NEWSTony Nero’s ArtThe really random newsletter all about my art

www.artoftonynero.com June 2017 issue 14

l ESC Artists exhibition l Body & Soul exhibitionl Pieces of A Dream 2l Most recent worksl What’s on!

Reunion with ChrisWelcome to the pages of my 14th newsletter. After such a busy 2016, this year has already turned out to be real busy and exciting. There’s been lots of new work with an exhibition at the Norman Cross Gallery in March and an exhibition in April at the Stamford Arts Centre.

But it’s not been just hard work, i’ve also had some fun judging another photographic competition and at the begining of April I was named the ‘first Photographer Laureate of Peterborough’. It was tough going, but I have proudly accepted the fact that I’ve made a bit of history.

Coming up next Peterborough Artists Open Studio.

Caught up with Chris Porsz at one of his book signing events at Art in the Heart, in Queensgate earlier in the year. The man behind the camera was promoting his latest book ‘Reunions’. For some time paramedics Chris trod the streets, taking photos of people he met. Years later he was able to track down some of those people and restage some of those photos.

Hence the title of the book, which is a collection of some old and new photos alongside each other. The idea of the Reunions came about while he was on a call of duty and the person he went to help recognised him from taking his photo all those years ago.I first met Chris about 4 years ago while we were involved in an event called Find Me Keep Me, with loads of artists giving away tons of work. We’ve sure papped each other a few times since then.

Cover Photo

This issue’s front cover shows a recent painting of David Bowie, done in my more urban contemporary style. This piece

was created spifically for the Body & Soul exhibition at the Norman Cross Gallery.

Welcome

Art and Fast CarsThanks to Leigh Taylor of Gravitas Magazine, back in December I was invited to show some of my work at the Maserati showroom in Peterborough. An evening of live entertainment, luxurious fast cars, champagne, and a dash of art. That was the setting for the launch of the new Maserati Levante SUV. And of course it would have been

rude not to sit in one of the cars, so a bit of posing was required.

A most relaxing and entertaining evening bumping into a few old friends and making some new connections. Also an opportunity for a future solo exhibition to be held at the Maserati showroom but no dates set as yet.

Body & Soul exhibitionBody & Soul was an exciting joint exhibition featuring figurative works from three talented artists, working in their chosen discipline.

Prue Pye’s paintings captureing the multi faceted layers and non-topical colour in the human form while Davina Brett’s sculptures exploring the everyday objects and how it relates to the human posona and in my paintings, I continue to pursue my fascination with ‘Absence of Presence’. The simple concept where we are able so see something that‘s no longer there, or visualise what used to be.

Prue Pye, Tony Nero & Davina Brett

Following a preview evening on the 2nd March the exhibition was opened at the beautiful Norman Cross Gallery, on Saturday 4th to 25th March 2017.

The gallery itself is a beautiful space tucked away in the quiet grounds at Norman Cross House,

Visitors to the exhibition on preview night

Gallery owner Derek Lopez

Norman Cross, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. The gallery is usually opened to the Public – Saturday 11.00am until 4.00pm Other times by appointment only.

For further information about the gallery, visit the website www.normancrossgallery.com

It was an honour to be a part of ESC Artists Market & Exhibition last year. The three events were held at the Stamford Arts Centre, with the Artists Market being held in June in the Ball Room and the main exhibition held in the main gallery in October/November. The final day of the exhibition was coupled up with a grand finale of arts and crafts in the Ball Room.

I really enjoyed showing with such a variety of artists, so much to see.

ESC Artists Market & Exhibition

Don’t miss the events this year, check the website for details www.escartists.co.uk

The force behind ESC Artists: Eve Marshall, Shalini Austin and Cathi Prince

In the hot seat Tony’s Shout Out!

life threatening infections. There were times she didn’t think she would see her 30th birthday.

I first met Emma a few years ago, at the Green Backyard, while working on the original of the above painting. We chatted for a short while and she really liked the piece. Although I didn’t know how I was going to do it, I said I would use her name in the title...a few weeks later Emma’s Kiss became the painting’s title.

This issue’s shout goes out to the lovely Emma Paine, who re-cently celebrated her 30th birth-day. In some people’s life time they go through some things that some of us can’t even imagine. Over the last 12 years Emma has fought off 3 different blood cancers, have had 4 rounds of treatment, also 2 stem cell transplants as well as multiple

Had a brief chance to sit in the hot seat again, talking art, on Salaam Radio with Ansar Ali.

Faisal Mahmood was running a Pop Up Gallery at The Allama Iqbal Centre in Cromwell Road in December. The event was free and opened to children from 8 years old to all members of the family. The public were invited to bring and show their art or come along and create some art. This excellent event was supported by Peterborough Presents. I went along to support Faisal and was asked to jump in the hot seat and say a few words about local art.

ESC Artists Market & Exhibition

Faisal Mahmood talking about his work.

Talking art with Anser Ali

My most recent exhibition, Pieces of a Dream 2, just happened to be my second solo exhibition at the Stamford Arts Centre. The waiting list has recently been between five to eight years, so after waiting almost five years with my solo exhibition set for 2018, I jumped at the opportunity to host my exhibition in April 2017 instead.

My first exhibited at the Centre in 2011, I showed over 60 pieces of my work. Because of the different styles of my work, some

Pieces Of A Dream 2

visitors to the exhibition thought the exhibition was by a number of different artists. Since then my work has changed, developed and in some cases I have revisited some of my old styles.

Pieces of a Dream 2, is really a reflection on my artistic journey and an insight to my creative development. Because my work is so diverse in context, I do not define myself as a particular type of artist, portrait, landscape or wildlife etc. I’m an artist, creating

Lovely visit from artist Stacey-Ann Cole

The above pictures, all painted in acrylics: Snowy Robin by Brigita Kurigurceva (10yrs), Searching for Nectar by Allynna Eling (13yrs), The Beach by Srinidhi Mohan Prasad (11yrs), The Perfect Day by Prarthana Rajkumar (10yrs), Mr Ferocious by Ananya Aravindhan (11yrs)

Irene Rae

work, using a variety of different materials and full of passion for art so I create as I feel.

As a treat and encouragement to my young students, who are between the ages of 10 to 13 years old, I set them a challenge to produce a piece of work to hang in my exhibition. They really did their parents and myself proud.

The exhibition kicked off with a preview on Thursday 13th April and featuring unplugged, live music by the talented Irene Rae.I even managed to finish a pastel drawing during a few live sessions throughout the course of the exhibition.

This quote by Ali Hawley-Smith taken from an interview by Jacki Cairns really sums up my exhibition. ‘I went to see Tony Nero’s exhibition at the Stamford Arts Centre. He has got such a vast range of work, it is amazing. Some artists, you just know what they do because they have stuck to a certain style, but his work was so vast it was incredible and surprising’.

*You can read the full interview here - http://paos.org.uk/3289-2/

L O C A L A R T I S T S & A R T I S A N C O L L E C T I V E

EXHIBITION

I M A G E B Y C A R O L I N E H A W K I N S

www.paos.org.uk

24 & 25 June 1 & 2 July 8 & 9 JulyInspirational art in homes and studios throughout the city of Peterborough and surrounding villages.

ARTISTS’ OPENSTUDIOS 2017

PETERBOROUGH

ARTISTS’ OPENSTUDIOS 2017

PAOS 2016 F/Cover 2.indd 1 31/01/2017 01:07

If my memory serves me correctly, I first met this dynamic duo, Adam Brough & Suzanara Sparkle, while exhibiting at the Willow Festival in 2012. At the time I was part of Art in the Heart’s ‘Art Village’, which consisted of eight gazebos all in a circle, creating the mood on the Embankmant in Peterborough.

Inspite of their medical struggles and numerious operations, over the years Adam and Sue have turned up to many of my artyexhibitions. I’ve photographed them both many times, at my events and various other events and have been papped by Adam a few times. I’ve even drawn a

Maximum support

pencil portrait of him that has been exhibited in the City Gallery.

I have been fortunate enough to had met some interesting people and had some jolly memorable conversations during my creative journey. So it’s a huge thanks to all the people who have supported me and my work over the years.

Early in the year myself and photographer Paul Saunders was invited by Phillip court of Abstract and Expressionist Art and Photos to judge an art and photgraphic competition.So one lovely Feburary morning we were under total lock down in Bewiched Coffee, armed with a laptop, a cuppa and a slice of the good stuff. It’s always nice to see the amount of interest and the variety of work submitted to these competitions. One of my favourites is this piece from one of the under 11 year olds.

Abstract art and photo competition

First ever Photographer laureate of PeterboroughWhat an exciting month April, me becoming the first Photographer Laureate of Peteborough. Thanks to the poets, Pete Cardinal Cox, Keely Mills and Charley Genever for the nomination and making it all official.

Pete Cox officially smashed it on Twitter while Peterborough Telegraph sealed it with a cool mention in an article about my exhibition ‘Pieces of A dream 2’.

Google said that a Laureate is a person who is honoured with an award for outstanding creative or intellectual achievement. So I accept this honour gracefully and hope to take a few decent pictures in the months ahead :o).

photo by Laurie Ann Loveridge

In the next issue I will talk about why i’ve been given such an honour of being Peterborough’s first ever Phtographer Laureate.

Most recent works

It’s only halfway through the year and already there have been quite a number of new works. Here are some of the recent pieces that have been featured in the last three exhibitions but not all featured in the same exhibition. Last piece being ‘One Day I’ll Fly Away’.

In the picture!

Harry at the Stamford Arts Centre said, ‘visiting the exhibition was like visiting old friends.

The thumbs goes up with James Whitmore as we shake on the David Bowie drawing deal.

Libuše Procházková with her Christmas pressie pastel drawing. Now hanging on the wall at her home in Czech.

Pic of Tina Burton from last year, over the moon with her yellow rose.

Lucky dude wins my painting at Gravitas Magazine launch back in March at Maserati...all in aid of Anna’s Hope charity.

Shela Davis happy and enjoying her little teddy bear painting.

Had to break the rules with this one. Janet Palmer who lives out of town bough it so I took it off the wall before the exhibition ended.

Photo of the dayThis issue’s picture of the day is that of yours truly, getting a cheeky hug from Yolanda Brown, after her concert with a dynamic performance at the Key Theatre. I even managed to get a signed copy of her album.

If you’ve never heard her music, well go check her out. A jazzy horns led fusion of cool, smooth and uptempo reggae mix and you can’t beat the live energy.

l Reflections & Shadows 2017Following the success of last year’s Reflections & Shadows exhibition, I’m pleased to say there’s another exhibition this year. I’m excited to be taking part again with a bunch of varied and talented artists. The Yarrow Gallery, Glapthorn Road, Oundle PE8 4PS31st July to 6th August 2017

l Stay in touch with Art of Tony Nero follow me on Twitter, Facebook, You Tube Instagram, LinkedIn & Google+ You can also visit my Etsy shop www.etsy.com/au/shop/ArtofTonyNero

l PAOS Art in the Park:Featuring PAOS artists Josephine Kelly, Stacey-Ann Cole, Tony Nero and Mahemuda Arsalani. The Pavilion, Central Park, Peterborough, PE1 4DX10 am - 4 pm Sat & Sun 1, 2, 8, 9 July 2017

What’s on

Next Issue: Yaxley Festival Open Studios Art in the Park