Becoming Part of Something

Clambering on top of the mountains of paperwork now I realise I have published my actual review ofa recent video of me talking about my work at a Cor Blimey Group Show ‘ The Truth is Rarely Pure and Never Simple’

So here they are !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAiWPG4FMVI

Review from Pop t’art

May 10, 2010

http://poptartlondon.com/2010/05/10/a-difference-i…

by Pop T’art London

I first noticed Rosalind Davis‘ mixed media paintings last year at the Deptford X art festival. I was drawn by the vibrant colours and clever use of fabric to create collage pieces which she then paints and embroiders over.

So it was a real pleasure to be shown round her new solo show A Difference in Vision by Rosalind herself at Bloww gallery off Regent Street recently.

The above piece, from which the show takes its title, is oil and embroidery on vintage print cotton sateen. It depicts the huge Robin Hood estate in Poplar, East London which was designed in the 1960s and condemned in the 2000s (much to the dismay of many leading architects campaigning to preserve it as a modernist masterpiece).

What I really like about Rosalind’s work is the surprising contrast between her subject matter of brutalist architecture with the materials she employs to depict them – florid fabric and delicate hand stitching – to create otherworldly, surreal pieces. “I enjoy mark making with embroidery,” says Rosalind. “It’s more controlled and emphasises the fragility of our buildings and of our own existence.”

Rosalind meticulously researches the buildings she paints by photographing them and talking to their residents where possible (many of the buildings are derelict).

26 Remain refers to the 26 remaining families in the Ferriers estate in Kidbrooke, Greenwich.

While you may recognise Elephant and Castle’s famously dilapidated, and soon to be demolished, shopping centre in this piece, Belong Nowhere.

It can take Rosalind between one to four months to execute a piece. Often sourcing the fabric becomes a mission in itself as she likes to incorporate material which reference the period of the buildings’ construction.

Her work highlights the breakdown of social housing, community and the overall failings of modernity. And it certainly lives up to this show’s title. I really like Rosalind’s unusual, thorough and intricate approach which gives layers of meaning to each picture. Go see!

A Difference in Vision runs until 9pm, this Saturday 15th May. After that you can see new and existing work from Rosalind Davis (and two other artists) at a new exhibition Wilderness which runs at Core Gallery in Deptford from Saturday 22nd May.

Gosh what a week or two! Got four new paintings finally finished on the day before the opening. The Core Gallery launch had taken up more than a chunk of my life so everything else has been shunted- to be expected. Then just as things looked a bit more normalised and I could start making headway on masses of paperwork the curator we had for the artist talk this saturday had to pull out to deal with family emergencies.

Several frantic phone calls later Graham Crowley managed to save the day, stepping into the helm and he shall be chairing our discussion about Wilderness. I am so very excited to have him chair the talk, it will be fantastic!

Also, we had our first gallery intern Emily Chan joined us who will be taking over some of the Core Gallery work for us. A double blessing week!

Invitation to :

Wilderness

rosalind davis, enver gursev & neil kelly

Saturday 29^th May 2010, 2pm onwards

Artists in Dialogue with Graham Crowley

Graham Crowley one of the most distinguished living painters in the UK shall be in conversation with Wilderness Artists: Rosalind Davis, Enver Gürsev and Neil Kelly

Please rsvp [email protected] to reserve a space as places are limited

Wilderness is an exhibition by three of London’s most promising emerging artists exploring the idea of wilderness through painting, drawing and installation.

Davis, Gursev & Kelly’s works each interpret notions of seemingly abandoned spaces. The results depict urban and dystopian scenes, as if in the wake of apocalypse.

Graham will discuss and explore with the artists the concepts in their works, their notions of Wilderness as well as their own varied and fascinating careers so far in the Wilderness of the Art World!

Wilderness is a show not to be missed, with new works on display from each of the artists.

About Graham Crowley
Graham Crowley is one of the most distinguished living painters in the UK today
Born in 1950, Graham Crowley studied at St. Martin’s School of Art London 1968-72 and Royal College of Art London 1972-75, and has held significant teaching posts including Professor of Painting at the RCA (1998-2006)

His paintings span a vast variance in style from the approprationist art of the 70s to his brilliantly luminous landscapes of the present day, tracking a fundamental narrative with political, cultural and personal histories within them.

Crowley was a judge on the 25 John Moores panel in 2008. As an applicant he has exhibited eight times, winning prizes in 1987 and 2006.

www.deptfordartmap.com/core-gallery

[email protected]

Core Gallery C101 Faircharm Trading Estate, 8-12 Creekside, Deptford, London SE8 3DX

In this insecure and heady world of art and creativity, I and Elizabeth as spearhead and momentum gatherer of many people’s ideas at Cor Blimey helped establish a gallery ,created in two shows so far, in two months , that most edifying addictive atmosphere that celebrates the expressiveness of exciting contemporary art, opened up wondrous conversations and serious discussion,created opportunities for artists, established relationships with artists, curators and fellow visionaries. All held up , supported and channelled by my fellow believers at Core

I have been dazzled by Chantelle, Enver, Leyla’s, Neil, Arnold and Gillian’s hard work who have also been key in this, by Lizzie who has stepped in as well. I am awed by the genorosity of local galleries and studios such as Bearspace , The Agency and Creekside and all the artists and curators who have joined us so far and are part of the core family now; Nick Kaplony and Helen Griffiths

……Although I feel finally part of something I am also at times a little scared by the responsibility of it all ! but driven too!

read all the latest on http://coregallerydeptford.blogspot.com

As I frantically finish paintings for my upcoming group show at Wilderness in Core Gallery , a lovely review for my current solo show has arrived! Hussah!

http://poptartlondon.com/2010/05/10/a-difference-i…

Do come along to :
WILDERNESS
ROSALIND DAVIS, ENVER GURSEV & NEIL KELLY
22 MAY – 04 JUNE 2010
PRIVATE VIEW: 21 MAY 6PM –late
Artists in Dialogue with Zoe Whitley, Curator of Contemporary Collections, V&A
29th May 2010, 2pm
General Opening times: Mon-Weds by appointment, Thurs-Sun 12 – 5pm
Core Gallery would like to present an exhibition by three of London’s most promising emerging artists exploring the idea of wilderness through painting, drawing and installation.
Davis, Gursev & Kelly’s works each interpret notions of seemingly abandoned spaces. The results depict urban and dystopianscenes, as if in the wake of apocalypse. Brought together, these artists each interpret wilderness as a mindstate, a physical place, and – most importantly – a melancholic and poetic space ripe with creativity. Wilderness is a show not to be missed, with new works on display from each of the artists.

In Rosalind Davis’ mixed media painting, one finds the power and presence of seemingly barren urban landscapes. Their historical, social and political backgrounds are sutured into architectural dimensions. Rosalind’s stitches and brushstroke’s repair and give substance, providing a scaffolding to what lies beneath and within structural urban design. The environments she represents are but support structures, as the artist envisions the identities and the human experiences that animate the edifices. The meticulousness of the printed textiles possesses intimate and alluring qualities. They not only provide cultural links to the eras of the buildings but equally emphasize the fragility of the spaces, the people therein and the disconcerting juxtaposition between aesthetics and meaning.

Wilderness is uninhabited land in Enver Gursev’s work. His paintings and sculptures revere forsaken environments and attempt to imbue opulence to mundane abandoned landscapes which once sustained a society. Although on the periphery of human existence, these landscapes yet sustain a life of their very own. Enver’s work explores memories, both personal and collective, as well as the effect of cultural displacement upon communities.

Neil Kelly’s work spans painting, photography installation and drawing. Wilderness is informed by the artist’s reaction to his immediate environment and surroundings. Central to Neil’s work is everyday experience, ranging from introspective questions to explorations of banality, failed aspirations and boredom. In his hands, these themes are treated with a flat, knowing awkwardness. Kelly often uses found objects from thrift stores or flea markets to further illustrate his world-view. These objects are altered through almost childlike vandalism, imparting a sense of creative abandon. Kelly’s work often hints at what he terms a ‘Conflict of Englishness’ that is reflected with tongue firmly in cheek.
www.coregallery.co.uk
Cor Blimey Arts
C101 Faircharm Trading Estate, 8-12 Creekside, Deptford, London SE8 3DX

I owe an apology! A whole week without update on how the Exquisite Corpse private view and first week went. I have been battling with a funding application ( more weeping and comforting tea at hand, thank you also Emily Speed for the consolation! )

Well , the Exquisite Corpse exhibition has been going very very well. About 450 people have come through the doors- local artists, studios, galleries, collectors, the general public, important people from various organisations have also come in support. It feels very very great to be part of something.

The private view was super excellent fun with some fantastic performance from La Donne and live music from the Islington Boys Club and Sex Funeral , who I somehow got wangled into singing with.

We also sold a piece, Lucy Newman’s ‘ Prehistoric Landscape’ to the University of the Arts Collection . Not bad going for a first timer gallery!

Exquisite Corpse is reaching the end of its time with us and its gone so quickly and so well! A great first exhibition. We are now looking forward to an

Curators and Artists in Dialogue; Nick Kaplony, Liv Pennington and Sarah
Schuster

Sat 08 May 2010 -2pm

Core Gallery

C101 Faircharm Trading Estate, 8-12 Creekside, Deptford, SE8 3DX

www.coregallery.co.uk

You are more than welcome to come along!

Free admission but please rsvp to book a place as numbers are limited

Email: [email protected]

Also this month I have an article based on this blog in the Degrees Unedited Guide for a-n. I hope you enjoy the read!