Heritage Open Days heads to Chichester© Peter Durrant/ArcBlue.com
Pallant House is a place with a history as steep as its famous staircase, a walkway which, at the moment, features Bow Selector, an installation by artist Bouke de Vries commissioned to mark the 300th anniversary of a house originally built for Henry and Elizabeth Packham.
The building remains one of the finest examples of domestic town architecture in the country, but it didn’t become an art gallery until 1982, when Walter Hussey, the Dean of Chichester Cathedral, left his personal collection to the city with the stipulation that it be shown there.
The current exhibitions include Artist Pop Stars – Bryan Ferry, Bill Wyman, Ian Dury, and Pete Doherty are among the contributors – and a further musically-entwined display in Derek Boshier’s artwork for David Bowie’s Lodger album.
Half-price entry to a major show honouring the 80th birthday of pop-art pioneer Peter Blake is also on offer for Heritage Open Days, but the surrounding buildings also deserve celebrating: a free tour of the Queen Anne townhouse supplements views of the award-winning contemporary art wing, opened in 2006.
- Runs 10am-5pm. Townhouse tour takes place at 2pm. Admission to Peter Blake – Pop Music £1.75-£4.50 (family ticket £10.75).
More pictures:
© Jason Hedges
© Jason Hedges
© Jason Hedges
© Peter Durrant/ArcBlue.com
