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SURROUNDED by splendid paintings of the late and
still much-missed Partou Zia, on view until February 28, and with
chairman Charles Hancock, fellow directors and members of the council
of management, seated as if posing for a latter-day version of Leonardo
Da Vinci's The Last Supper, The Exchange, Penzance, could hardly have
been a better venue for the 33rd annual meeting of Newlyn Art Gallery.
The
only things missing were the drama and excitement the monks in the
monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan must have felt when they
first saw Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece, not to mention the furore,
the anger and disappointment, that fuelled Newlyn Art Gallery's
previous annual meeting. With good reports coming from all quarters,
apart from one or two queries concerning revisions to the gallery's
memorandum and articles of association, there was a general sense of
satisfaction about the proceedings that, fully in keeping with the more
traditional annual meeting, was soporific rather than stirring.
In
his report James Green, director of Newlyn Art Gallery and The
Exchange, joined the chairman in thanking the gallery staff and
volunteers for the valuable contribution they had made towards ensuring
the success of the past year. It will be remembered that at the end of
last year's annual meeting he promised that the gallery's future
programme would include work by national and international artists as
well as providing opportunities for artists working closer to home in
the region. This is just what he has done.
From
Michael Porter's remarkable one-man show to The Drawing Show, comprised
of work by members of the Newlyn Society of Artists; from Swedish
artist Peter Geschwind's installation Automatic to "a whimsical
and engaging project" by Welsh artist Bedwyr Williams, the two sites
have been busy and shared the success. While the past year has been one
of architectural awards for both sites, they have also been shortlisted
for other awards that focus on services they deliver.
Since
their relaunch in July 2007, Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange have
attracted more than 87,000 visitors and, as James Green said: "Comments
from our visitors at both sites have been almost universally supportive
of the gallery and its programmes."
Talking of the gallery's finances, he said: "Financing an operation
of this scale brings obvious challenges but, in spite of the global
downturn, we have finished the year in a stronger financial position
than when we started."
The
meeting concluded with the election of Jessica Cooper, Richard Maule
and Robin Pender to fill the vacancies on the gallery's council of
management.
article copyright THE CORNINSHMAN
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