Cheers,
The sky is gray, the wind is chilly and rain is predicted for most of the morning. Hopefully this afternoon we’ll be able to go out for a walk through Christchurch Park.
The other day during my walk around town I stopped in at the John Russell Gallery on the waterfront. I didn’t even bother to ask about taking photos as that’s really not very fair. But you can see photos of Mr. Coe on the gallery’s site and the works of most of the artists on their websites. I’ve also posted links to the photos of Mr. Coe from his 60s and 70s musical career.
Not only did I really enjoy looking at the gallery’s current exhibition, but I had a fairly long conversation with Mr. Coe about art. He was very generous with his time as he knew I was not a potential client. But as he says in the article below, he doesn’t sell art; people just come in, look around and buy it. It is obvious when you speak with him that his passions are art and music.
There were certainly many paintings that I really liked, but now’s not the time for us to be buying art. I think you need a place to live to know what would look right on the walls. In the past I’ve said our home will look like the final country we visit on DoraMac, but now I’m not so sure. Living on the coast I seem to be reverting to thinking that the world should look like New England but can possibly stretch my mind to believe it should look like the coast of Old England too. I guess we’ll just have to see what that “final country” will be.
Ru
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http://www.thejohnrussellgallery.co.uk/ 4-6 Wherry Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 1LG, United Kingdom |
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Mary Spicer Mixed Media Paintings brochure from the current exhibition and Exhibition 2014 calendar. There were also works from artists mentioned in the 2014 calendar. |
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About Anthony Coe and the John Russell Gallery…. “Antony Coe has been running the John Russell Gallery in Wherry Lane, at the Waterfront for 20 years. Ipswich: Waterfront art gallery celebrates 20 years David Vincent Tuesday, February 4, 2014 “Almost 20 years ago, when Tony Coe opened his art gallery at the Waterfront, very little development had taken place in the area. It was very much an industrial, working docks. There was no marina and no luxury boats and yachts moored up. There were still commercial ships arriving with coal and wood, occasionally, and trains on tracks on the quayside. He admits he wondered if he made the right decision, at first, to move down from the town centre. “I have been here at the Waterfront 20 years. The Waterfront is the jewel in the crown of Ipswich now, “There was hardly anything here, apart from the pub next door, and no restaurants. “We are the only commercial art gallery in Ipswich. “Now we are probably the oldest standing contemporary art gallery in East Anglia. A lot of others have come and gone. “We don’t sell re-productions. “We are dealing with professional artists. Each has a distinctive style and every piece is unique. “I have always dealt with East Anglian painters, from Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshires, painters and printmakers.” The historic former warehouse in Wherry Lane, part of the Isaac Lord complex, provided a blank canvas for an art gallery, he said. “There was a lot of wall space, and we had to put in doors and windows, but it was much better than taking a high street shop unit with a shop window.” Tony, also a well known local musician from the local scene in the 1960s and 1970s, met jazz legend George Melly when he was playing professionally. And George Melly officially opened the John Russell Gallery for him. Maggi Hambling, who had been at Ipswich Art School at the same time as Tony, was among the guests. “We were absolutely heaving,” he said, “both in here and in the alley outside.” Tony studied at Ipswich Art School under Colin Moss and then went to the study print making and design at college. “I have always specialised in print making and lithography,” He worked at Ipswich printers Cowells before following his passions, music and art. The relationship between artist and gallery owner was an important one, he said. “I have been working in the business for 40 years and I still enjoy it, 24-7. “You provide the backing and the marketing for their works and you seem them develop. They work hard for 40 years before becoming an overnight success! “Michael Coulter is 75 now and I have backed and promoted a book of his work this year.” Some of his regular artists are in the veteran stage now, like Constance Stubbs, Ken Cuthbert and John Brunsdon. Unique pieces of contemporary art were in the reach of a wide range of customers, he said. “We don’t sell to them, they buy from us. “I deal with some very nice people. “It could be the guy in his mac, with a roll of £1 notes in his pocket. Art is a very individual thing. It is all about personal taste.” Among his customers over the years have been Sir Hugh Casson of the Royal Academy and rock star Bill Wyman. The next main exibition is by Suffolk printmaker Michael Carlo which runs from February 17 until March 15. The John Russell Gallery, 4-6 Wherry Lane Open from 9.30am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday . Copyright © 2014 Archant Regional Ltd. All rights reserved. |
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Art gallery owner Tony Coe, of the John Russell Gallery, has twin passions in his life, art and jazz music. Mr Coe, who worked as a professional musician in the 1960s and 1970s, before concentrating on developing the gallery by the Waterfront, has recently re-discovered the joy of performing. http://www.suffolkbandarchives.net46.net/ image 1963 Mr. Coe musician |
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