Revolution preview night at the Electric Picture House

This Friday night, 16th December, is the first chance for people to see work in progress at the Electric Picture House Artists Co-operative in Congleton. The woodburning stove is being installed today (care of our sponsors Shuff & Co) and we will be hanging the work for the Revolution exhibition tomorrow including these pieces. I will be showing a series of new figurative monoprints, entitled 'who are you?' and we will have two or three sculptures on show too. The exhibition continues until 23rd December, please call in and take a look.

Electric Picture House Artists Co-operative

The Electric Picture House is a new Artists' Cooperative based in Congleton, Cheshire.

We have ten members who have been working hard over the last few months to create studios/workshop and exhibition/gallery spaces, which will also be used for community projects.

As its opening event the Electric Picture House Artists’ Cooperative is presenting 'Revolution' an exhibition exploring the theme both literally and metaphorically.

Preview Night and opportunity to see development work in progress:
Friday 16th December, 7pm - 9pm.

Exhibition continues 17th December to 23rd December 2011. 10 - 5pm.

When is Revolution is justified, what means should be used and at what point do revolutionaries become terrorists, a convenient term used by government to denigrate political struggle. Is it justified to kill civilians in order to eventually save lives and improve humanity’s situation? Can there ever be a peaceful revolution? Does change always work? How much oppression must a society suffer before it will endure no more?

During the exhibition there will be old films on show to celebrate 100 years since the Electric Picture House opened as a cinema and new media to show how we have a reached our goals. This will include a documentary by Sam Astbury and Tom Singleton, and videos by Chris Godber.

We are also very proud to announce that Michael Davis the bassist from the American proto-punk band MC5 will be taking part in the exhibition. As a member of the White Panthers, the far left anti-racist White American political collective, Michael has been supporting a cultural revolution for many years and his input is very much appreciated.

www.electricpicturehouse.com
Cross Street, Congleton CW12 4HS
01260 270908

Cupola Gallery: Artificial Light exhibition

Light is the inspiration or feature of the work in Cupola Gallery's current exhibition ‘Artificial Light’ which encourages artists to respond to the theme in any way; literally, figuratively or conceptually. Several of our pieces have been selected by owner Karen Sherwood who is this year celebrating Cupola's 20th Anniversary. The exhibition runs from Friday 7th October until Sunday 13th November.

solaris (top left) and three from still here series (above centre)

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens: Art in the Garden

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is the stunning setting for 100 sculptures as part of the exhibition of Art in the Garden 2011. The beautiful backdrop of the 180 acre garden provides an inspiring outdoor art gallery. On what seemed like the hottest day of the year we travelled down to Romsey in Hampshire to install 'Above us the Trees' and 'Sprite' for the last month of this exhibition. They will then be transferred to The Hawk Conservancy near Andover for the Flights of Fantasy exhibition for the rest of the year. Both exhibitions are curated by Elizabeth Hodgson of Underground Art & Design.

Cheshire Open Studios

This weekend (24 & 25th September) Victoria Mill Arts Centre, Congleton will be open from 10 - 5pm as part of Cheshire Artists Network Open Studios. We will have work on display in the exhibition space at the Mill.
For more details about all of the Chesire Open Studios see www.artistsatwork.org.uk.
However we have moved studio space to the new Electric Picture House artists co-operative on Cross Street, Congleton. This is very much work in progress at the moment! It is an interesting old building that was originally a Cinema, known at the time as an Electric Picture Theatre, although none of the interior remains. We are aiming for an official launch in December but visitors can see what we are upto on the 24 & 25th.

we have moved into one of the first floor spaces, a new staircase and the rest of the first floor to be completed soon!

Wirksworth Festival 2011

Wirksworth Festival is leading rural arts festival where everyone can enjoy great art in a unique and inspiring setting.

For three weeks in September the historic Derbyshire market town of Wirksworth throws open its doors and invites you in to see some great art in some fascinating places.  Inspirational work from international and national artists is shown alongside the very best local and regional artists.  This year your'll be able to explore even more of the town with work planned in churches, woodland, pubs, quarries and amazing houses.  Highlights include:

Trails Weekend: 10th - 11th September

Contemporary Visual Art : 10th - 25th September

Community Celebration: 25th September

Performance Programme: 9th - 25th September

Festival Fringe: 9th-25th September

We are pleased to have had both paintings and sculpture selected for the Trails Weekend that runs on 10th & 11th September. Details of all the artists can be found on the festival website www.wirksworthfestival.co.uk

A Different View

I was pleased to be invited to take part in this exhibition at the Barefoot Gallery in Boston Spa, near Leeds. It features seven landscape artists curated by artist Paul Stone and is the first in a series of exhibitions launching the galleries new approach.
A Different View runs from 1st to 24th September and also shows the work of Paul Denham, Matt Forster, Emerson Mayes, Rob Miller, James Naughton and Mark Thompson.