The Stair Show is all up and ready. Officially opens on Friday but we have already had positive feedback from the tenants within Leroy House (office block aimed at creative businesses). The group exhibition is part of Islington Exhibits ‘ an initiative to unlock hidden venues in Islington and give artists and craft persons a space to display their work..’
Everything was hung in two evenings, was secretly relieved that the others were apprehensive about hanging the work ourselves. The walls are made out of something stronger than what walls are normally made out of (technical huh?), so harder to drill. It all came together and has transformed a no space into a dynamic space for art whilst maintaining its functionality. Details of the show and other exhibitors can be found here.
The white space is here to stay and but there are other platforms that can be explored as well. Within a gallery, an artwork sits upon historic rules constructed by artists, art institutions and the viewers themselves; these rules are both accidental and intentional. Perhaps outside the usual gallery space the boundaries of art are less defined. Both types of space are important to my practice.
Without a gallery setting, I was reminded of all the processes, decision making and roles involved in the organisation of an exhibition. At times we are technicians, handypersons, web-designers, photographers, marketeers, advertisers, secretaries, health & safety officers, accountants, critics, writers, invigilators, IT technicians, couriers (recently I lived close enough to transport my work to a gallery by bus – reckless but brilliant), fund raisers, researchers oh yeah and artists. I’m sure the list is endless …
