PARTY MOOD AS GALLERY LAUNCHES DISPLAY OF ABSTRACTS Oct 26 2005

THERE were balloons hanging outside. No, not some child's birthday being announced but a Liverpool art gallery opening.

The Almiro Gallery has opened in Mersey View, Waterloo, not an area normally associated with high art.

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PICK UP A CANVAS WITH YOUR COFFEE Oct 19 2005

MANY diners are leaving restaurants and bars with a full stomach and a new painting.

MOST diners expect to leave a restaurant with a lighter wallet and a fuller stomach. These days, however, as is fitting for a designated capital of culture, they might find themselves with an original painting under one arm, as Liverpool restaurant and bar owners catch on to the French custom of selling art works from their walls.

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PICK UP A CANVAS WITH YOUR COFFEE Oct 19 2005

MANY diners are leaving restaurants and bars with a full stomach and a new painting.

MOST diners expect to leave a restaurant with a lighter wallet and a fuller stomach. These days, however, as is fitting for a designated capital of culture, they might find themselves with an original painting under one arm, as Liverpool restaurant and bar owners catch on to the French custom of selling art works from their walls.

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PARTY MOOD AS NEW GALLERY LAUNCHES DISPLAY OF ABSTRACTS
DAILY POST OCT 26 2005

THERE WERE BALLOONS HANGING OUTSIDE. NO, NOT SOME CHILD'S BIRTHDAY BEING ANNOUNCED BUT A LIVERPOOL ART GALLERY OPENING.

THE ALMIRO GALLERY HAS OPENED IN MERSEY VIEW, WATERLOO, NOT AN AREA NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH ART.

BUT IT WAS A SIGN OF THE CHANGES BROUGHT ON BY LIVERPOOL'S EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE SUCCESS, A GALLERY NOT FULL OF HALF-BAKED LANDSCAPES BUT MOSTLY INTRIGUING ABSTRACTS. THE WORKS, BY MERSEYSIDE ARTISTS, WERE ALL FOR SALE.

THE GALLERY HAS BEEN CREATED IN A WAREHOUSE BY THE MCCARTHY FAMILY BELOW WHERE ALAN MCCARTHY HAS HAD A RECORDING STUDIO. BROTHER ROY MCCARTHY THOUGHT THIS WAS AN IDEAL SITE.

THE ALMIRO GALLERY WILL OPEN PROPERLY NEXT YEAR WITH A SERIES OF EXHIBITIONS.

MEANWHILE, IT IS OPENING FOUR DAYS A WEEK TO SHOW OFF SOME INTERESTING WORK.

UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR IT IS EXHIBITING A GROUP SHOW REVEALING JUST WHAT TALENT THERE IS LOCALLY AND WHAT IS LIKELY TO COME UP NEXT YEAR.

ROY MCCARTHY HAS FOUR WORKS ON SHOW IN THE EXHIBITION. ONE OF THEM, FADING FAST, CONSISTS OF A DOZEN CANVASES WITH FADED PHOTOGRAPHS COVERED BY PAINT AND OTHER MEDIA.

PAUL BUTLER'S PASTELS AND WATERCOLOURS ARE ABOUT THE MOST TRADITIONAL LANDSCAPES MOSTLY SET AROUND LIVERPOOL WITH THE ALBERT DOCK AND LIVER BUILDING BEING PARTICULAR SUBJECTS.

ALI MCWATT, HEAD OF ART AND DESIGN IN A LOCAL COLLEGE, USES GOUACHE TO SUGGEST WATERY THEMES, PEBBLES IN A RIVER, FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE KATE HOPWOOD CREATES A SORT OF FISH-WOMAN.

DANNY JOHN IS DEFIANTLY ABSTRACT WITH CANVASES FULL OF STRIPES AND SPLODGES AND STEVEN COOK USES A CHILD-LIKE STYLE TO PRESENT PEOPLE WITH GUNS OR A SCHOOL BLACKBOARD.

ERIC ORME USES OBJECTS TO FORM ART, ANYTHING FROM CARPET SAMPLES TO BITS OF OLD CARD AND SARAH SHAW USES PHOTOGRAPHY TO PRODUCE LIVELY IMAGES, OFTEN INCORPORATING BODY PARTS.

JAZAMIN SINCLAIR, MEANWHILE, USES BRIGHT OILS AND STRONG DRAWINGS TO CREATE MORE ABSTRACTS, ALBEIT WITH TITLES LIKE FRUIT AND FRED THE DOG.

THE GALLERY OPENS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, NOON-6PM AND THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, 11AM-7PM. OTHER TIMES BY APPOINTMENT. 0845 230 0045.