Mounted around the stairs of the gallery rather than in the front exhibition space, this exhibition is partly installational, partly composed of paintings/graphics on paper. Tim Johnson's large "multiple" painted piece, on the ground floor, is strong in style and with a good basis in draughtsmanship; his imagery is spare and semi-oracular, with an individual, rather low-keyed colour sense. It is, in effect, the best individual work on view. Through the well of the staircase hang a number of large, globular pieces made from thin plywood painted over - not specially interesting in themselves, though well and tellingly placed, and obviously "site-specific". They represent, apparently, a kind of "garland" and have various connotations, at least for the artist.
On a floor above, Kathy Herbert has spread a great many shoes, of her own making, while her graphic work is neat, clever and slightly decorative. Tim Johnson's are stronger and starker, but the two complement each other effectively.
A handout sheet accompanying the exhibition carries various portentous or quasiecstatic statements about the significance of the exhibits, which is hardly borne out by the works themselves. Frankly, this seems to be pouring heavy liquor into rather thin glasses; the exhibition, while it holds you adequately enough, leaves little aftertaste and is rather lacking in real weight or density.
Until February 6th.
