Opening Night
The gallery kicked off the month of May with an exhibition of recent work by Bob Booth and John Gibson. Opening at 6:00pm on Friday night the gallery has separated the exhibition with John in the front and Bob in the back gallery. This was an obvious decision by the gallery to exhibit Bob’s paintings on the higher walls of the back gallery.
As you enter the gallery you are immediately faced with the work of John Gibson. In his first major exhibition, John’s work is truly something different. You get the feeling that there is so much more to John’s paintings than the fantastic use of colour. Noticing the long road and little house in most of the paintings that seem to entice the onlooker to peer deeper into the paint. But what I enjoyed the most was the small format paintings often painted in pairs or triptychs. John has shown us he is very comfortable painting in a small or large format with his very unique style. John also has a love of dogs and is portrayed in his painting ‘Dreamtime Landscape with Jessie James’. The proceeds from the sale will be donated to Dr Robert Messeguer from the Fremantle Veterinarian Hospital. Dr Messeguer helped John with his beloved companion during her illness and passing. If you look closely at this painting, you can see the silhouette of Jessie James on the landscape.
Having gone to a lot of Bob’s exhibitions in the past, there was a noticeable difference in Bob’s large oil paintings. Not being able to put my finger on it, Bob explained that he is working more from memory with his recent work. Though the locations look like places in the North West, they are actually memories of these familiar locations that Bob has painted in the past. I was most intrigued by the new bird series of Dry Point Etchings. The familiar iconic figures in the trees were very affectionately drawn and show the wonderful partnership these animals share. These works proved an instant favourite with most selling on the opening night.
Mark Pellen, a close friend of John’s, was kind enough to speak about John’s love of painting and his success in his life before he painted full time. I had the job of talking on behalf of the gallery, and after my usual stumbling attempt at public speaking I introduced Bob to say a few words about his part of the exhibition. Bob is an exceptional public speaker and made light of one of his more comical titles (KWFM – Killer Wombats from Mars 1, 2 and 3) These are a series of three glass studies and have little to do with Killer Wombats. ‘My hope is that the work will make some genuine contribution irrespective of the silly title’.
The Wine Store were more than happy to come on board to support the event and supply the wine for the night. Cale Maxwell from The Wine Store served up the delicious Espalier Chardonnay and the 2005 Espalier Cabernet Shiraz. These are both South Australian wines and are available from The Wine Store in East Fremantle.
The gallery will be exhibiting this show until the 21st May 2009. You can view the show online at www.galleryninebyfive.com.au or visit the gallery at 6 Elder Place Fremantle WA 6160.
Opening Night
