Bridport has over the years steadily been earning itself a reputation as a centre for the arts. For the past three decades this pretty but unassuming place has been attracting painters, sculptors and other visual artists from both home and abroad. Now a new exhibition together with an accompanying book has been put together to, in part, capture the essence of this artistic endeavour.
"Portrait of the Artist", which opens at Bridport Arts Centre¹s Allsop Gallery, on April 17 is a group exhibition of twenty-five painters and sculptors that seeks to explore and shed some light on this thriving, if enigmatic art scene.
Artists Photographedd by George Wright
The project is a collaboration between three elements that thrive in the town: art, photography and writing. Last year Bridport-based painter Kit Glaisyer approached internationally renowned photographer George Wright to set about trying to capture this arts scene. They were later joined by writer Lu Orza, who conducted informal interviews with the artists in their studios, from which she created a narrative that tries to unravel the intriguing series of motivations and connections behind their work.
She says, "for me this has been a fascinating process. Some of the artists opened up on a very personal level about their lives, while others concentrated on their work. What is noticeable is there is no Bridport School; artists aren't trying to do the same type of thing. They are very much individualistic in their approach to their art. The exciting thing about Bridport is that the art that's happening here is so incredibly diverse."
Painter Kit Glaisyer says that "artists are attracted to Bridport because this is a place where they feel they can be themselves and where individuality is actively encouraged. This makes it the perfect place for idealists, non-conformists, dreamers and all those who are inspired to follow their own paths."
"Lu Orza", he says, "has dug beneath the surface to find the deeper intentions of the artists. What she reveals can be quite edgy and challenging, which is refreshing. She has avoided the temptation of the easy cliché in her writing. And George Wright has beautifully captured the romance and the drama of creative people and artists, there's a theatrical element to his work that illustrates the adventure of being an artist. He has produced a stunning series of photographs that clearly evoke the excitement we all feel about the artists working in and around Bridport."
The exhibition runs from Saturday 17 April to 10 May, and is open Tuesday to Saturday 10-4pm daily. Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport tel: 01308 424204
The book "Portrait of the Artist" will be launched at 7pm on the opening night with an introduction by artist John Hubbard, and will be available at a reduced price of £14.95. The book will then be available for £19.95 from all good book shops. www.portraitoftheartist.co.uk
