Western Morning News (Saturday)
Interaction of classical nudes and environment
Frank Ruhrmund enjoys an exhibition of paintings and ceramics by two masters of their chosen arts
One of the most unassuming of the many artists residents in St Ives, a Lancashire lad who has lived and worked in the town since the mid-1960’s, it is good to see the online exhibition of paintings and monoprints by John Emanuel being held by the Belgrave Gallery at The Studio, Higher Bussow Farm, Towednack.
An artist who believes that his work should speak for itself, he has always kept a low public profile and chosen to stand back and watch all that happens in the art world from a distance. One who began painting in 1963, he came to St Ives a year later and worked for a number of years as a sign writer while developing his drawing and painting skills.
Encouraged by such artist friends as John Wells, Denis Mitchell and Alexander Mackenzie, it wasn’t long before he was invited to become a member of the Penwith Society of Arts. A sometime president of that society and now one of its longest serving members, he was to have his first solo exhibition in 1975 at the Wills Lane Gallery in St Ives, then in the early 1980’s he moved into No 2 of the historic Porthmeor Studios. He now occupies one of the refurbished Porthmeor Studios, where he continues to create his distinctive nude and semi nude figure studies that often incorporate seascape, landscape and interior settings.
Soon after the opening in 1998 of the Belgrave Gallery in Fore Street, St Ives he began showing his work there. It is, as it has been said, “the interaction between the classical and sometimes sensual nude figure with its rugged environment, Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly, even on occasion Cumbria, that characterises his work.”
From an oil and mixed media composition Headland Figure, Kynance Cove, to an Untitled Figure & Trees monoprint with hand working, his works are as rewarding as they are
instantly identifiable.
For good measure, they are accompanied by ceramics from Alan Wallwork who for more than half a century, from the 1950’s onwards, was recognised as being one of this country’s most distinctive potters. One who studied at Goldsmith’s College, London, in the mid-1950’s, his work was to be of the earth both figuratively and literally, highly individual and, as it has been said, far from the mainstream and of the prevailing fashion, and even of time itself. For him, clay was the ideal expressive medium for his organic and pre-natural creations that explored forms in nature and the landscape. He was to exhibit for almost 60 years, 1957-2015, and the works in this exhibition relate to the first half of that period.
Well worth seeing, an exhibition of paintings and ceramics by two masters of their chosen arts. For more details see the Belgrave Gallery’s website, or call 01736 794888.