\'Surfacing\' Art Journal

06/02/2012

TFSW Exhibition

Filed under: Exhibitions, Textiles — Tags: Textile Forum Southwest, TFSW — Lesley @ 3:40 pm

The Textile Forum Southwest (TFSW) is holding an exhibition at The Brewhouse, Taunton, Somerset between 23rd Febvruary and 24th March, 2012. I’ve posted the press release ‘Mapping the future – Where are you now’ as it provides a succinct overview of the exhibition’s intentions. My own take on ‘Mapping’ is an interior one, drawing on memory and recall. I’ve also posted the third of three photographs I entered for the show as I have withdrawn it for technical reasons. As a small image it was acceptable but enlarged to 20″x16″ appeared unintentionally out of focus on the left hand side. Seen as a series of photographs I feel the remaining two are strong enough despite removing one. Preparations have been going on for months and you can read about it in the specially commissioned blog.

Press Release

For Immediate Release

On Thursday 23 February the Mapping The Future: Where Are You Now? exhibition opens in the Gallery at The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre, Taunton and runs until Saturday 24 March.

Maps can show connections between people and places, there can also be gaps and edges and unknowns. Maps are as much to do with philosophy as geography. They are not two-dimensional pictures of the world but windows on to a subtle and complex world-view. Maps can be highly selective and show geographic, psychological, social and economic places. Places are not static.

In response to these concepts, and following a successful Textiles Forum South West (TFSW) conference held at Somerset College in 2011, this exhibition includes work inspired by varying themes as personal journeys, the landscape and history, through to ambitious networking of the sounds of making. The artists utilise a whole range of experimental techniques to convey their ideas including delicate hand stitch, felt making, quilting, collage knitting, sculpture as well as digital media creating a fascinating, thought provoking and stimulating mix of work to share. Tim Martin, Visual Arts Coordinator at The Brewhouse says,

“Mapping The Future approached its subject from a variety of perspectives: by considering historical and contemporary practice, technology, art and science, but most of all by sharing ‘personal’ maps and networks.”

TFSW is a contemporary ‘textile hub’ for the south west. This organisation was set up to promote and develop textiles in all forms for the educational, cultural and economic benefit of the region. It is a point of exchange for people who love making, thinking or talking textiles. The TFSW is looking to build on recent collaborations with Christine Lawry at Wolford Mill for the exhibition Traces in 2008 and collaboration with Hannah Jones, curator of the Viewpoint Gallery at Plymouth College of Art for the exhibition Material Actions which was the opening show in 2010 for their newly extended gallery space.

22/01/2012

Brixton Calling! publication

Filed under: archives, Artists, Collaborations, Exhibitions — Tags: archives, galleries — Lesley @ 2:51 pm

Recently received a copy of ‘Brixton calling!’ edited by Francoise Dupree and Guy Burch. The publication is based on a year’s events, exhibitions and symposiums celebrating artists and art works shown at the Brixton Art gallery, London between 1983-88. The gallery itself no longer exists. The project was a collaboration between BACA (Brixton Artists Collective Archives) and 198 Gallery, Brixton. The first two photographs below are the front and back of the Brixton calling! publication and show posters of the first 50 exhibitions held there between 1983-88.

Interested to learn that initial funds were limited and publicity material, posters and catalogues were produced on a photocopier in the spirit of the ’80s and Punk fanzines! The gallery itself was a converted shop front on Atlantic Road in a busy part of Brixton. As it says in the publication “Brixton Art gallery was a place where unheard voices and community could get access to support and space” and the gallery showcased what was often seen then as ‘marginal’ art and actions by black, gay,women artists. Several participants went on to become international artists – Mona Hatoum, Cathy de Monchaux, Sokari Douglas Camp and others. I was unable to attend any of the events but there is a website by Andrew Thurman we can all access.

The publication itself is investigative and intensively researched. Many of the documents and ephemera will go the the Tate Archives, London and can be accessed by all with an interest in this area and period. I was more than happy to donate my own copy of ‘Seeing Diversity’ a photography show held at Brixton Art gallery in 1985. Two of my photographs made as a final year Textiles student at Goldsmiths included in the show appear on the website.

Comments (2)

08/01/2012

back to black

Filed under: Exhibitions, exploration, work in progress — Tags: monoprint, printmaking — Lesley @ 1:18 pm

Working with viscous black print ink. Perhaps not the most suitable substance for monoprinting and methods need to be reviewed. Rejecting the actual prints (with the exception of the one with string) and using instead the print blocks themselves for the final piece(s). Destined for a group of artists who do not accept photographs for their shows. Mentioned this before somewhere. Nethertheless I’m enjoying working in this way especially in monochrome. My early art school experiences was of relentless drawings in charcoal, carbon pencils and graphite for a term in which no colour was permitted! Just need to source a decent black print ink and hone my skills. All exploratory at present. Neglected reading my favourite blogs recently so will make amends.