New Gallery Opens

Reviewed by Colin Serjent

Arena Studios recently staged its first ever public exhibition at their base in Arena House in Duke Street.
Comprising the work of over thirty artists who use the their studios, it is an interesting show in that it covers a diverse range of art forms - moving from oil on canvas to mixed media to ink on paper to detachable cuffs and human hair!
From the many pieces on display, some works made little impression on me – but is that any different to any other exhibition you or I go to?

The works which stood out for me – unfortunately due to editorial constraints I can’t include them all – included ‘The Edge’ by Julie Jones (oil on canvas). The swirling image possesses a water based texture and has a somewhat dreamlike mood to it.

The quirkily-titled ‘There’s Quicksand behind the Co-op’ by Roy McCarthy (mixed media on canvas), reminded me of natural figures - for example woodland trees - despite being predominantly grey in colour. An intriguing work.

I was hoping not to see yet another piece of artwork titled ‘Untitled’ but it was not to be. Carl Colley has named his work thus, using adhesive tape in the process. It is a simple but well constructed work. There are 19 different sized and differently coloured strips of masking tape attached to the wall, with one reaching to the floor. Quite novel.

‘Deus Ex Machina’ (digital montage) really grabbed my attention. Housed in a large frame, it combines multi-images of an abstract and subtle quality with text dotted around the picture. A work I could look at again and again without getting bored.

James Buso’s work - ‘’Stacks in the light’ (charcoal on paper) is a well proportioned piece, offering a melancholy view of what appears to be a dockland landscape, and of what time has eroded i.e. the marked decline of industry in this country.

Sue Milburn continues to produce high quality work. Her contribution to this show is ‘Beer Drugs Paint and Petrol’ (oil on canvas) which is very strong on colour harmony and juxtaposition - there is a lot taking place in the image.

The exhibition runs until 6 December. It is open Wed-Sat, noon – 5-0pm.