Saturday, April 03, 2010

JUNE Jim Rowe

Jim Rowe Retrospective
Opening Friday 6th June at 6 oclock
Closing 27th June
Curated by Greg Smith 54722242












Jim Rowe was born in London, England in 1931. Talking to Jim about his youth he'll probably mention WW2, being relocated to the country, and the unreal theatre of planes, crashes and bombings. Surprising, because we know of Jim's artworks to be full of beauty and joy. He studied art at Hammersmith, and then Kingston-on-Thames. Jim says that there were so many relocated Polish students that he sat in a corridor. The Polish people were very shocked says Jim. He also remembers this time for its intensive life drawing classes.

Like Andy Warhol, his first employment included window dressing, and much package design. (He described himself as #3 biscuit retoucher.) And layouts for Columbia pictures. He fondly recalls the foundation garment retouches, where plump models were used to reduce creasing, resulting in the need to remove the ensuing bulges above and below! “Ticklish work - which I enjoyed,” quips Jim.

In the early 60's Jim moved to Ferntree Gully with his family. Here he enjoyed the exhibitions, excursions, life drawing and theatre events of “The Hut,” the local art group. Working with sculpture Jim had a successful exhibition with a Polish friend at the Warehouse Gallery which received excellent revues.

Moving to Castlemaine in the early 1980's Jim continued his painting, sculpting and printmaking amongst the vibrant local scene, allowing his joyous, humorous work into the homes of central Victoria, much via Wallace Bros Art Gallery. Many of us are lucky enough to own a bronze sculpture completed at the Garage Art Foundry in Elphinstone. And everyday, the south facing mural on Tonks Hardware fence endures, cheering each and every visitor. Is anybody still wearing their Walking the Fish T-shirt from the inaugural Castlemaine Fringe?

Continually productive, Jim has also sold his works through local markets in St Kilda and Bega. His art is represented in collections worldwide. Now CASPA gallery proudly hosts this retrospective of Jim Rowe. Don't miss this opportunity to view, and to share a glass of wine with Jim at the opening. Naturally some new works will be on sale.

Jim Rowe Retrospective is opening at CASPA (above Stonemans Bookroom) in Castlemaine, at 6pm, on 4th June and remains on display until the end of June.

by Greg Smith





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