WHEN the exhibition, Unfold, by artists, writers and musicians who make up Cape Farewell opened in Newlyn Art Gallery in early December the gallery's studio became a Climate Café.
An outlet for dialogue and debate around the issues of art and climate change, it invited visitors to contribute their thoughts, comments and ideas in response to the issues raised by the exhibition.
As might be expected, the response was considerable and it is worth noting that before Cape Farewell makes, as it were, its last fond farewell to Newlyn, if you haven't already done so there is still an opportunity to see the exhibition, which runs until January 22, and to add your thoughts and comments about the vexed question of climate change.
Worth noting, too, that on January 20, from 4pm until 5.30pm, artists Nick Edwards, Daro Montag and Sion Parkinson will be in the gallery when, as well as taking about their experiences of Cape Farewell expeditions, they will discuss notions of "voyage" in terms of artistic and scientific discovery, exploration and creation.
Later on the same day there are two film screenings – 6pm to 7pm Art From The Arctic, Cape Farewell 2006, and 7.30pm to 8.50pm Burning Ice, Cape Farewell, 2010.
Admission is free to these events, but booking is essential. Contact: bookings@newlynartgallery.co.uk, or telephone 01736 – 363715.
Looking ahead, just a week after Unfold closes, Newlyn Art Gallery is presenting two Centenary Celebration exhibitions.
From January 29 to May 2, The Studio will contain an exhibition marking the centenary of the death of the gallery's benefactor John Passmore Edwards and exploring his legacy to Newlyn.
Between the same dates, the upper and lower galleries will contain an exhibition celebrating the centenary of the birth of the acclaimed painter Roger Hilton.
Comprising paintings and drawings selected by the artist's widow and fellow artist Rose Hilton, chosen from private collections across Britain and many of them previously unseen, plus sketch books, photographs, letters and a sound recording, made in 1974, of Roger Hilton talking about his work, and focussed upon his output from the late 1950s when he began to spend significant in West Cornwall, this exhibition is likely to prove the show of the year.
An artist who has been described as "the most daring, inventive and successful painter of his generation in Europe", Roger Hilton had a studio in St Ives when he came to Cornwall in the 1950s, and also one in Newlyn overlooking its harbour where he worked for three summers before settling at Botallack in 1955.
A regular exhibitor in Newlyn Art Gallery, where he lived for a while courtesy of its then curator Michael Canney and his wife Madelaine, his influence upon painters and painting was considerable and, indeed, is still felt.
At 8pm on March 23, Rose Hilton and friends of her husband Roger are presenting an informal evening of "reminiscences and celebration" in the gallery, and at 7.30pm on April 21, Rose is introducing two speakers:, Timothy Bond who will be talking about his editing of the artist's The Night Letters and Roger's late gouaches, and Ronnie Duncan who will be talking about his art collection and his friendship with Roger.
Booking is advised for these events: contact either kathy.hill@newlynartgallery.co.uk or blair.todd@newlynartgallery.co.uk, or telephone 01736 3715.
For good measure, from January 29 until May 2, Newlyn Art Gallery will also be playing host to an exhibition of work by the internationally renowned ceramicist Jack Doherty.
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN