Caroline Walker: “Bathroom, Room 608’ (2018, ) oil on board
Mary Fletcher
The show’s title could have made it more clear that it features women artists, not images of women.
It’s an exhibition of astonishing juxtapositions. Most remarkable is the inclusion of a Tracey Emin, a bold, naked figure, autobiographical, drawn with great panache.
For habitues of Penlee house there are old favourites from the Newlyn school, refreshed by being alongside other artists that visitors may find new to them.
There has been some community involvement, shown in collage form and a slide show. There is even a rack of relevant children’s books to look at.
Also you can make your own contribution by drawing spontaneously onto a computer screen.
It’s a great collection of work from two centuries and the show is educative with panels documenting the way women have progressed in being accepted in the art world.
I imagine every region could produce similar interesting comparisons and progress, but it’s Penzance that has cooperated with Worcester and Fife to bring us this remarkable collection of work by women and I wish there was a catalogue to purchase to encapsulate this story and record its success for posterity.
Making Her Mark, a celebration of women in art’ 29 April until Sept 27 and touring to Worcester and Fife, a joint curation, with Katy Herbert in charge in Penzance at Penlee House and showing over 60 works from the last 150 years.
