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Image Not Available for The Rites of Spring
The Rites of Spring
Image Not Available for The Rites of Spring

The Rites of Spring

Artist (Aberdeen, Scotland, born 1951)
Date1977
Mediumscreenprint on paper
ClassificationsPrints
AcquisitionPresented by Professor Paul Mitchell in 2024.
Object numberABDMS095782
About MeArthur Watson was a founding member of Peacock, its first member of staff and first Director.

In 1977, the Scottish Arts Council offered a commission to each of the four Scottish Print Workshops; Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and at that time, Montrose. They set the theme of The Rites of Spring and left each workshop to select the two artists. At Peacock, the two were Alan Cowie and Arthur Watson.

Arthur Watson recalled: “At this time, I was making wrapped sculptures which could be displayed in different ways, either with the wrapping or strapped up or unwrapped moving across the gallery’s floor. So, it was a short journey to this shedding of winter tone and exposing springtime colours.”