Built in 1903, Stanley Halls has a grand old gallery as well as meeting rooms and a full on theatre. It’s in the process of renovation and is being brought back into regular use by the ‘People for Stanley Halls’ community group. For this years Open House the Halls will be open for tours, it’s well worth seeing. Some of my paintings will also be amongst the artwork in the very fine gallery and cards will also be for sale on the day.
The Stanley Halls Gallery was already looking great when I left an hour or so ago after hanging eight original paintings and two prints. Stanley Halls was originally designed and built by William Stanley who also founded the ‘Stanley Works’ of ‘Stanley knife’ fame. It is a grand public building in the true Victorian philanthropic style, built alongside the technical school it has a fine theatre, a well designed gallery with loads of diffuse natural light as well as meeting rooms. The whole space is being lovingly brought back into use by a very enthusiastic local community and it looks like going on to become an excellent addition to the local arts scene.
Tomorrows Open House tours should be really interesting and with the cafe running and art up in the gallery waiting for the tours to get started should be enjoyable too. Everything will be kicking off at 10am and the last tour will be at 4:45pm.
Here are some photos of the paintings going up.
Croydon on Canvas is my first solo exhibition and features 19 original paintings of everyday life in Croydon. I’m particularly happy to be holding this exhibition at Matthews Yard, just off Surrey Street which is one of my favourite subjects.