ARTISTS TALKING

# 51 [10 September 2008]

 Simon Kennedy

‘Bad Paintings'

Preview 19^th September 7pm - 9pm

20^th - 4^th October

‘Bad Paintings' is the second solo show by the Chester based artist Simon Kennedy. Kennedy returns to show his work at AirSpace Gallery after graduating from Staffordshire University in 2004.

Kennedy delivers work that is blunt yet poetic, he refuses to categorise his use of medium and as such enjoys the freedom of choosing whichever suits his subject. More recently he has been exploring the subject of celebrity, from the nouveau riche to the cursed genius. This, along with an increased desire to further examine the work of traditional painters, has led to ‘Bad Paintings.'

This is AirSpace's first show solely dedicated to painting since opening in 2006. The AirSpace Gallery strives to present viewers with a fair representation of current contemporary art and is excited to be adding painting to its C.V.

# 52 [16 September 2008]

Conjunction 08

Conjunction 08 is Stoke-on-Trent’s first major Contemporary Art Biennial. Stoke-on-Trent is changing, through the organisations involved in this project we want to ensure this is a change for the better, by ensuring that contemporary art is seen to be at the forefront of redevelopment and regeneration. It is supported by Arts Council England, North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership, Stoke on Trent City Council, Business Link, Staffordshire University, The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, AirSpace Gallery, Wren Park and Let Them Create.

The theme of Conjunction 08 is FANTASTIC, FOUND and FAKE, which could apply to much of what is considered relevant in the sphere of contemporary art, from the everyday to the extraordinary.

Conjunction 08 will open on the 8^th November across the city and will run until the 13^th December. 

This years event will include over 40 artists including 25 new commissions by artists of international, national and regional significance.

The Biennial will take place in the city centre, predominately at Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, AirSpace Gallery, Staffordshire University and Bethesda Chapel, there will also be site specific artwork in and around the city centre. To accompany the exhibitions there will be opportunities to attend artist talks, workshops and guided tours of the whole event.

For more information e-mail airspaceinfo@btinternet.com

# 53 [25 September 2008]

Bad Paintings-Simon Kennedy

The current exhibition at the AirSpace Gallery gives another twist to the status of the celebrity. A mixture of smiling and disgruntled faces greets you as you enter the gallery space; familiar faces such as Jade Goody and Victoria Beckham are painted with such bright and vivid colours that they take on a garish and cartoon quality. The faces have been removed from their normal context and transformed into merely portraits, no longer the struggling celebrity their faces and features can be considered without the blaring headlines or ridiculous sub stories of a glossy magazine. The headlines are available as the titles of the work, but by being removed from their usual context they become even more ludicrous and gruesome; a fair comment on the trashy magazines that concoct stories out of nothing.

The backgrounds of the paintings have a still life quality, carefully placed items and stripes highlight or clash with the subject offering further insight and references to Vermeer, with emphasis on the earring detail. Other paintings such as ‘I saw Jack on holiday and I thought; Jesus Christ what did I see in you’ show marks where parts of the painting have been re-painted, or perhaps the whole painting has been re-done. Layers of paint and obvious changes to the arrangement references a restoration process but also points to the change in status when one is considered a ‘celebrity’; what we see is a mask hiding the real person and the real life.

With the addition of ‘A short interview with myself by myself’ we gain insight into the art work, but only as much as the artist is willing to give; without interrogation or awkward questions from an external interviewer. The result is an interesting twist on the artist statement, but without the slightly egotistical language often used in such documents.

Another interesting addition to the exhibition is the piece entitled ‘Confession’, the lonely rant of the artist, who appears to be a little more than pissed of with his current situation, the struggle for ‘the big idea’ and the integrity of the people and artists around him.

Review by Katie Shipley

# 54 [14 October 2008]

Intercom-Johanna Hallsten

10th October-1st November 2008

Johanna Hallsten’s latest work begins in the window of the AirSpace Gallery, whilst looking into the Gallery window you will see an idyllic forest like setting, cut out of the landscape and transferred into the window box. The sound of birds whistling vibrates through the glass and projects out onto the pavement, interspersed with a badger and a human voice; a conversation between the three.

Inside the Gallery is Intercom, upon first sight a minimal exhibition of an ancient looking intercom system salvaged from a disused potteries factory in Stoke on Trent. But after time you discover that the intercom system is still working, with regular announcements being made in a thick Stoke accent ‘Can security please go to the entrance, security to the entrance.’ For the private view the speaker was a live performance by Janet Jenkins from the Wedgwood factory in Stoke on Trent; her accent bursting through the speakers at intervals and reducing the viewers to a hushed silence. Throughout the remaining three weeks the sound will continue to play, with the addition of live speakers throughout the day.

The private view brought many new and familiar faces to the gallery space, a lasting congregation considering that there was not a lot to see in the space. But all listened intently to the announcements and waited eagerly for the artist to appear. The gallery held a great atmosphere and the debut of the new laminated gallery floor was met with much approval.

The exhibition continues until the 1^st November 2008 and Johanna will be delivering an artist’s talk on the 25^th October at 3pm in the Gallery, all are welcome.

# 55 [4 November 2008]

Conjunction 08; FANTASTIC, FOUND and FAKE.

 'Conjunction 08 will open on 7th November across the city and will run until 13th December 2008. The festival will involve over 30 artists, including 25 new commissions by artists of international, national and regional significance. The theme is FANTASTIC, FOUND and FAKE, and it is to this stimulus that the artists have been invited to respond, seeking the extraordinary in the everyday.'

So we are drawing near to the opening of the festival and there is a buzz about the gallery. Artists have been coming and going all week installing their work. Including Stephanie Davidson's 'Found Space Tiles' that has been installed in the bathroom of the AriSpace Gallery. The pristine white wall tiles serve as a contrast to the fading paint work and the mirror a little unwelcome when you're not expecting it! But the back rest proves a comforting addition to the space. We are excited to see the rest of the artwork taking shape across the city.

The festival opens on the 7th November 6pm-8pm at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Bethesda Street, Hanley.

For more information visit www.conjunction.org.uk

or e-mail

airspaceinfo@btinternet.com

# 56 [13 November 2008]

Good Samaritans Foiled by Art’s New Enfants Terribles

Last night two members of the public tried to rescue a man whose voice could be heard calling for help from the boot of a crashed car at Staffordshire University. The Good Samaritans smashed into the front of the car in order to reach the boot only to find that the voice was a recording on loop as part of the new art work by Littlewhitehead. The piece was commissioned as part of the Conjunction 08 festival, Stoke on Trent’s Arts Biennial organised by AirSpace Gallery and partners.

Littlewhitehead are muliti sensory installation artists who play with ideas of reality and fiction. This is the second time that the Glaswegian duo’s work has caused extreme reactions in the public. Their work in the New Contemporaries exhibition, as part of the Liverpool Biennial, has recently been attacked by members of the public; where visitors to the exhibition were seen punching and kicking life size hooded and balaclava clad figures

The Conjunction festival runs until the 13^th December across various places in Stoke on Trent’s City Centre, including AirSpace Gallery. For more information please see www.conjunction.org.uk or call 01782 261221

# 57 [1 December 2008]

Artist Talk Gayle Chong Kwan 5^th December 2008

1-2pm Artist Talk and 3-4pm Q&A

Film Theatre, Staffordshire University, College Road, Stoke on Trent ST4 2DE

Gayle Chong Kwan will discuss her artwork, which can be seen as part of the Conjunction 08 Festival at The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, and will relate that to the other works and commissions she has produced during her career.

Gayle has had solo exhibitions at Artsway New Forest, Tate Britain, National Portrait Gallery London, Chinese Arts Centre Manchester and MAC Birmingham. She has also exhibited at the Venice Biennale, South London Gallery and Tate Modern.

For more information on the festival please see www.conjunction.org.uk

To book a place please e-mail fantastic@conjunction.co.uk or call 01782 261221

# 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.

# 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.

# 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