Saturday, 12 February 2011

Christine McLoughlin - Surface Tensions

17th February - 12th March

Christine McLoughlin is an artist with an Irish heritage originally from Newcastle Upon Tyne. Graduating in Sculpture and Environmental Art at Glasgow School of Art in 2009, she has exhibited throughout the UK and Europe. Surface Tensions will be her first exhibition in Bristol.



“I find meaning in the ephemeral and sensual in life. I love to translate the parallels I notice between the way materials are moved and changed by nature, and the way people respond to shapes, spaces and fabrics, into intense experiences, which reveal a refinement of my hidden feelings.”

Surface Tensions will draw on the beauty found in water. For Christine, the simple and pure chemistry of seeing how full of water a bowl can be and the majesty of the paper clip not sinking in it has a parallel with a first love relationship where you reveal more and more of yourself and trust you won’t ruin the bond you’re building together.

The basement Here Gallery will be converted into an interaction between the viewer’s touch and Christine’s material creations. We will be drawn into her intimate installation and have space to personally reflect.

preview, Thursday 17th February, from 8pm

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=153492794704006

Tuesday, 4 January 2011

Lydia Shirreff - Animal, Vegetable, Mineral

Lydia Shirreff is British/Japanese artist living in the UK - focusing on illustration but also installation and sculpture.



“My passion is knowledge. I am endlessly curious about the shape and form of naturally occurring objects: animal, vegetable or mineral. My work so far has been concerned with studying and interpreting natural patterns and forms - I treat my practice as an ongoing documentation of nature.”

Lydia’s drawing creates an outlet for this insatiable fascination. The outcome is largely unplanned and encompasses natural history, geology, fossils, structural dynamics and scientific diagrams. The objects and patterns that inhabit these drawings aren’t copies, they are detailed studies, distillations, extracts of what she finds most interesting.

“I have created installations (a collection of polyhedral objects ) that take this idea further and examine the exploratory response that viewing art and viewing natural history have in common. Through these installations and drawings I am attempting to pass on my own wonder as well as create new experiences.”

Preview Thursday 20th January, 7.00 - 9.00pm
Exhibition open continues until 12th February

lydiakasumishirreff.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=182010761817993&ref=mf

Tuesday, 30 November 2010

Extended opening hours for December

We will now be open 7 days a week until xmas:

Monday - Saturday: 10.30am - 6.30pm
Sunday: 12.00pm - 4.00pm
Christmas Eve: 10.30am - 2.30pm

Wednesday, 17 November 2010

Nobrow book launch and signing

Wednesday 8th December, 7.00 - 9.00pm

The two Bristol based illustrators Ben Newman and Bjørn Lie along with writer, Scott Donaldson will be signing copies of their new books whilst plying themselves with copious amounts of alcohol. Wine and nibbles will be supplied on the night so come along and pick up that ideal Christmas present.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133471713373577#!




The Bento Bestiary
Illustrated by Ben Newman, Words by Scott James Donaldson

In the 18th Century, Japanese artist Toriyama Sekien attempted to depict each spirit of the ‘yokai’ tradition; an antiquated race of demons whose descendents would later terrorise the earth, and go by the names of Godzilla, Mothra and Rodan. Now, two men aim to rediscover the near-forgotten yokai, and return these ancient beasts to their former glory, in the form of the Bento Bestiary.

14 spirits are lovingly rendered in bold, colourful illustrations, using just 4 spot colours to bring the beastly, and bizarre, very much to life. Newman draws heavily on early and mid-20th century design in his work, incorporating worldwide themes from European deco to Japanese film posters and 50's American cartoons, never losing his strong sense of a most English deadpan humour.

Each image is complimented with words from Donaldson. Whether detailing the love letters of Nure-onna (a gigantic snake-headed woman), or a poetic treatise on the child-eating desires of the Kappa (a sort of strange, perverted turtle), the writer always has one foot in the carnival tent, one on the streets of noir, and the other inside a restaurant; a sort of freakish, hungry, Raymond Chandler.

The Wolf’s Whistle
Illustrated by Bjørn Rune Lie, Words by Scott James Donaldson

The first installment in the Nobrow 'Behind the Tails' series which explores the back-stories of fairy tales' most notorious villains. The first follows Albert, a comic-creating, scrawny little wolf who spends his lunch break drawing and dreaming of selling his story to Wonder Comics. In reality he is terrorised by the three bratty Honey-­­roast brothers, sons of the local property magnate, who will stop at nothing to torment their weaker classmates. Eventually Albert is forced to take arms against his oppressors and fulfill his destiny as the crime-fighting Lone Wolf.

This fairy tale prologue is beautifully crafted by Bjørn Lie’s versatile hand and imagination. Using just 3 spot colours, Bjørn has created a rich, eye catching illustrations that harkens back to mid-century Americana with a prohibition twist with a cast of bizarre and outlandish characters of extreme proportions. A timeless treat for the young and the young at heart.

Both books are published by Nobrow Press.

Friday, 12 November 2010

Julianna Swaney, Tad Carpenter, Sally Elford

30th November - 24th December

A group show full of prints and small scale original works, plus other artist-made goods.
All especially selected to make ideal gifts, and affordably priced.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=140062962709927

Featured Artists:

Tad Carpenter is an American illustrator and printmaker, who has designed several children's books and also teaches at the University of Kansas, Missouri. His character based work is bursting with colour and cheerfulness.

*****

Sally Elford lives in Brighton and works as a freelance illustrator and printmaker. Her popular prints work combines a contemporary graphic styling with traditional subjects, often from nature. She produces her own silk screen prints in small editions.

*****

Julianna Swaney an artist living in Portland, Oregon, she works primarily with pencil and watercolor, and takes inspiration from fairy tales, antique ephemera and postcards, Victorian hair weaving, bird song, nursery rhymes, lace and nature.

*****

Extended opening hours for December
Monday - Saturday: 10.30am - 6.30pm
Sunday: 12.00pm - 4.00pm
Christmas Eve: 10.30am - 2.30pm


Wednesday, 20 October 2010

Call for Submissions - CLOSED

We are currently accepting proposals for 2011.

We welcome submissions from groups or individuals working in fine art, illustration and photography.


Please submit a written proposal for consideration by post or email, including;

(1) Contact details
(2) A one-page summary describing your work, and the nature of the proposed exhibition.
(3) 6 - 10 images of your work, stating media and dimensions.



Due to the high volume of submissions received, only succesful applicants will be contacted. We do not enter into correspondence as to why an application is unsuccessful.

Wednesday, 6 October 2010

Aaron Sewards - A Distant Mirror




A Distant Mirror - works on paper by Bristol based artist Aaron Sewards, who was recently shortlisted for the prestigious Jerwood Drawing Prize.

Aaron has produced a print edition for Tiny Showcase, his artwork has been published by Australian arts journal The Lifted Brow, online magazine Said the Grammaphone, and also graces several record sleeves.

Exhibition continues to 20th November.

www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=155349174495669