Day trip to Hastings, part 2; my review on Jerwood Gallery

Jerwood Gallery was only one week old since it opened when we visited yesterday. It has modern British oil paintings. I liked three paintings particularly. Private View by James Fitton (1967) is witty figurative work. It is 45 years old, but it doesn't show any age. Grey Painting, December-January (1959) has a calm tone with vertical movement It is an abstract oil painting by Terry Frost. The most striking work was over the staircase. Francis Rose by Maggie Hambling is a realism figurative work. The hands and faces of the old woman are knobbly and uneven. Her cloth is casual. But she has such presence against a pale cream background. 

James Fitton's other works 

Terry Frost at Tate collection

Maggie Hambling's another Francis Rose at Tate collection

The inauguration exhibit is Rose Wylie, Big boys sit in front. We saw a documentary film about her in Studio room. I enjoyed it. First, the most surprising thing to me was that she was an old lady, not a young woman I imagined from her works. My first impression on her works was she probably didn't have a good memory of childhood so she had to re-live it as adult, and has never grown up. She tells to a camera 'I painted Peter Crouch..., this is Rooney...' as she points a head and figure. She reminded me of children explaining to me what they painted. The themes of her painting are toys, footballs, among other things. She looks contended with what she does and who she is, unlike some young artists. Her painting are 'childish', but the modern world we live has a childish taste. I imagine that's what she paints. Her paintings show how she perceives our world. It makes sense to me.

Entrance fee is £7.50 for non-residents. We were told by a member of the staff that the temporary exhibitions change four times a year, and they would launch annual membership for £10 later in the year. 

We have enjoyed the experience there. Annual membership makes sense for non-residents, if you could make a couple of visits a year. Permanent collection is not large, so we will pick the temporary exhibition we like to visit next time.

From the cafe. We are heading to a far left side of the hill top to see the castle on foot!

Webbe's cafe is very pleasant. It gave us such a nice break twice! After enjoying the art works, we re-visited the cafe for coffee. I had a bucket of cookies and an espresso. Cookies were nicely buttery, not overly sweet. There were about six pieces,two pieces each of three kinds. I couldn't finish all, so took the half with me wrapped in a napkin. Mike had a coffee sponge cake and a latte. He told me that sponge was so light and lovely.  

This cottage stands at the start of the old street.

Across the road, there was a narrow old street,which any tourists would be tempted to wander into. We were heading to Town Hall museum. On the way, I popped in several bric-a-broc shops. My usual cheerful 'Hello' was returned with a gentle smile by old men who look after those shops.  

So cute!

Another one nearby

There are lots of herring gulls in Hastings. They are tame! We were stalked by two of them. French kids had a joy of feeding them chips. Poor car owner!

French kids found feeding chips to gulls is a fun!

At Town Hall museum which also contains tourist information, we were told that upstair display is closed until April. They were very friendly and helpful. They showed us how to get to the top of the hill on a map. By the time we got there, it was warm and very nice day indeed. They seem to feel shame that they had to stay inside on such a nice day. I bet they are having great time today instead.( it's another warm day in the South East!)   

To be continued.