Traditional materials

Press, 2 September 1981, Page 10

Traditional materials

Current Exhibitions, at the Brooke/Gifford Gallery until September 11. Reviewed by David Brokenshire. “Table top works" — sculpture by Terry Stringer. For a long time many sculptors have used impermanent materials, sometimes even “throwaways” for their work. It is refreshing in this exhibition to find a sculptor turning -again' to bronze and aluminium. Terry Stringer has a particular vision, often ex-

pressed in precise outlines and angular planes. Instead of using a pagination to the surface of his bronzes the artist has used colour and in a sense the works hold elements of both painting and sculpture. The' scale" of the pieces is engaging as the sculptures would fit comfortably in the home.

“Tribute” is a handful of flowers, cast in bronze, thrown on the table and there for ever. The piece has a special poignancy. “Triple Head on a Shelf’ combines

three views of the head into a total composition evoking a feeling of roundness. “Cup and Saucer” has a front view point where it looks “right" yet with the side views everything is flattened and is sharply inclined to the horizontal. This small collection is well worth seeing. “Twelve recent paintings" by Peter Ireland. This exhibition is a breath of fresh air for gallery “goers.” Each work is composed of a number of separate tiny paintings often only 10cm x 10cm. All are meticulously painted, the colours are clear, and the forms precisely delineated. Sometimes the sections of landscape are painted in shades of blue only and when combined with other elements give a strange stillness to the whole.

Over all, a crisp, clean, optimistic vision is presented. The works are finely mounted, modestly pi-iced, and deservedly almost all have sold.