Current Exhibitions and Events
| Gallery | Artist | Dates |
| Mosaic & Upstairs | Barry De More | 17th Aug – 29th Sep |
| The Crossley Gallery | Dean Clough Artists | 29th Jun – 13th Oct |
| Installation D Mill | Lost Workers | Permanent |
| Lego Brick Gallery | Lego Model | Permanent |
| Gallery Entrance | The Iron Man by Chris Mould | Permanent |
| Photography Gallery | Charlie Meecham | Open now |
Barry De More 1948-2023
Dab and Stroke
The Mosaic and Upstairs Galleries
Saturday 17th August – Sunday 29th September
The advent of Modernism meant that radical changes were possible in the ways that the painter views the physical world, so that a simple topographical route will not always provide the answers. De More does not look to the picturesque, preferring the mundane and ordinary, so that he might make something more memorable of the commonplace. Similarly, naturalistic illusion might not seem appropriate.
The questioning of painting’s basic tenets finds its beginnings rooted in De More’s 35 or so years of self-teaching. After a short spell in the army, his painting began in earnest through visiting local galleries and museums where he was allowed to copy works that he felt might assist him in his search for method.
Eventually he did take a degree course at Bradford College, which unfortunately taught him nothing about the practical aspect of painting, but he did discover the paintings of Leon Kossoff who became a profound influence on his evolution of style, an evolution which continued to gather pace. The works in this exhibition marked the beginning of a new phase in his paintings and his close affection for Halifax. Larger works enabled him to exploit his use of limited tonal colour. The choice of creams, ochres and buttermilk hues seem to illuminate the compositions from the inside, while painting the frames in a sympathetic hue plays the role of spreading the soft glow further onto the walls of the installation.
The life of the town in all its constituent elements, the people and its fabric are made to meld and gel providing homogeneity throughout the pictures. Perspective is distorted and line is sparse, so that shape and mass become more defined.
Barry De More constantly found ways and means to express his warm feelings for Calderdale and its people. When asked about his painting method, he gleefully displayed his flaying elbows and arms in the manner of Old Mother Riley, exclaiming that “it’s all dab and stroke!”
It became obvious that his search for method was now firmly established and completely unique. A new vocabulary of forms emerged, enlightening his long-held religious beliefs and deep commitment. Eventually, so prolific became his output that his studio was only able to accept increasingly smaller works.
A new chapter began to take shape in the making of combined painting and sculpture. Heads and miniature figures emerged as an army increased in number beginning to reveal his sense of humour. Nothing from his studio was to be thrown away, all his bits and pieces were to be given a new life. I think many will be surprised at the inclusion of these items in this exhibition.
This show stands as a tribute to a remarkable artist and modest man whose loss will leave a significant gap in the cultural life of Calderdale.
Doug Binder, August 2024
Dean Clough Artists
BIENNIAL EXHIBITION
Dean Clough Artists’ Talks
The exhibition will feature artists’ talks, all on Saturdays in July and September in The Crossley Gallery. Refreshments will be served for a donation.
All of the talks are free, but please book using the link below.
| Sat 7th September | Frank Darnley, Jo Brown & Chris Mould |
| Wed 11th September | Chris Mould, Doug Binder, Claire Murray & Jeffrey Andrews |
| Sat 21st September | Sam Clayton, Linda Brill and Tom Wood |
| Sat 28th September | Jo Gorner, Claire Murray and Jeffrey Andrews |
The Iron Man by Chris Mould
The Iron Man is currently on show in the entrance to The Dean Clough Galleries. Chris said “My interest in Ted Hughes’ The Iron Man began when I first found the book in the school library at a young age. It had been published in the year before I was born (1968) and continues to be a strong selling title in the children’s market today.
After being asked to produce my own illustrated version of the story I became fascinated with the idea of taking the artwork to the next stage and building the character three dimensionally.”
Copies of The Iron Man, Illustrated by Chris Mould are available in the Design Shop at Dean Clough.
The Lego Model
Visit the Lego model of the 22 acre Dean Clough site situated in the Lego Brick Gallery in D Mill next to the Upstairs and Mosaic Galleries. This model, constructed out of approximately one million Lego bricks has been created by Lego artists Michael Le Count and Tony Priestman.
Also displayed in the gallery are artefacts and photographs of the Crossley Carpet era and of the renovation of Dean Clough in the 1980s.
The Piano Club
The Piano Club started over 30 years ago, a forerunner of the many piano meet-up groups found throughout the UK. Based at the Crossley Gallery in Dean Clough, The Piano Club offers a forum for pianists to play, perform and develop within a sympathetic and friendly environment and the opportunity to discuss aspects of piano playing and repertoire with fellow musicians. Our aspiration could be summed up as mutual self-improvement through the knowledge and experience to be found within the group.
The group meets on the first Sunday of each month from 10am to 1pm. Membership is free and meetings are open to observers.
The Crossley Art Gallery at Dean Clough has a beautiful Fazioli grand piano and seats 150. It is situated close to Halifax Bus Station, and the Dean Clough car parks are free on Sundays.
The Piano Club is run by David Nelson, formerly the Artistic Director of the Hebden Bridge Piano Festival. Please contact David by phone or email for further information. Tel. 07704 873 894
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/pianoclubhalifax
Purchasing Artwork
Purchase exhibited items by debit or credit card from the Design Shop next to the Dean Clough Main Reception. When the exhibition finishes purchased items may be collected by arrangement.
Prints of some artists’ work are also for sale in The Design Shop.