Balustrade Cavalcade Exhibition At Masterworks
An exhibition of reduction linocut prints has recently opened at the Rick Faries Gallery at Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, with ‘Balustrade Cavalcade’ inspired by the ‘gingerbread’ fretwork balustrades of Victorian Bermudian verandas.
A spokesperson said, “The artist, Alex Allardyce, was first attracted by Bermuda’s decorative concrete blocks that can be seen all over the island, and is exhibiting a series of prints based on the shadows cast as the sunlight fall on them.
“In Victorian times ‘gingerbread’ balustrades were once as ubiquitous on Bermuda verandas as the concrete blocks. Alex Allardyce has been inspired by their decorative forms to create a new series of handmade linocut prints which explore various colour combinations in a Bermudian context.
“Balustrade patterns from Hamilton, St George’s, Warwick and Somerset have fired Allardyce’s imagination to produce a body of work which highlights a lesser-known area of Bermudian visual culture.
“One example is the balustrade of Wantley on Princess Street. Built by Samuel David Robinson, a prominent Victorian businessman who hosted the foundation of the Berkeley Institute in the building. In recognition of this important history two of the prints of the Wantley balustrade use the Berkeley school colours – green and gold. Wantley is currently in a poor state and in need of restoration.
“Another example is the former Parks Department headquarters in the Botanical Gardens. This historic building, dating to 1898, will be restored to house Masterworks new Art and Design Centre. Allardyce has produced a series of prints based on the building’s balustrade, one of which is a Botanics I. Partial proceeds from sales of this print will go directly towards the fundraising campaign for the Art & Design Centre.”
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