In September 1910 Charlie Chaplin and Arthur Stanley Jefferson, later to become Stan Laurel, set sail from Southampton Docks on the SS Cairnrona to seek their fortunes in America. They landed in Quebec and took the train to New York. What became of these two young hopefuls has passed into Hollywood Legend. Lesser known however is the disagreement between the two stemming from Laurel’s belief that Chaplin stole and exploited the idea of the ‘tramp’ sketch. The two never spoke again. Disagreements aside the setting of Southampton Docks provided the departure point for two of the finest exponents of the silent movie genre and two iconic careers destined for immortality on the Hollywood walk of fame.

Where next will our brave hero go? If you have any suggestions for the future adventures of Sgt Bargate, please e-mail us, we would love to hear them.

The iconic British plane, the Spitfire was designed by R. J. Mitchell who was chief designer at Supermarine Aviation Works in Woolston. Much loved by its pilots, the Spitfire saw service throughout the whole of the WW2. It continued to serve as a front line fighter and in secondary roles for several air forces well into the 1950s.

Southampton suffered serious bombing during WW2 but the worst nights were 30th November and 1st December 1940. When 2631 high explosive bombs and 30652 incendiary bombs were fell on the city. During the bombing that night 630 citizens were killed and 1900 injured. 3589 buildings were destroyed and 40000 damaged, it is an amazing fact that the bargate still stands!

He has taken a lead from Bartletts Travelling Lion Circus, a frequent visitor to the city in years gone by. Although still sporting his fine moustache he is now portrayed with the face of a lion. Possibly from the circus or maybe from the mythical tale of Sir Bevis and the Lady Josian. Sir Bevis, our very own local hero, rescued his Lady from these terrible beasts of Lions who held her captive. They are now tamed and stand guard outside the Bargate to protect the city. In his hand the Sergeant holds Morglay, the magic sword of Sir Bevis. On his death bed Bevis threw the sword and asked to be buried where it fell. The area it landed in is what we call Bevois Valley to this day.

Sgt Bargate finds his beginnings in the history of the building as one of its many uses was as a police station during the early years of the 20th Century. Visitors to the gallery can still see the large wooden police emblem they left behind.

But Sgt Bargate seems to have other things on his mind and is taking a romantic reverie through the history of Southampton. Through the first of his journeys he visits the eccentricities of British comedy and characters from Sherlock Holmes to Basil Fawlty via the Avengers and Benny Hill.

His first adventure features a local boy done good. Alfred “Alfie” Hill was born in Southampton and grew up in Wilton Road, Upper Shirley. Later he changed his name to Benny in homage of his hero, comedian Jack Benny. According to local rumour Tommy Cooper’s mother lived in Shirley - so we will claim him as our own! As for Sid James completing this trio we like to think that as a South African he may have arrived in England on a Union-Castle Line steamer docking at Southampton.

1st October - 2nd November 2008

Billie Cowie

This piece is the final part of the Billy Cowie and Liz Aggiss retrospective commissioned by The Point, complements the recent showing of the projection Men in the Wall at Southampton City Art Gallery.

Visitors to the gallery can expect an extraordinary experience. They will enter the darkened space of the gallery, which is upstairs inside the

Bargate Monument Gallery?, wearing a pair of 3D glasses. A woman projected on the ground in front of them appears to be dancing, solid and real, before their eyes. She performs a short yet captivating dance that ends as the she gradually fades from view. This piece is both exquisite and personal, staying long in the memory after the viewer has left the space.

Billy Cowie is a composer, choreographer and filmmaker who works in a wide variety of art forms. ?Anarchic Dance? a book about his work was published by Routledge in 2006, Cowie’s first novel ‘Passenger’ came out in 2008.

Premiered at Paradiso, Julidans Festival July 2007 Amsterdam, this piece has been shown around Europe and will be shown in Los Angeles in the new year.

?So beautiful & moving a miniature masterpiece?

Alistair Spalding - Sadler,?s Wells.

?The most uncanny thing I have ever seen?

Deborah Levy - Novelist.

?A woman comes slowly towards you from the floor. Her meditative and soft energy involves you into her world and brings you to another dimension of the space. It?s as if you could touch her ? a magical experience.?

Suzy Blok - Artistic Director, I Like to Watch Too (Amsterdam 2007)

www.anarchicdance.com

www.lizaggiss.com

www.billycowie.com

15th November - 21st December 2008

Group Show

Off the back of their growing reputation and the success of the summer ArtVaults season, the arts organisation a space presents an exhibition and programme of events designed to stimulate the growing market for art in Southampton.

In times of economic uncertainty it is often nerve wracking to decide what is throw-away spending and what is a real investment? Collectible gives you the opportunity to buy the work of major artists for the future.

This exhibition will feature the work of a diverse and exciting range of artists, all exhibiting at surprisingly affordable prices. Artists will be announced on this site over the coming weeks.

Collectible: Business

The Bargate Monument Gallery? is available for private hire, throughout the show. How about having your pre-christmas drinks or business networking evening at a beautiful and unusual venue? You can hire the gallery for drinks and functions during Collectible at special discounted rates. All works for sale during these special events are offered at a 10% discount. Contact our office to book an event on 02380 338778 or info@aspacearts.org.uk

Collectible: Late Openings

Thursdays 6-8, from 20th November to 18th December 2008.
An oasis of calm above the Christmas shopping crowds, the Bargate Monument Gallery? will be open late on Thursday evenings throughout the run of the exhibition. Come in and join us, browse around the art works, talk to the gallery staff, you may even find that special Christmas gift. Thursday 18th December will be our Christmas celebration and
discount evening, with mulled wine and mince pies!

30th January - 9th March 2008

Amanda Parker

Parker’s first solo exhibition, presenting a major installation of her work ‘Run, hide in the woods’. This exhibition promises to be an overwhelming sensory experience allowing the viewer to explore a glistening, sickly forest created from strands of melted sugar, filling the centre and full height of the gallery space.

what people said about this exhibition:

‘It’s great to see a piece that changes so much. Yet it’s more and more interesting’

‘Really interesting - tactile and uses all your senses’

‘A fantastic use of space - awesome!’

Parker will be giving a talk about her work providing an opportunity to find out from the artist herself how she makes her extraordinary sugar sculptures and about the ideas and themes that inform her work. Refreshments provided. Please call 02380 338778 to confirm your place.

19th March - 27th April 2008

The artist in response to culture today

The second of the Bargate Monument Gallery annual open exhibitions brought to you by a space. Monkey’s with Car Keys sets a challenge to today’s emerging artists to confront everyday culture head on. Taken from the bumper - sticker slogan? Without art we are just monkeys with car keys the show will explore why it is important for artists to make new work in response to the society today.

A great opportunity to see some of the best work by new and emerging artists from across the UK.

The selected artists in this exhibition are:

Zoe Allen

Ian Cook

David Corbett

First Person Theatre

Nigel Grimmer

David Huglin

Christoher Jenkins

Pearl John

Minou Norouzi

Ruth Pringle

Tim Ralston

David Theobald

7th May - 15th June 2008

Contemporary Graphic Design Curated by Radim Malinic

Internationally recognised illustrator Malinic is the creative force behind Brand Nu (www.brandnu.co.uk). This exhibition explores the direction of visual design for music, faced with the demise of the 12 and the CD. As curator and main artist Malinic challenges 12 collaborators to create visual identities for 12 tracks which can have impact on scales from large wall size prints to the screen of an MP3 player. www.nuvisuallanguage.co.uk