Work of contemporary painters

They will be exhibiting their work alongside gems from the Otter Gallery Collection under the title Entrance To A Lane.

As Otter Gallery assistant Catharine Russell explains, the show derives its title from the Graham Sutherland gouache study which is held in the collection.

“The show presents the work of contemporary painters who, in different ways, explore some of the approaches to landscape that have developed since the heady days of experimentation by mid-20th Century artists such as Sutherland, Ivon Hitchens and Peter Lanyon.

“Sutherland explored the theme of his work, Entrance To A Lane, a number of times - Tate Britain holds an oil painting of the same name. The work stood on the threshold between landscape and abstraction, beckoning and challenging the viewer in equal measure.

Christopher McHugh, senior lecturer at the fine art department and one of the exhibiting artists, added: “The exhibition offers a chance to re-examine landscape painting in the light of a visual dialogue between some iconic Modernists and aspects of current thinking and practice,” said

Other staff taking part are Steve McDade, head of the fine art department, and senior lecturer Chris Aggs. As part of the exhibition there will be a symposium at the University of

Chichester on Wednesday, November 16 in which a wide range of visual arts contributors will discuss some of the issues and debates surrounding approaches to landscape painting.

On October 26 there will be a free children’s drop-in workshop at the Otter Gallery from 10am-2pm, coinciding with the national Big Draw 2011.

Anyone interested in booking a place on the symposium or other events should contact Catharine Russell, email [email protected], telephone 01243 816098.