The Gathering Storm exhibition update: free film screenings
Written by Matt   
Thursday, 21 November 2013
The Gathering Storm - London launch, October 2013
The Gathering Storm - London launch, October 2013
The Gathering Storm - London launch, October 2013

As most of you will know now, the London exhibition to coincide with the release of the wonderful new book, The Gathering Storm: The Album Art of Storm Thorgerson is now up and running at the newly opened Proud Archivist, a combined gallery, bar, restaurant, cafe and events space in Hertford Road, London N1. Today, we have an update on one of the events - the remaining one - from the range of these that they scheduled during the exhibition run.

The exhibition itself is a wonderful look through the archives of his work, and the work of his colleagues over the years, with some of the pieces presented in stunningly large sizes. There are also other items which are great fun - letters from Storm to record companies which are a hoot. Very much worth a visit.

The final event takes place on Saturday (November 23rd) when they're hosting a pair of free screenings of Taken by Storm by Roddy Bagawa. This is a fantastic documentary about Storm's life and work. [UPDATE: See below for a review of one of the screenings, written by BD regular, Bruce Tippen]

Taken by Storm: The Mind Movies of Storm Thorgerson and Hipgnosis (to use its full name) is a film about Thorgerson life's work as told through his own reflection, his personal archive of never-before seen photographs and films, ex-partner of Hipgnosis Aubrey Powell, and through first hand narratives from some of the most important musicians of our time: David Gilmour and Nick Mason of Pink Floyd, Robert Plant, Peter Gabriel, and more recent collaborations with Scottish group Biffy Clyro, Rob Dickinson of Catherine Wheel, Dominic Howard of Muse, Cedric Bixler Zavala of The Mars Volta and many others as well as the numerous photographers, illustrators and colleagues who have helped execute the work from the days of Hipgnosis to the last twenty years with StormStudios. Taken By Storm documents Thorgerson's idiosyncratic artistic process (i.e. dragging 765 iron beds onto a beach for Pink Floyd’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason) and also explores how one of the most powerful image-makers in rock and roll transcended the constraints of commercial marketing to realize his unique artistic vision, creating a powerful visual legacy that resonates throughout contemporary culture. The film was shot entirely on 16mm film, and it was completed in 2012.

Both screenings will include a Q&A with Roddy afterwards. The first screening takes place at 1pm, running until 4pm [register for your place(s) through this link], and the second screening is at 7pm until 10pm [again, click here to register your place(s) at this event]. As a reminder, these events are free - you just have to register your attendance!

BD regulars Bruce Tippen and local London artist 'Maggie' were amongst those who attended the first of the film screenings of the Storm Thorgerson documentary on Saturday and were delighted with the setting at the Proud Archivist Gallery and the love and attention spent over the last three years in bringing this film to life. Roddy had set himeslf a difficult challenge in tackling Storm's natural avoidance of the spotlight, coupling the tremendous archive available as well as delivering the enigma that is Storm. Despite being directed away by his subject, Roddy managed to capture Storm at his most inventive and mischievious.

These previews were well supported and appreciated. Pink Floyd's manager, Paul Loasby. was in attendance at the afternoon screening where director Roddy introduced the film and how it was conceived, returning afterwards to answer some questions. He revealed that it was only when he told Storm that he had been taken by his father to see Pink Floyd in 1977 on the Animals American Tour that Storm relented to his numerous approaches to make the film.

Roddy was given access to Storm's archive including black and white footage of Storm and Po from the 1970's and moving images held by Pink Floyd from the Momentary Lapse Of Reason album cover shoot, never seen before. Contributions from David Gilmour and Nick Mason reveal candidly what it was like working with Storm. Roger Waters had agreed to contribute but the Wall Tour prevented him taking part. He has however contributed to Roddy's next project - a documentary by Storm on Syd Barrett. Judging by the quality of this film we should be in for another treat once the finishing touches and agreements have been resolved for the Syd project. Let's hope that both films make it for TV and DVD release soon.