From tiny saplings

Three months ago, I was privileged enough to sneak a peek as 'Bigger Trees Near Warter' was being put up at Ferens, the day before the preview. A preview of the preview, if you will.  Mr Hockney's trees, and the gallery itself, began to cast a spell on me that day (but that's a whole other story...one that I hope has been told through my blog posts during the time 'Bigger Trees...' were in Hull). Last week, I was able to mark the end of our journey together by seeing all 50 panels individually encased in protective wooden boxes, waiting to be replanted where Mr Hockney himself began his own journey. And while I can't pretend it didn't make me a little (OK, a lot) emotional at the sight of the blank wall where the trees once grew, I was excited at the prospect of seeing them in their new environment.

Because the day after 'Bigger Trees...' closed to the public at Ferens, members of the Hockney Research Group headed to Cartwright Hall in Bradford, at their kind invitation, after a member of the group offered the branch of friendship (sorry, couldn't resist), offering to share our experiences, in the hope of benefiting their volunteer experience. The photo above is one I took on approaching the Hall, which we learned was a purpose-built gallery, which is situated in the beautiful Lister Park. Mr Hockney's trees won't be lonely, surrounded by so many of the real things! We were allowed to look around the room where the trees will thrive for 6 months, and my not very articulate, yet instinctive reaction was: "Oh. My. God." Then I got out my camera -  It was breathtaking - the high windows, domed roof and natural light promise to create a whole new set of effects upon the canvasses. I was surprised to learn that Bradford would be showing the painting on a purpose built wall too, as we had been led to believe that the Ferens would be the only place where it would be displayed that way. But, excitingly, at Cartwright Hall, the curve of the wall will display 3 panels at each side, as opposed to the 2 at Ferens. This promises to create a whole new way of experiencing the trees.

The gallery was closed to the public on the day we visited, so we were treated to a private tour of the Hockney works in their collection: 'Bolton Junction, Eccleshill' (painted when Hockney was studying at Bradford School of Art, depicting a Bradford scene), 'Gordale Scar Yorkshire Jan', a selection of graphics inspired by Picasso, and, my personal favourite, 'Le Plongeur'. Approaching the room it was housed in, and being hit by the colours and ripple effects of the water, was really special. We were also shown works by David Oxtoby, who was at Bradford School of Art with Hockney. It was really interesting to have the links and contrasts between the two highlighted to us. Also on display, and of personal interest to me, were a Warhol 'Marilyn', a Lichtenstein and a Lowry, among many others. We were also given a peek at the 'Other Trees' exhibition, which was being hung, which will accompany 'Bigger Trees...'. The gallery describes how "on display will be artworks in a range of media including 'The Lemon Tree' by Henry Scott Tuke painted en plein air; a life-size Kadam Tree woven from wicker as well as Art Nouveau furniture by Christopher Pratt of Bradford and carved wooden birds."

It was lovely to share our volunteer experiences with the staff at Cartwright Hall - it really brought home to me what an amazing experience it had been (and take my mind off the trees' imminent departure), and the feedback we received indicated that the spell the trees cast at the Ferens was already rubbing off on their next, and final, audience. As we drove past Bradford Grammar School, down the road from Cartwright Hall, it felt entirely fitting to make the link between where Mr Hockney began, as a sapling, and the recent work where we can see what he grew up to become - a mighty sycamore. I returned to Hull, to a blazing orange sunset over the Ferens, knowing the trees were still inside. Our journey together was almost over. It was time to begin new ones. The pieces are still the same. Bur from now on they will look slightly different.

'Bigger Trees Warter' is on display at Cartwright Hall, Bradford, from 1 October 2011 - 4 March 2012, ending its year long tour of Yorkshire, as part of 'Art In Yorkshire' sponsored by the Tate, who Mr Hockney donated 'Bigger Trees...' to on his 70th birthday, as a gift to the nation. 'Mr Hockney In Hull'  would like to thank everyone we met at Cartwright Hall for their kind invitation and warm welcome, wishes them every success in displaying the painting, and hopes Mr Hockney in Bradford will bring as much magic as he did to the Ferens. 

POST AUTHOR CM

...

In Memoriam ‘Bigger Trees Near Warter’
 
So.
Farewell then
‘Bigger Trees’
Painted by
Hockney
 
Who has painted other things
But not as big as this
This is the biggest
 
To Bradford you have gone
You have left a space
A big space
 
Can it be filled?
 
Or not?
 
We shall see
 
ADL (After EJ Thribb)

 Post author ADL

Over The Rainbow

At around 3pm today, the sky above 'Bigger Trees Near Warter' darkened. It threw eerie shadows through the domed roof across the painting, as if to remind us that the hour was approaching....The last member of the public to see it was as reluctant as we were to leave the forest for the last time. I drew back the curtain and felt like the Pevensie children when they leave Narnia for the last time through the wardrobe and can't return, as I stepped out onto a stormy, rain-soaked Queen Victoria Square. I returned home and, making myself a consolatory brew, looked out of the kitchen window. I was overwhelmed by what I saw, then rushed to grab my camera and umbrella. As Mr Hockney once remarked:  "Nature never lets you down"

Post Author CM

All roads lead back to Mr Hockney

Having just left Ferens after my penultimate 'Bigger Trees..'  invigilation stint, I finally got round to buying this month's 'Harper's Bazaar' magazine. I bought it on the strength of the 'Alexa Chung meets Marianne Faithfull'  coverline, and articles on Lucien Freud and Jenny Saville (plus a gorgeous Tracey Emin neon artwork illustrating a Jeanette Winterson story). So plenty to make it worth buying. It was only when I began reading the Alexa Chung article that I discovered an even more exciting reason, by chance - the photos accompanying the article were shot in David Hockney's 1960s Notting Hill flat! As Stephanie Rafanelli writes "it was here that Hockney lived and worked in his 'Young Contemporaries' days (the 1961 RBA Galleries exhibition alongside Peter Blake that marked the beginnings of British Pop Art), and where Andy Warhol later attended the artist's notorious Saturday tea parties, filming the Swinging London scene". To see the place (still intact) where things I wrote about on this blog happened was yet another thrilling insight into Mr Hockney's world.

Later that evening, I was checking my emails, and had another one - via Artist and Illustrators magazine's monthly email.  It linked to Editor Steve Pill's blog post about the press conference for next year's Royal Academy show. It's well worth reading (follow the link below), and I especially loved this observation: "in some special cases being creative isn't something that you can turn on and off, it's an unstoppable torrent that pours out at all times." Quite. The magazine will be running a full report and interview in its November issue.

http://artistsandillustratorsmag.blogspot.com/2011/09/david-hockney-show.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=The+Chelsea+Magaz

 

Post Author CM

 

What a great flat!

 

The above photo is by the amazing photographer Ellen von Unwerth and is taken from this months Harpers Bazaar Uk http://www.harpersbazaar.co.uk/

 

 

Still In Vogue after 26 years

After subscribing for 13 years, it's still exciting to hear a new issue of 'Vogue' thud through the letterbox. And even more exciting still to see an article in the contents on this blog's inspiration, and the woman who has been written about most on this blog too, the equally inspirational Celia Birtwell. I've loved digging out my old issues to re-read articles for the purposes of this blog, as well as discovering NM is a fellow Vogue hoarder and discussing them with her. And, for the first time, be right in sync with' Vogue'! And while we curse ourselves for not buying that iconic Celia cover 1985 Paris Vogue (I'd only recently stopped reading 'Twinkle' magazine back then, and it did become a collectors' item after only 3 months.' Vogue', not Twinkle), the fact that both Hockney and Birtwell are still in 'Vogue' and the closest of friends after all these years speaks volumes about them both as artists and friends.

While I'll try not to spoil the article for you, and would encourage you to go out and buy it yourself (it's worth it for the pictures alone), I will say that I was delighted to discover new insights about Hockney and Birtwell's enduring relationship. Not least that they were friends with the other's partner (Birtwell was friends with Peter Schlesinger and Hockney with Ossie Clark), rather than each other initially and yet it is their subsequent friendship which has survived. Christopher Simon Sykes quotes Hockney saying that "(Celia)  is very, very sympathetic and she knows how to make me laugh. She plays with words, which I like, and she has a sense of the absurd. We got very close and I suppose I was in love with her". Simon Sykes observes that "Her gentle feminine side strongly appealed to Hockney...As they comforted each other, he began to transfer the feelings he had for Peter on to her." Of Hockney, Birtwell says "I think he found we spoke the same language about his unhappiness and broken heart, so he used me as his confidante...He's been very supportive, encouraging me to be brave and show my talent. We have a really good friendship..I like my relationship with him. He makes me laugh and he thinks I'm quite funny. So that's good." While the article never makes clear the exact nature of their relationship when Hockney was imortalising her in his art most prolifically (and it's none of our business anyway), it is fascinating and deeply inspiring to observe how two visionary, iconic working class northerners who dreamed of bigger things went on to influence the worlds of art and fashion and each other, continuing to this day.

Post Author CM

I have one question, Twinkle Magazine? Its a new one on me, it was all Bunty and The Four Maries when I was a kid!

Force of Nature

Reading the BBC news website this morning provided conclusive proof, not that it's needed, of just what a remarkable man Mr Hockney is. In the last week, he has given a press conference announcing a new Royal Academy show for 2012, casually revealed that he turned down an offer to paint the Queen because he "was very busy painting England actually. Her country.", while today '25 Trees and Other Pictures by David Hockney', featuring that breathtaking new triptych (follow the link below to see pictures and a short film) opened at Salts Mill, Saltaire. As if that's not enough, today the BBC reported that "The artist David Hockney has warned road labourers in his home town of Bridlington in Yorkshire that they are digging up one of his main sources of inspiration and a piece of art history. Hockney has taken roadwork managers to his studio to show them new paintings of Woldgate, an unspoilt country lane, and tell them not to do lasting damage...

John O'Grady, communications manager for Northern Gas Networks, said he was  "gobsmacked to be invited to the artist's studio to get a preview of works that will be on show at the Royal Academy, and to be given lunch at Hockney's home". Maybe Mr O'Grady has never heard the phrase 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer'. Not only does Mr Hockney tirelessly depict and campaign for forces of nature, he continually proves to be one himself.

* Richard Hamilton, considered the founder of Pop Art, died yesterday, aged 89. He taught and influenced David Hockney and Peter Blake, and you can link to his obituaries through the link below too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/search/david_hockney

Post Author CM

Thanks so much for this. Great story.
The above picture is from the BBC website here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14912241 where you can view some truly great images. I love the above picture, gorgeous interior - is that a Franz Kline on the wall or one of Hamiltons own paintings?

Oh My Goodness

'25 Trees between Bridlington School and Morrison's supermarket along Bessingby Road in the Semi-Egyptian style'.

For anyone who, like me, is feeling a bit melancholy about 'Bigger Trees Near Warter' being uprooted from the Ferens after 18th September before being replanted in Bradford in October, news of a new exhibition opening on 14th September at Salts Mill, Saltaire, will hopefully cheer you up. Martin Wainwright writes on The Northerner blog that '25 Trees and Other Pictures by David Hockney', is "a preview of Hockney's vast Royal Academy tribute" (which opens in January 2012) which also "celebrates the 'extraordinary ordinary'" and also features "previously unseen portraits of Yorkshire friends and scores of the artist's iPad paintings which are not going to London". The exhibition will also feature a triptych with the above, unmistakably Hockneyesque title, each picture measuring 27 feet long, depicting the scene in summer, autumn and winter. It will be very interesting to see how it compares to the triptych arrangement of 'Bigger Trees..' at the Ferens. And with a title like that, it must surely be easier to find those 25 trees than the ones near Warter.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2011/sep/08/david-hockney-salt-s-mill-jonathan-silver-saltaire-bradford-bridlington-royal-academy?intcmp=239

http://www.saltsmill.org.uk/new_exhibitions.php

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/sep/07/david-hockney-film-exhibition-royal-academy?intcmp=239

Post Author CM

Thanks so much for this post, I had no idea about this exhibition! I will be going - no question.

The Night Approaches

Tomorrow evening the Volunteer Poetry Event will take place.

There are some volunteers who can't make it, but we will post all about the night with photo's and the poems.

It is wonderful that new work has been created and inspired by Bigger Trees Near Warter.

Til then.

If Only

If only I could get away form it all and travel to foriegn shores. Perhaps I'd go to Scandanavia and explore.

Mr.Hockneys current exhibition Me Draw On IPad at The LOUISIANA MUSEUM OF MODERN ART has been extended to the 4th of september.

If  like me you can't make it, have no fear for something very wonderful is going on that we can all access.

During the exhibition period, David Hockney has generously made five of his drawings available to the public. Each OR code gives access to one of Hockneys iPad images, which you then can download to your smartphone for free.
To scan a QR code you need to install a scanner app on your smartphone for example Scanlife.

Visit thier website and have a look at the beautiful images  at http://www.louisiana.dk/uk/Menu/Exhibitions/David+Hockney:+Me+Draw+On+iPad

David Hockney: Me Draw on iPad

8 April - 4 September 2011

Louisiana is an international museum with a considerable collection of modern art. The museum’s permanent collection includes more than 3000 works and is one of the largest in Scandinavia. It takes its point of departure in the period after 1945 including artists like Picasso, Giacometti, Dubuffet, Yves Klein, Andy Warhol, Rauschenberg, Henry Moore, Louise Bourgeois, Philip Guston, Morris Louis, Jorn, Baselitz, Polke, Kiefer, and Per Kirkeby.

Every year Louisiana offers 4-6 temporary exhibitions, presenting both great modernist artists and the latest international contemporary art in the series Louisiana Contemporary.

The above is taken directly from the museums website, which is excellent and can be read in English.

http://www.louisiana.dk/uk/Service+Menu+Left/Home

POETRY!

I did think of titling this post More Poetry Please - but I thought better of it.

For This is the most exciting Post.

Imagine if you will, a beautiful gallery filled with outstanding landscapes, a mysterious Constable, two wild William Kiddier's, a haunting Paul Nash hanging amongst scenes of natural wonders in oil, watercolour, pen and sepia. I am of course describing the Ferens Gallery 8 Landscape Exhibition.

Now, Imagine the gallery filled with talk and light and expectation! The Hockney Researchers and Volunteers have organised an evening of poetry inspired by Bigger Trees Near Warter. Local poets will share their Hockney and Nature inspired poems.

The evening will also offer the chance to view Mr. Hockney's masterpiece and listen to music composed especially for it.

Below is the press release!

BIGGER VERSE AT THE FERENS – HOCKNEY’S ‘BIGGER TREES’ INSPIRES POETRY EVENT

David Hockney’s ‘Bigger Trees Near Warter’, currently on display at the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull, has inspired a group of Heritage Volunteers to organise a special poetry reading, as a means of engaging non-traditional audience groups. The Hull-based Art Gallery was selected as only one of three art galleries across Yorkshire to exhibit the famous painter’s biggest painting and part of the gallery’s success in attracting the painting was the strength of its volunteering activities, which the gallery has promoted in order to encourage people who normally don’t visit galleries to see the impressive work.

A Poetry reading has been instigated and organised by the Hockney Research Volunteer Group, part of the Heritage Volunteers, who give their time and expertise to support the city’s museums and art gallery. This group was formed to assist with the invigilation of the painting but also to organise and promote cultural activities to tie in with the exhibition.  The purpose of these activities is to bring the painting and the Ferens closer to new audiences using a variety of different forms of art.  As well as inviting established local poets to contribute their response to the painting, the Volunteers have also invited several public and voluntary arts organisations to make contributions from within their own communities.

The Hockney Research Volunteer Group meets weekly to plan special events and activities. These have included making a sound-recording at the Warter site to improve the experience of visually impaired visitors to the exhibition; talks and family learning activities, using the school holiday period effectively, a unique Blog created for the exhibition and a special poetry reading for local poets inspired by Hockney’s epic painting. 

Poetry organiser and volunteer, Christina Hamilton said:

‘It is part of our role as volunteers to think about how we can encourage people who may not normally come into the gallery to visit and enjoy Hockney’s work and everything the gallery has to offer. By using a different media, we have been able to engage through poetry, with non-traditional art gallery audiences and open up the gallery and in particular, Hockney’s ‘Bigger Trees’ to people who might not experience the painting otherwise’.

‘We have been supported by local poets, keen to read their own work at this special event, which celebrates the wealth of artistic talent in Hull and Yorkshire and showcases one of Yorkshire’s favourite painters in the fabulous Ferens Art Gallery. Poets including Alan Barrett, David Cooke, Ann Liles and Ian Parks have already agreed to take part. This is not a competition; it is a chance for anyone to express their personal poetic viewpoint of the painting’.

  

‘We are also hoping to play a piece of music written by Roger O’Donnell (The Cure) and inspired by Hockney’s painting. It promises to be a very interesting and thought-provoking evening for the senses and we hope that people who haven’t seen the painting yet and would like the chance to hear local poets read their work will come along. ’

The free event takes place on Friday 9 September at 6pm in the Ferens Art Gallery. Places are limited and must be booked in advance by ringing the gallery on 01482 613902.

For further information regarding the Poetry Reading, please contact Christina Hamilton at Christina@hamilton21.karoo.co.uk or Rachael Mather at rachaelmather@hotmail.co.uk

Since the exhibition of David Hockney’s ‘Bigger Trees Near Warter’ opened at the end of June, more than 38,000 people have visited the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull.

‘Bigger Trees Near Warter’ is on display until 18 September, 2011 at the Ferens Art Gallery, Hull.

Roger O’Donnell’s music can be accessed at www.rogerodonnell.com/quietertrees.html

The Blog is available at: http://mrhockneyinhull.blogspot.com/

See also: www.hullcc.gov.uk/museums

http://art.yorkshire.com/exhibitions/david-hockney-bigger-trees-near-warter-ferens-gallery

The British Art Fair

The British Art Fair is fast approaching and even if you can't make it to London next month you can still view all the works online.

And what works they are

David Hockney (b. 1937) 'Paper Pools', signed lithograph, ed. of 1000. From Dominic Guerrini

Winifred Nicholson Oxford 1893 - 1981 Brampton Sea Treasures Signed, dated 1952 and inscribed with the title on the stretcher Oil on canvas: 60 x 76 cm. From Richard Green.

John Piper, 'Fawley', 1989, oil on canvas, 91 x 121.5 cms. From Beaux Arts.

Henry Moore (1898-1986), Working Model for Reclining Figure: Prop, 1976, Bronze, ed. of 9, 80.3 x 39.4 x 39.7 cms. From 0sborne Samuel.

Sir Jacob Epstein [1880-1959], George Bernard Shaw [full bust], 1934, bronze, ed.6, signed [rare]
From Keith Chapman.

There are literally hundreds of amazing artworks this year and The Best Of The Brits looks set to be a great event. Go to the link and enjoy.

http://www.britishartfair.co.uk/index.html

Mr. Hockney is represented of course with several works, to view them and more you can also go to the Dominic Guerrini website

http://www.dominicguerrini.co.uk/

"It's my sketchbook of the moment"

A recent New Yorker News Desk post featured the beautiful New Yorker cover for the June 13 & 20 issue - created by Mr. Hockney on his ipad.

To see the other ipad works of art that Mr. Hockney has created for the new yorker follow the link.

Mr. Hockney is an artist who gives the world so much of his talent - in an accessible, delightful and far reaching methodolgy.

 http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2011/06/cover-story-he-draw-on-ipad.html

Launch Night

The wall did not stay empty for long. It was filled, canvas by canvas, with great care.

Invitations had been sent, preparations were underway and the burning questions of the hour, what would our own reactions to the the new configuartion be - and would Mr. Hockney come, were hanging in the air.

It was a great night for Hull. Everything at the Ferens was perfect. And he came.

Hockney volunteers played their crucial part. We all shared the atmosphere and experience.

David Hockney seemed relaxed, happy and open and his reaction the the triptych was positive!

Some volunteers had a word with Mr Hockney, others had books signed (Why didnt I think of that!) and other people had their photos taken with him (Why didnt I think of that!).

What a lovely happening in Hull.

The Triptych

The painting, so beautifully presented in The Royal College of Arts Summer Exhibition in 2007, followed by The Tate showing and lastly in York, is made up of  50 separate canvases and always hung flat. 'Til now.

In Hull we have a wonderful art gallery. The building and the layout is gorgeous, the collection truly startling, and I must say up until now I'd always thought of Gallery 7 as a large space. Not large enough for the Hockney however and Bigger Trees Near Warter could not be hung in the space flat.

A special wall had to be built in a triptych, or three fold format, meaning that for the first time the multi canvas artwork would be presented in three panels, the middle panel would be the largest with the two side panels hinged inwards. We would be able to step into the painting. Exciting.

As the launch day approached we stood before the newly created, empty wall, and wondered.

Bigger Trees Near Warter

The excitement, the anticipation...

David Hockney's monumental artwork, Bigger Trees Near Warter was actually coming to Hull. Gifted to the Tate in 2008 and now due to travel the nation - providing all of us the opportunity to engage with a masterpiece.
The volunteers needed to invigilate at the Ferens Art Gallery were sought, found and began to explore, to learn, and to develop a special relationship with the painting.