Magpie’s funky new nest

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Marcus Crane has curated a pop-up art exhibition and transformed his Cinque Ports Street interiors store McCully and Crane into a gallery for two weeks. I went to the opening on July 17, on an unusually hot summer evening . The venue was packed and guests cooled down with chilled prosecco, sparkling elderflower and ice-cold beer.

McCully and Crane is an eccentric treasure trove of unique objects and works of art that are so covetable, yet often so simple in concept, that when I visit the store I often look around and ask myself: “Why didn’t I think of that?!”

But that’s the point of the place. Marcus, like many, is a bit of a magpie – just with a little more imagination and vision than the rest of us. It’s a joy to see. And now his nest is sparkling with the new, colourful, abstract works by seasoned musician and artist Luke Hannam.

The works vary in size and colour palette, each canvas interrupted with shapes of bright colour and naive outlines of objects, such as shoes and vases. There are echoes of Picasso, whom he greatly admires, as well as Matisse. There are also drawings, Luke’s preferred medium, simple quirky black and white portraits.

I saw online a photo taken in Luke’s studio. In the studio were vintage floral ceramics and wallpapers. Perhaps the paintings were made to compliment these, or the objects inspired the colour palette and content of Lukes work. Either way, I’m also drawn to these junk-shop items, and that, along with his use of startling hot pink has made me a fan.

Worth mentioning is the fact that Luke is the bassist in successful funk band Gramme. Check out the video to “Too High”. Luke’s musical talents led to a stint as a music teacher, where he taught, among others, Ed Sheeran, who has recently had a number one in the charts.

The show is proving successful and Marcus plans for it to be the first of many pop-up galleries at McCully and Crane.

Luke Hannam/Studio ’14 runs until July 28, after which the works will still be available in store. For further information contact Marcus Crane at 27a Cinque Ports Street (07932-478383 or email him ).

Photo: Tess Hannam

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