Homage in art, silversmith talk, Gaelic song and new drama ahead
Round-up In Homage To Alfred Wallis offers a Chichester exhibition and sale of more than 50 uncannily-authentic works in the style of Alfred Wallis.
Artist Max Wildman uses the same materials and techniques as used by Wallis himself and presented in a variety of vintage frames.
Max said: “Alfred Wallis moved to St Ives in Cornwall in 1890 when he was 35 years old, and there set up a business as a marine stores dealer which he ran for over 20 years, later becoming an odd job man in the town.
“When his wife Susan died in 1922, he found himself alone and simply took up painting ‘for company.’
“His painting style was truly naive – totally untutored and uninhibited, with perspective being largely ignored, the size of an object varying according to the importance he placed upon it!
“He had no regard at all for ‘proper artists’ paints”, preferring to use ordinary household and ships paint and indeed anything else that came to hand, including pencil, crayon etc.
“He was also happy to paint on whatever scrap of material came his way, often using bits of old cardboard salvaged from the local grocer, which would be cut into wild irregular shapes to suit his whim. Today Wallis is hailed as the father of British Modernism.”
The exhibition is at Chichester’s Oxmarket Gallery from March 26 to April 7.
Silversmith offers talk
AKIN (Arundel’s Creative Collective) welcomes silversmith and metal engraver Malcolm Appleby to talk at their next “show & tell” session on Wednesday, March 27 at 7pm at The Victoria Institute, 1st floor 10 Tarrant Street, Arundel, BN18 9DG.
Spokeswoman Rachel Aked said: “Malcolm has spent his career of over 50 years dedicated to engraving and pushing the boundaries of metalwork and will talk to AKIN about his craft and his influences.
“Talks are free for AKIN members to attend but tickets cost £5 to non-members. For more details, visit www. akinarundel.com. This money goes towards the hiring of the venue and to pay the travel costs for visiting speakers.”
Both English and Gaelic
Karen Matheson is recognised worldwide as a Scottish folk singer who sings in both English and Gaelic.
On Saturday, March 30 she appears with her band at Emsworth’s Baptist Church – the first time she’s appeared in the area since performing with her band Capercaillie at Chichester Festival Theatre nearly ten years ago.
As the band’s lead singer she has recorded 14 albums, and in her own right she’s recorded four solo albums.
Her Emsworth concert is the final one of an eight-date UK tour which also takes in Liverpool, Pitlochry, Kendal, Bury and London and is the furthest south she’s ever appeared. Concert material includes a number of Gaelic songs drawn from her Hebridean roots along with Celtic tunes.
Karen takes to the stage at 8pm. Tickets are available from Bookends (Emsworth), and www.wegottickets.com
Drip Action in action
Arundel’s Drip Action Theatre Company are staging Old Fools by Tristan Bernays at the Victoria Institute in Arundel this week
Spokeswoman Dawn Smithers said: “Tristan Bernays’ Old Fools is a surprising and touching play about a couple, their experience of Alzheimer’s, and their enduring efforts to hold their relationship together through the years. Tonya James and David Stephens star as Viv and Tom.”
The play runs from Wednesday, March 20 to Saturday, March 23 at The Victoria Institute, 10 Tarrant Street, Arundel, starting at 8pm. Tickets are £12, £8 students and are available from The Book Ferret, 34 High Street, Arundel; telephone 01903 88885727; email thebookferret@ btconnect.com.
Angmering Chorale
Angmering Chorale’s spring concert The Glory of Venice will feature two of the bestknown Baroque composers from the Italian city – Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) and his close friend Tomaso Albinoni (1671-1751).
Spokeswoman Marilyn Hurdwell said: “Vivaldi is famed for his sacred choral works, in particular his supreme Gloria (Glory to God), Magnificat (My soul will magnify the Lord) and Dixit Dominus (Thus spake the Lord), all three of which will be performed by Angmering Chorale and the Sinfonia of Arun in Arundel’s beautiful Cathedral on March 23 at 7.30pm.
“Albinoni had a reputation for fine instrumental concertos, choral music and operas, but perhaps today he is best remembered for his well-known Adagio for Strings. This beautiful and emotional piece has been used to accompany films which almost certainly guarantees its popularity!
“The Sinfonia of Arun will certainly do it justice. Under their musical director Robin Morrish, they will also perform the Concerto for two Oboes in C, Albinoni being the first Italian composer to feature the oboe as a concerto soloist.
“As a personality he was very different from Vivaldi, being personally independent and musically insular, not tempted to seek a church or court post. He came from a wealthy family and eventually opened his own singing school with his wife as principal teacher. In later life he successfully directed performances of his operas all over Europe
“Vivaldi, the better-known of the two, was also known as The Red Priest, due to his flaming auburn hair and colourful personality.”