving to the Harris
Museum and Art Gallery in Preston where, for some time, he was
responsible for the development of its contemporary arts programme.
While
the move from Preston to Penzance and Newlyn has been considerable,
happily his wife Louise shares his liking for this part of the world
and both feel that it is a wonderful place in which to bring up their
15-month-old baby son Isaac.
Talking to him only a few days
after having taken up his new post which, incidentally, is his first
role as a Director, it was impossible not to be impressed by his
enthusiasm for and understanding of the situation in which he now finds
himself.
Its potential is immense and he intends to explore and
make the very most of its every aspect. A new broom who will,
undoubtedly, sweep clean, wisely he wishes to retain much of the
existing organisation while increasing what he calls "both its inside
and outside".
Eager to involve practising artists as much as
possible, to nurture regional work as well to present some of the most
adventurous and inspiring contemporary art work in the country, he also
regards the gallery as being an important part of the community and is
particularly keen to bring people into the gallery to see what it
contains: "Whether for or against what we may be doing, it is important
that the public feel welcome and come in to see for themselves. There
will be staff in both of the galleries, not to preach or teach, but
simply prepared to have an informal conversation about the work on
view. If we are unable to do this, to make 'the man in the street' feel
at home and to involve him, even a little bit, then we will have failed
in what we should be doing. After all, there's no point in having a
gallery without people."
While, to borrow from Bob Dylan 'The
Times May Be A-Changing' at Newlyn Art Gallery, as realistic about and
ready for the many problems that have to be solved before the opening
date, May of next year, as he is approachable and alive to the
potential, "the rewarding potential", the new gallery spaces offer, it
is safe to say that under the aegis of James Green both the times and
the changes could hardly be in better hands.
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN
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