ART / Gallery openings

PUBLIC GALLERIES: LONDON

CHRISTIE'S The First National Gallery. Pictures from the collection of Dulwich Picture Gallery, the nation's first national gallery, which was founded in 1811. Many of the paintings, which include fine examples of work by Canaletto, Guercino, van Dyck, Poussin, Tiepolo, Gainsborough, Hogarth and others were originally bought from Christie's as part of the Desenfans collection in the 1790s. The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of lectures on the history of the collection. 8 King St, St James's, SW1 (071-839 9060) 7- 24 Jan. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sun 2-5pm.

PUBLIC GALLERIES: REGIONS

AYR Maclaurin Art Gallery Paintings by Yorkshire artist Peter Hicks and drawings and lithographs by Ernesto Treccani which depict the countryside of northern Italy. Rozelle Park. 7-26 Jan. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm.

BRISTOL Royal West of England Academy Claude Rogers. Paintings and drawings of everyday life which chart the career of the lesser-known painter of the Euston Road School of Coldstream and Pasmore. First seen in London last year. Queen's Rd. (0272-735129) 10 Jan-13 Feb. Mon-Sat 10am-5.30, Sun 2-5pm.

CAMBRIDGE Kettle's Yard Contemporary art from the Imperial War Museum. The harrowing visual legacy of war in our time from Ireland to the Falklands and the Gulf. Artists include Gilbert & George, Michael Sandle, Jock MacFadyen, Peter Howson and Keith Milow. Castle St. (0223-352124) 9 Jan-28 Feb. Tue-Sat 12.30-5.30, Sun 2-5.30.

COVENTRY Herbert Art Gallery and Museum Paintings of the sixties from the Arts Council Collection. Works by 25 artists which show that Pop was not the only happening of the swinging Sixties. Includes abstracts by Gillian Ayres, Robyn Denny, John Hoyland and Bridget Riley, and other 'non-Pop' pieces by Kitaj, Blake, Hockney and others. Jordan Well. (0203-832381).

HALIFAX Dean Clough Three artists exhibit under the title 'Pink is better Than Brown or The Steaming Landscape'. Drawings and paintings by John Ross, photographs by Richard Stott and sculpture by Barry Midgley. 8 Jan-6 Feb. Mon- Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-1pm; free.

LIVERPOOL Bluecoat Gallery Wolf Vostell. Works on paper from 1968 to 1991 by the artist of the German Fluxus movement whose work was seen in last year's Pop Art show at the Royal Academy and who is better known for his controversial 'Happenings'. School Lane. (051- 709 5689) 9 Jan-6 Feb. Tue-Sat 10.30-5pm.

NORWICH King of Hearts Gallery Sue Aldworth, Elaine Cox, Louise Kelly, Laura Knight, Peter Knock, Robert Mason and Ashley Potter. Seven artists who work in a variety of media, from drawing to collage, and whose common bond is illustration. 13-15 Fye Bridge St. (0603- 766129) 7 Jan-6 Feb. Tue-Sat 10am-4.30.

COMMERCIAL GALLERIES:

LONDON

ALTERNATIVE ART GALLERIES Seven artists show at three new galleries in the same street. Paintings by Suzanne Cole, Susan Dalladay, Julie Bixley and Graham Ward, sculpture by Jill Ward and ceramics and papier-mache by Tony Meredith and Clare Shervin. 3, 22 & 44 Chiltern St, W1 (071-287 0907) 6-30 Jan. Tue- Sat 11am-5pm, Thur to 7pm.

FRANCIS GRAHAM-DIXON

GALLERY Geoffrey Rigden. Geometric abstracts executed with an unusually painterly technique. Delaunay eat your heart out. 17-18 Great Sutton St, EC1 (071- 250 1962) 8 Jan-14 Feb. Tue-Sun 11am- 6pm.

HUNT-JENNINGS GALLERY Barbara Rae. Expressionistic monotypes, paintings and collages which take as their theme the west coast of the artist's native Scotland. 10 Bourdon St, W1 (071- 629 3749) 7-30 Jan. Tue-Sat 10.30-6pm.

WILLIAM JACKSON GALLERY Works by modern British artists including William Crozier, Barbara Rae, Wilhelmina Barnes-Graham, Bruce McLean and others. 28 Cork St, W1 (071-287 2121) 6 Jan-6 Feb.

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REGIONS

EDINBURGH Open Eye Gallery Dejeuner Sur L'Herbe. 28 contemporary artists are invited to produce modern interpretations on the theme of Manet's scandalising picture of 1863. 75-79 Cumberland St. (031-557 1020) 11-28 Jan. Mon- Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-4pm.

EDINBURGH The Scottish Gallery Re- opening exhibition of the gallery which has recently moved from its George Street premises. Includes work by renowned modern Scottish artists including Wilhelmina Barnes-Graham, Elizabeth Blackadder, John Byrne, John Houston, David McClure, Barbara Rae and others. 16 Dundas St. (031-558 1200) 11 Jan-3 Feb. Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-4pm.

EXETER Spacex Gallery Bruce Allan. We are promised that the artist will reveal the hidden history of the gallery building through frottage and false walls. The artist will talk on his work at the gallery on 21 Jan at 5.15. 45 Preston St. (0392-431786) 9 Jan-6 Feb. Tue-Sat 10am-5pm.