Join us for the opening of an exhibition curated by Contemporary Art Society North, Multiple Choice: Contemporary Prints & Editions from Private Collections in the North (Part 1), including work by a broad range of artists will be on show, from established figures in the international art world, such as Tracey Emin, David Hockney, George Shaw and Mark Wallinger, to younger or lesser-known artists, including Nick Kennedy, Stephen Palmer and Luke Stephenson.
Many people consider that collecting contemporary art is only for the very wealthy, yet many ordinary people have also started quietly buying and living with contemporary art, finding opportunities to acquire art on more modest budgets. This often includes purchasing limited edition prints and multiples, a particularly affordable way to build a collection that includes work by well-known living artists, such as Turner Prize nominees and winners.
This exhibition that draws together art works from private, domestic contexts, and demonstrates that collecting art is not just for the affluent few. It has been made possible thanks to the generosity of a variety of collectors who have agreed to lend their works for the duration of the show, in order that they can be enjoyed by a broader audience. Some of the lenders have a professional involvement in the arts, while others are from alternative professional backgrounds, including IT, business, HR and finance and have simply a personal passion for owning and living with contemporary art.
The exhibition is presented in two parts in two major public art galleries in the north and west areas of Northumberland – The Granary Gallery, Berwick (21 Sept – 15 Dec) and The Queen’s Hall, Hexham (19 Oct – 23 Nov) – and visitors are very much encouraged to go to both towns in order to see the complete exhibition.
The selected work demonstrates diverse production methods, ranging from traditional printmaking techniques – etching, lithography and silkscreen – to digitally-reproduced works on paper and machine-made 3D multiples. Many of the works are in editions that are still available to buy from artists, galleries and publishers, and visitors will be supplied with information about where to purchase such works, should they be interested.