Platform Gallery Open Exhibition

This Saturday just gone saw the opening of the annual Platform Gallery Open. The picture above doesn't do it justice because when we arrived, it was so packed you could barely move! Sadly most people seemed to bugger off after the prizes were awarded (sadly I didn't get one - but there is still the People's Choice awards - or something similiar, so who knows).

I had a whole wall to myself which was awesome (though not looking too thrilled about it actually in this photo!) I was very honoured to have been chosen as part of this show as the standard was excellent. There were so many great pieces there, I highly recommend a visit if you can (it runs until October 1st - so you have a while).

The piece that really caught my eye (and I voted for it to win people's choice) was by established artist James Fox - detail of which you can see above (it would seem he studied on the same PGCE course as me as well, oooo). You can see more of his awesome work on his website.

Excuse the wonky picture here (I had been told I couldn't take it, so I was being naughty, but I so badly wanted to blog about his work - and hopefully he won't mind when you all check out his website!) His work really appeals to me as it uses easily recognisable imagery - and of course the juxtaposition between his subject matter of pop culture, guns and skulls and the traditional paisley fabric works so well. I also think the use of clashing patterns perfectly references the 'information overload' of today's society.

Although very different, I also loved this piece by Carole Belfield. Unfortunately you can't see the detail and this image doesn't really do it any justice (please go and see it yourself if you can) - but the colours are so lovely and subtle, it's really emotive. Yum! I was really suprised by the sheer amount of textile work there was in the show - it was really encouraging. Maybe we are one step closer to uniting and taking over the fine art world! WAR CRY!