The People's Gallery at Kendal Museum

About

The People's Gallery is a large, open space situated in the lower level of Kendal's celebrated museum, one of the oldest in Britain.

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CURRENT EXHIBITION: THE LAST FEW YEARS EXHIBITION by Di Meth-Cohn

Di works in a style across the figurative/abstract spectrum. Her show includes acrylic paintings, pas-tels, mixed media artwork and some delightfully decorated glassware.

Born in Manchester, she moved to the South Lakes in 1987, soon after her first son was born, and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the area and the shapes and colours of the mountains.

Encouraged by her husband she began producing paintings to brighten up the family home and soon began producing for other people. Experimental in approach Di uses different and unusual mediums and her work has been described as "unashamedly bright, upbeat and cheerful." Flowering plants are a constant theme.

Since her husband passed away with brain tumor and the effects of the Covid crises and many other changes in life, Di has increasingly sought solace in the actual process of painting. Consequently the expressive direction of her paintings changed, she explained, "Much of my work has been brought about by the love I have had the fortune to enjoy, the tenderness I've felt and also by the deep loss I have suffered. Some work has been about gratitude, thankfulness, the places I've been, the sounds heard and the meaningful interactions experienced."

The title of her exhibition was inspired by the challenges and experiences of these last few years. Di sums this up as, "Being outside, enjoying nature and the peace it brings to my soul, has helped me get through, as well as being a key source of inspiration for my art."

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With around a hundred square metres of space, the gallery is well lit and has architectural features dating back to its previous life as a wool warehouse, including the original stone-flagged floor.

Regional artists know all too well how few spaces are available to show their work, so the recent opening of this large gallery space in Kendal is an exciting new addition to the Lakeland arts scene.

Since re-opening in June 2022, the gallery has already celebrated the abstract printmaking of Jess Levine, photographic work by Colin Reynolds, the exquisite minimalist etchings of Jamie Barnes, and Mike Healey's exciting exhibition of surrealism.

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