TWO FAB LITTLE ART GALLERIES IN MURCIA. By Malcolm Thompson BEd (Hons) Hondon de las Nieves. Have you been to an art gallery in Spain yet? I think everyone should make a little space in their lives for art and culture. After all, visual art and painting is one of the principal indicators of civilised culture so I’m told. If you never had the time before, (the No 1 reason), or thought art galleries weren’t ‘your cup of tea’, or maybe you thought art galleries were a bit ‘snobby’, possibly you just didn’t know where to find one, you have no excuse now you are retired and have a little spare time to spend. With this in mind, in January, myself and a group of amateur watercolour painters, the ‘Las Chumberas beginners painting group’, based near La Canalosa, took ourselves off on the train to Murcia to look at two fabulous little art galleries. Firstly, the Museo Ramon Gaya in the Plaza Santa Catalina, near the Plaza del Flores and the Museo de Bellas Artes on the Calle Obispo Frutos, near the bull ring. Both are free entry, but if you are a group it would be as well to book in advance. The Museo Ramon Gaya is housed in a delightful 19thC town house that has converted into an excellent space for displaying pictures and is worthy of note in it’s own right. On a previous visit to the gallery with an artist friend of mine and her husband, the whole of the Plaza del Flores was covered with stalls selling flowers for All Souls Day, (Halloween to us). The scent was heady, the colours magnificent and the sun was shining, however, on this occasion in January the weather was slightly less accommodating but being ‘Brits’ did we let that put us off? Of course not. Ramon Gaya was an important Spanish artist and writer and 2010 is the 100th anniversary of his birth in Murcia. To this end, there is a very excellent photo biography in the ground floor rooms that shows episodes from his life and himself at work in his studios. When we arrived at the Museo Ramon Gaya we were made very welcome indeed by the museum staff and were given a short introductory talk in English by a very nice young Spanish lady. So off we all went to the first floor and were stunned by an actual size copy of one of Spain’s most famous pictures. Ramon Gaya had made a copy of ‘The Third of May 1808’. The original is by Francisco De Goya and is housed in the Prado, Madrid. It depicts an execution in Madrid during Napoleons rampage through Europe and the original is a work of considerable national importance in Spain. We then spent the remainder of the time exploring four floors of wonderful paintings. Some in oil, some in watercolour and gouache and all of them worthy of our attention. Ramon Gaya painted in an essentially impressionistic style and every painting shows a love for Spain and it’s culture. We then had a stroll across town to the Museo de Bellas Artes. Once again we were made welcome and the nice lady who accompanied us around the gallery was very informative and had endless patience with our broken Spanish. There are many important paintings here by mainly Spanish artists including Murillo and Ribero. If you’re into sculpture you wont be disappointed either as there are some very good works on show. The atmosphere is quiet and contemplative and the galleries are well lit with very little or no glare. Both galleries have toilets and the Museo de Bellas Artes has lockers for your coats and bags. Neither gallery has a café, but then, as soon as you put your nose out of the door there will be a bar or café within 20 meters or less! There is also printed material in English at the Museo de Bellas Artes but not much. It might be levelled as a legitimate criticism that museums and galleries in Spain have been slow to adopt a multi national outlook and provide more information in English, German and French. Nevertheless, they are rightly proud of their artists and are keen to show them off to the best advantage. It should be noted that nearly all museums and galleries in Spain are closed on Mondays and some museums and galleries siesta some don’t. The Museo Ramon Gaya does have an afternoon break the Museo de Bellas Artes de Murcia does not. So…..go and enjoy. If you would like more information about the Las Chumberas group email me at: [email protected] Or check out my website at: www.watercolourholidays.com Or you can phone me on: 616052079 Museum of Fine Arts of Murcia C/ Obispo Frutos, 12 Murcia (30003) Phone: 968239346 [email protected] http://www.museobellasartesmurcia.com MuseoRamónGaya. PlazaSantaCatalinas 30004MurciaSpain. E-mail: museo.ramon.gaya @ ayto-murcia.es (they also have a website) Tel: 968 221099