Museums and galleries
Walsall’s Monet travels to Japan
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An oil painting by Claude Monet (1840–1926), from The New Art Gallery Walsall’s Garman Ryan Collection, has travelled to Japan for a major retrospective of the Impressionist artist’s work.
Le Chemin Creux dans la Falaise à Varengeville (The Sunken Road in the Cliff at Varengeville), 1882, will be on display at Tokyo's Ueno Royal Museum from 20 October 2023 – 28 January 2024 and then Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka from 10 February – 6 May 2024. The Series of Paintings exhibition will bring together more than 60 of Monet's works, carefully selected from more than 30 collections around the world.
Monet painted Le Chemin Creux dans la Falaise à Varengeville while living in a small fishing village in Normandy. He was inspired by the area’s scenic coastline, particularly the triangular shapes formed by the meeting of cliffs, sky and sea. The lone building depicted in the painting shows the local coastguard’s cottage. The pale sky and murky palette showcase Monet’s interest in the changing weather and light at different times of day.
The painting was gifted to the people of Walsall in 1973 by Kathleen Garman (1901-1979) along with 364 other artworks and artefacts. Kathleen had grown up in Wednesbury, and although she had lived in London most of her life, she wanted to give something back to her home county, believing it was important for culture to exist outside of the capital. Kathleen was the life partner of 20th century sculptor Jacob Epstein and formed the Garman Ryan Collection after his death with her close friend Sally Ryan (1916-1968). As well as the painting by Monet, the collection features artworks by many world-famous artists such as Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Paul Cézanne and Vincent Van Gogh.
The Garman Ryan Collection can currently be explored through a special trail celebrating its 50th anniversary, 50 Favourites for 50 Years, with contributions from staff and those associated with the Gallery’s recent projects.
On 1 November the Gallery will also host a special online event with David Goldbloom, the great-nephew of Sally Ryan’s long-term partner. The event aims to shed some light on Sally, a figure who has always been a more mysterious presence in the collection.
“ The Garman Ryan Collection is a jewel in the Black Country. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our world-class collections on a global scale, as it deserves. “
“ It is brilliant that 50 years on from its donation, the Garman Ryan Collection continues to put Walsall on the map and bring international recognition. I hope Japanese audiences enjoy the painting as much as our visitors do. “
ENDS.
Notes to editors
About The New Art Gallery Walsall
The New Art Gallery Walsall presents, collects and interprets historic, modern and contemporary art in innovative and challenging ways, welcoming visitors from all over the globe as well as our immediate locality. They aim to increase the understanding and enjoyment of arts and culture through a dynamic exhibition, education and events programme.
The New Art Gallery Walsall is funded by revenue support from Walsall Council and Arts Council England. The New Art Gallery Walsall is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.
Open: Tuesday – Saturday 10am-5pm; Sundays 12-4pm. Closed Mondays and Bank Holidays.
Free admission
www.thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk
Garman Ryan Collection 50: In-Conversation with David Goldbloom
Wednesday 1 November 2023, 6-7pm. Free. Zoom.
A special, online event in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Walsall’s prestigious Garman Ryan Collection. An opportunity to find out more about the co-founder of Walsall’s prestigious Garman Ryan Collection, the American sculptor, Sally Ryan.
