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Brighton Memorial

Artist: Rodger, Willie, RSA RGI DUniv · 1930-2018

Brighton Memorial

The artist, then Principal Teacher of Art at Clydebank High School was awarded a 3-month residency at the Gardner Art Cetre, University of Sussex at…

The artist, then Principal Teacher of Art at Clydebank High School was awarded a 3-month residency at the Gardner Art Cetre, University of Sussex at the tail end of 1971, funded by the Scottish Arts Council. He was given a studio space and a solo exhibition, and spent his time making pen and ink sketches of parts of the campus, and in particular of nearby Brighton. These resulted in 11 relief prints executed in pure lino, or in lino and woodcut, many with frottage extensively applied to give added texture.

An impression of one of these prints 'Brighton, November' (1992.137) was purchased by the RSA from the RSA AX in 1972 through the David Muirhead Memorial Fund. The 2020 gift by the artist's family included an impression of each of the other of the Brighton prints, making the RSA the only public collection to hold the complete set.

The work is based on the central covered seating area on the Palace Pier, Brighton,with its dividing wall pierced by small windows whose frame shape is evocative of tombstones, which the artist has played on in the title of the work..

© The Willie Rodger Art Trust