Art in Liverpool is 20 years old this month. We started out as a fan-blog for Liverpool Biennial in 2004 (its 3rd edition) and somehow haven’t stopped since. The next few pages skip through the first months of Art in Liverpool (with a lot of expired links & citations of Daily Post articles removed). Like going back to 2004, but without having to face the reality of dial-up or MySpace.
Ok, so this is THE
September 12, 2004
Ok, so this is THE link for all the info!
(ed. this link no longer works… it was 2004. As the cover of this paper reminds us, the internet was a very different place…)
Got my invite to the
September 14, 2004
Got my invite to the previews on Friday.
2-9 pm, hope the weather’s good and my shoes don’t wear out, the venues are widely spread. Also have to be careful not to drink too much or spill red wine all over some work of art (again!)
Now I am getting excited!
September 14, 2004
Now I am getting excited!
Of course, modern design rules that the overall look is more important than function. So we have white text on pale blue and purple on maroon = totally illegible (in parts anyway). Otherwise OK.
NOTE Some things listed in the guide may be subject to change or cancellation. The Biennial Website has up-to-date news.
The Banners are up and
September 16, 2004
The Banners are up and strange things are starting to appear on the streets of Liverpool.
The bomb is in Wood St. I think the artist is trying to tell us this area often looks like its just been bombed. Bit obvious that 🙂
(Edit) OK, I was wrong. Happily the artist has a much more optimistic view. The Bomb thing is called ‘Seed’ and suggests the potential for regeneration that follows destruction. In May 1941, 681 enemy planes dropped 870 tonnes of high explosives and over 112,000 firebombs on Liverpool. Read more at ic Liverpool – Bomb will signify Seed of renewal
And, Oh Dear, Yoko Ono’s trying to be controversial again with pictures of t*ts and, er, things. The title is My Mummy was Beautiful. Most people on the streets don’t notice these signs but the staff of M&S were itching to get out there and measure up for bra and pants.
Too tired and hung over
September 18, 2004
Too tired and hung over to say much just now but I do remember spotting a few famous faces at the previews last night…
- Angela Eagle MP in the Walker
- Lloyd Grossman (TV presenter and NW Art thingy) in the Walker and FACT
- Mike McCartney (Photographer brother of Paul) in the Tate
- Tim Marlow (ace TV Arts presenter) talking to camera just about everywhere. Don’t know what the program is but they tell me its broadcast on Sept. 30th.
- Badly Drawn Boy and family playing on the slides at the Bloomberg New Contemporaries exhib.
Warning! Those slides are dangerous! They’re quite big but too narrow for adults, even slim ones like me. I came to an abrupt stop two-thirds of the way down and was wedged like a cork in a wine bottle. My hips are still sore!
Art in Liverpool Blog
December 03, 2004
This weblog follows on from the successful Biennial Blog 2004 in which I recorded my (almost) daily visits to exhibitions, performances, talks, parties and other events throughout the full 10 weeks. The blog also proved to be a useful resource for artists and curators as well as the general public.
Plans are in place to blog future Liverpool Biennials and the Capital of Culture year 2008.
Now although the Biennial is over there is still a lot of activity in the art scene in Liverpool and I felt it would be a good idea to try and continue the project. This weblog is part of my artinliverpool.com website which lists details of all the Art Galleries in Liverpool. So this seems the natural place to host this online journal of previews. reviews and news regarding the exhibitions and events.
In a similar style to the Biennial Blog, there’ll be some light-hearted stuff, some serious reviews and a few pictures along the way.
Hopefully, people will add comments and make constructive suggestions.
The Incredible Indelible
December 04, 2004
At L.Issue Gallery in the Urban Coffee, Smithdown Rd.
This opened on Nov 30th and ends Jan 16th.
I went to the private viewing on Friday and immediately spotted some familiar graffiti art by Stok that I’d seen on derelict buildings in the Duke St. area. Its a bit odd seeing them in a gallery but I quite like them. There’s other graffiti works, Batik paintings by Rita and a cabinet full of jewellery by ‘Alice in Wonderland’. There should be something by Mike Badger there by now, it had been delayed.
Open Eye, SLAG, LAA and Kif
December 07, 2004
I thought that once the Biennial was over things would be very quiet. Not so. I visited four new exhibitions today and there’s more starting in the next few days.
‘Sleeping By The Mississippi’ Alec Soth at Open Eye
To quote from the literature ‘In the winter of 1999, Alec Soth undertook a road trip. Beginning by the frozen waters of north Minnesota, he travelled along the trail of the Mississippi River through to its end in Louisiana. Over the next five years he regularly travelled this route, all the while photographing the life and landscape along this mythical rivers journey through the heart of America.’
There are 20 large (or very large) colour photographs, I think the one shown here is my favourite. I’m not a big fan of photo documentary things – motel rooms, gas stations, sad/weird people in their sad/weird living rooms etc. I find them a bit depressing and unoriginal but a lot of these do seem ‘fresh’ for want of a better word.
South Liverpool Arts Group Annual Exhibition
This is in the Nave of the Anglican Cathedral until Sat. Dec 11th. Its the usual amateur offering – landscapes, seascapes, portraits of pets etc. Some very nice pastels, I like pastels.
‘Sue Lee – A Celebration’
At Liverpool Academy of Arts until Dec 10th. Sue Lee has been an artists model for many years and been drawn, painted and sculpted by many people. The curator has somehow managed to gather a lot of the output to display it here. Sue is a large woman and is portrayed in just about every way you can think of, some flattering some not so.
Jonny Nettles and Shelly Turner at the Kif
A small exhibition of Shelley Turner’s photographs of groups such as Polyphonic Spree, Tramp Attack and Goldfrapp and Jonny Nettles’ painted portraits some of which have toys like tiny music boxes (which you can play) around them.
Art DIY at the Walker and Tea Factory
December 12, 2004
This huge sculpture of the leaping jaguar was only staying outside the Walker until 4pm today. Its a 45 foot version of the Jaguar Cars emblem and was made by workers at the Halewood factory using the steel panels normally used to make the cars. There are other large works inside the gallery made by various community and work groups including HM Prison Liverpool which will be on show until Jan 16th. Some are on show at the Tea Factory so I went across town to Wood St.
On the way I passed Father Christmas giving people a lift along Lime St. and the characters from Wizard of Oz larking about in Clayton Sq.
The rest of the Art DIY exhibition is at 82 Wood St. which is part of the Tea Factory building but not the bar – until recently it was the Biennial Centre. Amongst the works here are a cool Flash animation with music called ‘Jungle Jive’ by Oakfield Day Centre, ‘The Gold Zone’ by The Basement drop-in centre and the excellent ‘Operation Clean Clothes’ (pictured here) by Unilever workers which is a complete kitchen/laundry built out of soap packaging even including a microwave with a turkey in it!
Then I couldn’t resist calling into FACT to check out their Festive Family Fun Day. Lots of small children were involved in some trading card game where you also had to find the Evil Elves’ secret hideout where they cultivate the seeds of greed located round the FACT centre. I’m afraid it was all too complicated and scarey for me, I just had a coffee and a rest before the uphill walk home.
‘Faith’ at Hope
December 16, 2004
Yes, I tried to think of a way of adding Charity into the title but couldn’t come up with anything, sorry. The Faith exhibition is in the Cornerstone gallery which is on the Hope at Everton part of Liverpool Hope University in Haigh St. 2004 has been the Year of Faith in the city so a group of local artists known as ‘Opus’ were invited to exhibit works on the theme. Opus are: Gareth Houghton, Claire Wheetman, Dave Bixter, Evonne Keeler, Alex Jackson and Charlotte Watts. I didn’t see Alex Jackson’s work as it was being repaired, Dave Bixter’s work is a shape made from tape and is suspended above the gallery (see pic). I met Jason Jones who works there and he kindly showed me round the whole building. It was good to see so many workshops for every kind of art activity and students’ works-in-progress everywhere. I almost felt like signing up for a degree but, of course, it would be hard work so I soon dismissed that idea. The building is the old SFX school and £millions has been spent on refurbishment, the main hall is really impressive. The gallery is the area around the main staircase as you enter the building.
Does my Head Look Big in This?
December 18, 2004
Britain’s 50 Best Dressed Men Photographic exhibition at the Conservation Centre until Feb 20th Best Dressed!? Liam Gallagher in his anorak! Robbie Williams in an a leather suit! Give me a break. Yes, I’m bitter. I’ve invested tens of pounds on Marks & Spencers’ jeans and tops and didn’t even make it on to the shortlist. It seems that to qualify you also have to be famous.
Actually these pictures have more to do with celebrity than fashion. Some portraits you don’t see what they’re wearing, Roger Moore wears a black bow tie, George Best rides a red (girls) bike when he was banned from driving, the Rolling Stones during their blousey, dandy period wearing jackets with lapels that need a very wide-angle lens to capture.
Seriously though, there’s a lot of good photography here, it is organised by GQ magazine and Getty Images Gallery. I’m going to organise my own exhibition of best dressed men on a £50 budget.
Rolf
December 17, 2004
There’s lots of Rolf Harris paintings (limited edition prints) at Rennie’s in Bold St. Other featured artist is Doug Hyde, bit too cute for my taste. Loads of other prints of course. Take a look at Rennies website.
Arena Art Auction
December 18, 2004
The Annual Auction at Arena gallery has become a popular pre-christmas event both for serious art collectors and others who are just looking for gift ideas. Artists donate work(s) so its not going to be their best stuff, all the proceeds go to fund Arena projects.
The evening didn’t get off to a great start for me as the promised mulled wine didn’t materialise but still plenty of normal wine and beer in exchange for donations (i.e. dead cheap). There were over 50 lots to be auctioned and the man with the gavel was Dr Paul O’Keefe who was very entertaining, the large crowd of bidders were in good spirits, joking, heckling and cheering if a price went above £100. Most items went for between £15 and £40, the highest was £160 for a large colourful canvas by Louise Wilkie.
There was also a raffle, the first prize was a christmas tree decorated with Yoko Ono nipple badges. They guy who won it now has the problem of getting it home.
Of course, I hadn’t intended to bid for anything but got carried away by it all and managed to secure a very nice ink drawing by Paul Elliker who had a painting in the recent John Moores exhibition and a scarf (‘art for the neck’) by the up-and-coming local fashion designers Regina & Sarah.
Bill Viola at the Walker
December 19, 2004
In the Bloomberg New Contemporaries this year there was a short video by David Rowland entitled ‘Bill Viola is Rubbish!’ I have to say, I agree! Well, perhaps ‘rubbish’ is a bit harsh, I just find it boring but then I’m bored by most video artwork so what do I know, a lot of people find this really moving.
There are 3 pieces: ‘Observance’ a single screen work which the Walker has purchased; a diptych called ‘Mater’ and a triptych called ‘Witness’ on loan from private collections. When I was there today the triptych had been reduced to a diptych as one of the plasma screens was broken. They all involve people acting out emotions such as fear, joy, horror etc. Viola records them at high speed on 35mm film, transfers to digital and plays back at very slow speed. Because of the high-definition film the action moves very smoothly, none of the stuttering you can get with some slow-mo and the picture and colours are perfectly clear.
So technically, very good, just a shame about the content. You have to see it for yourself though, its down to personal taste and you can admire the technique. Hope they get the broken screen working soon.
I Don’t Believe It
December 29, 2004
‘Seeing Is Believing’ at Liverpool Tate.
Seeking sanctuary from the heaving crowds of bargain hunters in the city centre I visited the relatively quiet Tate. I hate the way crowds move so slowly, I’ve always been a fast walker, as a fan of Tolkien I took on the nickname of ‘Strider’ many years ago. I reckon if I’m forced to walk below a certain speed I lose my balance and fall over.
This exhibition is another that’s linked to the City of Faith 2004 theme and is the first at Tate for 10 years to involve local people in the development. An advisory group was formed made up of members from different faiths, their comments are printed below the label for each picture. I found these useful as the relevance to faith is not obvious with all the works. For instance Anish Kapoor’s ‘As If To Celebrate, I Discovered a Mountain Blooming with Red Flowers’ which I really like, was chosen because its colours are reminiscent of Hinduism and the Festival of Holi.
There are some familiar paintings from the Tate Collection here by Barnett Newman, Bridget Riley, Stanley Spencer and Graham Sutherland amongst others and sculptures by Elizabeth Frink.
Cubism and its Legacy
December 30, 2004
The Gift of Gustav and Elly Kahnweiler
at Liverpool Tate. Another new exhibition running until May 2005, this celebrates Gustav and Elly Kahnweiler’s gift to Tate of works of art by important modern international artists including Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Fernand Léger, Juan Gris and André Masson. Although having already been seen in part at Tate Modern this year, the display has been expanded for Tate Liverpool.
Can’t quite make up my mind about Cubism or any ‘ism really. Some I like and some I don’t but the overall effect seemed a bit gloomy. Not keen on Braque’s ‘Billiard Table’ which looks terribley vandalised but I do like his charcoal still lifes. There’s Picassos a plenty but I prefer the Andre Masson works. There’s also a few Henry Moore maquettes.
Culture Cash Running Out
December 31, 2004
“CULTURE chiefs are warning that there is not enough cash to satisfy public demand for events celebrating Liverpool’s Capital of Culture win.”
No doubt we’ll have many more news items on this theme over the next few years.
Cultural Appetite Increases
December 31, 2004
Some good news to end the year on. Visits to England’s museums and galleries have risen by 75% since entry charges were scrapped three years ago. The National Museums Liverpool recorded a 94% rise in visitors. Of course, these figures don’t include all the small independent galleries. artinliverpool.com will be doing its utmost to boost the local figures further and raise public awareness of fine art over the coming years. (end of self-advert)
FACT 500K – but is it?
January 06, 2005
Apparently FACT had its 500,000th visitor recently which is great, I’m a member and love the place. I reckon I’ve probably called in about 1,000 times since it opened in Feb 2003 so I’m wondering, does that count as 1,000 visitors or just 1?
It can’t be the latter surely. Unless they have some super surveillance equipment that identifies everyone that goes through the door and knows whether they’ve been there before. Its not a website, I don’t have my IP address stuck on my forehead. And is it every visitor to the building? The staff, expecially the security guard go in and out of the doors several times a day. Or is it visits to the exhibitions, cinemas, bar and cafe? Whatever, I don’t see how it can be any more than an ‘educated’ guesstimate. Why don’t I just ask them?
FACT 500K visits – response
January 07, 2005
Yesterday I reported that FACT had recorded its 500,000th visitor since opening in Feb 2003 and I was wondering how they calculated that figure. So I asked the ever-helpful Joan Burnett (Visitor Services Manager) and here is her response..
“We use the figures generated by the infra red beam door counter on the front door – this is not fool proof as we also have a back door! It means we are probably underestimating the number of visitors through the Centre.
It would be impossible for any gallery to say exactly how many individual people come through the door – perhaps to say we’ve had 500,000 visits would be more accurate. This is pretty much the way all galleries calculate attendance and I think the most fair. Theatres can look at their ticket receipts, which is not something a gallery can do. Each time they visit, people may be using the Centre for different purposes whether it be cinema or the café or the galleries.
We have such a range of attendance – we have a very small percentage who use the Centre every day, and then a much larger constituency who come at least once a month and we still have a high percentage of first timers which is great. We know from research that we still have a long way to go before everyone in Liverpool even knows we’re here, so there’s room for growth and we certainly won’t be complacent. “
Joan goes on to say..
“I have worked in a range of arts venues both in Liverpool and elsewhere, and my own, very personal view, is that Liverpool has always had a very healthy arts attendance and a lively, engaged audience that are very quick to hold arts organisations to account – quite rightly.
For us at FACT the message is also about breaking down the resistance to new media art – bridging the gap between people’s willingness to watch TV almost reflexively and the formalisation of that process by putting screen works in galleries – we’ll get there!”
Thanks Joan.
Google Dooogle!!
January 10, 2005
dooogle.gifCory Arcangel who created the ‘Infinite Fill Zone’ and ‘I shot Andy Warhol’ installations at FACT during the Biennial is constantly coming up with more weird ideas. The latest is dooogle which looks like google but whatever you search for you get 15,300 results for Doogie Howser (an old TV show). Crazy.
Is This the Only Art Blog in the UK?
February 07, 2005
I’m constantly surfing the web for art-related sites and am surprised that there doesn’t seem to be many art blogs out there. I can’t, at the moment, recall any others in the UK but there are a few in the US.
Now at least there is a site that attempts to bring all the art sites together, GalleryDriver – the Art Blog Aggregator lists many art sites and displays the latest postings from art blogs that subscribe (including artinliverpool, of course). They also have online galleries, exhibition news etc. Its based in New York but for online stuff that doesn’t really matter. Check it out and if you find any other UK art blogs let me know.
Art in the Willows
February 22, 2005
This is turning into a bit of a travelog. After my recent trips to Manchester and London, today I visited Newton-le-Willows. Not exactly a cultural hotbed but its a nice little Merseyside town (or village even) with a nice little station and nice little park and heritage trail and now a nice little Art Gallery called Moo D’art which is actually about half of the Global Living shop on the High Street. It was established and opened only a few of weeks ago by Clair Greenall and Anne Christian (pictured here). They display and sell a nice mix of original contemporary art, relief paintings, iconography and prints. The Global Living shop also sells hand-crafted furniture, ornaments, gifts and cards. If all goes well Clair and Anne hope to open their own dedicated gallery space soon.
I enjoyed my trip to woolyback land, there’s some nice liitle pubs too.
Tracey Emin in Liverpool
February 16, 2005
Tracey Emin is in Liverpool next Thursday, Feb 24th. She’s unveiling her first piece of public art which will be outside the Oratory near the Anglican Cathedral. She’s also here to present the awards at the Arts Council art05 awards party. Hope my ticket arrives soon.
BBC Link which starts ‘Controversial artist Tracey Emin’ aaggghhh!
art05 Cinderella
February 23, 2005
Here’s my ticket for the Arts Council art05 awards party tomorrow night. Its printed on pretty pink felt! But the problem is it says ‘Smart Dress for Party’ and I don’t have a smart dress and if I did I wouldn’t wear it to go to Jump Ship Rat which is, lets be honest, a bit of a dump. Unless they’ve been refurbishing the place over the last couple of months I think some of these Arts Council n*bs are in for a bit of a shock when they find themselves at this prestigious event in an unheated old shed on the coldest night of the year in Liverpool’s red light area. HeHe.
Liverpool offers ‘free’ culture
March 14, 2005
BBC News Item: “Liverpool’s residents are set to receive free theatre, music and arts tickets worth more than £250,000 on Monday.
More than 30,000 2-for-1 tickets – valid at eight cultural centres – will be enclosed in council tax letters. “
Oo, for once I can’t wait to get my council tax bill. It will be interesting to see how many of these offers are taken up and how much (if anything) its costing the council. If the council are covering the cost I think maybe the money would be better spent supporting the small independent galleries who are struggling to find the money to pay their local taxes and rents.
Making Sense
March 15, 2005
Brain Injuries Awareness Week this week. ‘Making Sense – The Hidden Face of Brain Injury’ opened at the Conservation Centre on Saturday. Its a collaborative arts project with the Brain Injury Centre, Liverpool and TAG (The Artists Group) based in the Bridewell Studios in Liverpool.
On the mezzanine floor there are about a dozen canvases of uniform size (about 80cm sq. I guess) with acrylic paintings. The one pictured here, ‘Buena Vista 2’ grabbed my attention.
On the upper floor there’s some more acrylics, some 3D figurative models a very nice collection of smaller mono-type prints, a slide show and coloured photographic prints. I read in the (free) colour brochure that the photographs were shot on black & white film with the colours being applied later to the enlarged prints using chemical effects with toners and dyes – interesting!
The TAG artists, Steve Rooney and Sue Williams worked with the Brain Injuries Rehab Unit and NHS Carers to run over 30 workshops with up to 30 participants.
‘Making Sense aims to promote understanding about the nature of brain injury and the plight of those affected’
Well, for me anyway, its mission accomplished and I enjoyed the artwork too of course. Finishes on May 15th.
Artists/Participants: Gillian Caryl, Michael Cheeseman, Ron Cheevers, Eddie Clayton, Philip Brunston, Ashley Deam, Vivienne Disley, Ed Doyle, Mark Dunne, Tony Furlong, Bernie Gardner, Tony Houghton, Brian Jones, Billy McDonald, John McGregor, Mark McInerney, Ken McKevitt, Alan Mackay, Joe Martin, Dave Morrey, Michelle Murphy, John Nichols, Colin Parr, Ray Parry, Bernard Peers, Joe Prendergast, George Scully, Paul Sealeaf, Jenny Stringman.
Richard Wentworth at Tate Liverpool
March 22, 2005
Currently on display at Tate Liverpool is the work of the renowned British Sculptor Richard Wentworth, who emerged as a key figure during the 1980’s. This exhibition includes work spanning the past 30 years of his production, as well as pieces commissioned especially for the Tate.
The everyday object dominates his portfolio of work, approached from a playful and humorous standpoint. By altering the context of everyday objects, Wentworth succeeds in subverting and disrupting our perception. The normal purpose or associations of particular ready-made components become transformed, through their juxtaposition with other objects or the unexpected way in which they are used. This causes the viewer to re-evaluate the rudimentary meanings of not only the chosen objects but also reshapes the way we think about sculpture and works of art.
On the whole the exhibition held my attention and succeeded, as suggested by the artist, in challenging my perception from the start. The opening pieces included a sprung steel construction City where I spent some time trying to figure out how an object merely appears to skim the wall, with no visible means of attachment. Then straight into a maze of tensile barriers, more at home in your local post office than an art gallery, although much more tricky to manoeuvre with the central goal being a large straw bale.
Moving on a pattern begins to emerge with Wentworth’s continual use of particular objects. His fascination with books becomes apparent, taking on various different forms. They are filled with an assortment of materials from sweet wrappers, to tape measures and watches, or suspended impressively from the ceiling in his installation, False Ceiling. Chairs balanced with round weights are another key concern, and feature regularly throughout the exhibition. Ceramic plates also dominate two of the biggest compositions. His well-known Spread, a circle six metres in diameter containing a mish-mash of plates and Brac, a decidedly overdressed grand piano covered in broken pieces unmistakably glued back together with black epoxy resin.
For me the most outstanding room contained 30 years of Wentworth’s photographic encounters, images portraying what he perceives as his ‘background noise.’ Every picture shows a snapshot of a minute occurrence. Just some of the millions of tiny gestures which constitute everyday life, details of the world which we overlook and which regularly pass us by – a chocolate bar stopping an alarm bell ringing, an ashtray propping up a table leg. “The things I take photographs of are hard to describe because they’re not just as simple as a picture of something unusual used to keep a door open. I am interested in the broad language but I am also interested in the small event.”
What I also enjoyed about this exhibition was the interaction the viewer had with the pieces. They were not cordoned off, allowing you to move more freely around the space. The placement of art works staggered across the floor, suspended from ceilings and spanning the depth of the walls, allowed you to fully engage with the display. The labels contributed to this sense of participation, their placement leaving you free to decipher which title belonged to each artwork.
the walking stick hanging precariously over the doorway, or the oval lump of granite randomly placed next to a paper bag protruding from behind a pillar. While a little repetitive in places, the exhibition showed good cross-section of Wentworth’s work, and its playful and light-hearted approach making it well worth a visit.
Words, Jo Raven MA
Culture festival in £5m windfall
March 23, 2005
From the Daily Post: “The Government last night pledged an extra £5m towards Liverpool’s Capital of Culture celebrations. > > The announcement comes in the same month that both Tony Blair and his culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, said the city would get no further backing towards 2008. > > The U-turn, announced by the Arts Council England, North West, virtually doubles the Government cash Liverpool is to receive.”
Thats nice.