It was a cloudy Saturday when the door of the little black art gallery in Bishop Auckland swung open and an elderly lady entered the building, writes volunteer community journalist, Carla Krenzke. The sound of paper wrapping a freshly sold creation and other visitors browsing through the pieces accompanied her while she saw a particular painting that struck her. A mining picture, reminding her of her own father.
John Smith, founder and owner of this gallery, created that painting. They started to talk about it – bringing up her family, memories and her life, forming a connection through the art. After sharing a hug, she said goodbye. They started the day as strangers and ended it feeling like old friends. That is what the House of Smudge does. The gallery is a place where stories are shared and friendships are formed. A place of belonging, that will be gone soon.
The House of Smudge will be closing its doors after 8 years, on the 18th of July, due to problems with the lease terms and rent increase. But Smith is hopeful: “This isn’t the end of the journey, simply a pause before the next chapter begins.“
The first chapter of the gallery was something no one saw coming. It all began in a little greenhouse in an allotment, where he started to create artwork. John Smith has worked for the Spennymoor Town Council for over 30 years. In his free time, he liked to draw and played around with pastels and charcoal in his little shed on an allotment. As his passion grew, he opened the gallery on Fore Bondgate with just £500. His whole family helped turning the dilapidated shop into a place that was meant to stay open for three months, but three months became eight years.
“Anyone who visited House of Smudge will know her.” John talks about his mother Myra, who is a key person for the exhibition space. He declares that without the support of his family and the customers, he wouldn’t have been able to do what he loves for as long as he has.
But what exactly does John love to create? He describes his art style as ‘quirky, flatcaps and bandanas’ which may sound confusing, but has a beautiful meaning, that explains why the elderly lady felt emotional after seeing his painting.
“A lot of my artwork comes from the people and places I’ve known throughout my life.“ John’s family worked down in the pits, he grew up around allotments, pigeons, greyhounds and hardworking people, who always had a story to tell. Clearing sheds for the Town Council, he’d find old NCB jackets hanging in corners — small remnants of a world he grew up in. “Those little details stayed with me (…) and over the years they naturally found their way into my artwork.“
Smudge — part nickname, part alter ego — appears throughout his work, always hooded, always without a face. The name came naturally: John was forever smudging charcoal and pastels with his hands, and as it’s similar his surname, Smith became Smudge. The blank face is intentional. John wants the viewer to fill it in themselves.
“The character could be someone they knew, someone they’ve lost, or even themselves.” For the elderly lady, it was her father.
What he never expected was for his art to reach and move so many people. On some occasions when new collections were displayed, you could find queues outside before opening and the pieces finding a home within the first hour. The BBC North covered his independent gallery, attracting visitors from all over the country and the world. Artwork was sent to countries like America, New Zealand, Singapore or Saudi Arabia.
But this place of home, of belonging and friendship will have to close in about five weeks from now. When the rent rose significantly and the lease terms changed, the numbers simply no longer worked for a small independent gallery. Smith even attempted to buy the building outright — but that door closed too. Regardless of the sad news, John is optimistic and looking forward. He is going to continue making artwork and selling online until he can achieve his long-held dream, finding a forever home for House of Smudge.
After the news was announced, messages, cards and visitors were pouring in to share their memories and kind words: ”A lot of people have told me the gallery felt welcoming and homely, and that they’ll miss it being part of the town.“ Bishop Auckland will lose a significant art space and a place where friendships grew.
I asked John what he would say to someone who is afraid to pursue a creative dream: “You don’t need a fortune. You don’t need special connections. You don’t need permission. You just need the courage to take the first step and the determination to keep going.”
He states that if this story proves anything, it is that ordinary people can achieve something remarkable when they’re willing to give their dream a chance.
John Smith started with nothing but a dream and created a place where not only creativity was shared, but also community. He, and everyone who is a fan of House of Smudge, is looking forward to its next chapter.
Carla Krenzke
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
