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OutofOffice developed a project confronting themes related to Hotdesking that resulted in a group exhibition of selected artists in January 2009. The group proposes similar exhibitions to explore and widen these themes.
Please get in touch: outofoffice3@googlemail.com
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HotDesk is the first exhibition to be presented by OutofOffice.  Hijacking the NTI-Leeds offices based in the Old BBC Broadcasting House on Woodhouse Lane in Leeds.

The Exhibition opens this Thursday (5-9pm) and runs from Friday the 23rd for a week.  As the exhibition confronts the office space as a working/creative environment, and the viability of this as a contemporary space; the exhibition is open at normal office hours as well as in the evenings until 8pm.

HotDesk will present 9 artists altogether, covering a broad range of mediums from wall based photography, collaborative performances and film/projection.  The artists are as follows:Bruce Davies, Clare Bleakley & Paul Holmes, Dan Mason, Charlotte Morgan, Eirini Boukla, Philip Welding and Silver Mawson.

As of Wednesday evening (the 21st), all of the work to be included in the Hotdesk had been installed.  the show is now ready and is due to open to the public later today (Thursday 22nd) from 5pm.  

Charlotte Morgan’s video piece had been installed to project moving images onto a used white board in the office environment.  Dealing with the relationship between contemporary architecture and period architecture, Charlotte has made a two-part film that confronts the possible activity that happens in both.  Her work makes a direct link between the contemporary office space that is the NTI offices, and the period setting in which the company houses itself.

Silver Mawson's work is being displayed on two computer screens, each showing two separate emails sent to the OuofOffice inbox dealing with the working relationship of the artists-as-collaborators: it is entitled "there's something you should know about silver mawson".

Eirini Boukla's delicate installation, using paper balls of varying sizes that have individually been drawn on, has been displayed in the formation of the star constellation 'Draco'.  the piece makes use of the high ceiling of the office and its period features.

Clare Bleakley and Paul Holmes have re-presented a recent project called Capture, which deals with the investigation of an airport as a transitory space, and how information can be recorded and presented as artwork.  Their work embodies itself in paintings, video/animation work, posters, signs and banners that overtake the architectural space in the office.

Acting as a sign post for the exhibition the innovative architectural project of Dan Mason has been installed in the foyer of the Old Broadcasting House.  Dealing with notions of how energy can be generated in a given environment/community he has developed a bicycle that is connected to a generator, making electricity from activity.

Bruce Davies has produced a piece of work that deals with the notion of observing an artwork and how such a problematic activity can be installed into the office space.  By producing a drawing which references other drawings made by other artists, he has also installed CCTV that films whoever looks at the drawing, making a further image of the observer elsewhere in the office.

Philip Welding ‘makes’ photographs that deal with the very creative activities that are withheld in such a person within a normal working environment.  His subjects become anything from office fans to piles of left over holes from hole-punches.  He stages such objects and monumentalizes them by crafting the photographic situation, creating such works entitled Gust, Growth and Towers, such names that inspire creative aspiration.
 
the exhibition now runs until friday the 30th

The HotDesks exhibition has been well received and we are pleased to have coverage from the BBC of the event: [http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2009/01/22/visual_arts_hotdesk_feature.shtml]  

The OutofOffice group have consequently been asked to curate further exhibition in Leeds and now Sheffield, including another exhibition at the Old Broadcasting House in May 2009.

Keep an eye out for updates on the this blog and also for posts on Leeds Visual Arts Forum…

Here are some more images from the HotDesk exhibition in January, long over due I realise but still here they are.  Special thanks to all that were involved, many of whom are actively producing work and presenting projects within Leeds and beyond as I write this down to post.

OutofOffice are looking to broaden their ongoing project of presenting work by submission of artists in alternative spaces throughout the Yorkshire region and beyond.  They welcome your feedback, ideas and any possible ideas for collaboration and suggestions on spaces to intervene with and explore.

Please communicate with us, leave a comment or send an email...

LOOKING FOR ARTISTS TO EXHIBIT
Email to outofoffice3@googlemail.com

OutofOffice will present a new exhibition in January 2010 accessing various working spaces within the Electric Works in central Sheffield. Designed to house businesses in the digital creative sector the Electric Works is an innovative building that combines novel interior architecture with purposeful office spaces in a multitude of sizes. The businesses that rent the space are individual in their ways of functioning and therefore take over and plug into the building how they see fit: OutofOffice have been invited to produce a temporary exhibition that looks at artists plugging into certain useable spaces within the building in a similar way. 

The building itself holds its own spatiality and lends itself to being used as a base, in which creative things begin, grow or germinate: this has a lot to do with the nature of the businesses that use the offices. However as they use the offices they also make use of the communal space on the lower floor, as well as frequenting the mezzanine levels that overlook the reception area. The building communicates with its neighbour, from its inside: from floor to ceiling windows the office spaces are as easily looked in upon as the inhabitants look out.

The exhibition is proposed to take place in three separate places in different levels of the building: negotiating multiple aspects of the architecture as functional spaces but then looking further in using them as installable arenas for temporary art pieces. The exhibition will exist in cyclical motion and the works that are to be installed will be site specific and sympathetic to the programmed pattern of the building as a living and working space. The artworks will be interventions producing new ways of looking at the building and its inhabitants. The show as a whole is to introduce alternative ways of engaging with the space.

Area one: [to plug in]

The communal boardroom: built for multiplicity in usage this room has many features. Existing as a partitioned yet largely open plan area there are multi-functional seating pods, enclosed meeting rooms and most significant of all a concentric meeting room that holds the space together both aesthetically and functionally. Upon walking into the space it opens out onto you, but then above and behind is revealed an overlooking mezzanine space, from which different aspects of the room as a whole are interchanged in perspective.

Area two: [to plug in]

The empty office space: existing as an empty space in its potential for inhabitants this room awaits the arrival of things to come. Blue thin carpet stretches out in front of you to the edge of the floor that maps out its interior communication with the exterior shape of the building: this is then revealed by the large windows that allow light to flood in. What also floods in from outside is the centrality of the place where you are; the train station busying itself away as you stand nonchalant yet engaged in every sense. Remarkably, there is also a sense of private engagement with the neighbouring offices in the building: they are almost touchable and passable as their carpet would run on from yours if it wasn't for the short gap in between.

Area three: [to plug in]

The fourth floor mezzanine: overlooking Park Lane Flats or rather looking up upon them though small incisions in the white washed wall the mezzanine offers a place for projection of thoughts or videos. On the very top of the building that is accessible by the public this space would end the grand tour of the exhibition in being its third and final stage. There is then an inbuilt descent back to the beginning via the winding tubular slide (that scares the shit out of me), and so you return to the beginning...

LOOK OUT FOR SOME PICTURES OF THE SPACE TO BE PUBLISHED HERE SOON.
but for now take a look at the Electric Works Website:
www.electric-works.net

Introducing a new member of OutofOffice:

In place of Caroline Good who has progressed on to her PHD with York University and TATE, we have invited along artist and coordinator Bruce Davies, to join the team and help see OutofOffice through to their next exhibition in January 2010...

Introducing pictures from the Electric Works, Sheffield

The following images were taken upon visiting the venue, in which the upcoming OutofOffice exhibition is to be shown. The spaces photographed are intended to show how the building can be used in exhibition, whether this be projection, floor based works, or wall based hangings.

It is encouraged that artists submit ideas that would be ephemeral, working with the space with as little damage to the actual interior as possible.

Please see previous posts for a full written description / tour of the building and how it might be used. three spaces in all ready and ripe for artistic intervention.

more images in post no.8

"Introducing pictures from the Electric Works, Sheffield

The following images were taken upon visiting the venue, in which the upcoming OutofOffice exhibition is to be shown. The spaces photographed are intended to show how the building can be used in exhibition, whether this be projection, floor based works, or wall based hangings.

It is encouraged that artists submit ideas that would be ephemeral, working with the space with as little damage to the actual interior as possible.

Please see previous posts for a full written description / tour of the building and how it might be used. three spaces in all ready and ripe for artistic intervention."

LOOKING FOR ARTISTS TO EXHIBIT
Email to outofoffice3@googlemail.com

OutofOffice will present a new exhibition in January 2010 accessing various working spaces within the Electric Works in central Sheffield. Designed to house businesses in the digital creative sector the Electric Works is an innovative building that combines novel interior architecture with purposeful office spaces in a multitude of sizes. The businesses that rent the space are individual in their ways of functioning and therefore take over and plug into the building how they see fit: OutofOffice have been invited to produce a temporary exhibition that looks at artists plugging into certain useable spaces within the building in a similar way. 

The building itself holds its own spatiality and lends itself to being used as a base, in which creative things begin, grow or germinate: this has a lot to do with the nature of the businesses that use the offices. However as they use the offices they also make use of the communal space on the lower floor, as well as frequenting the mezzanine levels that overlook the reception area. The building communicates with its neighbour, from its inside: from floor to ceiling windows the office spaces are as easily looked in upon as the inhabitants look out.

The exhibition is proposed to take place in three separate places in different levels of the building: negotiating multiple aspects of the architecture as functional spaces but then looking further in using them as installable arenas for temporary art pieces. The exhibition will exist in cyclical motion and the works that are to be installed will be site specific and sympathetic to the programmed pattern of the building as a living and working space. The artworks will be interventions producing new ways of looking at the building and its inhabitants. The show as a whole is to introduce alternative ways of engaging with the space.

Opportunity to exhibit:OutofOffice@TheElectricWorks

WHO: Open to all artists / practitioners working in the UK, preferably Yorkshire based and neighbouring counties.

WHAT: OutofOffice looking for artists working in varied mediums from across Yorkshire and beyond, inviting proposals from practitioners who are willing to challenge themselves in adapting to the unique architectural setting, in which the Electric Works’ staff and its housed creative businesses formulate their day to day working lives.

WHEN: January 2010 (actual dates TBC)

CHARGES: a nominal fee of £25 is required as a contractual agreement to participate and exhibit

DETAILS: Reci's and site visits to the Electric Works will be ran, in accordance with registered artists' availability

APPLY: Register your interest by email before Friday 23rd October: an information pack will be supplied with full details / dates. Artists who wish to propose will then email: inclusive of images and full details [for images of the venue:follow the link below]

CONTACT: outofoffice3@googlemail.com

tinyurl.com/outofofficeBlog

Deadline: 11 November 2009

Organiser/employer: Richard Taylor

[ Added on 30 September 2009 ]

We already have a number of artists interested throughout the Yorkshire region but we are still looking for more input before the deadline. The deadline for proposals is Wednesday, 11^th of November at 12pm!!  

If anyone is interested in sending a proposal, the images of the space are viewable in this blog: a full information pack is available via email (email us at outofoffice3@googlemail.com), the pack is also viewable and downloadable from the following address -- tinyurl.com/INFOPACKoutofoffice

WHAT FOLLOWS IS MORE INTERESTING: A TITLE FOR THE SHOW WILL BE CONCIEVED DEPENDING ON THE MIX OF ARTISTS AND PROPOSALS THAT WE RECEIVE! THUS WE ARE OPEN ENDED UNTIL THE END...

EXHIBITION DATES ARE TO BE CONFIRMED, BUT WE ARE AIMING FOR THE END OF JANUARY!

The concept of what an exhibition can be - this is dependant of the place, in which the exhibition works itself out, where the artworks are placed: this time around we are plonked in the middle of a fully working environment, the Sheffield Digital Campus. The offices are utilised by companies working in or affiliated with the digital / creative sector. The office building works as a program to which other companies and activities plug in and use: the building offers potential to witness and research working relationships, technical potential and architectural form.

Open ended means that we are accepting works / proposals (practices) that can plug in the environment in different ways.
SO - TO PLUG IN TO THE PROGRAM THAT IS
THE PROGRAM THAT FUNCTIONS WITH ITS ADD ONS...

>

ooo Its been a while since last I posted ---
BUT WE NOW HAVE A FINAL LIST OF ARTISTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11ALTOGETHER

TONY ROBERTS
TOM RAILTON
EIRA  SZADURSKI
SIMEON BARCLAY
ALEX ASHTON
CAROL RAMSAY
ALFIE STRONG
EMMY TWIGGE
CLARE BLEAKLEY
DAVID STEANS
LAURA MORRISON

ALL WORKING INDIVIDUALLY TO COLLECTIVELY RESPOND TO THE SPACE AT ELECTRIC WORKS SHEFFIELD
FROM 29TH, JANUARY 2010

A wide and wonderful themes of alternative space, artisitc-conversation and colour schemes!!

Here is the flyer for:

OUTOFOFFICE@THEELECTRICWORKS

Electric Works
Concourse Way
Sheffield
S1 2BJ

An exhibition of 11 artists from Scotland, London & Northern England
29/01 - 05/02, 2010.

Private view: Friday 29th, January, 5.30 - 7.30 pm
Where drinks will be served and artists will be well met.

for more information please contact: outofoffice3@googlemail.com

A OUTofOFFICE:update

There are now installation shots from the OUTofOFFICE@TheElectricWorks exhibition available to see at this address: tinyurl.com/outofofficeEWimages

Join us on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/outofofficeEW-group

The OUTofOFFICE group (Richard Taylor, Annie Bedford and Danny McNally) were incredibly happy with the exhibition and delighted with the artists' individual contributions. The show came together as a group of works that added great insight to eleven separate working practices and also re-presented the inner workings of the building (especially on the opening night)

OUTofOFFICE would like to thank all the artists involved: Tony Roberts, Tom Railton, Emmy Twigge, Alex Ashton, David Steans, Laura Morrison, Carol Ramsay, Alfie Strong, Eira Szadurski, Simeon Barclay, Clare Bleakley.

THANKS GUYS!! You helped make this a success.

Also a huge thank you to Electric Works and their staff: notably Sarah Birch who put up with a bunch of artists taking over the office environment, and for her patience and assistance during installation.

Also a thanks needs to go to Toby Hyam, the director of Electric Works, for giving us the opportunity to work with the building and its wonderful interior! It really is quite an amazing space to be in (the clients are lucky - and the coffee is amazing!!).

That should be it for now: further plans are shrouded by geographical distances and the lack of money, but hopefully OUTofOFFICE will be returning to the office environment sometime soon (look out for virtual collaborative projects with a number of artists).

If anyone has any ideas of where next we can exhibit then please don't hesitate to get touch - we're very friendly even though we may be over worked and your emails will not get diverted by us being 'out of the office' - you'll always get a personal reply from the team.
outofoffice3@googlemail.com

Richard Taylor

Richard is an artist/writer living in Glasgow and onlined editor on behalf of a-n The Artists Information Company, for the Degrees unedited and Students community sites.  

www.rich-taylor.co.uk

First published: