ARTISTS TALKING

# 67 [4 June 2009]

Aftermath - 21st-31st May 2009

Nicholson Institute, Leek

This May AirSpace was on tour, well okay it was only one venue and it was in Leek but it was a really great opportunity to see some of the work that the people behind the gallery are creating.

The private view on the Wednesday was a really great turn out, and there was a nice atmosphere filling the high ceilinged room that is the Nicholson Institute.

The artwork, although not curated as such, appeared to be taking the viewer on a journey through the exhibition. Throughout the week people were seen to be delicately walking around the space, avoiding the large amount of floor-based work, map in hand and scrutinising the work on show.
It was interesting to see the links between the practises of those involved with the gallery. There seemed to be an underlying theme of nature and the environment. Phil Rawle, Anna Francis, David Bethell, Andrew Brandscome and Brian Holdcroft all used imagery and objects linked to nature, from discarded branches to planted seeds their work seemed to be reflective of a world increasingly aware of it’s environment and our use of it. Other subjects were scattered throughout the show including explorations of memory by both Stuart Porter and Katie Shipley and Bernard Charnley’s referencing of the human condition.

For artists working together, but not as artists, I think it’s important for us to be able to explore each other’s work in this way.  I think the exhibition has served to be a much-needed pause for thought on the work that we are creating, allowing us to realign or reaffirm the direction we are heading in.

# 66 [1 June 2009]

Dialogue Box 09

Ben Chetter – Unified Monotony

AirSpace Gallery Window 4th – 18th June 2009

This year’s Dialogue Box series started with Laurence Payot’s new work ‘Back to the Future’ where Payot sought to challenge people's perceptions of their everyday surroundings, of what is considered commonplace in our current culture, and how this would be perceived in 10 or 20 years time.

The series continues this month with work from Ben Chetter; views from people during his adolescence had Chetter experience the negativity of homosexuality and to virtually treat it like a disease, here creating a negative stereotypical view of the effeminate.

The stereotype of effeminate qualities in homosexuality has intrigued Chetter to combine it within elements of symbolism. Incorporating the stag, the artist uses this as a predominant mediator between human and animal instinct.

He is the man of the forest, the epitome of masculinity.

# 65 [18 May 2009]

Aftermath 21st -31st May 2009

Nicholson Institute, Leek

AirSpace Gallery presents new works from artists Anna Francis, Andrew Branscombe, Bernard Charnley, Brian Holdcroft, David Bethell, Katie Shipley, Phil Rawle and Stuart Porter.

The exhibition explores a range of themes including urban regeneration, nature, and aspects of the human condition. The works are representative of the artist’s working at various stages of development; there is both explorative and resolved works on display. The exhibition therefore presents a developmental snapshot of contemporary art and artists living and working in Staffordshire.

Aftermath the show’s title suggests what is left over after an upheaval. The works presented here have come directly from or are influenced upheavals, social mental or physical, the work examines change and it’s results. The interim and explorative nature of some of the work also suggests the idea of a recent disturbance of the artist’s work, its processes and results.

# 64 [6 April 2009]

The opening for Trying to Cope with things that aren’t Human (Part 1) attracted the largest number of visitors to a private view that AirSpace has had. Over 150 people came to the gallery on Broad Street in Hanley and it was worth it. Curated by Ian Brown the show had travelled from the David Cunnigham Projects gallery in San Fransisco, but the Stoke show boasted a few new works by artists such as Alan Currall, Heather and Ivan Morrison and Mariele Neudecker, never seen before.

What was brilliant about the opening were the familiar faces mixed in with the new. Local artists are still supporting the gallery and some people travelled from as far as Norwich and Liverpool (that’s not including David Cunningham who travelled from San Fransisco).

It was wonderful to see the gallery bursting at the seams with lively chatter and appreciation. The exhibition continues until the 2nd May and there are also limited edition publications for sale. For more information please visit www.airspacegallery.org or www.thingsthatarenthuman.com .

# 63 [14 March 2009]

AirSpace Gallery is pleased to announce Trying to Cope with Things that aren’t Human (Part One) :-

An international touring group exhibition and publication curated by Ian Brown.

Artist: Alan Currall, Alex Pearl, Annika Strom, Francis Mckee, Ian Brown Heather and Ivan Morison, Johanna Hallsten, Mariele Neudecker, Paul Rooney, Richard Hughes, Richard T Walker and Ryan Gander.

This is the second in a series of exhibitions, which started at David Cunningham Projects, San Francisco in January 2009. The accompanying publication comprised of specially commissioned artworks by Paul Rooney, Heather and Ivan Morison, Richard T. Walker, Annika Ström, Ian Brown, Ryan Gander, Francis McKee and Alex Pearl will be also available at DCP, AirSpace Gallery and Amazon.

Trying to Cope with Things that Aren’t Human (Part One) is a group exhibition that includes work in a gallery format and in a publishable form.

# 62 [7 March 2009]

A New Age

Last week AirSpace showed the work of the Fine Art MA students from Staffordshire University.  It was a great atmosphere at the opening and it was wonderful to see so many people at the gallery. It reminded me how important these events are for networking for artists, I saw many faces I haven’t seen for a while and got to catch up with some artists and see how their work is progressing. The work that stood out was that of Russell Willett, a large scale drawing on the back wall of the gallery. Also worth noting was the amusing piece by Chris Parks, the description is of a man waiting for his girlfriend to try on clothes during a shopping trip, but what we see is a pigeon sitting on a fence. It was also good to see some eye-catching work in the window, Andy Nash presented a drill with fans attached, hanging from the ceiling and spinning around in the window space.

# 61 [7 March 2009]

Asdsan Workshops 2

AirSpace completed their second series of Asdan Workshops last month. Where they delivered Problem Solving workshops to 9 students from St Peter’s School. The students were taught drawing and photography techniques looking at the subject of self-representation. The workshops culminated in a self-curated and promoted show in the AirSpace window.

# 60 [11 February 2009]

Laurence Payot will be the first of the Dialogue Box 2009 exhibitors.

Her exhibition 'Back to the Future' will open in the gallery window on the 17th February and will be up until 25th February.

'Looking at today with the eyes of the future...'

'Laurence Payot's new work for Dialogue Box challenges people's perceptions of their everyday surroundings, of what is considered common place in our current culture, and how this would be perceived in 10 or 20 years time.

 In February 2009, these pictures were taken in the main streets of Hanley, in the style of postcards, inspired by photographs of Hanley in tourist prospectuses, and of black and white photographs of Hanley on the walls of the museum. These photographs were then manipulated to look like they had been left on windows for a long period of time, discoloured by years of sun and moonlight.'

For more information please visit www.laurencepayot.com

# 59 [28 January 2009]

AirSpace are back after a well deserved winter break.

 The Conjunction 08 festival was really well received and we are still getting positive feedback.

The next exhibition at the gallery will be 'Trying to cope with things that aren't human (part1)' curated by Ian Brown, that is currently on show at David Cunningham Projects in San Francisco. It will open at AirSpace on the 27th March. Check out the website for more details www.thingsthatarenthuman.com

Also coming up is the next series of Dialogue Box exhibitions, that will be a series of week long exhibitions in the AirSpace Window. This year Dialogue Box will also be hosting a Dialogue Box: Live Art event in May. For application details to these please visit the AirSpace Website www.airspacegallery.org.

# 58 [2 December 2008]

Conjunction 08 festival is in full swing with Artist talks and guided tours still taking place, including Gayle Chong Kwan’s talk on the 5^th this week at Staffordshire University. Gemma Thomas has been keeping a blog for the festival on the Conjunction website www.conjunction.org.uk so you can catch up on anything you have missed and keep track of everything that’s going on.

AirSpace will be hosting their next exhibition ‘Trying to Cope With Things That Aren’t Human (part 1)’ in March 2009. Curated by Ian Brown the show will be touring from San Francisco. In the mean time we will be hosting some exciting events to whet your appetite.