Alex Frost
BBQ

23 February - 6 April 2008

 

Saturday 23 February 2008,
Gallery Talk: Alex Frost in conversation with Peter Bonnell at 2pm
Preview and Reception for the Artist: 3pm-5pm

An opportunity to hear at first hand from Alex Frost as he discusses with Curator Peter Bonnell his new work for his exhibition BBQ, and experiences of his recent residency at ArtSway. This talk will take place in ArtSway's galleries, where Frost's work will be on display and is followed by the reception for the artist. 

Free, all welcome.

 

BBQ is the title of this exhibition of new work by the Glasgow-based artist, Alex Frost. The exhibition will include a range of new sculptures and drawings that relate directly to the residency Frost undertook in late 2007. These works play upon the concept of the rural retreat in contrast to the artist's urban, or specifically suburban, standpoint. BBQ is presented in association with Milton Keynes Gallery.

The works for ArtSway will follow on closely from his previous 'adults' exhibition at MK-G in 2007. Previous projects by Frost have included a large-scale, mosaic scultures that compliment the 'blind drawings' series. These mosaics depict the commercial packaging of products such as Ryvita, Earl Grey Tea and After Eight Mints. These items were chosen for their references to sophisticated, social and grown-up lifestyles - inspiring the exhibition title BBQ. The sculptures which will be on show in Alex's February exhibition, refer to civic sculptures or murals and have been cited both within the gallery setting as well as in the public domain. They have been installed in a range of urban environments - areas of wasteland fenced off awaiting development, an outdoor cafe, within a multi-purpose arts centre and on the exterior of a gallery overlooking a flyover. These sculptures and drawings simultaneously echo handcrafted intensity and hands-off technological processes that are integral to the artist's work.

In particular, the 'blind drawings' use a technique specially developed by Frost where images are rendered in pinpricks that perforate a sheet of paper. Enamel is then painted through these perforations to create an image with a surface that refers to both circuit boards and needlework: a virtual clash between the handcrafted and the technological.

The work to be shown at ArtSway uses new and recycled motifs that are fed through a 'pastoral filter' with jarring results. For example, a series of mosaic panels depict logos as if seen through the surface of a pool of water; these panels reference nature through their rendering but the logos represent technological formats such as Compact Disc, DVD and Dolby.

Alex will exhibit work within ArtSway's galleries as well as one sculptural work that will be sited within the pub grounds next to ArtSway.

Art in Context Talk: The Dialectics of Environmental Art
Wednesday 5 March, 7pm
A lecture by Stephen Edge, Senior Lecturer at Bournemouth University, presented alongside the exhibition Alex Frost: BBQ.  This lecture will examine the creative synergy that takes place between artists, engineers and contracters in the production of large-scale works of art. The Dialectics of Environmental Art, will focus on the work of legendary environmental artists Christo and Jeanne Claude, and will cover all aspects of producing large-scale works of art from conception to completion. Edge will use, as a key case study, Christo and Jeanne Claude's temporary work 'Running Fence', set in Northern California in 1976, which he helped erect. Free, booking essential.

Portfolio Day: Friday March 7, 10am - 4pm

Ten half hour slots for artists from all backgrounds for critiques, portfolio reviews and career advice with Director Mark Segal and Curator Peter Bonnell. Contact Jack Lewis on 01590 682260 x16 or email: jack@artsway.org.uk
COST: £5 per person.  Booking essential.

 

Rachel Larkins
'Christchurch Miscellany'

23 February - 30 March 2008

ArtSway Craft Cabinets

Rachel is one of our ArtSway studio artists and throughout March she will be showing new work in ArtSway's gift cabinets - a collection of articulated works based on the folklore of nearby Christchurch.  Rachel constructs toys with a different edge, she focuses on the different ways in which domestic objects, such as toys, can be manipulated to take on other meanings.

The showcase is followed by automata workshops for both adult and children and these can be found in our Education section under Children Regular and Adult Short Courses.