Our newest exhibitor in the salon is an old friend and a familiar face in the neighbourhood for as long as we can remember. Pete Bennett may be more familiar to some for his musical activites in Morning Bride, The Dublo and Monkey Island, but he’s also an accomplished artist too. We’re very pleased to host an exhibition of his work at Beaucatcher. Here’s some words others have had to say about Pete and his art:
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.
billy childish
rochester
Pete Bennett was a fellow student of mine at Chelsea School of art 1989/90. The one year ‘Masters’ painting course was 49 weeks of intense activity; a situation that caused me to make more painting in one year than I had ever done before or since. it was a place where you did not want to miss a day as you felt like you were being left behind; such was the pace.
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. Considering this, the paintings were intense in colour, painterly and yet dirty and weirdly dull in surface – a good quality that was so in tune with his subjects and his attitude. What was being made was meant and purposeful, every work an evolution and a departure from its predecessor. 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.
Pete’s artwork will be in the salon from 1 December 2013 until February 2014, and there will be a private view on Sunday 15 December, with special musical guests Morning Bride.
Pete Bennett is also part of the Bethlehem Boys Club group show at Building ‘F’, 110 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0JX. The private view is on 5 December 2013 and the show runs from 6-15 December 2013. Other artists featured are James Cauty, Billy Childish, Harry Adams, Chris Jones, Jamie Reid, David Mackintosh, Dan Cimmermann, David Dipré, Andy Wicks, Frank Lawsaws, James Jessop, Neal Jones & Alex Daw
