Page 170 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

168  ENGLAND ’ S SOUTH C O AST REGION B Y REGION

Panoramic view of Porthminster Beach and the picturesque town of St Ives
p St Ives
St Ives Artists of the 20th Century
Cornwall. Map A6. * 11,000. 3
@ n Street-an-Pol; 09052 522250. In the 19th and 20th centuries, St Ives, together with Newlyn (see
∑ visitstives.org.uk p167), became a magnet for aspiring artists. In 1939, Ben Nicholson
and Barbara Hepworth arrived in St Ives. They formed the nucleus of
With its dazzling whitewashed a group of artists that made a major contribution to the development
cottages, flower-filled gardens of abstract art in Europe. Other prolific artists associated with the
and golden sandy beaches, area include the potter Bernard Leach and the painter Patrick Heron,
St Ives combines the traditional whose Coloured Glass Window dominates the Tate St Ives entrance.
pleasures of a seaside holiday Much of the art on display at Tate St Ives is abstract and illustrates
with the more refined delights new responses to the rugged Cornish landscape, the human figure
of its prestigious artistic heritage. and the ever-changing patterns of sunlight on sea.
The town is famous for the clarity Bernard Leach (1887–1979) became
of its light, which attracted a fascinated with raku pottery while
group of artists to set up a seaside living in Japan. On his return to
art colony here in the 1930s. England in 1920, he founded
Their work is celebrated at the the Leach Pottery, a ceramic
Barbara Hepworth Museum studio. A small museum at
and Sculpture Garden and Tate the studio celebrates his
St Ives. The former presents the life and work.
sculptor’s work in the house and
garden where she lived for many
years. Tate St Ives displays the
work of modern British artists
who have worked in the area. The Barbara Hepworth
building was designed to frame (1903–75) was one of the
a panoramic view of Porthmeor foremost abstract sculptors
Beach, reminding visitors of the of the 20th century. Two
natural surroundings that inspired Forms (Divided Circle) (1969),
the art on display. a bronze sculpture created
The best beaches in the town just six years before her
include Porthgwidden, which is death, is considered one of
sheltered and great for children, her most famous works.
and Porthmeor, which is good
for surfing. The star, though, is
sweeping Porthminster.
E Barbara Hepworth Museum
and Sculpture Garden
Barnoon Hill. Tel 01736 796226. Open
Mar–Oct: 10am–5:20pm daily; Nov–
Feb: 10am–4:20pm Tue–Sun. Closed
24–26 Dec. & 7 by appt. =
E Tate St Ives
Porthmeor Beach. Tel 01736 796226. Patrick Heron (1920–99) was an abstract and figurative artist
Open Mar–Oct: 10am–5:20pm daily; who met Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth and other St Ives
Nov–Feb: 10am–4:20pm Tue–Sun. artists while working at the Leach Pottery from 1944 to 1945.
Closed 24–26 Dec. & 7 0 = St Ives Harbour (1948) is typical of his earlier figurative works.
∑ tate.org.uk
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp178–9 and pp190–91

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