New Work: Tempo

Tempo  
Installation (T5 fluorescent sticklights, extension cables)
Variable dimensions, this image shows 250cm approx. diameter x 40cm (H)
2013

The fluorescent sticklight, a key material in West's new installations, is perhaps one of the most effective visual spatial devices. Aside from its obvious exuberant colours, its most striking feature is its stripped back materiality. West has modified each sticklight with a particular colour. This colour palette is reminiscent of the neon lights that were so prominent in the 1960s coinciding with the emergence of installation art. Through methodically mixing each tube in relationship to each other, West cultivates our perceptions, drawing on Albers practice based theory that colour can only be truly understood in relation to other colours and, crucially, our own knowledge of the colour spectrum. The raw exuberance of the sticklights becomes a catalyst to trigger a response: the viewer is needed to activate the work.  

- Jack Welsh, 2013

 

Image Credit: Stephen Iles

Image Credit: Stephen Iles

Image Credit: Stephen Iles

Image Credit: Stephen Iles

Liz West Documentary Film

To coincide with my solo presentation On Brown & Violet Grounds at Piccadilly Place and Rogue Open Studios I commissioned Jamie Hyde to produce a documentary film about my practice and new work to be shown at both venues.

End of show blues... and reds, and yellows...

I have switched the lights off for the last time in 'On Brown and Violet Grounds' at Piccadilly Place. I feel a sense of satisfaction that I have never felt before when the end of a show comes. Normally I feel a great deal of sadness connected to the fact it is the inevitable end of something good. Maybe this feeling is not apparent because I know the work will be seen again (be it is a different guise or elsewhere), that the people I wanted to see the show came an saw it and that the feedback I had was excellent.

The question is: was having no preview/opening night the right thing to do? Yes, absolutely. I clocked an amazing number of visitors (plus all those who saw the show whilst passing on the footbridge across to Piccadilly Station). The fact I didn't have a preview meant that people came in their own time and stayed longer. They stayed to watch the 10min video, look at the work and have a chat. I had 8 show days to indulge in this feedback rather than an intense 3 hour preview where everyone is there, the artists can't get round to speak to everyone and very few people actually look at the work. I saved £150 because I didn't have to hire the on-site security and more money on booze - instead I poured the funding into the new work.

More galleries/pop-up shows should perhaps take note of this model. People were astonished that I was having no private view - like it was artistic suicide - the general comment being "when will visitors come then?". Well - they did come, in their hundreds, to look at the work and not to smooze! Job done.

I was delighted with the comments visitors left and the conversations I had. Thank you to everyone who made the effort to come say hi and see the new work. 

Over the next few weeks I will be uploading images of the new work taken by myself and photographer Stephen Iles, who has made some beautiful medium format images of the show. Watch this space...

Rogue Open Studios 2013

The largest artists studio outside London opens its doors to the public for their annual open weekend.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to this years Rogue Open Studios

I will be presenting framed and unframed works-on-paper as an extension of my solo presentation 'On Brown & Violet Grounds' at Piccadilly Place, Manchester (just a short walk away).

Rogue Open Studios 2013 is an exciting event taking place at Crusader Mill in Manchester, which annually draws thousands of visitors from across the UK. This year 88 resident artists will be showcased in their workspaces.

The 2013 Open Studios exhibition runs from September 27th- 29th, with the preview event taking place from 6-9pm on Friday 27th. The opening hours over the weekend are 12-5pm daily. Crusader Mill is conveniently located five minutes’ walk from Piccadilly Station. The event is unique in Manchester, creating a showcase for so many professional artists free of charge to the public.

My studio is on the 2nd floor. It would be wonderful to see you there tomorrow or over the weekend?

DAY 9 of Install - On Brown and Violet Grounds

Day 9 of install was about those last minute adjustments and tidying the space ready for opening. I spent the morning at home stapling 100 copies of Jack's critical text together and printing off the gallery guide and list of works.

Then I had the miserable job of sweeping the dirty (probably never-been-cleaned-before) floor of Piccadilly Place - with a dustpan and brush. Yep, idiot West forgot to bring a sweeping broom. So on my knees I cleaning (if you have the image of Cinderella in your mind - it was no where near as glamorous!). Finally I taped down the wires on the floor, scrapped the ugly black-slug cable covers and polished the perspex and mirrors.

Now - the work is up, cables are tied, frames are on the walls, list of works is printed, the essay has been written, video shot and floors swept. All it needs now is you!!!

I will be opening the doors from 1-9pm everyday from 25th September (TODAY) until the 2nd October.

See you soon?

DAY 8 of Install - On Brown and Violet Grounds

Day 8 of 10 was all about adding the finishing touches to both On Brown and Violet Grounds at Piccadilly Place (Opens TOMORROW - Wednesday 25th) and my studio at Rogue ready for Open Studios (opens Friday 27th).

At Rogue I started by typing out and printing the labels for all the work and then pinning them to the ply table top where all my drawings are laid out in my studio. I have made a separate price list, which is available on request (you can see it pinned to my notice board):

Then came a VERY exciting delivery; the documentary film which has been made by Jamie Hyde about my recent practice. With a running time of 11.45mins it is a perfect length to get a full insight into my work. I popped it straight into the DVD players set up at both Piccadilly Place at Rogue Studios. I can't wait for you to see it!

Everything seemed to be happening today, including the finalisation of a critical text written by Jack Welsh to coincide with the duel exhibition. Visitors will be able to pick up a complimentary copy in both venues. I spent the evening at home printing out the essay and their neat little coloured jackets ready to be stapled together tomorrow.

 

Its all nearly ready to go!

DAY 7 of Install - On Brown and Violet Grounds

Day 7 of install was all about getting my studio tidy in preparation for Rogue Open Studios which opens on Friday (this week) all continues over the weekend.  I must say that I didn't intend to give it a deep clean - but I feel much better now for doing so!

I moved a few of my storage units and ordered my materials better - as you can see on the shelves (below). I moved my Cornerhouse commissioned work The predicament of in here and out there - a 1920's wardrobe concealing a coloured video work, in order to create more space in the entrance to my studio. It is now nestled in the corner - out of harms way and well wrapped up. 

 

For this years Open Studios I am simply laying out new works-on-paper on a wooden trestle table that have been produced as part of my Arts Council England Grants for the arts funding award. There are two framed works on the outside walls of my studio too, everything is for sale (for the first time EVER).

I have left my studio as it is when I am working in it, no curtains this year! I have left pinned up images on my inspiration wall (you can see below) and not hidden away my wood pile.

My work at Rogue Open Studios acts as duel exhibition to my show at Piccadilly Place. I have never shown works-on-paper so am doing so for the first time, nervously. I use un-conventional industrial and man-made materials, such as: electrical tape, aluminium and mirror in these pieces, which echo many of the materials utilized within my installation work. My two-dimensional explorations are driving new ideas within my practice and signal an important development from the successful colour-drenched Chamber series.

Although not an enthralling blog for day 7 - remember it was Sunday and it took longer than expected to organise everything...

DAY 6 of Install - On Brown and Violet Grounds

Day 6 of install was super busy and the most productive yet. It was a Saturday, which meant I got the help of the lovely Mark Devereux who knows a thing or two about curating. We systematically went around each work and element of the show to refine and finish it. We started by fixing the banner and hanging it back up. Job done! Lets hope it holds this time...

Next we concentrated on my newest work (the one I talked about in yesterdays post and the trouble with the cables). We decided to re-make it AGAIN as the black slug of a cable cover interfered with the work too much, so it needed a minor adjustment - all will become clear when you see the piece.

Next I played around with the giant mirror I brought with me. Below is a sneak peek at what I did with it. Although I must add that I decided not to use it in the end as it complicated the work, even though it was rather mesmerising seeing the reflections of the ceiling.

 

While we were installing, Mark insisted on having a break...

The third work was our next concentration. Without giving too much away, the problem with this piece has been the mass of wires trailing across the space to connect all the light elements. I have been testing this work all week and no configuration looked finished or right. In the end, I started again, repositioned all the cables and moved the work out into the space more. Below are some taster photos of SOME of the wires and the circular fluorescent bulbs I will be using:

We ended the day by hanging the framed drawings and lighting them, difficult as I didn't want the lighting for the drawings to take away from the intense glow created from the installations. Having said that I wanted the drawings to see seen, even when the daylight fades in the evening.

Day 7 will be all about Rogue, as I need to tidy and organise my studio ready for the Open Studios event next weekend. Details here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/508245645929783/

DAY 5 of Install - On Brown and Violet Grounds

Yesterday was all about cables! An email arrived in my inbox at 9am (before I had got into Piccadilly Place to start work) - turns out the mass of sticklight cables that were entwined in a pile at the foot of one of my works was all too much for the site's sparky...

He had, in my absence, completely taken apart the whole work, strung up all the cables with cable-ties and put the whole thing back together. At first I was mad! Then I saw what he had done... he had done a rather beautiful job of arranging the work (probably better than my original arrangement actually - although the work was going to be re-made anyway before the show opens). If I had wanted the tightly bound aesthetic then happy days and thank you to the sparky, but alas not! However, it did prove to me that if I was to ever show this piece again elsewhere I could trust someone else to install the work.

 

I began a debate with the electrician and site safety officer as to what I was allowed to get away with in terms of a pile of cables. It made my chuckle when his answer to the situation was 'you arty types always want to do something different'... well yes sir, we do! The discussion ended by a compromise - I was allowed to untie the trusts and arrange the wires tastefully how I wanted, as long as they weren't in a tangled mass (acting like a huge transistor apparently).

It took me most of the day to re-make the whole work, on the fourth attempt I got it right. On the first attempt I realised it was in the wrong spot on the floor. The second attempt collapsed. On the the third attempt the wires didn't 'look right'. Fourth time lucky! Phew!

 

In other news, I was able to see how some of the works came into their own when it was getting dark. Above is an example of how the lights in the work bounce around the space and create colour ways and interesting painterly hues on the white walls.

 

The delight of my day was the framed drawings coming back for the framers in Didsbury. They are gorgeous (even if I do say so myself). I was so nervous awaiting their delivery, but there was no need to worry. I had nine works framed in total; two to hang at Rogue Open Studios and the remaining seven for the show. It is the first time I have shown drawings and works-on-paper so I am looking forward to seeing how they work next to the installations and getting some feedback from you guys.

Oh, and just before I left the space, one side of that bloody banner fell down! The bain of my life at the moment. A job for tomorrow?

DAY 4 of Install - On Brown and Violet Grounds

I started the day painting a plinth I brought with me from my studio at Rogue and positioning a TV on top. This screen will show a newly commissioned video about my practice, my recent Arts Council England funding award and the new works I have been making. The video has been filmed and edited by my good friend Jamie Hyde, who filmed my 'In Conversation' as part of my Chroma solo exhibition at BLANKSPACE last July. This short film will also be shown in my studio space as part of Rogue Open Studios - on at the same time as On Brown and Violet Grounds.

 

I spent a little more time refining and rearranging the new and existing materials I had brought to Piccadilly Place with me. This included a giant mirror that I used in a past work. I may use it in a new piece, but so far it has remained in bubble-wrap:

  

Another job I had was to touch-up by re-painting my work from Barnaby Festival. While I was in my overalls and with roller in hand I also filled, sanded and painted the walls of the space. I am a real stickler for 'shit-hot' walls. It was drilled into me at art school, and for good reason. Beautiful, smooth walls allow there to be no distractions from the work.

The temptation is to hang one of my newly framed drawings on my newly painted walls that I prepared; however the walls will be part of one of my works, brightly reflecting the hues of emitted coloured light. 

Colour theory is magic!!!

DAY 3 of Install - On Brown and Violet Grounds

The first thing I was keen to see upon returning to Piccadilly Place yesterday morning was if the banner was still up. It turns out the sticky hooks I bought did the job and all is well.

 

Yesterday was all about refining and rearranging what I had laid out and devised the day before. I am literally drawing in the space, moving each element of the installation a foot or two until I am satisfied it works in harmony with the details and feel of the Piccadilly Place unit. 

In one particular work (I don't want to give too much away - so I am afraid all you can see is this weeny snapshot below), reflections of the ceiling are multiplied when the viewer explores the work and looks into the mirrors laid over the light source. This piece also draws attention to the grimy concrete floor by spreading coloured light outwards onto it. This work was devised from a drawing which I made earlier this summer.

 

In another work - that I spent a few hours tweaking, the light source is partially covered allowing for a painterly outcome.

 

The third work has come directly from this years Macclesfield's Barnaby Festival, where I was commissioned to make a new work through their Arts Council England supported programme. Later in the week I will re-position and re-interpret this piece within Piccadilly Place. So far the three light-boxes have been rewired and plugged in to see how much light they throw out in their new home. It is still to be decided where they will be positioned in the vast space.

The forth and final installation work in 'On Brown & Violet Grounds' will take its shape during my 10 day 'residency'. I have been playing with the sticklights (which make up this piece) making them into different configurations. I am really pleased with how these trials are turning out, but am keeping the outcome a secret, for now!

DAY 2 of Install - On Brown and Violet Grounds

Day two of install was my first full day in the space. Feeling unashamedly undaunted by the space of the empty unit at Piccadilly place I set about arranging my materials. By dropping them in the location where I thought they may be needed would help me start work with a clear mind - albeit an organised one. My pile of 'stuff' was much bigger than the below image suggests, this is just a glimpse.

 

  

I decided to arrange all my sticklights against a wall in order to see the range of colour I had (the photo below shows a selection). Not only did this saturate and illuminate the space - as intended, but gave me a real-life colour chart to pick from when selecting what colours I needed for the installation/light work. As it reached around 5.30/6pm and the light outside became darker, the lights really popped and came into being. 

This is exactly why I have decided to open the space to the public on show days from 1-9pm - this will allow people to see how the change in light outside effects the work inside. I would say the best time to come will be early evening.

The biggest problem of the day came in the form of a 13ft banner that I had printed to hang in the most prominent window of the space, hoping that the commuters coming in and out of Piccadilly train station would see. I have to admit that I never thought about reaching the highest point in the tall window to hang the damn thing. After a few inquiries (begging) I found a fellow with a super tall ladder and my worries were seemingly over. I had a wander down to the shops and bought some sticky back hooks to hang the vinyl banner - ideal! It then took a few hours to hang the thing straight and get it looking tidy. Tears were cried...

DAY 1 of Install - On Brown and Violet Grounds

Today I hired a large van and drove to Macclesfield to de-install and collect my special commission made for this years Barnaby Festival. It has been in the Grosvenor Centre now for 3 months and seen by over 3000 people. Not bad! 

I felt sad and a bit emotional taking it down as I really enjoyed being part of the Barnaby Festival. It was well organised and a pleasure to be part of. I received excellent feedback from other artists, the public and organisers.

 

I would have been far more upset had I of been taking it apart to go directly into storage. However, instead the work was being packed up and driven to Manchester (by me) to be part of my upcoming solo presentation 'On Brown & Violet Grounds' which opens in 10 days time (25th September  - 2nd October). My home for the next week (and a bit) will be Piccadilly Place  - over the new footbridge as you come out of Manchester's Piccadilly train station.

 

I then collected yet more 'stuff' from my studio at Rogue in the van - lighting, coloured bulbs, plinths, cables, TV, paint, acrylic sheets, etc ready to be transformed into new work.

I also had a little time to set up some new works-on-paper on my trestle table ready for the Open Studios next week (opens 27th Sept and continues over the weekend). At the end of the day I craved a take-away and had a lovely bath. The delight of install!!!

Rogue Open Studios 2013

Rogue Open Studios 2013 is an exciting event taking place at Crusader Mill in Manchester, which annually draws thousands of visitors from across the UK. This year 88 resident artists will be showcased in their workspaces alongside special exhibitions in The Project Space and  Malgras|Naudet gallery.

The 2013 Open Studios exhibition runs from September 27th- 29th, with the preview event taking place from 6-9pm on Friday 27th. The opening hours over the weekend are 12-5pm daily. Crusader Mill is conveniently located on Chapeltown Street, five minutes’ walk from Piccadilly Station.

Rogue Open Studios offers fellow artists, curators, collectors and the general public an opportunity to meet the artists and to access all areas of the studios while affording studio members an opportunity to exhibit and offer work for sale. The event is unique in Manchester,  creating a showcase for so many professional artists free of charge to the public.

Rogue would love to see you at the opening party or over the weekend. Hope you can make it!

Mini documentary for solo presentation

Yesterday I was busy making a film about my practice for inclusion in my upcoming solo presentation 'On Brown & Violet Grounds'. The film; which includes an interview, tour around my studio and gallery of past work will be shown at Piccadilly Place and in my studio as part of this years Rogue Open Studios. It will tie the two locations together as I aim to show work in both venues as a duel exhibition.

Summer Newsletter

Hello! 

Being commissioned to make a new piece of work for this year’s Barnaby Festival was a great start to my summer. Thank you so much to those who make the journey to see the work and support me.

For those of you who couldn't make it to Macclesfield to see the work, photographs of the work can be seen here: Barnaby photos. It was decided that the work would be kept at the Grosvenor Centre after the festival had finished. The piece will be exhibited until the 15 September when it will move to my Manchester exhibition.

I was awarded an Arts Council England Grants for the Arts award is May this year. Since I have been busy working on a new body of work (including drawings and works on paper!). The new work will be shown at Piccadilly Place in my solo presentation On Brown & Violet Grounds. Don’t miss it!

Liz

Solo Presentation  |  On Brown & Violet Grounds

25 September – 2 October

On Brown &Violet Grounds is a new body of works by Liz West exploring her fascination with exuberant colour, sculptural form and intense light. Alongside a series of new light-based installations, West will also be exhibiting works on paper for the first time. Using un-conventional industrial and man-made materials, such as: electrical tape, aluminum and mirror, these pieces echo many of the materials utilized within her installation work. West’s two-dimensional explorations are driving new ideas within her practice and signal an important development from the successful colour-drenched Chamber series. 

Coinciding with The Manchester Contemporary, On Brown & Violet Grounds has been produced as a result of Liz West’s research and development award from Arts Council England. Further works on paper will be exhibited within West’s studio as part of this year’s Rogue Open Studios. 

Open 1-9pm daily and by appointment

www.liz-west.com

Piccadilly Place

Unit 4C/D

Manchester

M1 3BS

  

Exhibition  |  Rogue Open Studios 2013

Opening 27th September. Continues 28 – 29 September

Join me for the opening night of Rogue Open Studios, continuing over the whole weekend. Open Studios allows you a peek behind the doors (or curtains) of over 90 artists at work. Once a year Rogue opens it’s doors to the public in it’s Open Studios event inviting fellow artists, curators and the general public to access all areas of the studios while affording members an opportunity to exhibit and offer work for sale.

Liz will be showing new works on paper in her studio as a continuation to her work on show at Piccadilly Place. For more information, including opening times please visit: www.rogueartistsstudios.co.uk

Rogue Artists' Studios & Project Space

66-72 Chapeltown Street

Piccadilly

Manchester

M1 2WH

Event  |  Bury Light Night

11 October

I am thrilled to be working with The Hamilton Project for Bury Light Night 2013. I will reconfigure my work ‘Consumed’ responding site-specifically to a space in the middle of the town centre.

Bury Light Night is a one night event that last year attracted 28,000 visitors into the Bury town centre to experience light art, culture, live music and artisan markets. 

www.thehamiltonproject.co.uk

Book  |  The Language of Mixed-Media Sculpture

Published in February 2014

Liz West will be published in a new publication written by award winning artist and an associate of the Royal British Society of Sculptors; Jac Scott. ‘The Language of Mixed-Media Sculpture’ will include 30 international artists and be published by The Crowood Press Ltd in February. 

Other artists to be featured are: Andre Woodward, Catherine Bertola, Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva, Liliana Porter, Mary Giehl, Marilene Oliver, Pascale Pollier, Kate MccGwire, Niko Neelova, Michael Shaw, YaYa Chou, Yuebin Gong, Peter Freeman, Paul Moss, Rachel Allen, Eliza Bennett, Awst & Walther, Andrew Burton, Noam Ben-Javov, Ricardo O'Nascimento, Stelios Manganis, Mark Houghton, Janet Curley-Cannon, Cath Keay, Liz West, David Alesworth, Dorcas Casey and Andrea Hasler.  

www.jacscott.com                  

 

Blog  |  Have you read our blog yet?

Liz West and Alana Tyson met at World Event Young Artists in Nottingham as two participating visual artists. After spending 10 days together, they formed a close friendship and joint interest in the future of each other’s careers. Both share many interests, one being obsessive behaviour, which is often implemented in the making of their work.

Liz and Alana share their thoughts on this blog, discussing future exhibitions/works and inviting other artists to join in. 

http://haveyoureadourblogyet.wordpress.comhttp://haveyoureadourblogyet.wordpress.com

New lighting for Septembers solo exhibition

'On Brown & Violet Grounds' Solo Presentation by Liz West

On Brown & Violet Grounds is a new body of works by Liz West exploring her fascination with exuberant colour, sculptural form and intense light. Alongside a series of new light-based installations, West will also be exhibiting works on paper for the first time. Using un-conventional industrial and man-made materials, such as: electrical tape, aluminium and mirror, these pieces echo many of the materials utilized within her installation work. West’s two-dimensional explorations are driving new ideas within her practice and signal an important development from the successful colour-drenched Chamber series. 

Coinciding with The Manchester Contemporary, On Brown & Violet Grounds has been produced as a result of Liz West’s research and development award from Arts Council England. Further works on paper will be exhibited within West’s studio as part of this year’s Rogue Open Studios.

On Brown & Violet Grounds

25 September – 2 October 2013

4C/D Piccadilly Place, Manchester, M1 3BS

Open daily 1-9pm and by appointment (Tel: 07746507312)

Rogue Open Studios
27 – 29 September 2013
66-72 Chapeltown Street, Manchester, M1 2W
27 September, 6-9pm; 28-29 September, 11am-5pm

www.liz-west.com