GALLERY OF THE MONTH
127 years ago, the first Falmouth Art Gallery opened to the public. Originally a commercial gallery, the space was running under the directorship of prominent local artists Henry Scott Tuke and William Ayerst Ingram. Well-connected and well established, Tuke and Ingram travelled globally to promote the work of Cornish artists and had become known for organising exhibitions that brought together national, international and local artists. Today, as Falmouth Art Gallery now stands as a public gallery of both historical and contemporary art, that ethos very much still stands. The gallery has been open in its present form since 1978, having experienced renovations in 1990 and 1996. Inside, a collection of over 3,000 artworks can be found, all of which belong to the town of Falmouth. An integral part of Falmouth’s creative and cultural community, the gallery plays an important role in celebrating and promoting Falmouth’s heritage and creativity, not to mention acting as a pillar for community wellbeing, offering activities and events for families and people of all ages. “Over the last 20 years, the gallery has focused on promoting Falmouth’s role as an important historic and contemporary artistic hub, telling interesting and forgotten stories, as well as showcasing the town’s collection and artists based in the town,” explains Donna Williams, Access and Interpretation Manager. She continues, “We also like to create a buzz by bringing works by major names to Falmouth, and this year is no exception as we will have letters written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, paintings by Lucien Freud, a new Henry Scott Tuke touring exhibition and a contemporary art takeover.” As expected, the last year has been difficult for the gallery and its dedicated team, as exhibitions were postponed or cancelled. However, through the quiet time Covid-19 brought to the halls and walls of gallery spaces countrywide, the Falmouth Art Gallery team used their down-time to reflect and plan an even bigger and brighter future. Currently, the gallery’s travel themed exhibitions ‘There and Back’ is set to stay on display until the 5th June, accompanied by a new n 64 |
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exhibition running from the 17th May to the 17th July, ‘In Her Shoes’. “This exhibition is being curated by our Trainee Curator Eve Swanson,” says Donna, “it’s inspired by her popular 30-day art challenge on Instagram, showcasing works by women artists in the Falmouth Art Gallery Collection and responses created by the public.” The gallery’s main summer exhibition is ‘Ingenious!’, on display from the 11th June to the 11th September. Falmouth’s reputation as a hub for invention and innovation is no secret, and in ‘Ingenious!’ visitors will be able to witness an assortment of artworks, automata and objects that will delight and thrill the whole family, from the marvellous inventions of the Fox family to awe-inspiring moving artwork, alongside projects and inventions that are being developed in Falmouth in the present day. Combining contemporary works with historical pieces often features in many of the gallery’s exhibitions and events, carrying through the prominence of Falmouth’s art scene from its earliest days through to now. However, it’s not just Falmouth the gallery now looks to explore, as Donna describes here, “Once we started showcasing the town’s collection and artists based here, we also felt it was important to do the same for other areas of Cornwall and this led to our Serpentine exhibition about The Lizard in 2015. We are currently planning an exhibition with David Tovey about Polperro for 2022 and have also taken a similar approach with particular artists. Each year we stage five main exhibitions
| Volume 2 Issue 66 | June - July 2021
and five or more small shows in our Entrance Gallery. Our main exhibitions are thematic and as a general rule we always feature works from our collections hung alongside loans from other museums and galleries, artists and private collections, although sometimes we do stage touring exhibitions and work with external curators. “We are fortunate enough to have many repeat visitors and like to make sure that every time they come they will see something fresh and interesting. Our collection is very eclectic with artworks in a range of media dating from the 15th Century to the present day and this is reflected in our exhibitions.” Now open to the public once more, visitors and locals alike can enjoy the diverse collection of history, art and culture this vital Cornish hub has to offer that continues to remind us that Falmouth’s status as a leading place for creativity and innovation is as powerful today as it ever has been. l Book your free ticket online for a onehour slot via the Falmouth Art Gallery website. Last entry is at 3pm from Monday to Friday and 1pm on Saturday. Wheelchair and pushchair access and facilities available. Dog friendly. www.falmouthartgallery.com Falmouth Art Gallery Municipal Buildings, The Moor, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 2RT 01326 313863
