Now showing

FRANK BRIFFA: OIL DUST AND A KING

Preview: Monday 14th January 2019, 6.30-8.30pm

Exhibition dates: 15th January - 8th March 2019

Frank Briffa works mainly in oil on canvas and his paintings are based on specific pieces of music. Composers he has used include Bartok, Janacek, Tippett, Meredith Monk, Stravinsky, Nielsen, Mahler and particularly Charles Ives.

Oil, Dust and a King is multifaceted, consisting of a large oil painting and a series of pastel drawings which he showed at KING - part of the Freedom City events which took place across Newcastle to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr’s visit to Newcastle to receive an honorary Doctorate from Newcastle University. The oil painting is based on a piece of music by the Italian composer Luciano Berio which he wrote as a tribute to King after his assassination. There are also ten small pastel drawings based on phrases and words used by King in his acceptance speech at Newcastle University.

The Dust in the title refers to all the pastels in the show. Recently Frank's wife met his old painting tutor at a function. He asked, “what is he doing now?”. She told him about the pastels. He said, “tell me to stop using pastels at once and to go back to oil painting. After all, how can you make decent work out of coloured dust!”

OIL DUST AND A KING can be viewed when the Box Office is open. To arrange a viewing outside of these hours, please email gallery@peoplestheatre.co.uk

ABOUT THE BISCUIT FACTORY 

The Biscuit Factory hosts four seasonal exhibitions a year, each featuring the work of over 250 artists, as well as showcasing collaborations with national agencies, creative initiatives and arts organisations. Locally, the Biscuit Factory Foundation works with many arts organisations and individuals including the People's Theatre.

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