The Amazing Creations Of Gavin Penn

Introduction

Although the website is under construction there are some amazing images to enjoy there.

This is a totally unexpected post because I wandered into the Penn Gallery in Alnwick because the Star Wars Stormtroopers in the sea of the beach at Bamburgh Castle and Lindisfarne caught my eye.

I had some time to kill. I really wasn't expecting too much but I came through the door to a warm welcome from Gavin and we got into a conversation about the cornucopia of his creations that were on display and for sale in his gallery shop.

The introductory video features an original piece of art by Gavin for the band. This is about the music in the project.

The Amorphous Androgynous unite with Van Der Graaf Generator vocalist Peter Hammill for a 41-minute progtronic symphony ‘ We Persuade Ourselves We Are Immortal ‘ in 6 parts. Featuring Paul Weller on piano and acoustic, the Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir, 25-piece strings and all manner of instrumentation from harp to a plethora of vintage synth alongside sax by Brian Hopper ( Caravan / Soft Machine ) and lead guitar by Ray Fenwick ( Spencer Davis Group / Ian Gillan Band ) all set within the AA’s trademark sonic twist and samplerdelia.

I knew Amorphous Androgynous by name, and Future Sound Of London and Peter Hamill are favourites of mine with a few f their creations in my collection.

Gavin was very engaging and said hello as I worked through the door and saw so many creations and paintings that I could hardly take it in. Paintings that were album cover originals, steampunk-influenced pieces often grafted onto unexpected animals and a table of the most unusual and original rubber ducks that you will ever see.

The steampunk plague doctor mask and the Dali melting clock scull were two of the many stand-out pieces.

A guy came in while I was in and offered to buy a painting if Gavin would throw in a free rubber duck. The transaction was completed and the satisfied customer left with a painting to hang and a new rubber duck for his bath.

The thing is the Penn Gallery is more than a shop, it is a display of the incredible, but the incredible that you can have in your own home if you have the space to put it (though obviously everyone has room for a rubber duck and small steampunk owl.

Places like the Penn Gallery blur the lines between an art seller and a viewing gallery. I go into so many art shops where the attitude is "yo can look but what are you buying" but when you are greeted with this when you walk in you know you have stepped into another dimension that you really want to explore.

I am sure you are seeing these and thinking "I must have one of those" on a number of these creations. Take a visit to the Penn Gallery either online or even better in person and succumb to the probable temptation.

Art only survives when pieces are sold and the more that are sold the more original pieces will be created for you to admire. You do not have to buy everything. The rubber ducks are a mere £15 and for that, you will gain a lot of fun and pleasure.

I was there for less than half an hour but could have spent a lot longer in there but I was on a timer so had to leave, although I still have most of this week left and Alnwick is only an hour and twenty minutes from Newcastle by the X15 bus so is not difficult to get there.

Please check out the Penn Gallery, I am sure you will loveit