Sponsored by
Callow's Yard gets to the art of the matter
SOME of the outlets in Castletown's new £13m development at Callow's Yard have quietly opened their doors.
A take away or eat in fish and chip shop sits next to a restaurant selling local produce such as Loaghtan shepherd's pie and oils and bread made on site. The feel of the restaurant is high class, but high chairs dotted around hint at the families they want to attract.
'This is a family diner,' said head of catering Carl Haworth. 'It is not elitist, it is just decorated to a high standard.'
The next shop sells confectionery, French crepes, smoothies, popcorn and ice cream. What they stock will change in response to demand and the weather and in winter, for example, they will sell roasted chestnuts.
Next door a gallery with the exhibition The Art of Women of works by Laetitia Guilbaud was unveiled on June 29. Curator Liam O'Neill described the vivid images of women as 'a bit risque'. He said: 'Art should make a statement, get the heart and brain thinking.'
The artist is French but lives in Glasgow, and her work was secured through Mr O'Neill's contacts there.
The exhibition reflects the 'international nature of art that will be exhibited in Callow's Yard', said Mr O'Neill. 'There is also a place for the best Manx artists.'
The gallery opens on to a coffee shop that is lined with works by E Karshbaia, from Georgia, owned by Callow's Yard developer Roy Tilleard and his wife Sue.
Doors open onto the inner courtyard with tables and a sheltered open air spot to drink coffee.
Shops nearer the square sell jewellery, handbags and a selection of homeware.
This smorgasbord of outlets in Arbory Street has already been attracting some curious locals and visitors and Callow's Yard is not even half open. The opening of the shops in Malew Street will follow, along with more restaurants.
Mr Haworth said the low key opening was deliberate. 'We want to be able to crawl before we can walk before we can run,' he said.
In the coming months, the Archibald Knox gallery — a world first — will also open. Mr O'Neill is curator and has been working since January on amassing artefacts and putting together the concept to celebrate the work of one of the Island's greatest artists.
As chairman of the Archibald Knox Society he described the creation of a gallery devoted to the artist as 'a dream'. The two galleries will be very different, he said. 'The Archibald Knox Gallery is a visitor centre, and there is this commercial gallery where we would like to have a new exhibition every two weeks.''
Both share an international flavour he said. 'This is a difficult time for art worldwide because of the recession. To make the Isle of Man a place for art and to put it on the map worldwide is the mandate from Roy Tilleard and Sue. To put it on the circuit for artists.
People can come here for long weekends, they can get accommodation and there are restaurants, they don't even have to leave Callow's Yard, and we are close to the airport. Art seen as a way of drawing people in.'
The Archibald Knox Gallery should be open, he hopes, by the Autumn and it will occupy a 1,600 square feet space in the basement of the building in Malew Street.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Isle of Man
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: South
