The New Art Gallery Walsall
October to December 2008
Cover image - Vidya Gastaldon L’ame est indivisible, 2008 Gouache, watercolour, coloured pencil and pencil. 21 x 25cm, Courtesy of the artist & Galerie Francesca Pia, Zürich
What’s On October — December 2008
Exhibition programme supported by
Exhibitions
- Vidya Gastaldon - Giacomo Brunelli - Outsiders - William Blake - Fresh Out the Box
Garman Ryan Collection Artists’ Projects Discovery Gallery Education & Family Events Adult Events, Workshops & Late Nights Art Library & Resources Archive Gallery Shop Costa Cafe
Events programme supported by
Artists’ Projects The Artists’ Projects programme features a number of artistic interventions throughout the gallery and also incorporates the Artists’ Studio, where resident artists are invited to create new work in response to the gallery and its environment – often collaborating with gallery visitors in the process. The studio is an active, lively and welcoming place within the building and an environment for discussion and the exchange of ideas.
Artists’ Studio Simon & Tom Bloor, Untitled Objects (after James Hennessey & Victor Papanek) 2006. Courtesy of the artists
Simon & Tom Bloor 1 September — 28 November 2008 During their residency, Birmingham-based artists Simon & Tom Bloor will be constructing functional, nomadic ‘flat pack’ furniture for the studio, using materials found in and around the gallery. Open studio events: Wednesday 29 October, 2pm – 4pm Wednesday 26 November, 2pm – 4pm
Window Box Mould the Universe 18 September — 23 November 2008 To coincide with their residency, Simon & Tom Bloor have been commissioned to create a new installation for the gallery’s Window Box.
Porte Nucleaire & Atomes, 2006 - pencil, crayon, watercolour 42 x 56cm Courtesy of the artist & Galerie Francesca Pia, Zürich
L’ame est indivisible, 2008 - gouache, watercolour, coloured pencil and pencil 21 x 25cm, Courtesy of the artist & Galerie Francesca Pia, Zürich
Vidya Gastaldon
Call it what you like ... 19 September — 23 November 2008 Vidya Gastaldon creates an imaginative world where fantasy meets reality, apocalypse meets ecstasy and naivety meets sophistication. She creates works in a wide range of media including delicate watercolours and drawings on paper and colourful, floating sculptures. Smiley faces and SpongeBob SquarePants meet nuclear holocausts in these almost hallucinatory visions. Whilst there is certainly a playful element to Vidya’s work, it is informed by a wide knowledge of literature, science, religious symbols and philosophies as well as a genuine concern for the world around us and its preservation for future generations.
Preview
Thursday 18 September 2008 6pm-8pm Free. Friends, family & colleagues welcome
In Conversation
Curating the Exhibition Wednesday 5 November, 2pm A tour of the exhibition specifically focusing on how the exhibition was developed and curated with Deborah Robinson, Senior Exhibitions Curator at The New Art Gallery Walsall. Please reserve your free place in advance by calling 01922 654400 A publication will accompany the exhibition. Published by JRP Ringier with support from The New Art Gallery Walsall; Salon 94, New York; Galerie Art: Concept, Paris; Galerie Francesca Pia, Zurich; Hiromi Yoshii, Tokyo and Alexandre Pollazzon Ltd, London. With additional support from ProHelvetia, the Swiss Arts Council
Detail from: Escalator (Rainbow Rain), 2008 - wool Dimensions variable, Courtesy of the artist and Alexandre Pollazzon Ltd
Giacomo Brunelli Animals
3 October — 30 November Italian artist Giacomo Brunelli creates extraordinary photographs of animals, both living and dead, using a Miranda Sensomat camera from 1968 that once belonged to his father. His photographs are taken during daily morning walks when the light is best and his subjects are those he sees along the way. Most of the shots have been taken in Umbria, Tuscany and Lazio in Central Italy. His black and white images are then hand-printed in a makeshift darkroom producing images that are dramatic, powerful and intriguing and offer a refreshing change in this age of digital technology.
Preview
Thursday 2 October 2008 6pm-8pm Free. Friends, family & colleagues welcome
Giacomo Bruneli, Untitled, 2007 Gelatin silver prints Courtesy of the artist
Outsiders
Blu, David Choe, Faile, Conor Harrington, Paul Insect, Invader, Lucy McLauchlan, Antony Micallef, Polly Morgan, JR, Jonathan Yeo Lazarides Gallery, curated by David Thorp
5 December 2008 — 25 January 2009 Experience the global phenomenon of urban art this winter as a selection of internationally acclaimed artists working outside the mainstream, transform the interior of the gallery. Despite hailing from a scene much more closely linked to hip hop and street culture than the world of galleries, the urban art genre has now become firmly established as one of the most popular art forms in the contemporary scene today.
Jonathan Yeo, Hydra, 2008 42 cm x 50.5 cm, mixed media collage © The artists and Lazarides
The exhibition features works created directly onto the gallery walls, animation and sculpture, and will broaden the definition of urban art through the process of bringing the outside in.
Preview
Thursday 4 December 2008 6pm-8pm Free. Friends, family & colleagues welcome
Conor Harrington, Bella Gerant Alii, 2008 153cm x 122cm x 5.5cm, oil and aerosol on canvas © The artists and Lazarides
William Blake
Angels and Imagination 7 October 2008 — 4 January 2009
Jacobs Ladder or Jacob’s Dream, circa. 1799 - 1807 © Trustees of the British Museum
This exhibition takes the figure of the angel as a starting point for an exploration of Blake’s ideas about the body and spirit. Famously, Blake often had visions of angels and even claimed to converse with them, he felt imagination was the uniting principle and men and angels were closely linked. Blake experienced visions throughout his life; they were often spiritual and religious in their content and inspired his artistic explorations of theology and philosophy. Drawing on works from three of Blake’s great series of illustrations for private patrons; Dante’s Divine Comedy, Edward Young’s Night Thoughts, and the series of bible illustrations for Thomas Butts, this exhibition shows how Blake reinterpreted these texts in the light of his own beliefs.
In Conversation
Saturday 18 October, 2pm Emily Marsden, Curator, Hatton Gallery Satan in His Original Glory ‘Thou wast Perfect till Iniquity was Found in Thee’, circa. 1805 © Tate: Presented by the executors of
W. Graham Robertson through the Art Fund 1949
Emily Marsden gives a tour of the exhibition, revealing more about the life and work of William Blake. Please reserve your free place in advance by calling 01922 654400
The Garman Ryan Collection On display all year round The Garman Ryan Collection is a personal collection of art and artefacts given to Walsall by Sir Jacob Epstein’s widow, Kathleen Garman and her close friend, sculptor, Sally Ryan. This intimate display includes works by many famous artists including Van Gogh, Lucien Freud, Monet, Constable and Picasso. For more information about the gallery collections and Jacob Epstein visit artatwalsall.org.uk and epstein.org.uk
Michael Wishart, Moths on Blue Path, 1963 © the artists’ estate
Free Garman Ryan Talks
Every Wednesday & Saturday at 1pm
Fresh Out of the Box 14 October 2008 — 14 October 2009 This is the first chance to see new art works acquired by The New Art Gallery. Displayed within the Garman Ryan Collection, the contemporary works give a new twist to the thematic display. Their presence enables us to make sometimes surprising connections between past and current artistic interests. Exhibiting artists include: Artists Anonymous, Gillian Ayres, Peter Callesen, Gordon Cheung, Martin Creed, Ceal Floyer, Richard Hamilton, Günther Herbst, Andrew Jackson, Christopher Le Brun, Hew Locke, Sarah Lucas, Tim Maguire, Matt & Ross, Cildo Meireles, Eduardo Paolozzi, Marc Quinn, George Shaw, Gavin Turk, David Ward, Wood & Harrison, Richard Wentworth, Catherine Yass.
Marc Quinn, Untitled, 2004 from Winter garden series © Marc Quinn
Discovery Gallery The Discovery Gallery is a safe space for families to explore art together. You can touch, look, draw, play and create to help you understand the artworks on display. This is the place for you if you love to dress up, design a 3D townscape or create some computer art. You can do all of this and more in the interactive Discovery Gallery so drop in with the family anytime, open everyday, all day.
Vidya Gastaldon, Ma source Rose (bad trip), 2005 21 x 29.7cm, coloured pencil and pencil Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Francesca Pia, Zürich
Free Family Events Creature Feature
Sat 4 October, 11pm – 3pm Meet the real chinchillas, ferrets, guinea pigs and rats, find out whose footprint is whose and cast an animal track to take home.
Dreamscapes
Sat 18 October, 12pm – 4pm This is our Big Draw event for everyone. Be energetic and make some giant drawings, if messy is your thing create blobby marvels with inks. Design a contemporary dream catcher and make a woolly head or soften a stone. This is a day to draw your dreams.
The Big Picture Party Sat 18 October, 12pm – 4pm
Come along and join us for a celebration of picture books – draw, read and make your own book.
Creature Crazy
Tues, Wed, Thurs & Fri - 28, 29, 30, 31 October, 1pm – 3pm If you love dressing up come and create a weird animal headdress this half term for you to wear or some alien antennae. You can also draw your dream pet for the pet wall.
Diwali 2008
Sat 22 November, 11am – 4pm The celebration of the festival of light, where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being. There is live music and dance, family friendly workshops, storytelling, traditional food and much more.
Free Adult Events
Adult Workshops
Wellbeing Festival
Experience a ‘hands on’ approach to learning art skills in an informal and friendly environment. All abilities are welcome.
Sat 11 October, 11am – 4pm A day of activities focusing on wellbeing to mark World Mental Health Day, including holistic therapies, health checks, arts workshops and circus skills. There will be stalls and displays highlighting local services and a chance to get information and advice. Admission is free and activities are suitable for all ages. The festival is organised by Walsall Council Creative Development Team and Walsall Teaching Primary Care Trust.
Gems of the Garman Ryan Collection Sat 15 November, 1pm – 2pm
Book for this fascinating free tour around the Garman Ryan Collection, focussing on a selection of masterpieces including Van Gogh’s Sorrow and Lucian Freud’s Kitty. Reserve your free place in advance by calling 01922 654400. Audio Described.
Salaam: Urban Voices
Sat 29 November, 11am – 4pm This year’s Salaam Islamic Arts Festival will present a collaboration of white, Asian and African Caribbean artists performing in spoken word, rap, comedy and slam poetry to comment on issues of race, society, popular culture and religion, representing the colourful and diverse urban voices of today’s multi-cultural Britain.
Poetry & Creative Writing taster session
Sat 11 October, 2pm – 4pm
Unwind from the stresses of the day with some easy tips to get your thoughts onto paper. There is no need to book just pop into the Art Library between 2pm-4pm, free.
Textile Workshop
Sat 8 November, 11am – 4pm Working with textiles, create unique gifts with a difference for yourself, or to give to friends. You are guaranteed to be going home with bags of ideas! £12 per person Please book in advance 01922 654400
Thursday Affairs: Black on Black
Thurs 9 October, 6pm – 9pm An evening of music performances by Two Man Ting, a Lo-fi Hi-life music fusing African dance, jazz, folk and pop and energetic contemporary dance performances by young people from the Ace Dance and Music, traditional African Caribbean food, wine and behind the scenes tours. To find out more about Black History Month events in Walsall go to whatsonwalsall.co.uk
Home of Metal
Thurs 6 November, 6pm – 9pm Calling all metal fans! Bring in memorabilia, photographs and stories recounting your experiences of your favourite Metal music to help us create a ‘people’s archive’ of stories, images and pictures about the West Midlands’ musical heritage. This project is led by Capsule in collaboration with Black Country Arts Partnership, The New Art Gallery Walsall, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery & Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
Sacred Street Art The Art of Mohammed Ali Thurs 11 December, 6pm – 9pm
Mohammed Ali, the Birmingham based urban art and graffiti artist, will introduce a free screening of his short film from the Art and Islam USA Tour called Sacred Street Art, a moving account of a spiritual street mural taking shape in The Bronx, New York. The screening is followed by a talk about the history of graffiti and Islamic calligraphy.
Art Library Visit the Art Library and discover who is Artist of the Month, each month there is new display relating to exhibiting artists, coming soon Martin Creed, Kate Greenaway & William Blake.
Epstein’s Public Artworks The library display case showcases a selection of work relating to Epstein’s public sculptures including The Tomb of Oscar Wilde and his work on The British Medical Association Building. Find out more and explore why they were so controversial at the time.
Free Regular Events
Baby Palace
Fri 24 Oct & 28 Nov 10am - 11.30am, 12pm - 1pm, 2pm - 3pm Spend some relaxed time with your baby in a multi-sensory session for under 2s and their carers. With a different magical theme each session there is lots to explore, touch, smell, hear and see in a calm and soothing environment.
Art Cart
This October in the Art Library…
Every Sunday & Bank Holiday 11am - 4pm, the Art Cart is out to help you to explore our collections. It has different activities and moves somewhere new in the gallery every month.
Find out all about book illustrations by Kate Greenaway in the Art Library, as part of our Artist of the Month series.
Passport to Arts & Heritage
Read poems inspired by the collection and see the archives that inspired them from 9 October in the Art Library for National Poetry Day. Join us for Saturday Storytelling every week at 12.30pm in the Art Library. All stories for this month are inspired by the Kate Greenaway award.
What’s new at the gallery and museums in Walsall? Take the passport to find out. Ideal for under 11 year olds.
Frisky Bags
These are rucksacks stuffed full of activities to help you explore the gallery and its collections. Great for family groups with 6-12 year olds, ask to borrow one from the reception desk.
Walsall Society of Artists
Re-Imagining Asia
Annual exhibition
13 February — 4 May 2009
5 December 2008 — 11 Jan 2009
Curated by Shaheen Merali and Wu Hung for the House of World Cultures, Berlin, in collaboration with The New Art Gallery Walsall This major exhibition explores the meaning and relevance of the term ‘contemporary Asian art’ in the 21st century and within a wider context of globalisation and migration.
Miao Xiaochun, Orbit, 2005 217 x 480cm, C-print, Edition III Courtesy Alexander Ochs Galleries Berlin I Beijing
Local artists present a range of paintings, drawings, watercolours and 3D work. Some of the works are for sale and demonstrations are held every weekend during the exhibition.
Design by Stereographic
Coming Soon
Events Coming Soon The Big Party
Sat 14 February, 12pm – 4pm Celebrate the gallery’s 9th birthday with a free event for all the family.
TIME
16 January — 22 February 2009 Be inspired by our collection to create your own artwork, submit work this November for exhibition selection for 2009. TIME is for pupils up to the age of 18 in full time education within the borough of Walsall. For more information call 01922 654411
Disclaimer: every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this edition of What’s On, which was correct at the time of publication. Walsall Council cannot be held responsible for any changes.
Opening times
Monday – Saturday & Bank Holidays 10am-5pm / Sunday 11am-4pm
Shop
Find the perfect gift for you or a friend in our specialist art shop, exhibition catalogues, art books, postcards, notebooks and much more.
Costa
Open 8am-6pm Monday – Saturday and 11am-4pm on Sundays. Bring a friend for free this autumn and winter, just present this brochure to claim your free drink.
Mailing List
Sign up to our free e-bulletin and receive regular Preview invitations, monthly newsletters and event information.
Access
Access guides and large print versions of this text are available on request and on our website. The New Art Gallery Walsall Gallery Square Walsall WS2 8LG 01922 654400 Textphone: 0845 1112910 artatwalsall.org.uk
Facilities Hire
The gallery is available for corporate events and meetings. To book your event email: info@artatwalsall.org.uk
Guided Tours
Bring a group for a guided tour of the Garman Ryan Collection, email: info@artatwalsall.org.uk
Education
For a full school and colleges programme visit our website or contact 01922 654400