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The A Gallery was a contemporary art gallery in Wimbledon,
London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
run by Fraser Kee Scott.


Founding

The A Gallery was founded by Fraser Kee Scott in 1997.Groves, Nancy
"The science of art"
Newsquest, 13 April 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2008. The gallery's first exhibit was recent
Chelsea Chelsea or Chelsey may refer to: Places Australia * Chelsea, Victoria Canada * Chelsea, Nova Scotia * Chelsea, Quebec United Kingdom * Chelsea, London, an area of London, bounded to the south by the River Thames ** Chelsea (UK Parliament consti ...
graduate Alison Jackson's ''Crucifix'', priced at £1,500 and five years later valued at ten times that amount, after she had won a Bafta and written a best-selling book.


Exhibitions


Nude sculpture

In 2004, the gallery exhibited in the window a life-sized nude sculpture, ''This Is Me (Who Am I)'', by Marie White (aged 24), a graduate of
Wimbledon College of Art Wimbledon College of Arts, formerly Wimbledon School of Art, is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London specialising in theatre, screen and performance art. It is located in Wimbledon and Merton Park, South West London. ...
."Artist's naked ambition censored"
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
, 14 July 2004. Retrieved 23 December 2008. The work, made from hair, wax and resin, was shown at her degree show without a problem.Leitch, Luke. "It's Window Undressing", ''
Evening Standard The ''Evening Standard'', formerly ''The Standard'' (1827–1904), also known as the ''London Evening Standard'', is a local free daily newspaper in London, England, published Monday to Friday in tabloid format. In October 2009, after be ...
'', p. 22, 14 July 2004. Retrieved 23 December 2008. A lady entered the gallery and expressed interest in the work. Then some local schoolboys entered and made out they were molesting the sculpture,Bowring, Jo
"It's all the nude that's fit to print...or that can be revealed in public, according to police"
Newsquest, 22 July 2004. Retrieved 23 December2008. until Scott shouted at them and they left. Some passers-by made complaints to police that the sculpture was "disgusting", one stopping a police car to do so. Two policeman went to the gallery, which was advised the work was offensive under the Indecent Displays Act 1991. Chief Inspector Neil Patterson, who visited the gallery, said the work was very lifelike, "very explicit and very graphic." For 24 hours the sculpture was moved to the side of the gallery, out of public view, then returned to the window with two frosted glass panels in place. Scott raised the sculpture's price from £5,000 to £7,000, which he said was nearer its real value, as it had taken eight months and cost £3,000 to make, mainly for 250 hours of the model's time. White said the work was not intended to cause offence, and that, as it was not posed in a "lewd, crude way", she was surprised at "the reaction of males that they can't view a nude sculpture and not imprint the sexual aspect onto her." Scott said he knew that "eye-catching" sculptures in the gallery window, including a large screaming lady, would "get attention, but I didn't know it would get this," that there were nude sculptures outside the Houses of Parliament, including male figures, and he did not understand why there was so much fuss. The sculpture was later exhibited as part of the town's Feva festival in The Boathouse at Waterside,
Knaresborough Knaresborough ( ) is a market and spa town and civil parish in the Borough of Harrogate, in North Yorkshire, England, on the River Nidd. It is east of Harrogate. History Knaresborough is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as ''Chenares ...
, White's home town.


Stuckists

In October 2005, Scott, described as "gallery owner—and Stuckist", said in ''
The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally. It was f ...
'' that
Tate Tate is an institution that houses, in a network of four art galleries, the United Kingdom's national collection of British art, and international modern and contemporary art. It is not a government institution, but its main sponsor is the U ...
gallery chairman,
Paul Myners Paul Myners, Baron Myners, (1 April 1948 – 16 January 2022) was a British businessman and politician. In October 2008 he was elevated to the House of Lords as a life peer and was appointed City Minister in the Labour Government of Gordon B ...
, was hypocritical for refusing to divulge the price paid by the Tate for its purchase of ''The Upper Room'', paintings by its trustee,
Chris Ofili Christopher Ofili, (born 10 October 1968) is a British Turner Prize-winning painter who is best known for his paintings incorporating elephant dung. He was one of the Young British Artists. Since 2005, Ofili has been living and working in T ...
, who had asked other artists to donate work to the gallery.Walden, Celia. "Spy: Art-felt grumble", ''
The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally. It was f ...
'', p. 22, 19 October 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2008. Scott said that Stuckist artists would be painting pictures called "The Hypocrisy of Myners" and the best one would be offered to the Tate. The gallery staged ''On Form'', a group show which included Paul Normansell, Diarmuid Byron O'Connor and Stuckist artists,
Charles Thomson Charles Thomson (November 29, 1729 – August 16, 1824) was an Irish-born Patriot leader in Philadelphia during the American Revolution and the secretary of the Continental Congress (1774–1789) throughout its existence. As secretary, Thomson ...
,
Paul Harvey Paul Harvey Aurandt (September 4, 1918 – February 28, 2009) was an American radio broadcaster for ABC News Radio. He broadcast ''News and Comment'' on mornings and mid-days on weekdays and at noon on Saturdays and also his famous '' The Rest ...
and
Peter McArdle Peter McArdle (born 17 December 1965) is an English artist, member of the Stuckists art group and gallery owner.Milner, Frank (Editor). ''The Stuckists Punk Victorian'', p. 96, National Museums Liverpool, 2004. . The biography ostuckism.comis ...
, whose painting ''On a Theme of Annunciation'', used to promote the show, was censored by MySpace for showing a nude figure. Scott said it had been removed without warning, called the site "Murdoch Space" and said the painting was not porn or titillation, but thought-provoking: "They don't seem to be able to differentiate between the two!" In an article in the '' South London Guardian'', Scott talked about the show and also about Scientology. Six weeks later in the ''
Evening Standard The ''Evening Standard'', formerly ''The Standard'' (1827–1904), also known as the ''London Evening Standard'', is a local free daily newspaper in London, England, published Monday to Friday in tabloid format. In October 2009, after be ...
'', Thomson said the ''South London Guardian'' article put the Stuckists in a difficult position, as he had been promised the gallery was run as a commercial enterprise, and it was "outrageous" that the show should be used to promote Scientology, linking it to the Stuckists, who had no connection with the Church.Mendick, Robert
"Scientology sect 'using British art as a front'"
''
Evening Standard The ''Evening Standard'', formerly ''The Standard'' (1827–1904), also known as the ''London Evening Standard'', is a local free daily newspaper in London, England, published Monday to Friday in tabloid format. In October 2009, after be ...
'', 23 May 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2008. The article had included a painting by
Paul Harvey Paul Harvey Aurandt (September 4, 1918 – February 28, 2009) was an American radio broadcaster for ABC News Radio. He broadcast ''News and Comment'' on mornings and mid-days on weekdays and at noon on Saturdays and also his famous '' The Rest ...
, who said, "I feel my work was being used without my permission to promote Scientology."Mendick, Robert
"Scientology sect 'using British art as a front'"
''
Evening Standard The ''Evening Standard'', formerly ''The Standard'' (1827–1904), also known as the ''London Evening Standard'', is a local free daily newspaper in London, England, published Monday to Friday in tabloid format. In October 2009, after be ...
'', 23 May 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2008. Leading German Stuckist Peter Klint said it was "very dangerous" to co-operate with the gallery and that it would fund Scientology. Scott said that it wasn't "even an issue" and he did not use artists to promote Scientology, but was dedicated to selling their work, which he did so very successfully. Interviewed later by Scott, Thomson said that his remarks in the ''Evening Standard'' represented how he saw matters at the time, but that he accepted Scott's subsequent explanation that there was no intention to link the show and the Church and Scott did not realise the article would do this; Thomson said to Scott that the matter was a misunderstanding which had been resolved, and the Stuckists had continued to show successfully at the gallery: "For the record, I have always found you to be a very honest and principled person with a genuine passion for art." In July 2007, the Stuckists held an exhibition at the gallery, ''I Won't Have Sex with You as long as We're Married''.Duff, Oliver
"Stuckists prune Vine"
''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publish ...
'', 5 June 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2008.Moody, Paul
"Everyone's talking about Stella Vine"
''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'', 12 July 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2008. The Stuckist show was titled after words apparently said to Thomson by his ex-wife,
Stella Vine Stella Vine (born Melissa Jane Robson, 1969) is an English artist, who lives and works in London. Her work is figurative painting, with subjects drawn from personal life, as well as from rock stars, royalty, and other celebrities. In 2001, she ...
on their wedding night. It coincided with the opening of Vine's major show at
Modern Art Oxford Modern Art Oxford is an art gallery established in 1965 in Oxford, England. From 1965 to 2002, it was called The Museum of Modern Art, Oxford. The gallery presents exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. It has a national and internationa ...
and was occasioned by Thomson's anger that the material promoting her show omitted any mention of her time with the Stuckists, which he said had had an influence on galvanising her previously "fairly ordinary" work. Work in the show included a painting by Harvey based on Vine and Thomson's wedding photo,"I Won't Have Sex with You as long as We're Married"
stuckism.com. Retrieved 19 December 2008. and two paintings by
Mark D Mark D, born Mark Randall,Deedes, Henry ''The Independent'', 13 February 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2008. is a British punk musician (guitarist and songwriter). He is also associated with the Stuckist group of artists. Mark D was born and spent ...
of Vine, who holds a placard in one with the words "Go fuck yourself","I Won't Have Sex with You as long as We're Married"
(photos) stuckism.com. Retrieved 19 December 2008. which Vine had previously said to him, when he attempted to buy her work and she found out he had a link with Thomson.Deedes, Henry

''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publish ...
'', 13 February 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2008. Another painting by Mark D, ''the Hypocrisy of Myners'', depicted Tate gallery chairman, Paul Myners. The show also exhibited Michael Dickinson's collage, ''Good Boy'', for which Dickinson faced prosecution in Turkey on a charge of insulting the Turkish prime minister. Leo Goatley,
Rose West Rosemary Pauline West (née Letts; born 29 November 1953) is an English serial killer who collaborated with her husband, Fred West, in the torture and murder of at least nine young women between 1973 and 1987;
's solicitor, showed ''New Millennium Economic Symphony'', a painting commenting on the undermining of "society’s dwindling safety" as a result of government reforms. Myners visited both Vine's and the Stuckists' shows in succession.Duff, Oliver
"Legal sharks circle round Davis and his chief of staff"
, (3rd story), ''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publish ...
'', 27 July 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2008. Scott said, "He ynerssaid he wasn't sure why we were so critical when our art was quite similar to the stuff... at the Tate"; Scott replied, "...if that were the case why on earth did the Tate turn down the art we offered them?" In May 2008, Jason James, head of the
British Council The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh lan ...
in
Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...
, ordered a print from the gallery of ''
Sir Nicholas Serota Makes an Acquisitions Decision ''Sir Nicholas Serota Makes an Acquisitions Decision'' is one of the paintings that was made as a part of the Stuckism art movement,Cripps, Charlotte"Visual arts: Saying knickers to Sir Nicholas ''The Independent'', 7 September 2004. Retrieved fr ...
'', Thomson's "infamous" painting of Tate gallery director,
Sir Nicholas Serota Sir Nicholas Andrew Serota, (born 27 April 1946) is an English art historian and curator, who served as the Director of the Tate from 1988 to 2017. He is currently Chair of Arts Council England, a role which he has held since February 2017. ...
, with a view to unveiling it during Serota's forthcoming visit.Duff, Oliver
"Printing delay saves Serota from heated cultural exchange"
''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publish ...
'', 5 May 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2008. A printing delay prevented this.


''Go Figure''

In June 2008, the gallery opened ''Go Figure'', a figurative exhibition by nine artists including Diarmuid Byron O'Connor, Beth Carter, Mila Judge Furstova, Gay Ribisi, Dormice, Carmen Giraldez,
Charles Thomson Charles Thomson (November 29, 1729 – August 16, 1824) was an Irish-born Patriot leader in Philadelphia during the American Revolution and the secretary of the Continental Congress (1774–1789) throughout its existence. As secretary, Thomson ...
, Thomas Ostenberg and Paul Normansell. An article on ''Go Figure'' in '' GQ'' magazine showed Normansell's painting of Kate Moss, which was seen by the manager of rock band
The Killers The Killers are an American rock band formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards, bass) and Dave Keuning (lead guitar, backing vocals). After going through a number of short-term bass players and drummers in t ...
, who commissioned Normansell to create the artwork for the
Day & Age ''Day & Age'' is the third studio album by American rock band the Killers. It was released on November 18, 2008, by Island Records. Frontman and lead vocalist Brandon Flowers described it as the band's "most playful record". , ''Day & Age'' had ...
album and the single,
Human Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, cultu ...
."News and events: The Killers commission Paul Normansell for album and video art"
A Gallery. Retrieved 23 December 2008. The video to the single
the Killers The Killers are an American rock band formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards, bass) and Dave Keuning (lead guitar, backing vocals). After going through a number of short-term bass players and drummers in t ...
featured Normansell's paintings.


Scientology connections

In 2001, Scott became a member of the Church of Scientology during a trip to
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
. The gallery had a shelf of books for sale by Scientology founder,
L. Ron Hubbard Lafayette Ronald Hubbard (March 13, 1911 – January 24, 1986) was an American author, primarily of science fiction and fantasy stories, who is best known for having founded the Church of Scientology. In 1950, Hubbard authored '' Dianeti ...
and hosted religious workshops for the Church about two times a week. Scott said that the importance of artists is acknowledged by Scientology, whose teachings can help artists' work by improving their "emotional tone", which in the case of
Francis Bacon Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban (; 22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626), also known as Lord Verulam, was an English philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England. Bacon led the advancement of both ...
was "all fear". Scott has worked with photographer
Tyler Shields Tyler Shields (born April 29, 1982) is an American photographer, screenwriter, director, and former professional inline skater. Shields is known for his provocative photography involving violence and danger. Shields gained additional notoriety ...
, who has said of A Gallery's Scientology affiliation, "I have a lot of friends that are Scientologists ... Fraser ee Scott the guy who runs that gallery, he found me back in the MySpace days. He is a very, very fucking smart guy and he has a great eye for things. He worked at my last gallery and to my knowledge he wasn't promoting Scientology to anybody, he was trying to sell art." The A Gallery was located at 154 Merton Hall Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 3PZ.


References


External links

* {{commons category, A Gallery Defunct art galleries in London Contemporary art galleries in London 1997 establishments in England Art galleries established in 1997