jack morrocco exhibition

FRENCH LANDSCAPES • 1

Resonance

PLEASE NotE

• Thisbrochureillustratesonlyarepresentativesampleofthefullshowwhichcomprisesover50paintings.ThefullexhibitioncanbeviewedonthefollowingwebsiteasfromnoononWednesday10thOctober;

www.gullaneartgallery.co.uk

• Paintingsareforsaleandmaybereservedpriortotheopeningoftheexhibitionandviewedbyappointmentwiththegallery.

proudlypresents

ResonanceJACK MoRRoCCo

Saturday 13th October – Saturday 4th November 2012

www.gullaneartgallery.co.uk

his Major solo exhibition of 2012

2 •JACK MoRRoCCo - Resonance

1 • Afternoon Heat, Tuscany • 24”x30” • Oiloncanvas

FOREWORD • 3

It has been some two years sinceweheldJackMorrocco’s

ground-breaking(andrecord-breaking)soloshow“Timeless”and

launchedhisbookthatIwroteentitled“JackMorrocco…Aworkin

progress”.Inthattime,bothheasanartistandweasagalleryhave

movedon,andthatisreflectedinthis,hismajorexhibitionfor2012

thathehascalled“Resonance”.

Anysuccessfulartistconstantlyfacesadilemma–howtobalance

ongoingdemandforanestablishedstyleand/orsubjectmatterof

work,withtheurgetoexplorenewdevelopmentsinboth.

InJackMorrocco’scase,thedemandforhispaintingsoftheSouth

ofFranceandhisstilllifeworksofsilverware,flowersandglass,isas

strongtodayasitwasevenwhenweheldhislastsell-outshowin

2010.Yetasapainterhiscreativerequirementsneedtobefulfilled,

andnewsubjectsandhowtocreativelyandtechnicallytreatthem,

isasfundamentallyimportanttohisongoingdevelopmentasare

thecommercialrealitiesofsatisfyingthedemandsofhisincreasing

popularity.

Abalancehastobeachievedthataddressestheneedtosatisfy,asbest

onecan,bothsidesoftheequation.Andthatiswheretheartistand

hisdealerhavetocometogetherinstagingasoloshow,withaclear

understandingofthesedynamics,andtheneedtocommunicatethem

successfullytotheirwideraudience.Itisalsothebenefitofamajor

soloshow,asthenumberofpaintingsinvolvedallowforpartofthe

exhibitiontoincludenewdevelopmentsandnewcreativeexpression.

Hence,inthisexhibitionof50pluspaintingsweaccommodatethe

MorroccotrademarkpiecesacrosshisfavouredgenresofProvence

landscapes,SouthofFrancecaféscenes,Venicetownscapes,traditional

stilllifeandcontemporarystudiostilllifeworks.Theseareasstrong

andasjoyousasever.

However,inaddition,weareproudtopresentforthefirsttime,a

numberofpaintingsofTuscany,ofLuccaandtheLiguriancoastaswell

asnewlocationsfortheartistsuchasCanalduMidiinSouthwestof

France.Thesenewsubjectsbringfreshperspectives,newtechnical

challenges,withdifferentlight,colourtones,featurearchitecture,and,

importantly,ambiance.

IntheAuthor’sForewordtohisbookImentionedthatIconsidered

JackMorroccotobeanartistthatfuturegenerationswouldlookback

uponwithameasureofadmirationandofhavingsignificantinfluence.

Ihavenotalteredthatview,andperhapsifyoucallintoseethis

exhibitionforyourself,youwillunderstandwhy.

Finally,whilstwritingJack’sbook,Ialsopennedanumberofpoems

inspiredbyhispaintings.Twoareincludedwithinthesepages,andI

hopeyouenjoythem.

Roy McGregor

Foreword

4 •JACK MoRRoCCo - Resonance

The Scottish realist painterPeter

Collinsoncetoldme“aphotographmight

tellyouwhatanapplelookslikebuta

paintingshouldtellyouwhatittasteslike”.

Aworthyaspirationforanypainterif

nottakentooliterally,yetitiswithinthe

powerofoilpaintingtobeabletogo

furtherthanjustthevisualandtoevokea

responseintheviewerofsensationsand

emotionsbeyondthesurfaceofthecanvas,

inthesamewayasaparticularsound

ordistinctivesmellcanbringtominda

timeorplace.Thearomaofcigarsmoke

outdoorswillinstantlytransportmeback

tomyfirstvisittoParisasachild,adifficult

placetoreachbyotherconsciousmeans,

andoccasionallyonhearingcertainsongsfrommyearlieryearsIam

unexpectedlypresentedwithanimageofanexacttimeandplace

whereIfirstheardit.

ItisperhapsinanattempttotapintothisphenomenonthatIchoose

subjectssuchastheshimmeringdappledlightinFrenchcaféscenesor

thetranquillityofaVenetiancanalwhichIhopewillresonatewiththe

viewer.Byeliminatingtheperipheraldetailandpaintingtheessence

ofthesceneIhopetostrikeavisualchord,

creatingthisresonanceofaremembered

atmosphereandhopefullyplacetheviewer

withinthesceneortheirmemoryofasimilar

scene.

WithstilllifetooIhopetocreateaharmony,

aseriesofvisualnotes,bybalancingtexture,

shape,colourandrhythmcomposingawhole

whichIhoperesonateswiththeviewerevenif

onlysubconsciously.Therearefewifanybooks

whichwilltellyouwhyduck-eggblue,venetian

redandlightmarsvioletforinstance,notonly

co-ordinatebutcreatearesonancebeyond

thesumoftheindividualparts.Orwhythe

visualtensioncreatedwhereacrescentmeets

itstangentwillfascinatetheeye.Itisthis

resonancethathelpsmeidentifythe“happyaccidents”thatwilloften

occurwithcolourandshapecombinations,orevenwiththeshapes

andspacesbetweenobjectswithinmywork.

WhenIhearreportsthatsomeoneviewingmyworkhassaid“that

paintingspeakstome”or“thosecoloursreallysing”oreven“it’sjust

likebeingthere–Icanfeeltheheat”,thenIknowthattheyhavefelt

thatresonanceandthepaintinghasmadeasuccessfulconnection.

Resonance

FRENCH LANDSCAPES • 5

2 • Apres Midi, Tourtour, Provence • 24”x36” • Oiloncanvas

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3 • Place aux Herbes, Uzes, Late Afternoon • 26”x30”•Oiloncanvas

FRENCHLANDSCAPES•7

4 • Cours Mirabeau, Aix en Provence • 24”x30”•Oiloncanvas

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5 • Autumn Lunch, Le Cannet • 20”x30”•Oiloncanvas

FRENCH LANDSCAPES • 9

6 • L’Esplanade, Montpellier • 20”x30”•Oiloncanvas

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Each year I seem to venturefurtherfrommybaseintheCote

d’AzurtonewareasofFranceandItaly.Lastyearsawareturntoan

idyllicsmalltowninsouthcentralFrancecalledUzes.Ashorttripthere

thepreviousyearhadsuggestedtheremightbemoretopaintandI

wasnotdisappointedwiththechangesseenthroughoutthedaysand

inparticulartheuniquetimelessqualityofthecentralsquarePlaceAux

Herbeswhichlooksalmostunchangedinoversixhundredyears.

ThisyearIwentonfurtherwesttotheareaaroundMontpellierand

BéziersbasingmyselfinacharmingsmalltownofPezenas.From

hereIwasabletoreachthesoutheaststretchesoftheCanalduMidi

whichIfeltsurewouldgivemenewinspiration,havingasitdoesboth

dappledlightandreflections.FromthefewshortkilometresIwas

abletocoverIsawhugepotential,notleastinthefactthattherewere

over200kilometresstilltosee.Thereishoweverasadnotewhich

willinjectacertainurgencytomycoverageofthecanalandthatis

thattheplanetreeswhichlinebothsidesofthecanalarebecoming

decimatedbyawaterbornevirusandarealldestinedtodie,changing

thecharacterofthecanalfortheforeseeablefuture.

FRENCH LANDSCAPES • 11

7 • Plane Tree Shade, Uzes • 20”x20”•Oiloncanvas

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9 • L’Esplanade, Montpellier • 20”x20”•Oiloncanvas8 • September Sunlight, Cabris • 20”x20”•Oiloncanvas

FRENCH LANDSCAPES • 13

10 • Place aux Herbes, Uzes, Evening Light • 24”x30” • Oiloncanvas

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THE WondEr of ProvEnCE

With heaven’s rays this region’s blessed

Such light and shade, this place caressed

Such character and atmosphere

At first they call, then pause, some even settle here

To draw, to paint, or merely just to soak it in

The market town, the narrow street; café, bar, ornate fountain

Under Plane tree canopy, observing nuance

They draw and paint this haven; they draw and paint Provence

Each locale with churches, squares, perhaps a market

varied interest, but rich in subject

With stalls of produce, crafts, clothes, fruit and flowers

With time to stroll, explore, and chat, and pass away the hours

At street café, a glass of wine, beneath the tables’ parasols

Let time slip by, until it yields, and daily nature’s curtain calls

Then the world and local life meet up, joyful circumstance

To celebrate the wonder, to celebrate Provence

They’ve all been here, so many names, great Masters of the easel

En plein air, in studio, feasting on this region’s table

van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet, Matisse, Picasso

Scots Colourists, right up to date – of course today’s Morrocco

Their aims, their works, their legacy, give ample testimony

Inspire; give visual treat to us, and to so very many

Their art to us, our times enrich, enliven and enhance

Through them the whole world now can see – the wonder of Provence

rM

FRENCH LANDSCAPES • 15

11 • Autumn Promenade, Cannes • 22”x24”•Oiloncanvas

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12 • La Place, St Paul de vence • 16”x16”•Oiloncanvas 13 • L’Esplanade, Montpellier (study) • 12”x16”•Oiloncanvas

FRENCH LANDSCAPES • 17

14 • Shaded Mooring, Canal du Midi, near Colombiers • 18”x24”•Oiloncanvas

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15 • Silver Teapot and oriental Lilies • 20”x24”•Oiloncanvas

TRADITIONAL STILL LIFE •19

16 • Pink Lilies, Peonies and Silver Pot • 28”x28”•Oiloncanvas

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17 • Silver on Turquoise • 16”x16”•Oiloncanvas

TRADITIONALSTILLLIFE • 21

18 • rhododendrons and Silver Coffee Pot • 20”x24”•Oiloncanvas

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STILL IS THE LIfE WE LIvE

Today I am a Lily, not quite opened out

I’ll soon fill the room with scent; it’s what I’m all about

I’m in a vase; I’m centerpiece, with other things around

Like fruit and glass and silverware; coloured fabric that he’s found

He calls it composition, the man behind the brush

He looks at me in studied stare, does nothing in a rush

He sometimes screws his eyes to see me in a different light

His brushes on the canvas, strokes that capture fancy flight

I need to last a day or two before my time is done

Until his brushwork’s over, his smile, approval won

for then I’ll know he’s satisfied, my job at last complete

our lives were still, our moment caught, my petals at his feet

our essence was to act as one, to be for viewing pleasure

Colours vibrant, graceful shapes, rich and shadowed texture

our time was short, yet framed for years we’ll last, and give

Some joy, because we’re timeless now; still is the life we live.

rM

TRADITIONALSTILLLIFE • 23

19 • White Lilies and Silver Ewer • 28”x28”•Oiloncanvas

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I have visited Italy many timesovertheyearsbutsinceI

startedpaintinglandscapeIhaveonlyreallyworkedinVeniceand

Portofino.

SoitwaswithafresheyethatIreturnedtoTuscanyearlierthisyear.

ForprimarilystrategicreasonsIdecidedonLuccaasmybaseandwas

pleasantlysurprisedbywhatturnedouttobeaverypaintabletown.It

hasallthatIlookforinasubject–character,colourandtimelessness,

thelatterbeingaffordedbythebanishmentofmotorvehiclesfrom

thetowncentre.Therestilllingersthedangerofbeingknockedover

byoneofthemanythousandsofbicycles,butthepaceofthetownis

slowedandit’searth-colouredstuccoandbeautifullydetailedmarble

workimbueitwithaquintessentiallyItalianfeel.

Butitwasthedeparturefrommycomfortzoneofthebuilt

environment;thetownscape,thecafé’sandmarketsthatgavemewhat

Ithinkmightbeabridgetotruelandscapepainting.

Ihaveoftenrejectedthe“farview”asemptyandlackinginterestbutI

wouldhavetosaythatmyreactiontotheTuscanlandscape,eveninits

burntAugustcolours,wasoneofenduringinterestwithitspatternsof

vines,olivegrovesandCypresstrees.

Thisexhibitionhassomeofmyfirstresponsestothislandscapeand

ofcoursesomefamiliarscenesofItaliansbeingItaliansinLucca,San

GimignanoandthevillagesoftheCinqueTerre.

ITALIAN LANDSCAPES • 25

20 • Evening Sun, Piazza napoleone, Lucca • 20”x30”•Oiloncanvas

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22 • Cafe, Piazza napoleone, Lucca • 20”x20”•Oiloncanvas21 • Cafe, Piazza San Michele, Lucca • 12”x12”•Oiloncanvas

ITALIANLANDSCAPES•27

23 • near San Gimignano, Tuscany • 24”x24”•Oiloncanvas

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24 • Punta della dogana, venice • 12”x16”•Oiloncanvas

ITALIANLANDSCAPES • 29

25 • Scuola Grande di San Marco • 16”x22”•Oiloncanvas

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26 • Gondoliers on the riva, venice • 16”x16”•Oiloncanvas

ITALIANLANDSCAPES • 31

27 • figures on a bridge, dorsoduro, venice • 12”x12”•Oiloncanvas 28 • Breakfast, Portofino • 8”x8”•Acryliconboard

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29 • Modigliani and Chinese Horse • 20”x20”•Oiloncanvas

CONTEMPORARY STILL LIFE•33

30 • Two Toucans and Tahitian Girl • 40”x40”•Oiloncanvas

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31 • Mandolin and van Eyck • 28”x28”•Oiloncanvas

CONTEMPORARYSTILLLIFE • 35

32 • Parlour Guitar and Greek vase • 34”x36”•Oiloncanvas

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BIOGRAPHY•37

SoloExhibitionsinclude:

OpenEyeGallery,Edinburgh

RendezvousGallery,Aberdeen

RichmondHillGallery,London

ThompsonsGallery,London

BroadwayModern,Cotswolds

ContemporaryFineArtGallery,Eton

KranenburgFineArt,Oban

FraserGallery,StAndrews

GullaneArtGallery,Gullane

Groupexhibitionsinclude:

RoyalScottishAcademy

RoyalGlasgowInstituteofFineArt

CompassGallery,Glasgow

RichmondHillGallery,London

Thomson’sGalleries,London

ContemporaryFineArtGallery,Eton

RichardHagenGalleries,Broadway

JohnNoottGalleries,Broadway

ManorhouseGallery,ChippingNorton

EduardoAlessandrosGallery,Dundee

FraserGalleryStAndrews

FalleFineArt,StHellier,Jersey

ArtExpo,NewYork

ForbesGallery,NewYork

GalerieAzur,StPauldeVence,France

MeridianArt,Agen,France

Biographic SynopsisBorn1953inEdinburgh

Educated–MadrasCollege,StAndrews

StudiedArt:

• DuncanofJordanstoneCollegeofArt,Dundee

studyingunderJamesMorrison,PeterCollins,Jack

Knox,DennisBuchan,DavidMcClureandGordon

Cameron.

• HospitalfieldHouse,ArbroathunderSirPeterBlake

CBE

• PostGraduateyearofstudyatDuncanof

Jordanstone

• FarquharReidTravellingScholarshipinParisand

Florence

AfterhisacademicyearsJackestablishedhimselfasan

illustratorandthendevelopedadesignandmarketing

agencyinDundee,whilepaintingprofessionallyfor

variousexhibitionsatanumberofEastofScotland

galleries.

Beganpaintingfulltimein1997andovertheyearshas

exhibitedextensively,includingover60soloshows.

Jack Morrocco - A work in progress by roy McGregor contains a full detailed biography

Paintingsareforsaleuponreceiptofthisbrochure–forpricespleasecontactthegalleryon(01620)843082– Paintingsmayalsobereservedforaperiodasdeterminedbythegallery.

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Saturday13thOctober-Sunday4thNovember2012Imagescopyrightoftheartist

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40•JACK MoRRoCCo - Resonance

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