Thursday 30 August 2012

Twickfolk Art Residency launched

This Sunday, 2nd September 2012, we're starting our collaboration between Art and Folk. The long established (1983) folk venue Twickfolk have been brave enough to open their doors to me and my sketchbook. Over the next 4 months I'll be drawing the performers, volunteers and audience at the club, which is based at The Cabbage Patch in Twickenham.
We'll be exhibiting many of these paintings and sketches in an exhibition in early 2013, a great way to celebrate Twickfolk's 30 year anniversary.

Before the summer break I did 3 weeks 'warm-up' and you can see the results on the slideshow to the right. I was really pleased with this painting of Eric Brace who was performing alongside Peter Cooper. This has already been sent to the printers, where it will turned into a 30x44 poster ready for exhibition.

Most Sundays I'll be sketching away at Twickfolk, so come and say hello, or visit this blog the following week to see what I've drawn.

All thanks to Gerry at Twickfolk who's brave enough to let me loose with my pens and pencils.

Alban

1 comment:

  1. I met Eric Brace in 1983. We worked together in a posh restaurant. I was making my way through college; Eric was supporting his passion, music. I was lucky enough to be present for the birth of Numbers Up, his first band of considerable note.

    Eric has an easy manner in front of a crowd or wirh an audience of one. I suspect this confidence comes from a lack of pretense and a real sense of joy he feels in doing what he loves.

    His clear, warm voice draws you in and his music brings you back for more. At the risk of sounding cliche, Eric is music. His love and respect for the art is in the very fabric of his being.

    He gets giddy meeting his musical heroes and elated and honored when met with the opportunity to play with them. I remember attending a Marshall Crenshaw concert with Eric. Even though, Crenshaw was at a high point in his career, the college auditorium was fairly empty. Eric indulged me and we sat near the back, but Eric could not contain himself. Before the first break, he was at the edge of the stage letting the music wash over him. Or, at least I thought that was what he was doing. At the break, he introduced himself to Marshall and a few band members. He asked them intelligent, thoughtful questions about their music. It was not just admiration or entertainment as I had thought. The band recognized a kindred spirit and took a longer break to share and talk with him.

    That was Eric then and, although I have not seen Eric in sometime, I suspect that is still Eric today --always room for more friends, more joy, and more music.

    Congratulations, old friend on a well-deserved Grammy nomination this year. Cheers, Ana Veraart

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