An exciting exhibition by Cockington Court’s artist-in-residence, James Murch, launches on 4 February.
The exhibition documents the artwork James has produced during his 2021-2022 residency and gives an insight into the wide range of processes and mediums that he has used.
Works in progress, sketches, paintings, printmaking, ceramics, sculptures all come together in one exhibition, showing the fruit of this joint endeavour between artist and residency and will surely inspire visitors and the local community.
Visitors will be met with a hand drawn timeline as they enter the exhibition which provides context to the work on show and James’s progress through various projects, showing his growth as an artist. It also documents landmark events along the way which culminated in a visit to Cockington Court last summer by His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, who spent time with James and complimented him on his work.
James said: ‘‘The residency has allowed me to be more ambitious and use the opportunity to explore different mediums and to think about other approaches to making art.
I had always seen myself as a painter before the residency and I was mostly producing work that were direct studies from life. However, I feel I have developed a better understanding about how I want to work as an artist, whether I’m painting, printing, sculpting or making plaster moulds for beetles!
‘‘I’ve also been working on memory and imagination and combining that with life studies. Woodland Tapestry which features in the exhibition was a landmark painting in this regard, partly because of its scale but also because I worked from memory and sketches.
‘‘The residency has been a fantastic opportunity and a real highlight was the unexpected bonus of meeting King Charles and Camilla last summer, who showed a genuine interest in the residency and complimented me on the work I was doing.’’
Based at his onsite studio in Cockington Court where he creates much of his artwork, James’s residency has also included engaging with the public. He has helped deliver a series of successful exhibitions and sculpture trails, helped create work in the galleries and led guided painting sessions which he runs in both his studio and in the grounds.
An accomplished artist, his work has been shortlisted by the Royal Society of Oil Painters and Portrait Painters and he was a semi-finalist in Sky’s Landscape Artist of the Year.
Cockington Court Director, Marissa Wakefield, said: ‘‘In January 2021 we were delighted to launch our latest Residency programme which aims to inspire and support emerging local artists and creative practitioners and to nurture creativity.
‘‘Our artist in residence is a key ambassador at Cockington Court; supporting and championing our many creative projects and initiatives. We are thrilled to celebrate James’s residency with this exhibition and encourage people to come along to see it for themselves.’’
James Murch, Artist in Residence Exhibition runs from 4 February to 25 March 2023 at Cockington Court’s Gallery. It is free to attend and open to the public daily from 10:30am – 5pm. Whilst visiting the exhibition, be sure to explore all that Cockington Court has to offer. There are many reasons to visit.
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