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From: S.Foxx Category: Art Date: 06 October 2006 Time: 09:02 AM Review: I am no art critic myself, let me state that first, but having seen the show myself, on the opening night and getting the chance to see the paintings and meet with the artists, You cannot stand there and catagorize all stuckists into a group. Charles Thomson, is an almost entirely different breed of person compaired to the rest of them. Charles' paintings, I find do nothing more than serve as his own personal vendetta against both Nicholas Serota and his ex wife Stella Vines. What with two provocotive paintings of his ex wife as the stripper she was when he met her. However, the others, people such as Joe Machine, Bill Lewis and Ella Guru, are superb. Although their art might not be to your taste, there is no denying that there is feeling and true art in their paintings. I had the pleasure of meeting Joe and his wife last night at the show, and after hearing about how his paintings came into life, about how they were all from true life experiences, and everything he paints has been a part of his life, i found myself falling even more in love with them. His paintings are gritty, real life, and they cut you right to the bone. They leave something in your mind, and almost a taste in your mouth long after you have left the show. I have never met an artist who is so keen to show his life, and a man so desperate just to paint. Bill Lewis, he paints his life, with certain figures representing his beliefs, a woman representing god to him. As he talks to you, and takes you through his paintings, about religious experiences, from when he dabbled in Buddism, to being Jewish and then a christian, you realise the "method in his madness" His use of colour is also spectacular. There is no deniying that the contrasting tones of the blues and the oranges are beautiful. As far as i'm concerned, the show at Spectrum Gallery was superb, a complete hit. With an almost sell out show, paintings of Charles Thomson and Joe Machine sold out within the first hour, im sure that that speaks for itself. So don't judge what you havent seen. its worth going to have a look. And most of all, dont let Charles' personal Vendetta get in the way and prevent you from seeing something which is truely fantastic and beautiful art.