Turner Penultimate

not the final design but gives idea of scale

As ever, this is a highly subjective account of a public meeting and may well be a complete travesty of the truth.

Despite being advertised as a public meeting, tonight’s Turner contemporary was not entirely as egalitarian as you would first imagine.

Big irritation, at the door you were asked, if you had been invited or not (this had been billed as a first come first serve event) as with much of life, I realised at the entrance, that as ever, there are those who travel business class and those like me, who travel economy, I was lucky I suppose I wasn’t dispatched, out the back of the fire exit.

As you can expect I made a mild protest but I know my place. Still things got a bit more egalitarian as I stumbled into the reserve seating by accident, social systems can be so difficult, thing was, having been told that reserve seating was dotted about, I misunderstood I think rows two and three had reserved at either end indicating a no go area for the likes of me. Still only the front row had individual names, I thought it a bit strange, when Sandy Ezekiel and Roger Latchford seemed to be networking either side of me.

Once all the bigwigs were seated the show got going introduced by Amanda Honey (KCC), first up, a well practiced reprise of how we got here, from Mike Hill the usual Parallels’ to Bilbao and Tate St Ivel – Ives (what do I know), how before the gallery arrived, there had been no demand for Café Society and now post gallery everything was hunky dory (probably true).

Victoria Pomeroy gave us an enthralling talk about the multiple wonders, which await us, sadly, this is somewhat wasted on the inferior Flaig brain and was interpreted in my head as so much waffle about art (in a Homer Simpson sort of way). Once this magnificent building is a reality and I’ve been exposed to culture I shall be a better more considerate person. Any way thus far, Victoria Pomeroy I believe has reached out to the local community and that’s presumably the biggest part of her job.

A quick digression, mention was at some stage made of local artist, Tracy Emin now her name came up recently, with some toffs complaining in the media about Tracy representing Britain in Venice at some show, since a lot of modern art is er, a mystery, I say good luck to her, I don’t know whether she’s talented or not but its good to see local people succeed. Having heard her speak about that exhibition, I think she is a genuine.

Now for those of you who were not present, next up was David Chipperfield who prefaced his remarks with his conviction that Turner was the best British artist ever, he spoke with quiet authority of someone, who actually knows what he was talking about, which is quiet refreshing.

Now despite the trails for this event in the local media, we still haven’t as David was careful to point out got the final plans, also he mention that the consultation element to the design process was “uncomfortable” and said they would be back sometime in the autumn with a more finished product.

David Chipperfield after the presentation

At the end of the show there was a question and answer session, this was a lot better than some and for the most, intelligent and unusually well mannered. Amongst the crowd were the usual participants, Iris Johnson asked a question referring to her earlier involvement, Clive Hart also piped up adding his praise for the project.

I must admit that after sitting in the “Reserved Seating” and doing a bit of hob –nobbing, with Thanet’s great and the good it seems a bit ordinary sitting here cranking this stuff out.

Some of those also in attendance Roger Gale, who spoke, Alex King KCC deputy who appears not to be in America this week, Richard Samuel chief exec, Derrick Harding Margate regeneration Supremo (had a quick chat) even noted that the Gazette had dispatched one of their whippersnappers to cover the event, so for the fact you’ll probably have to await the Gazette or maybe the Extra later in the week.

Finally I had a quick word with Mr Chipperfield and got the impression that he seems a fairly straightforward no bull sort of person, afterwards I was struck by the thought that my comments were probably complete bollix but he was kind enough not mention it. I have to face facts sometime, tomorrow I shall probably being doing something creative, with a shovel, he with a pen.