Aged to Perfection

Jervaulx Abbey, Autumn Ian Scott Massie

I was recently invited to show some work in a new exhibition at Masham Gallery which sets out to find beauty in the worn, aged and imperfect. The title of the show is Aged to Perfection and it opens on November 16th.

Yesterday, however, I got a sneak preview of the work and it's one of the most stunning exhibitions I've seen for a while.

The images vary from Alice Fox's rust stained, water marked abstract creations, through Suzanne McIvor's gorgeous studies of worn, tessellated floors to Victoria Brookland's fantasias around dresses which seem alive, haunted and organic.

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Victoria Brookland

The exhibition also includes some of the lovely creations of Josie Beszant - housed like ancient treasure in their glass reliquary boxes - which intrigue the eye and tease the imagination with narratives woven from old photographs, intricately worked and transformed paper and fabric, and a cast of diverse symbols and signposts.

Vic Sayers's work reflects back onto these images with a ruined house in a overgrown landscape ,a pair of red wellington boots in an empty hallway, a sagging, tangled barbed wire fence.

And my own contribution of ruined walls, an abandoned boat, a stand of aging pine trees completes the exhibition.

Don't be tempted to think that this makes for a dreary show - far from it. The room fizzes with energy, the images are strong and the show is a tour de force - a perfect combination of artists working on parallel lines.

Aged to Perfection is at Masham Gallery until 31st December. For more information CLICK HERE.

To see my work from the show CLICK HERE

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Vic Sayers

Suzanne McIvor

Josie Beszant

Alice Fox