New exhibition highlights city's abstract art collection

A new exhibition showcasing some key highlights from the city's abstract art collection is now on display at the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery.

Hidden in Plain Sight includes paintings by major British artists such leading St Ives School artist Patrick Heron (1920-1999); Devon-born Justin Knowles (1935-2004), whose innovative works are held by the Tate, the Arts Council and other public collections throughout the UK and abroad, and former 1991 Turner Prize nominee Ian Davenport (1966- ).

The exhibition also includes sculptures from Barbara Hepworth and Margaret Lovell, as well as rare film footage of Patrick Heron at work in Porthmeor Studios. Previously unseen, the footage dates from the late 1950s when he was at a pivotal point in his career.

A family-friendly workshop where children can work with one of the Museum’s learning officers to create their own colourful collages and a joint work based on the exhibition will take place on Thursday 31 October from 10.30am to 12pm. Admission is just £2.50 per child.

The Museum will also be offering an Art Bite connected to the exhibition from 1pm to 1.30pm on Wednesday 4 December. It will explore the works of art in the show that challenged ideas about traditional forms of painting when they were created. Admission is free but advance booking via the Museum Welcome Desk or by calling 01752 304774 is advised.

In addition, a special one-off performance by Plymouth-born guitarist Keith Rowe will take place from 7pm on Thursday 21 November at Plymouth College of Art. A piece of music by Keith entitled Pollock ’82 will be included in the exhibition while it is on display.

Rowe originally trained as a painter at Plymouth College of Art and in the mid-60s, after moving to London, applied his training directly to the electric guitar, regarding the instrument as a blank canvas. Through this, he developed various prepared guitar techniques: placing the guitar flat on a table and manipulating the strings, body and pickups in unorthodox ways to produce new sounds.

He was a founder member of the important group AMM, a member of the Scratch Orchestra, has collaborated with composers Christian Wolff and Cornelius Cardew, and worked with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. Recent performances have taken place in Tate Modern’s new The Tanks space and at the Rothko Chapel, Houston.

Hidden in Plain Sight can be viewed from 10am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays until 24 December and then again from 2 to 11 January 2014. Admission is free. More information about the City Museum and Art Gallery's exhibitions and art collection can be found at www.plymouthmuseum.gov.uk.