Tom McKendrick DA RSW RGI
Tom McKendrick DA RSW RGI
Tom McKendrick
was born in Clydebank in 1948. Growing up in this small but vibrant
industrial town has had a marked influence in his work and methodology. He served an aprenticeship as a 'Loftsman' in John Browns Shipyard before moving on to Glasgow School of Art.
The roots of his paintings and sculptures emerge from the processes of industry. It is the human drive to "make" that interests his
creative energies and his fascination in the interaction between
man, ideas and materials results in large multimedia shows.
Tom's exhibitions contain a rich variety of media and techniques, dedicated sound, objects and effects that merge to create a highly charged aesthetic statement. Influenced by religious and archaeological art McKendrick with ease blends ancient concepts and modern technology.
His exhibitions can be best described as 'layered', allowing the viewer to explore deeply the many facets that are merged into the subject matter. The need to create a single holistic visual impact dominates his exhibitions and the use of theatrical effects are employed to enhance and bind together the varied components and intensify the aesthetic atmosphere. Primarily a painter his work is identified by its rich surface texture.
McKendricks
techniques are as varied as the contents of his shows and he is at
ease creating in clay, welded steel, oil paint, watercolour, light, electronics
and kinetics or indeed anything that the current project demands to
bring it to fruition.
Major exhibitions of acclaim include Blitz,
Submarine, Rivet Temple, Iron and Heavier Than Air. Each has been the subject of a television
documentary and enjoyed highly successful tours with record breaking
gallery visitation levels.
Apprenticeship as a Loftsman in John Browns Shipyards 1963 - 1969..... Jordanhill College of Education -1976.... Elected to Royal Society of Watercolorists - 1985.. Elected to Glasgow Group - 1986...Elected to Royal Glasgow Institute - 1988. Elected to RSW Council 2009 - 2012.....Member of the RSW Creative Development Group.
Exhibitions
Jordanhill College - 1976.... John D Kelly Gallery - 1977... Collins Exhibition Hall - 1980.... Harbour Arts Centre - 1980.... Collins Gallery - 1982.... McLaurin Gallery - 1983.... McLean Museum - 1984.... Corners Gallery - 1984.... Stirling Smith Art Gallery - 1985.... City Arts Centre Edinburgh - 1985.... McLean Museum - 1985.... M R C Buildings Glasgow - 1985.... ESU Gallery Edinburgh - 1986.... Lillie Art Gallery - 1986... Kirkcaldy Art Gallery - 87... Dundee Art Gallery - 1987... McLaurin Art Gallery - 1987.... Clydebank Town Hall - 1987.... Edinburgh Festival - 1991. ... Dick Institute, Kilmarnock - 1991... St Andrew's - 1991.... Dundee Museum - 1991... Wolverhampton Art Gallery - 1991... An Lantair Gallery - 1991.... Aberdeen Art Gallery - 1991.... Gatehouse Gallery - 1992.... Dalmuir Gallery - 1993.... Lillie Art Gallery - 1993.... Collins Gallery - 1996.... McLean Museum - 1997... McManus Gallery - 1997. ... Summerlee Museum - 1997... Dick Institute - 1997.... Collins Gallery - 2002... Upfront Gallery - 2003... Ferens Gallery Hull - 2004...The Baths Contemporary Art Space - 2008.
Mixed Exhibitions
Glasgow Group Shows... Aberdeen Artists... Royal Glasgow Institute... Scottish Arts Council Touring Exhibitions... Royal Society Artists.. .Royal Society Water Colourists... Glasgow group...Norway/Netherlands/ Belgium.
Design
Set
Design, Jumpers Contemporary dance Theatre -1984...Set and Costume Design,
Lets Dance STV - 1986......
STV Underwater - 1995... BBC Nautilus, Set Designs - 1997... Diversions Dance Group, Set Design - 1997... Channel 4. Ready Set Go - 1997
(4 programme's) ... ABSA - Design and Construction of Scottish Awards - 1997... Set Design Britannia
1998. ...Lanes lighting project - 2001. ...Station Square Project - 2003. ..Moon Garden project - 2006...Trafalgar Art Screen project - 2007...Dalnotter Clydebank Blitz Memorial - 2009.. Beardmore Sculpture project - 2010. Designer of 'Watermark' RSW Newsletter.
Collections
Nairn
District Council... George Outram... Scottish Arts Council...McLaurin
Contemporary Collection... Arthur Anderson Collection...
McLean Museum and Art Gallery... Lillie Art Gall.ery... Royal Air Force
Museum... Clydebank District Council...
Motherwell District Council... West Dumbarton Council.. Kelvingrove Art
Gallery and Museum... Lilou University Sweden...
Strathclyde University.. .Aberdeen Art Gallery... Dundee Art Gallery.
An extensive variety of public and private collections in Britain, Germany, Holland, Sweden, France, Canada and America.
Awards
RGI
David Cargill Award - 1977... RGI Torrance Memorial Award - 1980... Moray McKissock Prize - 1981...Nairn 79 Prize 1979. Glasgow Herald Prize - 1981... Mayfest Compass prize - 1985...Inverclyde
Biennial Prize - 1986.
Publications/Articles/Programme's
Blitz - Commemorative photo history of the Clydebank Blitz... Quest for Invisibility, Glasgow Herald... Submarine Film - (purchased by Metropolitan Museum of Art New York)... BBC. Clydebuilt contributor... Radio - contributor to various programmes... Adviser/Contributor - Schools Art Programmes... Documentary on the Clydebank Blitz ...Documentary on the Titanic....Documentary on the Royal Yacht Britannia - Presenter . ExS Iron Documentary... Rivet Temple, STV.Talking Pictures Documentary... Underwater - Schools Programme Channel 4.... Submarine - Documentary... . Ready Set Go (4 programmes - Art Education)... Educational Book Co - Writer/Illustrator .