| Great escapes: Cornwall 7 |
| Creative Cornwall |
| Immerse yourself in the high standard of literature, galleries, fine art, crafts and performance art for which this area is renowned |
What is it that makes creative types flock to Cornwall, in search of inspiration and the artistic mus& Whatever combination of sun, sea, landscape and light it is that seduces them here, it has attracted more accomplished artists to the area than anywhere else in Britain. St Ives in particular has an international reputation as a centre of art, with its bewildering array of delightful galleries, including the flagship Tate Gallery, and its annual September Festival of Music and the Arts (see our tip, opposite). So, follow today's route for a taste of the very best in Cornish culture.
• Depart from Tregarton Caravan Park
Zero your car's trip meter and head towards Gorran. Follow the signs to St Austell. At 3.9 miles at the junction for Polmassick, bear right and in 1.4 miles bear right again. At 6.5 miles, turn left onto the B3273. At 11 miles at the mini-roundabout turn left onto the A390 (Truro). At the next miniroundabout keep left. At the traffic signals (23.8 miles) take the A39.
At 25.7 miles, at the mini-roundabouts take the A390 signposted to Redruth. At the roundabout at 30.9 miles, take the first exit (A30). At 46.2 miles, at the roundabout take the second exit A3074 signposted too St Ives. Arrive at St lves at 50.1 miles, and take the left fork on the Albert Road. Follow the road around to the left and at 51.4 miles, park in the Park Avenue car park.
GALLERIES IN ST IVES
Painters first arrived in Cornwall during the late 19th century, when young British artists of the day copied the French-inspired style of painting outside, in the clear light of the colourful fishing harbours. But it wasn't until the work of modernist painters such as Patrick Heron and SirTeny Frost, and the sculptures of Barbara Hepworth that St Ives shot to prominence on the European art scene. Here are some of our favourites among Cornwall's many galleries.
1. The Book Gallery
This secondhand bookshop has top-quality, modem firsteditions, literature and fine art on display.
It focuses on the art colonies of West Cornwall and carries a stock of manuscripts, catalogues, drawings, correspondence and artefacts.
2. The New Millennium Gallery
An elegant three-storey gallery opposite the Guildhall and Tourist Information Centre, it provides three large exhibition spaces and has earned a reputation for showing contemporary painting and ceramics. This one's especially for those with a taste for the weird and wonderful. A number of works on display are abstract and figurative.
3. Barbara Hepworth Museum
Barbara Hepworth came to St Ives in 1939 and played a pivotal role in its rise to international acclaim in the art world. After her death in 1975, her will outlined a request to establish a permanent exhibition of her sculptures in the studio and gardens in which she worked.
4. Belgrave Gallery
Thsi St Ives branch of London's Belgrave Gallery features works from the major contributors to the Modern Movement which St Ives headed up between the '40s and'60s.
5. The New Craftsman
Opened in the mid '60s by Janet Leach, this gallery exhibits contemporary British art. Pottery is a speciality; hut there is also jewellery, wood, glass, metalwork, weaving, prints and drawings.
6. The Goldfish Bowl
This is a new gallery, run by artist Joseph Clarke, with a focus on the figurative work as brought about by painters, ceramicists, sculptors and jewellers from Cornwall and beyond.
7. The Tate St Ives
This gallery's inspirational building is a true showcase for modern art. It stands above the superb Porthmeor Beach and features exhibitions selected from the London Tate's collection of 300-or-so works produced by the
modern St Ives School of painters. Current and future exhibitions include works by Ian Hamilton Finlay, a focus on aspects of his work with a distinctly maritime emphasis (16 March -26 May); Richard Long who works with natural materials in the landscape (8 June- 1 September); and Naum Gabo, the Russian sculptor (also 8 June-1 September). The gallery has a rooftop restaurant and the cost of admission will also gain you access to the jointly administered Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.
THEATRE ARTS
8. The Minack Theatre, Porthcumo
Zero your trip meter and leave St Ives, following the signs for Land's End B3306. At 0.9 miles turn left onto the B331 1 (Penzance). At 7.3 miles, at the junction forthe Town Centre, turn rightontoan unclassified road. At 7.7 miles follow signs for Land's End (A30).
At the roundabout (9.7 miles) take the first exit (A30). At 12 milesturn left onto the B3283 (St Buryan). At 17.6 miles enter Minack Theatre car park.
This theatre brings a taste of ancient Greece to Cornwall. 'Minack' in Cornish means 'a rocky place', and this open-air theatre is indeed hewn from the granite cliffs above Porthcumo Bay.
Since The Tempest was first produced here, in 1932, Shakespeare's plays have been the mainstay of every summer season at the Minack, which lasts for upto 17 weeks. This year (from 20 May to 14 September) the 750-seat auditorium will hnstThe Tempest, the Pirates of Penzance, and the Wind in the Willows. Theatre ticket prices are £5.50-~7 for adults, and half price for children under 16 years old. Daytime visiting prices throughout the year arc £2.50 for adults. but under 12s enter free.
• Back to Tregaiton Park Zero your trip meter and return via the same route that you used to approach the Minack Theatre. At 1.7 miles take the B3283 (St Buryan), then turn right onto the A30 at 5 miles. Stay on the A3O upto 30.1 miles, then at the roundabout take the fifth exit A390 (Truro). At 35.3 miles, at the Arch Hill mini-roundabouts, keep forward on the A39. At the traffic signals, at 37.2 miles, go ahead on A390. At the mini-roundabouts, at 50 miles, take the B3273 towards Mevagissey. At 54.5 miles turn right onto an unclassified road to Gorran, then follow signs for Tregarton, arriving at 62 miles.
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Distance
123 miles
Time all day, ended by enjoying a play of your choice.
Start/finish Tregarton Park
Suitable for those with a cultured taste forthe arts.
Attractions
The Book Gallery
Tel 01736793545
The New Millennium Gallery
Tel 01736 793121
Barbara Hepworth Museum and
Sculpture Garden
Tel 01736 796226
Belgrave Gallery
Tel 01736 794888
New Craftsman
Tel 01736 795652
Tip
Well worth planning is a visit to the St lves Festival of Music and the Arts, which runs from 7-21 September. It features top international performers in many fields, from classical to jazz music, comedy, theatre, poetry. There and exhibitions of painting pottery and craftwork and talks on aspectsof art and literature. For details, phone 01736 798721 or visit the website at www.st-ives-events.org.
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