FINAL CALL FOR A LEGACY

Date Posted: 15th February 2019

It is now the final week of the Percy Kelly A Legacy exhibition at Tullie House which  closes on  Sunday 24th. I was there last Saturday meeting friends from Durham and friends from the south who are all fortunate to own Kelly paintings. They found it fascinating to see his creative process. The museum  shop has also done well again with the etchings and porcelain mugs being very popular.*

Our friends enjoyed the city of Carlisle too. I saw it through new eyes. We lunched at Amatos - a lovely Sicilian restaurant almost opposite the  rear entrance to Tullie House in Abbey Street - family run, top quality food and very friendly.  We can’t wait to go back.  Time was spent in Bookends round the corner in  Castle Street - another Carlisle gem with multiple floors of books old and new and a basement of cds and vinyls. No time for the cathedral and castle but they will be back to explore further this border city with a rich heritage.

Tullie House is celebrating 125 years with an interesting exhibition in the large gallery tracing its history in paintings, words, film and exhibits from their extensive collection.

Meanwhile  at the other end of the county a new exhibition has opened at Abbot Hall in Kendal. Refuge shows the work of immigrant artists who have contributed (and have become a keystone) of 20 century British art: Lucien Freud, Frank Auerbach, Lucie Rie, Hans Cooper, Kurt Schwitters among others.  It is fitting at this time in our history to be reminded that these artists were immigrants.( An additional bonus is the separate display of two  large colourful Grayson Perry tapestries accompanied by the usual self-deprecating and  pithy commentary by the artist.)

We are so lucky to live here in Cumbria which has so much to offer; so much going on.

Watch this space for news of the further adventures of Percy Kelly. There is more coming up. Don’t miss it.

*There are 4 mugs obtainable at the shop at Tullie House – the 2 shown are Trumpet Terrace and Orange Field. The others are Newlands Church and Boat and Sun,Whitehaven. The book press is Percy's and sits on the worktop in my office. He drew it many times as it has such a pleasing shape.