Art - The Star Group

There is an air of expectancy surrounding the new ‘Life Works’ exhibition from the Star Group at the Thebes Gallery because as Viva Lewes went to press nobody was quite sure what would be exhibited. Although this sounds vague, rest assured it is all in hand and adds to the spirit of the show. All 15 artists in the group will bring along four pieces of figurative work to exhibit - the content of which remains a mystery until the work turns up at the gallery.

We did, however, track down Hugh Longhurst. He is one of only three founding members still exhibiting with the Star Group. He says he is currently having a ‘Chagall moment’ and that the work he’ll be showing this year will be influenced by the work of the great Russian artist. For example Longhurst’s ‘Abelard and Eloise’ gives a big nod to Chagall when he depicts the unhappy lovers beside a cockerill, Chagall’s symbol of fertility often found in his paintings of lovers. Longhurst’s other work on show will be ‘Strawberry Blonde’, ‘Where Are You’ and ‘Do You Come Here Often’ - all figurative works using bold colour.

The Star Group meet every Friday morning at the All Saints Centre for their life drawing class – this annual exhibition is the fruit of their work. Longhurst calls the group “adventurous amateurs that have a great quality to their work”. Also exhibiting will be Ron Phillips, Ray Huckslep and Pippa Burley, fresh from her sculpture show at The Crypt in Seaford. KA