As part of our ongoing Grow At Home programme of online talks with local artists, we welcome Grow native artist and musician Pete Bennett for a talk and interactive Q&A afterwards.
Billy Childish on Pete Bennett:
‘Pete Bennett’s paintings and drawings are simple gifts that can be at turns beautiful, ugly and indifferent; as if composed by a drunken man on a moonlit stroll, who, intoxicated as much be the nite air as by wine and beer, sings uninhibited ditties to the stars and pan.
So, rooted in a simple engagement with nature, dashed out in a recognisable code of ever arising, vibrating shakti, Pete’s paintings are musical mark-makings; a celebration of the very nature of poetic being.
In this way, engaging with the musical echo of bird, tree or man, Pete makes his paintings and drawings. Whether full of harmony or violent discord, they are always beautiful, assured and better than we deserve.’
Peter Doig on Pete Bennett:
‘Pete Bennett was a fellow student of mine at Chelsea School of Art. Pete was certainly one of the main driving forces – also the youngest on the course – and I was certainly one of the oldest. There was a huge energy in what Pete was doing, taking inspiration from Pac Man to Braque man. Huge ‘still lifes’ that reflected the city, studio and his life. It was as if Pete’s space was a painting and the paintings grew out of it. Walls, floor, clothes, a makeshift canvas bed, all were sullied by the stuff. Those in the deep end knew something of import was a-foot and not to be ignored.
Since then, through choice, Pete has avoided the world of ‘fine art’ but continued to paint and draw privately whilst doing many other things; playing in bands, fixing old amps, tree surgery… all done with the same integrity, intent and rigour that he applies to his drawings and paintings.’
This event is funded by Arts Council England
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. By 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish, and where every one of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help deliver this vision.
Find out more at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19