Welcome to The Forgotten Gallery Blog
Welcome to The Forgotten Gallery Blog, we will share our journey as we find how to deliver on our promise to artist and painter Barry White to get his works on walls, enjoyed by as many people as possible and use the profits from sales to support established and emerging artists and share the benefits of visual arts on wellbeing.
Work found in Barry’s private gallery.
“It is difficult to imagine forgetting who you are. Closing the door to a studio where you have painted for over 30 years and simply forgetting that door... and what is behind it.”
I have become the custodian of a body of work that spans over 50 years by an artist who has simply forgotten he is an artist. At 83 Barry White suffers from memory loss, such that about 2 years ago he abandoned his studio of over 30 years and the works within it. He told me that he had removed everything that he wanted and moved out. It provided a long-awaited opportunity to redevelop the large space into smaller studios. When I looked within the paint-marked walls I found pieces of work, some of them small doodles but many of them very large canvases. The studio was as it had always been, filled with years of small influences its past inhabitant had wrought on it. His painting clothes, brushes, pots, works-in-progress, his Audrey Hepburn calendar, jazz tapes a small cassette player. Over 30 years of work, treasured memories and cigarette stubs now equally forgotten behind the forgotten door
Barry’s studio, just as he left it.
This journey started some two years ago, we are now making progress with a plan to ensure Barry is not forgotten. It will be a longer journey than we first anticipated but it is a journey I was determined to undertake. Some time ago I had to assert myself to ensure what I found was not simply destroyed, placed into skips to allow for the redevelopment of the space. We have moved well past that now, and are fully committed to doing our very best. We are delighted to have been joined by some wonderful people who have experience in the field of art, who are passionate about the work and who have been willing to fully engage and offer their knowledge and help. Nigel and Julian were the first to step-up. Julian, an artist himself, now has a studio in the redeveloped space! Nigel and Julian also own the Weavers Factory. Faith was one of the first into the space with me; we explored the dark hidey-hole at the very back of the studio. A place, overtaken by damp and pigeons, where we discovered works by Joseph Burke and Edith ? Sadly the damp and birds had ravaged many of them. It was like discovering a tomb and we were excited, in the dark, covered in cobwebs, bird poo and with only a mobile phone to light the void to find large vibrant canvases. We later discovered these were the work of Joseph Burke. That is another story… for another time.
One of the pieces Barry was working on, as it was found in his studio.
Chelsey and Rory who own the Allotment Cafe on site were the next to pull up a seat and now have the first piece on display. It is on loan from The forgotten gallery and looks beautiful on the wall of their charming cafe. A tiny first step but very significant, because from January 2020 people are enjoying and discussing Barry’s work as Chelsey and Rory share his story. Together we are starting to build the relationships, make the connections and share the story that will one day lead to the fulfillment of my promise to Barry… to ensure his work, though forgotten by him, will be remembered and enjoyed by as many people as I can reach, through as many people as I get to share the journey with me.
Matthew and I are taking it one step at a time, often unsure where to place our feet but we will make it.
Barry left his mark… on the walls of his studio.
This blog will be a record of the journey, all those who join us on it and I am sure much more. If you would like to be a part of the journey follow the blog to see how you can get involved.