PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS of DAME LAURA KNIGHT DBE RA RWS

Current Exhibitions
Penzance: The Magic of a Line exhibition, with over 120 works by artists associated with the Newlyn School of Art and the Lamorna Group will be held at The Penlee House Gallery and Museum, Penzance, Cornwall on 20th September to 22nd November 2008. The exhibition was opened by R. John Croft, FCA, Dame Laura Knight’s great nephew, at a private viewing on the 19th September and includes 31 of Laura Knight’s and 1 of Harold Knight's works donated by museums and private collectors.

Recent Exhibitions
The Royal Academy, London, held an exhibition under the heading The Magic of A Line, Drawings by Dame Laura Knight DBE RA from 22nd July – 31st October 2008. The exhibition was of 19 drawings from Laura Knight sketchbooks, not seen by the public before.
The “From Victorian to Modern” exhibition of Vanessa Bell, Gwen John and Laura Knight included 23 works of Dame Laura Knight. The Exhibition was held at:
Djanogly Art Gallery, Nottingham – 28th October to 19th December 2006, and
The Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne – 13th January to 15th April 2007, and
The Norwich Castle Museum and Art gallery – 30th April to 17th June 2007.

The “Modern Britain 1900-1960” exhibition of 250 works of art, included 2 Laura Knight works. The Exhibition was held at The National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia – 15th November 2007 to 24th February 2008.

The Lowry, Salford Quays – 21st March to 6th July 2008

Nottingham: Laura Knight at the Theatre: Paintings and Drawings of Ballet and Stage with over 100 works of the artists work is being held at The Castle Museum and Art Gallery, Nottingham – 18th July to 7th October 2008. Over 700 people attended the first night opening.

CATALOGUE RAISONNÉ

The nearest living relative to Dame Laura Knight DBE RA, R. John Croft, her great nephew is currently compiling a Catalogue Raisonné of all the artist’s work and the works of her husband Harold Knight.

The catalogue concentrates on the artists oil and watercolour paintings, but will also include some of the well known Laura Knight drawings, etchings and aquatints, particularly those of famous people and events e.g. Nuremberg Trials, famous actors, ballerinas, novelists, etc.

The catalogue will identify where the works may be seen if in public hands and where applicable where commercial images may be derived, as well as details of the work including dimensions, date where known, background on the work and provenance.

Over the years many of the artist's works have been given more than one title, which has in some instances casused confusino as to the proper title of the work. The Catalogue will identify the works on the basis of firstly, the title used by the artist in her later years – the title used by the artist in her autobiographies – or otherwise the 'best' generally known title, as determined by the artists great nephew. Titles will not necessarily be determined by the first known exhibited title as adopted by some academics.

On any publication of the artist's works, to ensure conformity as to the correct title of the artist's works, and to ensure that it conforms to the Catalogue Raisoneé, it is recommended that reference is first made to the Estate Dame Laura Knight DBE RA – email info@damelauraknight.com

Private collectors of Dame Laura Knight works are sought in order to make the Catalogue more comprehensive.

Should you own a Dame Laura Knight work please make contact by email info@damelauraknight.com
or by writing to The Friends of Dame Laura Knight Society, PO Box 4710, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 9JE. 
Your details will remain confidential and the entry in the Catalogue under location will simply state “ Private Collector”.

LAURA KNIGHT IMAGE GALLERY

The close relatives of Dame Laura Knight, her friends and some private collectors are having digital photographs taken of their works for commercial reproduction. Such images will be primarily for editorial use.

If you are a private collector, rather than let the dust dwell on your work of art, why not let it provide you with a potential periodic dividend – e.g. an image fee ?
If you are interested send your enquiry to The Friends of Dame Laura Knight Society, PO Box 4710, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 9JE.

NEW BOOKS

R. John Croft, great nephew of Dame Laura Knight, who is currently Compiling The Catalogue Raisonne on Dame Laura and Harold Knight works, plans to publish a book of Laura Knight poetry in 2009.                                   
In John’s researches, relatives of Laura Knight friends and associates have provided from their papers a number of poems written by Laura Knight.  John has also now found about 300 hand written drafts of Laura Knight’s poems. It is planned that a hardbound book of about 90 poems, illustrated with relative Laura Knight works, will be published towards the end of 2009.
John requires 50 names of those interested in the book for economic viability of publication. If interested, please email: info@damelauraknight.com

Dr. Alicia Foster who has already published two books on female artists, plans to write and publish a new book on Dame Laura Knight DBE RA in 2008.

The book is planned to be very different to those already written, focusing on the author’s fascination in the artist being “…her astonishing, brave and risk taking approach to life – hers was a truly modern life in many ways – and the relationship of this and her work.”  The author intends “...to focus on the choices that she made, both in terms of her own life, and in terms of her work as an artist,  against her subject matter, to reinterpret her as a compelling figure, whose story and whose art, has much relevance and interest for us today”.
The book will draw upon the artist’s own writings as examples of her fascination with self-representation, as similar in many ways to her self portraits, and in this interpretative approach the book will differ greatly from other books written on the artist.

A FILM

A film is being adapted from the novel “Summer in February” by Jonathan Smith and is in development by High Barn Films.

The love story is primarily based upon Alfred Munning's tragic first wife and life in Cornwall in the early part of the last century. The book naturally includes reference to Laura Knight, being one of Alfred Munning's best friends.

Jonathan Smith has written several novels and is a distinguished radio dramatist.

For further information visit www.summerinfebruary.com

ILLUSTRATED TALK(s)

Colwall, Herefordshire: John Croft, the great nephew of Dame Laura Knight, gave a talk with just over 100 illustrations of the artist’s work to approximately 150 people at the Colwall Village Hall in Herefordshire.  The latter part of the talk concentrated on Laura Knight works drawn and painted in Colwall and the Malvern area, with audience participation identifying individuals and places. John wishes to thank all those people who gave him further information on his great aunt to assist him in compiling his Catalogue Raisonné.

Nottingham: Dr Pamela Gerrish Nunn , Associate Professor of Art History, University of Canterbury, New Zealand will give a talk in Nottingham Castle Museum on 25th September 2008 called “ Laura Knight – Her greatest performance”.

Worcester: A further talk for the Friends of Dame Laura Knight Society has been embraced by the “Autumn in Malvern Festival” on 27th October 2008 at the Worcester Art Gallery and Museum. Alison Bevan, the Director of the Penlee House Gallery and Museum, will talk about Dame Laura Knight in the context of women artists in Cornwall.