ARTISTS TALKING

# 91 [31 March 2010]

There is beauty in the city

5th - 17th April

as part of Dialogue Box

AirSpace Gallery Window

after 2 years and consisting of over 200 images sent in by 40+ artists and photographers, there is beauty in the city has become a mini-phenomenon. the little black magnet has been flagging up urban beauty sites from the project base in stoke-on-trent throughout the uk and as far afield as jakarta and sydney.

the exhibition presents all submitted images, each of which represents the respective artists' unique visions of what they find beautiful about their cities, in the form of a looped film, and set in its own tableaux in the window exhibiting space of AirSpace Gallery.

so, be sure to come to AirSpace Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent to see the first step in what is promising to become a truly global event.

www.thereisbeautyinthecity.blogspot.com/

# 92 [12 May 2010]

April 2010

As an introduction to conjunction 2010, stoke-on-trent's contemporary art biennial, airspace will be hosting Carl Gent for a two week long residency. The plan for the residency is for the artist to explore through creative means the organisational structures and strategies, both within the Conjunction Biennial and the regional regeneration environment. The process of working should endeavour to examine the way in which the biennial is supportive, contrasting, or developing the regenerative strategies developed by regional regeneration bodies, and the local authority. The work produced should represent a creative interpretation of the processes and avenues which the biennial already engages with and the way in which it can develop new ways of thinking. It will therefore influence the organisational development of the biennial to encourage production and consumption of contemporary art in the North Staffordshire region.

"In my residency at AirSpace I will aim to manufacture an intellectual bond between the environs and people of AirSpace gallery and Stoke-on-Trent in general through something akin to a “town twinning”. Through isolating the age of the Westphalian coal deposits that are so linked with Stoke’s history I can identify two possible candidates for this cosmic town-twinning. The age of Stoke’s coal lies between 313 - 304 million years old. Using this information I have identified both the Coma galaxy cluster (at 310 million light years distant) and the barred galaxy NGC 7318B, a member of Stephan’s Quintet (at 304 million light years distant) as potential twinnings for Stoke. The goal of this twinning is to experience these galactic objects, and the entirety of Outer Space, in a more meaningful manner than just looking at them. The light that is currently being received from these galaxies left their hosts at the same time as the ground beneath Stoke was being formed. There is a connection here that simultaneously identifies Stoke as having a direct relationship with somewhere of an infinitely more exotic nature whilst highlighting the extremities of distance and time inherent within and beyond Earth’s structure." - Carl Gent 2010

# 93 [12 May 2010]

8-22 MAY

ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK:A conversation with no conclusion

BARRIE FELTON 

GWYDDION FLINT  

JILL IMPEY    

CHRIS PARKES

MICHELLE PARR  

LAWRIE SLACK  

RUSSELL WILLETT

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back is an exhibition that brings together a diverse mix of works by seven artists reflecting on the process of creating contemporary Fine Art. It is a discourse on making art at times informed by irrationality, absurdity; bringing together incongruous, incompatible elements to co-exist in space; the sublime and the ridiculous. The works show a concern with paradox: lightness and darkness, harmony and discord, order and chaos, construction and deconstruction--subjects that are irrevocably bound up with the temporal issues of past, present and future. 

Stoke artist, Russell Willett’s ‘Paradox’ consists of five paintings that draw from his industrial background, precision and control vie against freedom of expression, Willett notes, “ it’s the process of building up an image and then doubting it”. Balances of abstract and realist elements are poised together in space and time. The idea of a point in time also runs through the work of Michelle Parr, who uses deconstruction to deal with an inner fear, referencing Edmund Burke, The Theory of the Sublime "In order to understand the origin of our ideas of the sublime and the beautiful, we must examine the experience of pain and pleasure". Parr creates wire drawings of large constructions, such as buildings and bridges (which she fears) and then deconstructs them up to the point at which the illusion of a building transforms into matted wire confusion. Through her de-structuring, she questions the beauty assumed to be inherent in art. What becomes more important is the expression of human frailty in the face of the monumental power of industrialisation. 

Several of the artists respond to the concept of the sublime in this exhibition; Jill Impey’s film work, takes a philosophical look at existence with reference to Turner, Darwin and Joseph Conrad in exploring relationships between human expression, evolution and the timeless power of the natural world to overcome boundaries. Questioning the representation of History is a thread running through Impey‘s work, her installation; Compare and Contrast creates a dialogue between locally crafted, antique ceramic artefacts and contemporary conceptual art. Chris Parkes tackles tentative subject matter in which the mundane challenges beauty and seeks to articulate the more capricious and absurdist aspects of the sublime.  His film, sculpture and painting installations play with the human instinct to engage and respond, that which “seems inescapable in our description of how the world appears to us. We take the initial steps to process what is perceived to be real, with the understanding that our perception is true”. 

This is an exhibition of contrasts and dialogues between opposing forces, an element seen in the work of both Lawri Slack and Andrew Flint. Slack takes us into a world of macabre beauty and violence, with her paintings that retain a feminine elegance while their creation through the medium of blood and the action of boxing forces us to be both attracted and repelled. Flint’s works reflects his disenchantment with the modern technological world, in this show his idealised vision of how the world should be is dispersed by the interruption of an anthropomorphised item of technology.

In Barrie Felton's site-specific work A Spiral Staircase, A Work in Progress, the mind and thought processes of the artist are visualised as a three dimensional structure. Alluding to the sentiments of the show's title, the work implies that the creation of art and the means of achieving critical recognition, are not easy or straightforward.


This exhibition stands as an unveiling and questioning of human progress and a response to the art of the last two centuries. It also considers future evolutions, the pause for reflection before a leap forward.

# 94 [27 May 2010]

Best Practice Seminar: with Alex Pearl

29th May 12.00PM-4.00PM @ AirSpace Gallery

www.newgenerationspace.wordpress.com

airspacegallery

no4 Broad Street

Hanley

Stoke-on-Trent

Staffordshire

ST1 4HL

In this session we will be looking at the fundamentals of what it means to be an artist and will explore ways of moving an artistic practice forward. The main speaker will be Alex Pearl an artist whose practice we feel presents an example of best practice, through his development both of his work and relationships with galleries and curators. Alex has also gained recognition and experience through taking part in commissions, and residencies, both in this country and abroad.

UK artist Alex Pearl sets up situations, which illustrate our predicament. He makes mini-epic films, video installations, games, photographs, sculpture, blogs and books. Throughout his work there is a sense of an acceptance of failure or disappointment as important parts of the human condition. His new work for The Whitstable Biennale is based on a mistake. Last year, when he began to consider making work for the Biennale, a friend commented to him: “Whitstable? That’s where Dracula landed”. The mistake was soon rectified, but when he discovered Peter Cushing lived in Whitstable, he decided to write a sort of vampire novel entitled The Pearl Fisher. Based on Bram Stoker’s diary form, but without the benefit of plot or supernatural threat, his novel (in the form of a blog) soon became what the artist calls "an aimless ramble through forests of coincidence and disappointment.” The narrative of the blog is the only thing loosely connecting the films to be presented in Whitstable. Firstly, a set of three ghostly apparitions born of obsessive watching of Hammer horror films and an interest in Victorian theatrical magic. Next a series of informal blue films made at the beach and finally a film of a male bingo caller, calling to the ladies of Whitstable’s Oxford Bingo Club.

# 95 [6 June 2010]

Dialogue box

GREEN / REGEN

Kate Lynch, 2010

Found lithographs, vinyl on polycarbonate sheets

‘GREEN’ is an anagram of ‘REGEN’. The circular form of the text allows both of these words to be read and reflects the regenerative cycle of nature and continuity of life. Just as in the natural world, the city is undergoing constant changes involving destruction and renewal; urban regeneration. Regeneration has become a buzz word in the city at this point in time, often abbreviated as ‘regen’.

‘Green’ is also emerging a desirable and fashionable term/ethos within the city, with campaigns for green spaces and environmental improvement, and the rising popularity of allotments and ‘grow your own’. This organic aesthetic has been diluted into the marketing of many products, with the results sometimes being misleading and false. The use of vinyl lettering and plastic, over the artist’s usual choice of natural and sustainable materials, reflects these contradictions.

The face of the ‘Green Man’ emerges from the detritus of the ceramics industry (ceramic lithographs), questioning the sustainability and prosperity of industry and regeneration schemes. The used lithograph backings are lifeless remnants of industry. The ‘Green Man’ traditionally represents regeneration of the natural world. Here the artist is reinterpreting this theme to relate to the regeneration of the city, therefore also suggesting potential - that it may become abundant and vibrant after the process of urban renewal.

The floral lithographs also celebrate what is ‘green’ in our city- parks, allotments, back gardens or overgrown wasteland with thriving habitats.

For more about the work go to www.aconversationwiththegreenman.blogspot.com

# 96 [17 August 2010]

Dialogue Box

AirSpace Gallery Window

Until 23rd August

Paper plane: Questions

Stuart Porter

Who made the first and why? Was its creation an accident of design or a deliberate action of thoughtful development? How did this simple paper folded efficient delivery, where in truth its flight is unpredictable and unreliable in both duration and direction?

www.stuart-porter.com

# 97 [17 August 2010]

The Drowning World

Preview: 27^th August 6 – 9pm

Exhibition: 28^th August – 2^nd October

Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 5pm

Artists: Dan Davis, Michelle McKeown, Terry Shave.

Artist Talk 18th September

In1962 J. G. Ballard wrote the book The Drowned World, wherein he explored a particular post-apocalyptical scenario and ideas of chaos brought on by the consequences of solar radiation and melting icecaps. Nature takes over, once again, and the world returns to a more primitive state of existence. The protagonist eventually embraces this new natural order but wrestles with the devolutionary position he finds himself in, this sharply contrasts with the determination to retain power and control by other characters. The actions of others eventually persuade the protagonist to find unity with a more organic landscape. After all, you don’t know tranquillity without knowing chaos.

The Drowning World, explores some of this subject matter in relation to contemporary and historical concerns, alongside the layering and transformational processes within the production of art. The artists shown here produce unnerving images, which discuss the dislocation of people related to place, history and society. The notion of strata is key to all of the artists, whether that be historical, physical (in terms of the layering of an image) or social. All of the artists are showing new work in this exhibition.

# 98 [29 September 2010]

Dialogue Box

AirSpace Gallery Window

Cardinal

by Phil Rawle

3rd-13th October 

Phil has had a long career as a graphic designer working in London, New York, Washington and the Midlands. He is now exploring the image-making process outside the normal realms of graphic design.

Cardinal
This piece explores the iconography of our secular world, our reverence to the computer, film and TV, and the worship of the transient. The window becomes a stage set evoking the power and glory of advertising, described with the manipulative swagger of ritualised pageantry.

# 99 [4 October 2010]

Conjunction10

Conjunction is a Contemporary Art Biennial taking place in Stoke on Trent.  This year Conjunction will feature over 15 commissioned artists responding to the theme of Escape. The work will be exhibited in a number of venues in the city centre including AirSpace Gallery, Dazed Gallery and The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.  

Artists this year include; Paul Rooney,  Fikret Atay, Tim Long, Adam James, Juneau Projects.
There is a range of works to be seen from idyllic landscapes to sound based installations, to bronze sculptures and 8mm film. 

There is also a series of events and talks running alongside the biennial, this will include talks from the Curators and the commissioned Artists talking about how they have responded to this years theme. Invited organisations and key individuals such as Helen Moore, Chris Biddlecombe and Tom Varley will talk about the Glasgow art scene.  There will also be a chance to gain insight into collecting art and being a Collector through a talk lead by Stephen Snoddy (The New Art Gallery Walsall). There will also be further events and talks from local and regional artists. 
If you would like to find out more information about the programme please visit our website:

www.conjunction.org.uk 

Conjunction is partnership project between The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Staffordshire University, Stoke on Trent City Council, Wren Park and AirSpace Gallery. 

Conjunction has been funded by Arts Council England, Stoke on Trent City Council and Staffordshire University.

# 100 [3 November 2010]

Two more exciting events for Conjunction coming up this weekend!

5th Nov 5-6pm

Cadman Gallery

Staffs University

Check out the Private View of the Phil Collins, Adam James and Paul Rooney show!

Conjunction 10

Preview 5th November 5-pm 6pm

Open Wednesday - Friday 10 - 12 November, 17 - 19 November, 24 - 26 November 12 - 4pm

Cadman Gallery

Staffordshire University,

Cadman Studios,

College Road,

Stoke-on-Trent

ST4 2DE

Phil Collins

Adam James           

Paul Rooney

The Work

Phil Collins Hero 2002 Phil Collins’ video Hero turns tables on a New York journalist who, like so many other ‘lifestyle’ columnists, found himself having to cover the reality of the lives of those caught in the aftermath of 9/11. Every so often Collins’ arm enters the frame with a mug of whisky, from which the genial hack is obliged to drink, like some terrible reality TV forfeit or an endurance piece of performance art.

Adam James Paris Vagabonds series Adam’s ‘Paris Vagabonds’ pick up on the distinctness of the outsider in the city. City tramps are noticed in their particularity – their micro-performative gestures, and specific clothing is exaggerated and transformed to celebrate their individuality.

Paul Rooney Bookmark This multiple work takes the form of a bookmark on which is written a self contained story, a modern parable of a librarian who discovers a bookmark which has extraordinary powers, one of which is that it seems to be able to stop time itself. The librarian does not use it’s powers ‘correctly’, however, and suffers the consequences. The lessons to be learnt from the parable are not clear and offer no obvious moral guidance.

6th Nov 2-4pm

AirSpace Gallery

Artistic Community Development Seminar.

Seminar: Artistic Community Development: (Regeneration) @ AirSpace Gallery

6 November 2 – 4pm

You are invited to attend the second seminar in the series of events as part of conjunction 10. A seminar looking at regeneration, and in-particular how arts organisations have impacted on this area. The two organisations involved have had extensive experience of working with derelict spaces and collaborating on large scale events within their local areas, and developing a national and international reputation for the regions. 
The seminar will cover:

Background and Starting Points for the organisationsVision and GoalsProjects, examples and ideas behind themRelationship with the local area, and other organisationsImpact on the areas in which they work, and the Artistic community

Speakers Eastside Projects Robin Kirkham Eastside Projects is an artist-run space, a public gallery for the City of Birmingham and the World. It is organised by a founding collective comprising Simon & Tom Bloor, Celine Condorelli, Ruth Claxton, James Langdon and Gavin Wade, who first conceived and now run the space. Eastside Projects is a new model for a gallery, one where space and programme are
intertwined: a complex evolving programme of works and events starting from radical historical positions. They aim to commission and present experimental contemporary art practices and exhibitions. The artist is invited to set the existing conditions for the gallery. Work may remain. Work may be responded to. The gallery is a collection. The gallery is an artwork. The artist-run space is a public good. Grand Union Harminder Singh Judge Grand Union is an artist-led initiative that supports the development of artists and curators and aims to establish and nurture dialogue between contemporary visual artists, and local, national and international art organisations.
Established by a group of artists and curators in Birmingham, UK, Grand Union is a unique project that houses eight purpose built studios and a project space. It provides a platform for a diverse and exciting programme of events and exhibitions, while the studios provide a professional and secure working environment.