PRESS RELEASE – for immediate release
ART EXHIBITION: “Where the Heart Is!” by Josephine Jagger-Manners
DATES: Sunday 14 March at 11.30 am – 11 April 2010
VENUE: Jayes Gallery, 31-33 Gidley Street, Molong NSW 2866 P: 02 6366 9093
Josephine Jagger-Manners is a multi-award winning restaurateur and wife of the celebrated Michael Manners. Having retired as a restaurateur, and from the highly acclaimed Selkirks Restaurant, in 2007, Josephine is now able to pursue a life long desire to paint pictures. Self-taught, Josephine enjoys painting what she sees as snippets of country life and domesticity.
Josephine’s first exhibition at her home in Molong NSW in 2009 was a great success. Viewers responded enthusiastically to her whimsical take on everyday life at home and in the garden. Josephine’s use of colour is always vibrant and reflects her lifestyle. For Josephine at present spending time painting from her home, surrounded by her large and prolific garden, truly is for her “Where the Heart Is!”
Although Josephine is a new artist coming to her passion late in life, she has had a fair grounding in art early. Josephine won a scholarship to attend the selective girl’s school in Hartlepool N E England. Art became her major subject and she achieved 98% for Art/Art History in her GCE Exam (top 1% in Britain). Josephine remembers being influenced at that time by Turner, Cezanne and Gaughin.
Josephine fondly remembers admiring Turner for his technique and wistful way with paint. She says “To me, every Turner picture that I looked at was magical and took me to an entirely new existence. I had only seen Turner’s works in books but my heart stood still and my knees became weak when I saw a Turner painting at the National Gallery at 18 years old” Josephine continues “I preferred the still life paintings of Cezanne to his landscapes. They represented country life and I was drawn to the feeling of human presence in the pictures even though not depicted. I have always liked Gaughin’s use of colour and particularly the vibrancy of his still life’s”
The influences of those formative years are strongly present in these recent works making for an interesting combination of subject, colour and style.
The upcoming exhibition at Jayes Gallery of Molong, NSW is Josephine’s first solo show in a major gallery and the early influences of her engagement with art and paintings can be seen strongly in the works on exhibition. This is a delightful and warm show of paintings that are not only familiar but are highly decorative as well. Libby Oldham, Gallery Director says “I am pleased to be able to provide this opportunity to such a wonderful and inspiring artist. Her works sit well within our current stable as Josephine has her own style which has developed out of a strong past of being influenced by the European Masters.”
The exhibition “Where the Heart Is!” opens on Sunday February 14 March at 11.30 am. Following the opening, a luncheon in honour of Josephine will be prepared by her husband and well known Chef, Michael Manners. The day will be a treat not to be missed. Bookings essential for the luncheon however all are welcome to the opening. See you on the day!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Libby Oldham, Gallery Director
LARGE FORMAT JPG’S FROM GALLERY
The artist, Josephine Manners can be contacted on 02 6366 8521 for interview
