Organ Preview: Something that has been on our minds for the last few weeks, pecking at us via various inboxes, actually this one has been kind of pecking at us in a slightly aggressive way, oh the demands and do this and do this now and why haven’t you done this yet? A bit more thought would be nice, there aren’t many of us bothering to wave these flag doe our fellow artists and well here’s the facts according to the press release… 

‘Always on My Mind Part 2’, a thoughtful art exhibition to raise money for The National Brain Appeal. Sixteen esteemed artists are taking part in a show to raise money for The National Brain Appeal. Works by John Peter Askew, Marcus Cope, Clare Chapman, Jeremy Deller, Edie Flowers, Russell Herron, Nicola Hicks, Kim James Williams, Dominic Kennedy, James Lawson, Lee Maelzer, Bruce Mclean, Raksha Patel, Louise Reynolds, Geraldine Swayne, and Sarah Wood will be on display at Fitzrovia Gallery, from 1-3 September 2023. There is an opening night, a so called Private view that we assume is open to all? on Thursday August 31st

The artists were selected by Harry Pye, who has been described as “a veteran organiser of eccentric exhibitions” by art critic and writer, Fisun Güner, and as “one of London’s premiere puckish artists and curators” by art and fashion writer, Ana Finel Honigman. Pye has rounded up a plethora of uniquely talented and interesting art makers and asked them to reveal what is on their mind. His selection includes not only recent graduates from the UK’s best art schools but also some of the most respected art tutors. Also added into the mix are a Turner Prize winner, a John Moore’s Painting Prize winner, and a few stars of this year’s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

After seeing images intended for ‘Always On My Mind Part 2’ art critic, Charles Darwent, said: “Held in aid of The National Brain Appeal, this show is aptly thoughtful. Its subject is the mind – its endless diversity, its many meanings; its vulnerability to neurological disease. I would highly recommend a visit”.

Fifty per cent of sales of artworks will go to the charity. Last year the first ‘Always On My Mind’ show raised £6K. Signed inkjet prints by John Peter Askew, Geraldine Swayne, Raksha Patel, James Lawson, Sarah Wood, and Nicola Hicks, will also be launched at the exhibition in editions of 10. Each print will be available for just £50. One hundred per cent of proceeds from these sales will be donated to The National Brain Appeal.

In addition, 35 writers, comedians and artists have added to the show by contributing quotes that reveal their thoughts on thoughts and the brain and what is on their minds. These quotes have been edited together in a booklet which will be given away free to the first 100 visitors. Contributors include Alexei Sayle, Jennifer Higgie, John Hegley, and Rose Wylie. You can read the quotes here

Buying a work from this show will help to raise much-needed funds for The National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery and the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, for whom The National Brain Appeal is the dedicated charity. The hospital is one of the world’s leading centres for the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with a wide range of neurological and neuromuscular conditions including stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, migraine and dementia.

‘Always On My Mind Part Two’ will be open to the public from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd of September, 12-6pm, at Fitzrovia Gallery, 139 Whitfield Street, London W1T 5EN. Free Entry”.

And there you have it, an art show happening right at the start of next month, hope we haven’t gone too early with the news, internet attention spans are short and this is often a rather thankless task. I don’t buy that “recent graduates from the UK’s best art schools” bit. Never did like all this wearing the name of the art school you could afford to go to like some kind of validation, don’t buy the way too many curators who think it starts and ends with this year’s graduate shows (and yes, I can hear you saying it, yes I did go to one of the “UKs best art schools” back in the days of grants that just about allowed you to live on baked beans). I’m far more interested in what artist do when they’re out in the real world and the parties are over, shame most of the curators or gatekeepers aren’t. needed to get that off my mind.

I like Harry Pye’s art, I like his shows, he curates rather well, there’s some rather exciting artists taking part again in this second Always On My Mind show. And yes, a worthy cause, one of many us artists are asked to donate art to on a regular basis, I wonder if accountants and plumbers or electricians get ask to work for free or donate work as much, we’re happy to do it of course, I like to think on the whole art is a force for good (to quote Sean Scully again), We look forward to the show, I expect there will be more once we’ve seen it…