York has waited two and a half years for its art gallery to reopen. As MATT CLARK discovers, it's been worth it.
BLINK and you'd miss it, but for those who take time to explore Susie MacMurray's Halo installation at York's newly reopened art gallery are rewarded by an extraordinary experience. Up close, what looks like a shimmering blue wall in the distance turns out to be thousands of exquisitely backlit golden hoops.
Susie MacMurray's Halo installation at York's newly reopened art gallery. Picture: Matt Clark
It's a bold statement of intent and in keeping with the gallery's aim is to go from a regional asset to one of national importance.
To underline the fact, Susie's Halo is in a temperature and humidity controlled room that is now fit to house internationally important works.
The newly temperature and humidity controlled gallery room. Picture: Matt Clark.
The gallery opened a week ago, following its £8 million refit, and upstairs you will find the brand new Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA) featuring, in pride of place, Manifest: a tower filled with 10,000 bowls by Clare Twomey – one for each hour it takes to train someone to become a master craftsman.
Manifest. Picture: Matt Clark
Talking of masters, no ceramic display would be complete without a piece by Grayson Perry, the first ceramic artist to be awarded the Turner Prize, so opposite Manifest is his cheeky Melanie, one of Three Graces that Perry created during the Channel 4 documentary, Who Are You?
Grayson Perry's Melanie. Picture: Matt Clark
If that's not enough, how about a previously unseen Lowry, there's even a secret gallery. The grand Victorian roof hidden away in the 1950s, has been opened up and the first thing that strikes you is the quality of light.
Fiona Green, art collections facilitator uses the word transformed and it's hard to argue.
"The amount of people who have commented on the light is quite ridiculous really," she says. "With ceramics you can have this much, whereas with fine art you have to be more careful."
Fiona hopes Manifest and Melanie will become talking points and judging by the number of people craning their necks skywards, it seems her wish has already been granted.
Then there is Mark Hearld's unusual room boasting rocking horses, not seen in decades, ceramics, paintings and taxidermy. Many conversations will take place in there, that's for sure.
The collections policy has also been overhauled to make everything community oriented and more accessible. Take the project gallery, which will change every three months. At the moment there is a competition for school children to design their own Clifford's Tower, based on the Lowry original.
Old juxtaposed with new seems to be the theme around every corner. There's child friendly hands-on activities, adult friendly contemplation spaces and then you happen upon the Anthony Shaw Space, based on his London home.
Gill Bage, one of the volunteers in the Anthony Shaw Space. Picture: Matt Clark
"He used to display his collection there so people could see what living with art would be like," says Fiona. "We've recreated that space to his design and selected some of his ceramics."
Another great idea is replacing fusty labels with enthusiastic volunteers. One of them is Lisa Grabowski, who you will find in the Anthony Shaw Space.
Lisa Grabowski. Picture: Matt Clark
"People are absolutely bowled over and excited by what they've seen," she says. "They're asking lots of questions and telling us they love the whole gallery space. I think it's world class."
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