Echoes of Abstraction II and The Bottomless Pit of Outros at Laing Art Gallery

'Echoes of Abstraction II and The Bottomless Pit of Outros brings together newly commissioned work by artists Jamie Cook, Adam Goodwin, James Pickering and Paul Trickett, alongside highlights from the Laing Art Gallery’s modern and contemporary painting collection. The exhibition explores and is inspired by the legacy of abstract art, and has been organised by The NewBridge Project in partnership with The Laing Art Gallery.

Collection works featured in the exhibition chart the gradual shift from representation to abstraction, arguably one of the most influential artistic developments of the twentieth century. More recent works illustrate how, to this day, abstraction is used to various degrees, from relatively minor formal alterations in otherwise realistic works, to completely abstract compositions in which the painting bears no resemblance to the real world. Highlight works include paintings by Francis Bacon, David Bomberg, Patrick Heron, Chris Ofili, Prunella Clough, Ben Nicholson, Mark Gertler and Frank Auerbach.

Contemporary artists Cook, Goodwin, Pickering and Trickett join forces as The Occasion Collective to experiment with notions of reality and the natural and artificial worlds, bringing together art and technology. In response to the Laing’s collection works and the theme of abstraction’s long legacy they have made a new interactive installation of sound, image, object and digital experience entitled The Bottomless Pit of Outros.

They have created a virtual reality rendering of the Laing’s grand Edwardian gallery suites, in which works from the collection can be reimagined in an ever-changing virtual display.

The partnership between the Laing Art Gallery and The NewBridge Project has been devised with the dual aim of supporting emerging artists from the region, as well as creating a new platform for The NewBridge Project at a time of both flux and renewed ambition as they relocate to new premises at Carliol House, Market Street.'

It is a really impressive installation that works especially well in the context of the Laing as opposed to a white cube gallery space. The vibrant modern interiors created by The Occasion Collective contrast with the traditional interior of the Laing Gallery, and made me consider the collection works in a new manner which I enjoyed.

In this instance I did not find that the virtual reality added anything to my experience of the work. I find myself being impressed by the technological complexities, but find virtual reality difficult to respond on a more artistic level. 

I'm looking forward to a couple of the associated forthcoming programmed events alongside this exhibition:

Cooking with Three performance in The Bottomless Pit of Outros
The Laing Art Gallery
Saturday 12 August, 6-7pm

Cooking With Three are a mixed-media improv ensemble that work loosely with dance, visuals and sound, directed by Jamie Cook. Collaboration is a key element of the group’s process, with core members Lizzie J Klotz (dance), Adam Goodwin (visuals) and Jamie Cook (sound) inviting members of all disciplines to an open fortnightly forum to improvise together and develop interdisciplinary improvised performance.

The ‘Echoes of Abstraction II and the Bottomless Pit of Outros’ performance will be fully improvised, realised amongst the exhibition, responding to the work as well and the unique space and audience at the Laing.

http://thenewbridgeproject.com/events/cooking-three-performance-bottomless-pit-outros/

| PMP | ‘the listening room‘ – conversation
The NewBridge Project
Saturday 19 August, 5pm

For this salon style event everyone is invited to come along to discuss the role of located & performance-based sound in the contemporary sonic arts.

Jez Riley French will be on hand to present a talk on some of aspects of his work with extended listening & recording, and to highlight some key artists working with located sound. The talk will then lead us into an open conversation where everyone is welcome to contribute. Whatever your interest in sound come along with questions or comments for us all to discuss.

http://thenewbridgeproject.com/events/pmp-listening-room-conversation-jez-riley-french/

I have moved

After weeks of watching (and helping) studioholders from the other floors move the contents of their studios downstairs and out of Norham House, today was my turn to use the van and move the contents of my studio to the new premises at Carliol House. 

Thanks to help from Charlie, Bronwen, Ian and Holly, the process only took about 4 hours, and so I spent the rest of the day giving the studio walls a third coat of white paint.

I'm looking forward to receiving the keys to the studio and setting up my space.

Build newbridges not walls

Slide Night at The NewBridge Project

Tess Denman Cleaver | Aaron Guy | Kate Liston | Rene McBrearty | Thomas Whittle

Slide Night #6 took the formal shape of a traditional slide talk, this one structure acting as a gimcrack portmanteau, within which functioned a series of diverse and disconnected narratives, tangents and dead ends.

Sleep-cooking,

Washing feet,

Green screen props,

An attempt to get to Moscow in the name of football...


Slide Night was a live event featuring artists including past and present studio members.

Slide Night is an ongoing project by past studio member Thomas Whittle.

Moving on Up, Moving on Out – Research Launch Event

Dr Martyn Hudson has been researching the social and economic benefits of The NewBridge Project. The retention of artists within the creative economy of the North East and looking at measures of value that accrue to the City of Newcastle specifically, have been part of the research. Particularly exciting have been the ways in which the artists have responded to themes of social justice and inclusion within the city and measurable ways in which the transformative power of arts and design work can be perceived.



Martyn was joined by guests:

Hans Moller, former Chief Executive of Sweden’s Ideon Science Park & Director of Innovation at North East LEP;

Julie Sanders, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Newcastle University;




Sarah Munro, Director of Baltic Centre of Contemporary Art and

John Tomaney, Professor at University College London (UCL).

They shared insights into the impact of arts and culture and creative hubs on cities and responded directly to some of the conclusions of the research.


It was also a great chance to see a slideshow of photos taken by Kuba Ryniewicz of NewBridge studio holders.

The NewBridge Project was established in 2010, as part of a meanwhile project based from Norham House, a 27,000 ft2 office block, within the East Pilgrim Street area of Newcastle, marked for redevelopment and eventual demolition. For nearly 7 years it has been home to a vibrant community of artists, supporting hundreds of artists through; provision of studio & workspace, artist training & development programmes and a pioneering artist-led programme of exhibitions, commissions and events. In April, we bid farewell to our current building after 7 years, and are moving on to pastures new.



Moving on up, Moving on out, is a month long exhibition and programme of events, celebrating The NewBridge Project and the people who make it what it is.

The final week of Moving on up, moving on out

Don't miss the final week of MOVING ON UP, MOVING ON OUT. This is The NewBridge Project's finale exhibition and programme of events in our current building before we move to a new home.

Moving on up, Moving on out places artists at it heart, and has been collectively shaped and devised by 30 artist members, featuring work by over 80 NewBridge artists past and present.

Throughout the duration of the exhibition the curation has been fluid, with people changing the layout of the artworks. So even if you have been before, chances are that you wont have seen it as it is now.

16mm film workshop with Hands On Film Lab

On Tuesday I participated in a 16mm film workshop with Hands On Film Lab, organised as part of the NewBridge graduate scheme.

In the morning we were shown the 16mm film camera and were taught how to use it. Then we were given some time to go into Newcastle and shoot some footage. We experimented filming at different speeds (the number of frames per second), and tried double exposing whereby we filmed for a set period of time, then wound our footage back to the point we just started the filming from. We then filmed another scene. When developed and played, there will be two layers to the film.

In the afternoon we talked through the developing process and in the daylight we had a go at loading a test film into the developing tank. It is a fiddly job in broad daylight, let alone in the pitch black! We headed into the darkroom to mix all the chemistry. Leah loaded the film into the tank (in the dark), and we began developing the film.

 The process is as follows:

1. Rinse - fill the tank with water and pour out

2. Develop - Pour the developing solution into the tank and agitate for the first minute.The agitation helps eliminate adhesions in the film that will cause the film to not get developed in certain areas. After the first minute just give it a shake for 10
seconds every minute or so. Develop for 6 minutes. Pour out developer.

3. Stop - Pour the stop into the tank and agitate. This prevents the film from developing any more. Pour out the stop.

4. Fix - Pour the fixer solution into the tank, and give the tank a shake or two every minute. Pour out the fix after 4 minutes.

5. Give the tank a final rinse with water and pour out the water.

6. Photoflo (optional) - Pour a photoflo into the tank in order to reduce water spots. Pour out the photoflo.

7. Remove the film from the tank and untangle it.

8. Hang the film to dry

Following this procedure develops the film as a negative, so dark areas become light and the whites of the image become dark.

We then left the film to dry overnight, and today we went to the Hands on Film Lab to view our film. To say it was a first attempt, I was pretty impressed by what we had produced, and would like to do more in the future.

Hands on Film is a female run and facilitated film-lab in Newcastle Upon Tyne, dedicated to the transmission of knowledge in photochemical film practice – filming, developing, processing and editing. The Lab also offers a low-cost or subsidised entry to the medium for those who might for educational, geographic or socio-economic reasons find this difficult. Photochemical film is a vibrant and exciting medium with unique opportunities for artist projects in moving image.

Hands On Film create a space of engagement via hand-processing techniques and photo-chemical experimentation. Small scale, artisanal production facilities offer a personal and reflexive approach to celluloid, and there is an ethos of skill-sharing through self and peer led education.

Hot Toddy from the Tea Trolley tonight at NewBridge - 6-9pm

Escape from the cold and enter the warmth of NewBridge with a Hot Toddy from our tea trolley and a preview of the Moving on up, Moving on out exhibition.

You will also be able to see a mock up version of the NewBridge community tea towel featuring over 45 drawings of, and by, the NewBridge community, and we'll be taking pre-orders so you can be sure not to miss out on purchasing one of these limited edition artworks. They are currently at the printers, but should be here in about 2 weeks! At a price of £5 per tea towel, you can't go wrong!

It's looking like we will be based in the NewBridge Bookshop so be sure to pop in. Looking forward to seeing you in a few hours. The bookshop will have a studio plan that is part monument, part model and part mind map, designed by studio member David Lisser, which will begin evolving on the launch night, with people and studio members contributing to the structure and web of networks and friendships.

Thanks to all who contributed to the NewBridge Community tea towel

Over the past few weeks Holly Wheeler and I have been gathering drawings of, and from, members of the NewBridge community for inclusion on the NewBridge community tea towel that we are creating. There has been an incredible response from over 45 artists. The illustrations range from cartoon style line drawings to detailed studies of the human form and the occasional abstract representations. 

We would like to thank the following artists for participating in our project and submitting a drawing to be included on the tea towel:

Aaron Guy

Adam Goodwin

Arnaud Moinet

Bailey (the dog)

Charlie Gregory

Clare Gomez

David Foggo

Dean Crawford

Eddy Robinson

Edmund English

Edwin Li

Hannah Kirkham

Hannah Marsden

Harry

Helen Shaddock

Holly Wheeler

Jackson + Pete

Jade Sweeting

Janina

Jessie Jacobs

Jo Hislop

Joe Shaw

Julia Heslop

Juliet Fleming

Katy Cole

Kuba

Lesley Anne Rose

Louie Pegna

Louise Mackenzie

Luke Mullen

Maria Abbott

Martin Kellett

Matthew Pickering

Neil Armstrong

Nick Kennedy

Olivia Turner

Ollie Doe

Paul Raymond

Rachael Clewlow

Rebecca Huggan

Rosie Morris

Roxie Watson

Sabina Sallis

Seb Trend

Taryn Edmonds

Toby Phips Lloyd

Wunderbar

Zoe Molloy

Digital drawings accepted for the NewBridge community tea towel

If you are struggling to come into the NewBridge Studios to pop your drawing into the box for the tea towel, do not panic, you can send it to us digitally.

Our first Mr and Mrs for the tea towel

Caught in the act of drawing

With less than a week to go until the deadline for drawings for the NewBridge community tea towel, the NewBridge art community in Newcastle, around the UK and further afield are busy working on and sending us their drawings. 

Keep them coming!

Recognise this face?

(Part of) another addition to the NewBridge community tea towel. 

NewBridge community tea towel - guess who!

I was delighted to open the NewBridge community tea towel box tonight and find another drawing to be added to the tea towel. Can you guess who drew this?

For more information about Raise a Mug, please visit

https://www.facebook.com/Raiseamug/

Deadline extended - contributions to NewBridge community tea towel now due Saturday 28th January

As you know, I am working with Holly Wheeler on an artwork called Raise a mug which will be part of the last ever NewBridge Projects exhibition throughout the month of February.

We are producing a NewBridge tea towel featuring drawings of those in the NewBridge community - studio holders, past studio holders, members, staff, volunteers, exhibitors, and all those who are, and have been part of NewBridge.

If you are one of the above, we would really like for you to be included on the tea towel, and hope that you want to contribute.

All we need is a black and white line drawing of 'yourself', on white paper, occupying a space no bigger than 5cm x 5cm. Please include your name with the design. If you'd rather do a drawing of someone else in the NewBridge community, go ahead, but get don't forget to ask someone to draw you too!

You can leave the drawing in the box in the PMP Space on the 1st floor of NewBridge, pop it under my studio door on level 2, give it to us in person, leave it at the office, or post it to the NewBridge office. 

We have extended the deadline to 5pm on Saturday 28th January.

The tea towel will be for sale in the NewBridge bookshop. By the looks of the contributions so far, it will be a masterpiece!

We look forward to receiving your drawing.

I submitted my drawing today. You will have to wait for the finished tea towel to see the full image, but here is a sneaky preview.

Raise A Mug research - My first school tea towel

It is often the case that at times of significance, a commemorative tea towel is made. This is no exception for the NewBridge community tea towel, as it is being made at this landmark stage in the organisations existence. As we move from the premises on NewBridge Street West, we are giving all those involved in this amazing group, the opportunity to be featured on the NewBridge Community tea towel. These limited edition artworks will be for sale in the NewBridge Bookshop, and word in the studios is that its the essential buy of 2017!

I've hunted out my first school tea towel as a source of inspiration. Do I really have such big ears?!

Raise a mug have just received our first submission for the NewBridge tea towel

Raise a mug are asking for members of the NewBridge community to a submit black and white image (no larger than 5cm x 5cm) of themselves to be included on the NewBridge community tea towel. Please include your name within the design.

We've just received our first drawing and it is AWESOME!

Can you guess who it is from this small section?

You'll be able to find out when the tea towels have been printed.

In the meanwhile, please submit your own drawings - deadline is 5pm on Saturday 21st January

My contribution to No Niceties exhibition - spoken word performance

In addition to all the responses from other artists to my publication, 'A lot can happen in 15 minutes', I used the 'No Niceties' exhibition as an opportunity to test out a couple of ideas relating to the text.

Given the success of the spoken word performances at the publication launch, I decided to create another to perform at 'No Niceties'.



My performance was scheduled after Stella's performance, so while everyone was focusing on Stella, my group of performers got into position, spreading out around the perimeter of the room, each facing the wall.

Once Stella's performance had finished, my performers gradually began whispering the phrase 'The ticking clock', a line from one of the texts within 'A lot can happen in fifteen minutes'. After a few minutes an assortment of other single sentences or phrases such as 'Desperately searching', 'You knew what to expect', and 'No explanation', were gradually introduced by all but one of the performers. This single performer repeated 'The ticking clock' throughout the performance, but the other performers varied the lines they were speaking.



As the performers changed the way in which they delivered their lines, increasing in volume and altering their tone, they also slowly moved backwards away from the wall and towards the centre of the room. They ended in a circle, each facing toward the audience with their back to the other performers.

As they neared the end of the performance, they became more softly spoken and returned to delivering the single line, 'The ticking clock'. At the point when there was some regularity and the performers were in tune with each other, I called out "No Niceties," marking the end of the performance.

My thanks go to the wonderful individuals who kindly agreed to perform this work with me.

No Niceties contributing artist - Sofija Sutton

Brooklyn-based artist Sofija Sutton contributed Sweet, Hold the Bitter to the No Niceties exhibition.

She states, "My current art practice explores the use of flash fiction and folklore in video, painting, collage, and multidiscipline installations. I use narratives and visuals to tell layered metaphors for daily, intimate life. The most common themes I address are belonging and mental health. I particularly enjoy using anamorphism with invertebrate references in magical realism to juxtapose the absurd with the mundane.

Each project’s message dictates the materials of my work. Some meanings require text, while others may be communicated with paint alone. Some works benefit from collaboration and some works require learning new technologies. Allowing the meaning of the work to direct the form it takes allows me to be open to new experiences while maintaining the importance of the story’s message."



Sutton shares some of her initial thoughts that led to the end result:

how i wanted one story to go
- how I want the word playful to be associated in my head. not playful but investigative and introspective and innately human. yes.

(I related too closely)
how it went.

I just wanted one sweet hold the bitter end so I could think you have some sweet hold the bitter moments. but thats not really how feelings are felt in hindsight.

in fifteen minutes my tea can go cold.

-flying pill bug baby, roll and pop!
- you settle into your train seat.
- your friends talk a lot about babies and weddings
- you live a different life than them

ticking clock with an empty desk and chair. plain.
toxic colors, acidic or washed out, jarring. initial impression of joy masking the anxiety and compulsion.



For more information about Sofija's practice, please visit

She has also just launched her new illustration website showcasing watercolor and collage illustrations. Check it out!

http://www.fiasutton.com/

No Niceties contributing artist - Cecilia Stenbom

Newcastle-based artist, Cecilia Stenbom created an audio work for the No Niceties exhibition. Buzz was comprised of 15 recordings layered into a single track. The recordings were done over the course of one week, at different times of the day, capturing various everyday activities at home, studio and in public space, creating a record, of the uneventful and mundane of everyday existence.



Stenbom writes, "My work, primarily screen-based, is concerned with narrative and the everyday; notions of identity and human interaction. I examine collective experiences by reinterpretation and appropriation, employing both documentary and fiction conventions. I am interested in how the mundane and everyday is narrativised; the process of turning real experiences into fiction."

Originally from Sweden Cecilia has lived and worked in Helsinki and Glasgow before moving to the North East of England. Forthcoming and recent projects includes; Somewhere Becoming the Sea (2017) , Group Exhibition part of City of Culture, Hull, curated by Steven Bode and Film & Video Umbrella, Beam Reach Blasting and Parallel (2016) commission for Tall Ships Cultural Programme (UK and Sweden) In Waiting (2014), commission by Creative England, The List (2014), Figure two, BALTIC 39, Newcastle Upon Tyne.

www.ceciliastenbom.se

www.workplacegallery.co.uk