Tate Gallery St Ives

I am not going to bemoan modern art or the validity of such work as some others have on Qype in regard to Tate St. Ives. Comparing the works on display here to the tourist galleries in the town is a pointless excercise akin to comparing Renaissance art to Surrealism, ok they are both valid forms of art but they are coming from very different places. I am purely going to review the gallery and content of the gallery when compared with my local Tate. Firstly I found the entrance fee quite high, when you consider that I am fastidious when it comes to reading every plaque relating to a piece of artwork and on this trip I even watched all the video installations and I really struggled to make the visit last 80 minutes. £6.50 is simply too high a price to justify for the content and to actually have the nerve to ask for donations as you leave is a bit much. Fair enough at Tate modern which has no entry fee but here it seems a bit cynical. Some of the pieces on display I didnt think were very good, but art, especially “modern” art is a subjective field so that is not an issue. My second point really is the setting, the view from the upper and lower gallery 2 is stunning across the beach and out to sea but I have to be honest I found it incredibly distracting from the art itself. My eyes were constantly being drawn from the pieces to the beautiful vista beyond. There is a reason that art galleries are generally featureless white boxes, because the art should be the focus. Tate modern in London has stunning views across the river and Millenium bridge towards St. Pauls however these are from the cafe and can be savoured with your cappucino rather than battling for your attention when viewing the art. Maybe the fundamental layout of Tate St. Ives is just wrong or maybe they would’ve been better served in a less attractive and prominently positioned building and instead been tucked out of the way somewhere. They may have been able to keep the cost of entry a bit lower and/or increased the size of the gallery to have more on display. As much as I love the views over Porthmeor beach I really dont feel they are using those views in the right way here. All in all it really isnt too bad but don’t expect to get too much for your entry fee.

Not really impressed with the Tate St Ives at all. We’re Tate members and have to say the layout leaves a lot to be desired and the selection of artwork on both trips were disappointing. I’d expect more from the Tate.

Contentious it might be, the locals may mumble, but I bet they aren’t complaining about the regional uplift and cache of having the gallery sited here, nor about the tourist dollars it undoubtedly attracts.

The local working artists might sneer and bemoan the hard work they have to put in to earn a crust, compared with the astronomic valuations of the Tate exhibitors’ works. But the locals don’t have to bake their bread this way, their choice.

The gallery is a wonderful counterpoint to the beautiful Porthmeor Beach – a surprising but entirely apt compliment to the famed pure light cascading off the beach, revered by artists down the ages.

Excellent – (why not go the whole hog and get a combined ticket for the Barbara Hepworth museum, a discount on the overall cost for a real cultural breakfast and lunch before splaying out on the sands to recover).

The only reason to go into this edifice of arrant pretension is to see the views from the windows on the top floor. Save yourself the extortionate and unwarranted price of admission and go to one of the many other galleries in St Ives stocked by artists who have to produce something worthwhile to remain able to practice art.

Here, the Tate simply continues to provide succour to those who no one else would spare the time of day.

Rubbish.

The Tate, St. Ives, is a great space in which to exhibit art. The setting, the views and the gallery spaces themselves are all excellent. There are great views of the coast and over the town from the huge picture windows and from the cafe on the top floor.

Your reaction to the contents will obviously depend on the current exhibition, although there is a small number of works which remain permamently on display. The exhibition I saw in early December 2008 was hugely disappointing - but this will change in the new year, so my opinion may too.

The best thing about the Tate is the view from the building which is stunning but I was disappointed with the contents which for me were boring & sparcely set out. I enjoyed the food in the cafe, the menu was interesting & the food good quality.

Although this Tate Gallery is in a fantastic building, this isn’t really reflected by the contents.

The exhibitions change throughout the year so it’s best to check what is on before you go as on occasion you can feel more than a little cheated as the entrance fee is quite high for what you get, even if the exhibition is good!

The best bit is the view from the main window out onto the beach and sea, but you aren’t meant to take photos which is disappointing.

If you get there in time it is worthwhile buying the joint ticket to go round this and the Barbara Hepworth museum as you can save quite a bit of money.

The shop and restaurant are quite good but they are expensive but you can find some nice gifts in the shop.

I have massive issue with the Tate, St Ives.

Whilst the town itself may be famed for its legion of artists and its light, I find this is in no way reflected in this gallery.

In addition, what is on show is pretty sub-standard. The use of space is poor - the layout could do with a massive re-design. Everything is incredibly sparse - you could probably fit all the works on view into one corner of the building.

It seems a lot of locals have serious issues with the Tate. If those grievances were based purely on the artwork within the building, it wouldn’t be surprising.

The best thing about the Tate is the views of the beach and the ocean. But you can walk to the car park to the side of it and get the same amazing views without having to pay a penny!

This is my favourite of the Tate’s, the building is lovely, with magnificant views out onto the bay in St. Ives.

They have wide variety of paintings and sculpture, including a great collection of Alfred Wallace’s (many of whose paintings are of the local area) They also have a alot of more recent local art as well.

Definately worth the journey down there!

A modern gallery which is a lovely introduction to art for children. They often have special days which have special activities for children which i think is really good. There is a lovely cafe. The gallery is on the edge of the town so you can combine it with a day out in the town, there is realy easy parking neary in the town car parks and the views of the cast and the beach are stunnning. The gallery itself is quite small, but the art is well laid out and displayed and makes it feel very spactious. The atrium is probably one of the best architectural pieces in town.

The Tate Gallery in St Ives is the sister of the Tate Gallery in London. This gallery is towards the center of St Ives and has wonderful views over the coast. The building itself is very plain white building which you enter through a amphitheater. I am not a fan of the building design itself, but everyone has there own opinion art. The exhibitions vary throughout the year, but usually of a high standard. The gallery also takes school groups which it does workshops with. When I was a child I went with my school to the Tate Gallery several times, and found it very useful.