Last December Roberta Gordon-Smith had an idea to stage an exhibition at La Conca Arts Club in the Lecrin Valley and very quickly this inspired idea became an event; La Conca Arts Club presents ‘The Incredible Exploding Pomegranate’.
Curated with the bi-cultural heritage of England and Andalucía in mind, it will be speaking to both the English and Spanish communities. To give this international and multi-disciplinary show a more global perspective, ART & LIGHT has been chosen as the theme to coincide with IYL2015; the International Year of light.
To pull off such a large exhibition of over 160 original artworks across 2 venues, this project required some serious professional organisation and administration. The team of Georgina Gordon-Smith, Kitty Shepherd, Jess Shepherd, Andrew Burton and Roberta got together and thrashed out a plan of cunning and precision.
A specially chosen selection committee of seven judges from the arts world, including such serious names as Peter Capaldi, Alexei Sayle, Samir el Habri, Michael McGowan, and Inma Gomez Noguera, have spent considerable time contemplating every entry and deciding which of the hundreds of submissions were to be included. Equally, the input of art expert Gillian Singer and cartoonist Andrew Birch has been pivotal in deciding what was in and what was out! Gillian and Andrew are both contributors to the show with Gillian presenting her modern sculptural wall pieces and Andrew Birch contributing two highly coveted YBA original comic strips that were previously published in Private Eye Magazine.
La Conca Arts Club has had an exciting twelve months since opening last July. Close links with the renowned ‘Chelsea Arts Club’ in London has helped make La Conca really stand out as a place of artistic enterprise with an expanding international membership and a fully engaged community. Coinciding with La Conca’s first anniversary, the exhibition is an opportunity for everyone to visit this extraordinary venue, nestled on the edge of the Embalse de Beznar in the Lecrin Valley between Chite and Melegis. A surprise is in store for regular visitors as ground levelling is ready for the arrival of four military “MASH” tents imported from the USA especially for the event.
The gallery in Salobreña; El Casino, has also undergone extensive rebuilding and inspired interior styling by Georgina Gordon-Smith, in order to stage this kind of diverse art experience.
Opening with a preview on 4th July at El Casino in Salobreña, “The Incredible Exploding Pomegranate” will run from the 5th July through to the 13th September. A second preview event will be held at La Conca on 15th July. In keeping with the Chelsea Arts Club ethos there will be serious amounts of delicious wine available at both venues. All exhibits are for sale with a percentage of profits being donated to local charities including Acompalia.