Corona: a halo of light, a wreath or a crown, a garland. I hope you are all faring well through the current over-use of that lovely word and that you, your families and friends stay virus-free.
John is compensating for closure of his golf club by adding extra walks to his usual schedule of three four-milers per week but that doesn’t cover the real misery of being deprived of the game!
You’ll see from the updated year-plan that 2020 promises a busy time for John. He’s currently working on some experimental abstract landscapes for ‘Chapel Arts’ in Cheltenham. A beautifully renovated interior space, the gallery has become an exciting venue for art, sculpture and ceramics. With free Friday concerts, live music, films and talks, we look forward to being a part of all that!
Many of John’s recent paintings follow a theme: old field systems, drover’s ways and ancient tracks that mark the landscape – adding a sometimes surprising perspective to distant hills.
Cwm Crew
65 cm x 43 cm
He’s enjoying having time to experiment with acrylics on canvas in bold semi abstract styles. In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, has taken to hanging one per day on the trellis outside our front door, hoping to add some cheer around the neighbourhood!
The exhibition at the Majlis Gallery Dubai, in February, was a celebration of ‘Forty Years On’. There were many international artists involved so, very sociable and leisurely. No urgency to be out looking for new material, no dashing into Oman, driving over mountains, through water-filled wadis, moving stones to clear the way for our borrowed Hummer, negotiating our hairy way through newly built six-laned highways back into Dubai… No – we were lucky enough to be staying aboard ‘Tout Sweet’ Alison’s lovely yacht moored at Dubai Sailing Club (which serves delicious food and drink) easy walking, swimming and non-stop sunshine, Friday sailing, out by the Burj al Arab, enjoying the distant spread of amazing architecture behind the shoreline. Lucky indeed!
But, there are changes ahead: Sadly, the lovely Majlis, where John has enjoyed exhibiting for 30 years, is going to change hands. We are sorry to see the owner, Alison Collins, easing her way into semi-retirement and wish her well. We will have to wait and see if John’s work fits in with a new owner’s plans.
Plans! John observes: “I’m painting for about six exhibitions and it looks as though most of them won’t happen”. With arts events postponed and galleries major and minor closed indefinitely, here’s hoping we all weather the coronavirus storm and come out refreshed and ready to enjoy lots of new paintings!
We hope to see you / hear from you / anytime soon!
With all good wishes John and Stella
3rd April 2020
