Gerard Rickards Remembered

	July 31st - August 25th 2006

It has been a pleasure and a privilege to bring together this exhibition. Gerald Rickards was the very first artist in residence when Drumcroon opened in 1980, helping to establish the principle that visiting the studio of a visual artist in order to gain insight into the making process should be a tangible part of the gallery experience. Gerald’s residency set the standard for the artists in residence who followed him.

His work formed part of the 25 Anniversary Show, where he was a welcome guest at the preview in September 2005. As a major contributor to the exhibition, Gerald was invited to reflect on the early months at Drumcroon and his thoughts reminded us of his humour, goodwill and his commitment to his art and to the work of Drumcroon. Throughout his life, his role as an artist and teacher were central. A great communicator, Gerald believed in nurturing the talent of children and young emerging artists.

His huge body of work has documented environments all over the country, recording buildings and landscapes in his own distinctive style. However, it is the views of his home town of Wigan and its surrounding areas that have so endeared him to the local community. Gerald has captured images of Wigan that no longer exist, describing the town throughout a period of great change. He was drawn to record the changing seasons, often painting the same subject at different times of the year. Part of his legacy is that many of his works capture an essence of the place, so that when we look at familiar landmarks we also recognise them through his eyes. The charm and humanity of his images lie in their simplicity. His work is quiet and understated and has a timeless quality. He loved to record architectural detail, and was fascinated by the range of colours and tones present in the most ordinary buildings. Gerald created tightly structured compositions that create a harmonious effect on the eye of the viewer. This somehow reflects something of the man. Gerald had great humility. He was a gentle man and we will miss him. It is his gift to us that we continue to enjoy his love of the environment that surrounds us.

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