March 2009 - New works: Ronnie Buchan, John Cannavan & Edwin Slater

In 2009 we recruited new artists like John Cannavan whose paintings of Edinburgh and Scottish landscapes became regular sight at all our existing venues at the time.

And on 5th of March we lauched a new exhibition that also included works by Ronnie and Edwin.

"Parliament Street", oil by John Cannavan
50.5 x 40.5 cm.

"Soul Mates" mixed m. 60 x 80 cm.

"Woman with cigarette" oil ,50 x 40cm.

February 2009 - Jacqui Higgs solo exhibition

After a short break to recover from all our hectic activities around Christmas time, we welcomed the new year with a Solo Exhibition by Irish artist Jacqui Higgs.


Above: Fettiye", 50 x 41.5 cm. Mixed media £495

"My Current practice involves on-site drawings, photographs and graffiti text sourced from the industrial spaces of urban and contrasting rural landscapes. These are then developed to create a multi-textured surface..."

J.H.

This painting below is my all-time favourite by Jacqui.
Due to the layer of varnish covering the canvas, the foggy quality of the "snow" is appreciated only when you see the painting in the flesh.
But when you do...you can almost feel the dampness in the air. This painting came back to mind after seeing a Portraits Exhibition in London in February 2010. From all the photographs on show, the one that caught my eye displayed an image of a young man laying with his greyhound dog in a beautiful, large field. Unlike most of the other photographs, this one had some information to complement the image. The text explained that while the guy in the photo looks somehow unaware of the camera, looking distracted; the dog, on the contrary, was looking right into it, as if posing for the photograph. It was this swap of roles between human and animal that had caught my eye. I found it surprising and interesting. And the same idea applies to Jacqui's "Walking the Dog in the Snow": the dog seems to be looking directly into the viewers' eye...with some sort of human-like awareness. He seems to be telling us about the cold and the dampness...

Paintings by Kenneth Le Riche

We closed 2008 with an exhibition of stunning work by Kenneth Le Riche.

Below: The Unbearable Likeness of Being
Oil on canvas
60" x 48"



"The Unbearable Likeness of Being" is a misquotation of Milan Kundera's book 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being'. This was the book that the young woman in the painting was reading when the idea for the piece was first thought up. I have chosen to use this misquote for two reasons: as a reference to what the woman was reading and thus where she was in her imagination as the idea was composed, and also as a comment on how in relationships there can be tension and discontent when the two parties concerned can feel too alike and each others' behaviour too predictable. In arguably a misguided way, both parties consequently look outside the relationship for contentment. In the painting I wanted to create an ambiguous psychological narrative. Kenneth Le Riche

Kenneth trained and lived in New York, where he adquired his outstanding figurative technique. 9 months after this exhibition his words "realism is the new avante-garde" served me for the introduction of an exhibition called "Beyond Realism", organised for Colours Gallery in collaboration with Spanish gallery Artelibre. What is remarkable is that one the participating Spanish artists: Aranzazu Martinez, had trained with Kenneth in New York...
It's a small world after all!

Artmag Dec 08 - Jan 09

Barnardo's Auction - December 2008

"Waiting the adoption" 76 x 56 cm. By Zohre Mirabassi
Oil on board

Barnardo’s Exhibition Launch

Wed 10th Dec 2008
6.30 pm
Joseph Pearce's Bar, 23 Elm Row.
Edinburgh

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A full moon Wednesday of December 2008 witnessed the launch of the Barnardo's Art Auction campaign, for which paintings were auctioned on the 12th of December at Joseph Pearce's Bar to raise funds for this charity devoted to helping disadvantaged and neglected kids in our community.

It highlighted the generosity of local and international artists who donated more than 30 paintings with titles as inspired as “Beginnings” (Edwin Slater).
They did their part and then it was our turn!

The exhibition and pre-autcion campaign, which included downloadable catalogues from the webiste, had an overwhelming response with a staggering amount being raised through the purchase of art. Delicartessen donated an oil painting called "Waiting for the adoption" by Iranian artist, Zohre Mirabassi. The painting sold at the auction night which took place at Joseph Pearce’s Bar, 23 Elm Row, Edinburgh.


This event proved the generosity and sensitivity of both artists and art lovers both local and afar. The money raised was dedicated to finance a summer holiday for the kids of one of Barnardo's adoption centers in Edinburgh.
The idea of giving the kids the simple, yet out of reach, opportunity of enjoying a holiday, lifted the hopes for the result of the auction and echoed Barnardos' motto of giving kids back their future...and shall we add, their present too.
We were blown away by the response of our artists and local volunteers and felt so priviledged to take part in an event like this.
As the say goes..."What goes around, comes around" (and often multiplied!) Incredilbe experience.

October 2008 - Collaboration with the Hispanic Festival

In October 2008 we teamed up with the Hispanic Festival in Edinburgh and attended their fund-raising event at The Caves, where we handed out fliers for a special discount.
It was a great night and we met some new collectors as well as people simply interested in the products and influences of Hispanic culture and art.


Images by Lalo Rubio

October 2008 Newsletter

In October 2008 we sent a newsletter advancing some of the exciting events coming in the the last quarter of the year...It was great to team up with the Hispanic Festival and to contribute to Barnardo's Charity Auction.
It sounded like this...

"Dear friend,
Reserve some of your energy for the aftermaths of tonight’s full moon as you will need it for the events kicking off this Thursday 16th October.

If you missed our last preview with new works by Jacqui Higgs and amazing Edinburgh scenes made in collage by Zoe Mafham, join us this Thursday from 5.30pm till 6.30 pm.
Below: "Old Town from Waverley" by Zoe Mafham



We have 1 new work by Zoe plus 3 new colourful musicians by best seller Nikki Godley to brighten up the evening.
Below: Horn Trio, oil on canvas, by Nikki Godley


This Thursday 16th also marks the comeback of the Hispanic Festival, celebrating Scottish and Hispanic connections in Edinburgh, with 4 days full of cultural events.
Whether it has been inspired by Spain and painted in Scotland or inspired by Scotland and painted in Spain; some of the works we sell symbolize this Hispanic-Scottish link.

We would like to celebrate it by giving the Hispanic Festival visitors a 10% discount voucher for any of the paintings exhibited at Joseph Pearce's Bar, Elm Row, until the 9th of November, including works by Mexican and Spanish illustrators Eduardo Rubio & Max Hierro, respectively, which are exclusive to Delicartessen

Check their website for further information: www.hispanicfestival.co.uk

Finally we have united forces with Joseph Pearce’s Bar to organise Barnardo’s annual art auction and plan to raise £4000 to give Edinburgh RAFTs kids the opportunity of enjoying a summer camp. I’d like to thank in advance to “our artists” who have generously donated 4 paintings for the auction so far.The works will be up on show from 10th November and the auction will be on the 10th of December, but I’ll keep you informed!!


Waiting the Adoption, by Zohre Mirabassi
has been donated by Delicartessen and will be auctioned on the 10th of December."