This is a show which invited people to make art as a reaction to one of the paintings in Penlee House’s collection of Newlyn pictures.
An obvious problem with this is that the collection is of very good paintings so that those who make copies of them tend to painfully illustrate the difference between very talented artists that many visitors know and love and less talented artists that we have never heard of.
In a way this invites more admiration for the original artists and more noticing how they have made their work.
For example the flat copy by I Hazel of a Fred Yates shows how the thick ribbons of paint in relief in his work make it so lively.
Those who don’t just copy fare better in the comparison. Some have written poems, others take the same subject but look at the same view nowadays.
‘The Rain It Raineth ‘ by Norman Garstin
is reseen at night by Amanda Mackenzie Morton,
a view of Newlyn by Charles W Simpson
is brightly updated by Michael Hart.
Then there are the works by young chidren. So many were sent in - teachers no doubt grabbing the idea with both hands - that there has so be a slide show to include them all - and this is indeed a rare event to see children’s paintings alongside famous artists. It brings out the absolute verve and unselfconsciousnness before they get a bit older - the abandon and Joie de Vivre that Picasso tried to re acquire.
When I was there a class of primary school children were assembled in front of ‘The rain it raineth’
They were from Perranporth and many took it to be not a picture of Penzance but of Newquay. One strangely suggested London. They were remarkably well behaved, quietened easily by their genial teacher. It was a treat to see them looking eagerly and to imagine that they would enjoy making their own paintings later from their quick sketches.
Yes, a good idea which refreshes our view of the collection.
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