The Somerton Galleries have closed and you'll find us from now on in The Oxford Eclectic @rt Gallery at the Cakehole Arts Club. You're of course happily invited to follow our new blog at oxfordeclecticartgallery.blogspot.com Accordingly this page will no longer be serviced.
As the title of this post might indicate, we're a tad unpleased with recent events we've encountered. While administrative drawbacks are quite usual in our business and don't cause as much as a raised eyebrow in concern of the abilities of the responsible party, there are some things to hold high as personal and professional values: Honesty, loyalty, responsibility and freedom. At least I insist on these as basic values. When these values get ignored or even undermined we have a serious problem.
These days it has become popular, that everybody not only comments on the world from his tiny window, but also feels entitled to be the only relevant person to judge on what other people should believe in. This has become highly popular in the field of arts and in it's worst form this utterly mediocre way of thinking leads to a solid form of censorship - wrapped in the firm believe that it in whatever way is for the better of people - or at least better for the censor's own ego, position and empowerment.
However, I'm in no way as good with words as Mr. Stephen Fry, who summed it up on the point in an article for the Guardian in June 2005:
“It's now very common to hear people say, 'I'm rather offended by that.' As if that gives them certain rights. It's actually nothing more... than a whine. 'I find that offensive.' It has no meaning; it has no purpose; it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. 'I am offended by that.' Well, so fucking what."
[I saw hate in a graveyard -- Stephen Fry, The Guardian, 5 June 2005]
Given that we are in no way bendable when it comes to censorship, we decided to not enter in an ongoing fight, but to start a new gallery in a place free of an ego-driven irresponsible management.
