Peacock Printmakers plans for a new arts centre in Union Terrace Gardens were approved by planning committee and had secured funding.

Now Sir Iain Wood’s grandiose scheme to ‘transform’ the Gardens have stalled, and may even scupper those plans.

A new site has been set up allowing Aberdeen residents to compare the two proposals:  www.comparethesquare.com

Have a look at the different proposals then contact your concillor to let them know your views. Either visit the city council website or use the Write To Them site.

My suggestion is that if Sir Iain wishes to develop a city square then he should develop the site of St Nicholas House, opening up the square in front of the council’s new HQ,  Marischal College, and the area around the marvellous Provost Skene’s house which is hidden from view right now.

Olga Ferguson, Assistant Keeper (Fine Art) gives a half-hour talk at Aberdeen Art Gallery on Wednesday 9th September 2009 at 12.30pm.

See Aberdeen City Council’s website for more details.

An Art Exhibition by William and Anita Inverarity

Kelly’s Cafe- North Deeside Road- Peterculter
During the month of October 2009

Local Artists and members of the Forecourt Art Group, William and Anita Inverarity, will be displaying around 30 new pieces of work at Kelly’s Cafe and Gallery (the ideal place to meet with friends for coffee and chat). All works are for sale and 10%  commission goes to local charities.

William (Father) and Anita (Daughter) both  have sharply contrasting styles. William paints in thick, vibrant oils and acrylics with subjects including Scottish Scenery and Flowers.

Anita favours intricate pen and ink illustrations with a lean towards fantasy and whimisal art.

Both artists will be on hand on Saturday 3rd October between 12 and 2pm to discuss their work with visitors.

All welcome.

The new temporary exhibition,  Artists Rooms, featuring the work of contemporary sculptor Ron Mueck,  opens at the Art Gallery on Saturday.

http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/xev_EventDetail.asp?id=2260

His work features the human form in precise detail but either scaled up massively or scaled down to sub-miniature size.

One not to miss!

I noticed in the press last week that Hobbycraft are opening a new shop in Union Square, the new retail shopping centre which is being constructed beside the railway station. According to their website, it will open in Winter 2009.

I have mixed feelings about this. While it will undoubtedly bring cheap(er) materials to our doorstep will it have the odd things that you can get from my favourite shop – The Artist’s Pad.

Just as we can get cheap blockbusters from Waterstones, but have no small independent book retailers in Aberdeen, stocking items that you won’t get in the chain of book superstores, would we really like to see a shop shop as the Artist’s Pad lose out just to get 10p off our tubes of paint?

Generally, I dislike large chains, be they book shops, supermarkets or art shops, and their power to dominate the market and even control supply chains through their enormous buying power.

What do you think?

I’ve added a new links page to the site. For the moment it has local art supplies, framers and galleries but I’ll add to it.

All suggestions welcome – either for categories or content for those categories!

You can access it from the top navigation strip of the site.

For over 50 years Forecourt Art Group have been holding an annual summer exhibition. Uniquely for Aberdeen, this is an out-door show! This year is no exception, and we return with a clutch of new and established artists showing a wide range of work in various media.

The summer exhibition is now underway at the underpass gallery, St Nicholas House, Broad Street, Aberdeen, and has been running from Monday, 20th July 2009, and will end on Saturday, 8th August 2009x.  It is open daily from 10am to 4.30pm (not Sundays).

Each exhibiting artist will be showing up to 6 framed paintings and 6 unframed works.

Please note that only original works will be displayed – there are no prints or cards.

[View with PicLens]

Getting there is easy. The following buses stop outside the Underpass Gallery: 16, 16A, 17, 19, 21, 25 and the open-topped city tour bus.

Here is map showing the location and nearby car parks:
View Aberdeen City Council, St Nicholas House in a larger map

You can download posters to put up at your workplace, local shop or community centre.
Download A4 or A3.

Press: Download the Press Release and High Resolution pictures here.