13/09/2010
Seymour Art private view attracts keen buyers
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Seymour Art, a collective of artists who are or have been homeless, had a busy opening night at their second exhibition, ART MINE, with sold stickers appearing on many of the works on display.
The exhibition features the work of nine artists from Seymour Art. Work ranges from the nature-inspired digital montage of Mary Edson-Stewart and the surprising ‘behind the scenes’ celebrity photographs of Richard Lamb to Derek Franks’ distinctive charcoal portraits.
Seymour Art member Robert Mitchell, who is away on his travels, supplied access to the latest stage of his journey via his blog. His detailed watercolour postcards, created on his journeys, were recently selected to appear in Tate Modern’s Museum of Everything exhibition. Newcomers to this exhibition include Rene - whose mixed media and paint and embroidery on fabric have also been displayed in Tate Modern - and the bold architecture-inspired abstracts of Peter.
Mary Edson-Stewart said the title ART MINE was inspired by a discussion among the group: “Once we knew we were exhibiting at Subway Gallery we talked about what the exhibition should be called. We decided that as we go underground to mine for gold and copper, why not for art?”
Subway Gallery owner Robert Gordon McHarg III said: “At Subway Gallery we are trying to show the power of art – and ART MINE is shining out here. We may be underground but we can still be enlightened.”
All the members of Seymour Art attend regular art workshops run by City of Westminster College at West London Day Centre, which is attached to Hinde Street and the West London Mission. Its Chaplain, Reverend Leao Neto, said: “Seymour Art is very important to us because it enlarges our community links, as well as providing a valuable vocational opportunity. And all these artists – as with so many homeless or formerly homeless people - have a depth of experience that is reflected in their work.”
The exhibition continues until Saturday 25 September at Subway Gallery, Kiosk 1, Joe Strummer Subway, Edgware Rd/Harrow Rd, London W2 1DX. Tel: 07811 286503. Open Mon-Sat 11am-7pm. www.subwaygallery.com.
More information about the exhibition and the artists click here