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

Barnaby Artists 'In Conversation' with Whitworth Curator Bryony Bond

Barnaby 2013 is holding an ‘In Conversation’ event to help conclude the amazing visual arts programme of this year’s festival.

Barnaby's headline artists - Brass Art, Rachel Goodyear and Liz West discuss with Bryony Bond - curator at the Whitworth Gallery - What their experience of working in a town like Macclesfield represents for them.

As part of the discussion we will also examine - What the potential is for the development of visual arts in a town like Macclesfield, what are our aspirations, where do we go next?

Saturday 29th June 

Charles Roe House, Chestergate, Macclesfield
Attendance by invite only 

New Works: collage using reflective materials

I have had a productive day in the studio making new work. I have been expanding on my recent works on paper, progressing by using reflective materials such as plastic mirror, sticky-back mirror and PVA glue in conjunction with my typical saturate hues. I would say these works are more collage than drawings. Here are a few images as a taster of what I have been doing:

New Works on Paper

I have busy making new work in my studio for the last month or so. I wanted to share some new works on paper. These 'drawings' have been helping me develop ideas for future installations and sculptural works.

More new works can be seen here: Flickr.
They will shortly be added to my website: www.liz-west.com

Barnaby Festival 2013 - New Public Art Commission

Barnaby 2013 presents an exciting and contemporary visual arts programme including new site specific commissions by Brass Art, Rachel Goodyear and Liz West. 

Preview: Friday 14th June (6.30 - 9.30pm)

 

Three new contemporary art commissions have been produced for Barnaby 2013, funded by Arts Council England, featuring Brass Art, Rachel Goodyear, and Liz West as part of an exciting and packed programme for this year’s Festival in the heart of Macclesfield. Working in heritage buildings and an empty shop unit the artists reference the historic town of Macclesfield and explore themes of metamorphosis. This year has built upon the quality programming from preceding years, which has previously shown work by internationally acclaimed artists such as; David Shrigley, Ian Davenport, Ian Rawlinson and Nick Crowe.

Commissioned to work in an empty shop unit in Macclesfield’s Grosvenor Shopping Centre, LIZ WEST will use transparent object to create her largest site-specific installation to date, positioning found, disguarded and recycled objects on top of red, yellow and blue light boxes, encased within a Perspex museum-like case. West is influenced by the process of collecting, and her work specifically relates to the desire to gather and assemble objects, using colour and light to transform everyday things into new sculptural forms.

The town’s historic buildings, including Christ Church and Charles Roe House will be transformed by the commissions and an art trail of over 100 participating artists from the area during this year’s extended Barnaby Festival from 14-30 June 2013. Contemporary art will also be brought into the heart of the town's busy retail area, using an empty shop on the town’s main thoroughfare, Churchill Way where local young artists from the 'Magpie Thunder Bureau' project will create a pop-up print workshop and gallery.

Liz West:
‘Consumed’ - 15th - 30th June, Grosvenor Shopping Centre, Macclesfield - FREE 

 

For more information, please visit www.barnabyfestival.org.uk

New Works on Paper

Here's a sneak peep at a couple of my new works on paper. These are some of my preparatory studies for the Barnaby Festival commission.

 

 Consumed #13, Acyclic spray on paper, 29 x 21cm

 Consumed #4, Address labels & acyclic spray on paper, 42 x 29cm