CITY OF TRURO

Here is one of the most impressive Tony Giles paintings we have ever had in the Lander Gallery. It feels very big- in fact it IS larger than the average.
The title is CITY OF TRURO: you can see the City of course, dominated by the cathedral. Look again, however and among the many details you can find a steam engine puffing out joyous smoke into the clouds. That is the famous record- breaking locomotive, the CITY OF TRURO.
Giles was immensely fond of he railways and everything to do with the GWR, a love that dated back to his childhood as the son of an engine driver. The sight of the famous train on the viaduct over Truro must have raised his spirits greatly- as his picture does for us now.

You can find Lander's Monument, the Town Clock, the old West Briton Office and various Truro buildings. Interestingly he has painted the river as it used to be, flowing in the open air right up to Lemon Street. In fact the quay had been covered in many decades before this picture was painted- another example of the artist's love of historical detail.

Newly cleaned and reframed,  this painting has been attracting plenty of attention at the Lander Gallery.

SCOTTISH NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery reopens this week after a multi-million pound refurbishment- it promises to be most impressive.
They have many treasures up there, prominent among which is of course the self portrait by John Opie.
Click here to see it:

http://www.nationalgalleries.org/collection/artists-a-z/O/3742/artistName/John%20Opie

FLASH MOB OF JOY!

Have a look at this video! It was taken here last Saturday when CLARE INGLEHEART brought her various choirs together for a surprise Flash Mob Choir. The gallery rang with joyous music and the sound of happy people. The quality of the music is impressive- as you will hear. On the video you cannot see the majority of the people, who were standing below our canopy of tree ferns.
You can certianly hear the music, though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaWG3RyGxz4

Listen and enjoy.
We are hoping they will return..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!

NOVEMBER 25th. On this day in 2002 the Lander Gallery first opened its doors at 29 Lemon Street, one of the houses across the road from its present location. The paintings were distributed over two floors and featured a large and vivid Terry Frost called LOVE TREE. We had a splendid selection of classic Cornish paintings- a tradition whcih has continued ever since. At that time, the plans were already going ahead for the new Lemon Street Market.
On November 25th 2003 the Lander Gallery officially opened in its current location in the new Lemon Street Market. It was a memorable occasion, packed with people. Many Blog Readers will remember that night.
So here we are today- NINE YEARS OLD!

NEW LAMPS FOR OLD!

Here is the PEACOCK from the City of Lights. You can see me up by the head and my brother Simon with his back to the photographer. The creator of this wonderful lantern stands to the right- I will add her name when I know it.
In the procession, the peacock raised and lowered its tail as peacocks do.
In the second photo he is on his new perch high above the gallery.
Thanks to photographer Tom Hendra

CHRIS TATE AT CHRISTMAS

Christopher Tate is back!
He has featured in all nine of the Lander's Christmas Shows in Lemon Street Market. He has given us some characteristic inks of Falmouth but also for the first time he has been painting with acrylic on canvas. The paintings are unmistakeably Tate!
His vibrant colours look bright, bold and fresh in a series of paintings of buildings from the mining heritage of Cornwall. There are portraits of Wheal Coates at St Agnes- and my personal favourite is this dramatic depiction of South Crofty which stands proud and busy, yet seems to be fading away as you look at it.
Chris is doing so well!
The Falmouth pictures are smaller, and are priced at £950, while the acrylics of the mine engine houses are variously priced around £1,100.

YES ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING

Elvis has been soaring above the gallery for twelve months now so this year's City of Lights was his cue to depart.
Here you see him being lowered to the ground among the cafe tables- which give a clear idea of just how huge this figure is.
 Tony Crosby, who is to the Lantern Parade what Elvis was to music, managed to fit Elvis into his lorry and carry him off into the sunset leaving more than one person thinking they were the first to say
ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING