one of the country's leading makers and, in the recent automata-revival, a pioneer in making use of driftwood. This is the third time The First Gallery has shown his work which, as ever, ranges from being seriously thought-provoking to just plain silly!! While the driftwood element isn't as much to the fore, its rough textures belie the elegant visual wit and humour which are never far from the surface. Robert's original vocation as a science-teacher strongly informs his mechanical ability but, in keeping with his paradoxical magic, there's nothing didactic about his creations. Expect to be surprised(!)

	Exhibition ran from Sat 10-Sat 17 March 2001 2-7pm daily incl. Sun

Pecking Bird

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ANOTHER SCOOP FOR THE FIRST GALLERY
in capturing a show by the internationally known automata maker, ROBERT RACE.
He is renowned for his quirky moving models, often in driftwood, showing people and creatures behaving amusingly.

Robert's imagination and skills are such that it is anyone's guess what will arrive for the show. There are sure to be things curiously watching flies or feathers floating by and strange birds bobbing and pecking. Otherwise we have to wait and see. His last show featured Gridlock, a zany depiction in wood of a supermarket traffic jam. The movement of the little vehicles surrounded by blocks of buildings was random, stopping and starting in the way we all know too well.

The First Gallery considers itself lucky to be honoured with a show by such a sought-after person. By sheer chance the opening date, 10 March, falls just before Robert flees the country! He is off to Japan for a month's research, courtesy of the Crafts Council and the Dept. of Trade & Industry.

The show runs from 10-17 March, 2-7pm every day, and there is a special opening from 11 am - 2 pm on Sunday 18th, when work sold can be collected. Robert's shows are always popular. For him the penalty of success is keeping up with demand: last time the show sold out and he had to work flat out to have enough exhibits for his next one shortly afterwards.

Above all the exhibition is fun. It is hands on and you don't have to be a brain surgeon to operated Anyone wanting to have the gallery to themselves can ring to make an appointment out of hours, tel. (023) 8046 2723

1 BURNHAM CHASE, BITTERNE, SOUTHAMPTON SO18 5DG
(023) 8046 2723 anytime
Member of T.E.G. Director: Hilda Margey Clarke BA (Hons) FRSA

Exhibition: KEEP MOVING - compulsively movable automata by
ROBERT RACE

open 2-7pm daily 10-17 March 2001

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