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GERARD STAMP ARCHITECTURAL PORTRAITS 9th to 14th OCTOBER GALLERY 27, CORK STREET, LONDON W1 15 months ago, Grapevine Contemporary Arts hosted Gerard Stampıs first major exhibition. The response was extraordinary selling to clients across the social spectrum, from Knight of the Garter to a student who took out a bank loan. In this, his first London solo exhibition, both technique and subjects have moved on watercolour now combined with charcoal, giving greater warmth and depth, and now further afield to Ely, York and Rome but all still firmly rooted in his deep passion for architecture and watercolour. Author and broadcaster, Dan Cruickshank has written the introduction to the catalogue, noting that; ³Gerard has through a process of hard work, experimentation, and critical observation achieved something wonderful. He has, while toiling alone in Norfolk, blossomed, come of age as an artist of skill, power and originality. Clearly he is obsessed with the quality of light and muted colour, the sense of space and the architecture of Norfolk it inspires and fascinates him. The works all ask the same question how can the essence of the beauty of ancient architecture be captured? Inspired by the work of J.M.W. Turner, John Sell Cotman and John Piper, he has found a way. Stamp has honed the techniques indeed pushed back the boundaries of watercolour painting. In Spring 2006, York Minster invited Gerard Stamp to paint in and around the Minster with the aim of publicising and supporting the Appeal to help fund the works needed to secure and restore the East Window. The result was four remarkable paintings included in this exhibition. As Dan Cruickshank notes; "These works, impressive in their evocative atmosphere and sense of place, are clearly part of a process building on and extending the techniques that were the very foundations of his sell-out one-man show at Grapevine last year. There are many territories yet to explore, techniques yet to be forged and developed. Itıs exciting just to wonder what the future may bring.² The exhibition transfers to York Minster on October 17th For further details contact 01603 760660 www.grapevinegallery.co.uk GRAPEVINE 109 UNTHANK ROAD NORWICH NR2 2PE |