Up there with the Fairies!

Last night saw the launch of Liverpool’ latest gallery spaces. Lis Edgar has successfully obtained, renovated and revealed this latest edition to the arts and culture scene. The new ABC 1 galleries take home in the former Taylor’s, 24 Newington, the corner of Renshaw street and only a few doors up from the bohemian haunt: the Egg Café.

Calling all Fairies exhibition captures our imagination on the heights of the July sun-drenched bay windows overlooking Renshaw Street.

‘The Power of Three’, a collaborative works between Matt Kilp, Caroline Corby and Naomi Soni brought life to the natural brick wall on which it hung. Incorporation of pouring techniques with found object of a glimmering flat mirror and the delight of peacock feathers. A powerful mix of colours from creams to pinks to blues, coincided with a range of earth tones. The idea of a rock formation is present combined with an impression of the sun. The high gloss finish of the abstract formulates perfectly with the interior of the space.

Lis Edgar’ ‘Dog on a beach’ throws a whippet into the mix of creativity. The composition of the piece draws the eye from the upper left, winding down the body to the lower right, finish off with the tail taking us back to the lower centre. The slenderness of the canine is showed off by the shadow running down his back to indicate a spine. The soberness of the face looking to one side brings true individuality to the creation. A reasonably priced print at £25 and a delight in any setting.

The exhibition also corresponded with the pop-up shop set up by artists from the studio space. Bev Evans work comprises of a range of cards and pendants, delightfully arranged within the space. After working as a graphic designer for thirty years, Bev decided to pursuit her artist dreams and began to produce the ranges we see before us today.

So the new inhabitants of the former Taylor showed us they know how to make things, as the soft sounds played from the vintage cassette player as the private view to us to new heights.

Exhibition continues over Pride Weekend then throughout August by appointment.

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Global Citizen

Global Citizen is an artist proposal for the Festival of Manchester to occur in Platt Fields worked on by Alison Little.

Global Citizen

Highly coloured shredded paper is to take over Platt Fields. Gigantic 2 meter tall spheres are to be created reflecting how Mancunians are Global citizen. Inviting interaction, visitors will be able to touch and pull, tear and detach the array of strips.

Spherical forms to be created again with shredded paper but structural elements which show awareness of external conditions. A playscape where piles can be interacted with; an eco snowball fight like arena.

The full-colour spectrum to be applied throughout the site; from blue to green, to yellow, to orange, finishing off with red. The visual impact of the colour change present, but the potential for colours to be mixed by those exploring the installation.

The intention is for the artist to be present throughout the festival, developing the colour formations throughout the period. The paper shredding process to be done on site before the festival begins.

Global Citizen uses the global shaped sphere to draw attention to immigration which has thrived in the city, a true Metropolis. The intertwining of the shreds represent how communities work together and show strength in time of turmoil, the 2017 terror attack being the most recent. Equally, to promote green credentials through the use of paper. Identifying with issues around climate change and environmental conditioning. Some off the paper will inevitably blow away from the installation, potentially recycled paper and water-based paints to be used to speed up decomposition, 2-6 weeks. Clean up will comprise of removal of all paper and transported to the local recycling plant.

An installation which will excite, reflect the Global status of the city and encourage environmental sustainability.

Working on numerous public art commissions in the North West, the UK and Western Europe. For the Capital of Culture celebrations in Liverpool, she gained two commissions for Super Lambanana to be sited in the colossal Public Arts Trail which was to overtake Liverpool for the celebrations. Her more recent public art commissions are to include work for Kirby Town centre regeneration where she brought the Vikings back to the North West, strong graphical techniques were used for her most recent mural for East Street Arts new location in Garston.

She looks to combine her creative practice, often illustrating her writing or taking a similar issue as the focal point for the works. Rape, mental health, impotence and feminist issues are often explored through the forming of sculptural pieces using shredded paper and the writing of accompanying flash fiction, poetry and short stories. Forms are often displayed using piles of brightly coloured shredded paper throughout various installations. In this, she combines her personal experience of the subject matter, intensive fact-based research examining different philosophies and scientific predictions, the final outcome being predominantly sculpture and conceptual photography with different writing scripture. A challenging method of working creating a vast array of outcomes.

An artist, a writer and a creative explorer.

More about Festival of Manchester

Jehovah

Jehovah!

Eventually you will value my work

My processing skills

Question my abilities no longer

Not expect the impossible

Ensure you listen well

 

I am your well worked liver

For you I process liquid

On every level

Rendering toxins redundant

Crushing their harm potential

Filtering fluids through U bends

Passing them internally

The bodies journeys long

 

Insulting me as chemicals cleanse

Chaotic phases, varying months

Questions over your intoxication

Under the weather, you claim

 

Jehovah!

 

No-one looking out

Blind drunk

In a state

Wrinkling my outer shell

Medication inevitable, one day

 

Give me joy!

More fruit juice please

Vimto not Vino

Pause, think health

Mineral increases

 

God, I must rest

Not full throttle

Ease off

Last a lifetime

 

Alison Little

Jehovah was a poem composed by Alison Little as part of National Writing Day and the Avron 5 day challenge.

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