Hockney and Gainsborough combined

Still film of an oak,  Noel Myles

I went to Gainsborough’s House this morning to listen to a talk about the Fry Art Gallery in Saffron Walden.  It was a fascinating lecture and I hope to be able to visit the gallery this summer.

While at the museum I had the chance to look at the latest temporary exhibition that has just opened: a collection of photographic landscape images by Noel Myles.  According to Myles the photographs used in many of the pieces in the show were taken within a mile's radius of Sudbury.   

Reminiscent in some ways of recent works by David Hockney, currently on show at the Royal Academy, Myles’s assemblages of photographs create works that are smaller, more subtle, and rather more abstract.

In some senses Myles creates his landscapes in a similar way to Gainsborough himself.  Where the eighteenth century artist wandered the Suffolk fields with his sketchbook and then returned to his studio to create his ‘ideal’ view, Myles takes his camera and does much the same thing.

If you would like to see these very attractive works of art  (many of which are for sale), the House is offering free entry to visitors this Saturday, 5 April from  10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4.30 p.m.)   

There is also the chance to see a selection of sculptures in wood and other mixed media which are scattered through the galleries.  I am afraid I am not sure who these are by, but they add further interest to the visit.

Another way of getting into the show free is to buy a ticket at £6 to the next lecture on things worth seeing in Suffolk.  On 24^th April Charlotte Crawley will be talking about the Norwich Castle Museum at 11 a.m.

East Anglia and the Stour Valley, an exhibition by Noel Myles runs from now until 23 June.

 All enquiries: 01787 372958.