Performers in Paint exhibition by Stella Tooth and Susie Nathanson
PRIVATE VIEW Thursday 15th June 2023 17.30 – 19.30 PM
Putney Library 5-7 Disraeli Road, London, SW15 2DR
Exhibition dates: Wednesday 14th June - Saturday 15 July 2023
Mon: 09.00-20.00; Tues: closed; Wed-Thu: 09.00-20.00; Fri-Sat: 09.00-17.00; Sun: 13.00-17.00
Featuring paintings by Susie Nathanson & Stella Tooth; two portrait artists, who take their inspiration from performers. They are exhibiting together for the first time, at Putney Library, as part of the Wandsworth Arts Fringe Festival this June.
Susie and Stella met during a social media campaign a few years ago, when Wandsworth Arts asked Susie to spotlight the work of three borough artists who struck a chord with her. Stella’s work was a natural choice. This has led to a wonderful dialogue and friendship, founded on a mutual admiration and respect for each other’s work.
They have now come together to create an exhibition – PERFORMERS IN PAINT - which features the musicians, dancers and variety acts that have moved them, and explores their different takes on the excitement of live performance.
These artists are consummate storytellers, each with their own distinct style. Susie often incorporates objects and symbolic references in her paintings, which tell the subject’s story. Stella, a former print journalist and BBC/Sky News PR, combines figurative imagery with words and a strong sense of colour to bring her subject’s story to life.
The exhibition will run from Wednesday 14th June – Saturday 15th July 2023. There will be two special workshops that run alongside it: a ‘Dance & Costume’ themed life drawing class and an Introduction to Salsa Dancing. There will also be a talk that goes behind the scenes of Stella & Susie’s art practice, where they explain why performers attract them as a subject matter, the different ways they access performances, and the methods they use to capture them in paint. Please see separate listings to book these events.
Susie says: “The theme of performance and performers is one very close to my heart. I was lucky enough to experience first-hand, the feeling of being on stage at a young age, which sprung a lifelong fascination for the magic, craft, and beauty of performance. I am really excited to be joining forces with Stella on this show; we could literally talk for hours on this subject, being one that has played an instrumental role in both our lives. “
Stella says: “It’s great to stage this exhibition with Susie in the same year the Half Moon Putney, where I’m resident artist, celebrates 60 years of live rock n roll. We’ve both enjoyed exploring what exactly it is that draws us – albeit from differing perspectives and with different storytelling techniques - to the musicians, dancers and circus skill acts that we so love to portray.”
Susie and Stella have created a special collaborative piece (above), exclusively for the exhibition, called ‘The Slack Rope Walker.’ It is an artwork that joins, via a W-shaped rope, two different buskers which have inspired them.
Artworks featured will be available for sale.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
SALSA DANCING, BEGINNERS WORKSHOP
Thursday 22nd June
17.30 - 19.30 pm
Putney Library Hall, Putney Library
Tickets £12 [£10 concessions].
To book visit www.wandsworthfringe.com from 26 April 2023.
PUBLIC OFFER: Buy two tickets and save 10% using the code BRINGAFRIEND
A perfect introduction to Salsa Dancing. Instructed by Susie Nathanson, who has been dancing Salsa for over 10 years and teaches with Incognito Dance, a long-established company offering salsa and bachata classes and clubs nights in Southwest London.
Fun & friendly, this workshop is designed for beginners, where you will learn a range of basic salsa steps, which will build into a simple sequence, ideal for moving to music and social dancing. Susie will also share insights into her experience of dance and how it inspires and informs her art.
This workshop will take place in the light and airy, parquet-floored hall attached to Putney Library. Some light refreshments will be provided. No previous dance experience required, just a willingness to learn. Please wear comfortable clothes which you can easily move in.
A DANCE & COSTUME THEMED LIFE DRAWING WORKSHOP
Saturday 24th June
14.00-16.00 pm
Putney Library Hall, Putney Library
Tickets £12 [£10 concessions].
To book visit www.wandsworthfringe.com from 26 April 2023.
A special dance & costume themed life drawing workshop, expect dynamic and powerful poses!
Taught by Stella Tooth, who has extensive experience as a drawing tutor for the V&A, Tate Britain, The Courtauld and National Portrait Gallery. Featuring Susie Nathanson as model, dressed in a vibrant salsa costume. With over 10 years’ experience dancing and performing Salsa, Susie will be striking a variety of Latin dance inspired poses.
This workshop will take place in the light and airy, parquet-floored hall attached to Putney Library. No previous drawing experience required. Students should bring a hard cardboard-backed A3 pad. All other materials will be provided.
Jackson Art, next to Putney Bridge Tube station [Arch 66 Station Approach, SW6 3UH, 020 7384 3055] will be providing a 5% discount on sketch pads when you mention our names [Susie Nathanson / Stella Tooth].
FREE TALK
BEHIND THE SCENE WITH SUSIE AND STELLA
29 June 2023
18.00 – 19.00 pm
Putney Library, Exhibition Space
Tickets free.
To book email info@susannahnathanson.co.uk
An opportunity to hear Stella and Susie explain their working process and discuss the influence of performance in their work, especially the power of music and dance. The talk will also featuring short video interviews with Nina Jackson, Music Manager of the Half Moon Putney, and Jeff Tarpinian of the Incognito Dance company, shining further light on both these mediums in a broader context.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For interview or photo requests please contact:
Stella 07802 754877 stella.tooth@gmail.com
Susie 07867 804599 susienathanson@googlemail.com
Images available:
The slackrope walker collaborative artwork (above)
Exhibition poster (above)
Susie in her home studio and Stella in her home studio
The Wandsworth Arts Fringe (WAF) will take place from 9th-25th July 2023. Since 2010 WAF has brought together hundreds of creatives each year to provide theatre, comedy, music concerts, experimental performance art, outdoor art extravaganzas – and art exhibitions.
https://www.wandsworthfringe.com/
Susie Nathanson
Susie specialising in oil on canvas and digital paintings of people, animals and treasured objects. She is also a salsa & bachata teacher for the Incognito Dance Company and brings to her dance and variety act paintings, the personal experience of performance, helping viewers both identify and connect with her subjects. Many of her paintings are inspired by street performers from The Edinburgh Fringe, a festival she fell in love with when studying an MA in art there. She is delighted to now show them in her home borough, as part of the Wandsworth Arts Fringe.
www.susannahnathanson.co.uk
www.incognitodance.com
Stella Tooth
Stella specialises in capturing street and stage performers in oils, digital painting and mixed media. As resident artist at the legendary rock n roll venue the Half Moon Putney, where more of her work is on show, she provides a gig-goer’s eye view of some of the iconic bands that have played there during the past 60 years. Stella is particularly inspired by slips of the performance mask when a connection is made with the audience, band members or even an instrument. Her ‘Rock experience’ offers the chance to take to the famous stage and be immortalised in an artwork.
www.stellatooth.co.uk
www.tickets.halfmoon.co.uk