Take no Notice

Gallery: Elective Galleries 1, 2 and 3 at Cadman Studio, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent

Exhibited and Curated by Leasley McTear, Rachel Miles, Sarah Crisp and Niki Taylor

Date: 26/03/09

What is it about? I’m going to be tempted on doing another pun joke on this exhibition, but basically, one minute you don’t see anything particular strange and the next minute, something out of nowhere appears, shock you and then a few seconds later, it disappeared, leaving you clearly bemused.

What’s Interesting? Rachel Miles gets a good start on about this peculiar theme in elective gallery, with ambiguous paintings of people without any features or faces, whereas interestingly, Leasley McTear’s ‘paintings’ of colourful mould seem to hang at the bottom of the wall, further getting to the point of the theme. And through going to elective gallery three, Niki Taylor’s interesting pieces about the consequences of having plastic surgery seems to have shock a few people. And finally, Sarah Crisp’s works are very interesting; at least to the eyes, where everything is white, either portraying loss of childhood or things we have forgotten.

What’s Not So Interesting? Nothing particularly that is least interesting to me, though they should at least put a nudity warning sign on elective gallery three, in case curious children accidentally went in there and have some sort of psychological trauma in later life.

Overall? Either I missed something is right about this exhibition or is there anything wrong with the layout.

extra Ordinary

Gallery: Elective Galleries 1 and 2 at Cadman Studio, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent

Exhibited and Curated by Sharon Mellor, Carmen Mullen, Daniel O’Neill and Quynh Tran

Date:  12/03/09

 What is it about? Unusual that I’m going to review my own exhibition, but this is just an extra review that I like to do. And our theme is that sometimes that even the most dull, everyday life can be turned into something very magical and special to each person’s eyes; this is our interpretation of this.

 What’s Interesting? Split between 2 elective galleries, it has a very neat layout that sits in between the photography section (elective gallery 1) and the paintings by Daniel O’Neill (elective gallery 2). And interestingly, many people thought that going through the artworks in order, is like transitioning from childhood-like playfulness and innocence, to the dull-looking everyday life that some adults have lost them for some time. And it was nice to see some people commenting on my piece, which I refuse to call it artwork and instead, call it an unusual version of a narrative comic.

 What’s Not So Interesting? Nothing, but some people suggested that there should be more objects, more pieces of artwork and bits that people keep telling me to put some more (although in my opinion, adding more objects will only increase the spoilt look of the gallery and that I don’t like crowded objects ruining the view).

 Overall? At least, the exhibition made many people put a smile on their face, though barely a few people actually came to write their comments.

Spectrum

Gallery: Elective Galleries 1, 2 and 3 at Cadman Studio, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent

Exhibited and Curated by Amberle Dickson, Daniela Iannucci, Laura Cookson and Stacy Gibson

Date: 26/02/09

What is it about? Colours. And expect to see a lot of them, as the artists are expressing themselves through excitement and fusions of colour swirling in all elective galleries.

What’s Interesting? If you like the colours of the dirt spectrum, i.e. just the greys and browns, you are going to be either disappointed or have your eyes in wincing pain after a few minutes of browsing each piece. And I like how Amberle Dickson hung a few pieces that look like a pair of stylish designed handbags, which gave me a chuckle or two. And I really like Stacy Gibson’s circular piece, where it looks like a star has been born in the universe and Daniela Iannucci’s floor piece had a great layout on putting a painting piece of printed shoe prints on – it feels like I want to walk on that!

What’s Not So Interesting? Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending if you are a colour blinded person), I didn’t have my camera, due to some technical difficulties, i.e. dead battery that needs recharging. Strangely, I felt strangely ill, whenever I look at Stacy Gibson’s works and Iannucci’s acid-trip pieces. And I was a bit distracted, when the tag positioning was ill-placed below the works itself.

Overall? Very beautiful and colourful exhibition, only slightly let-down on getting the tag-labelling work well. Just don’t get your eyes very close to them.

[in]significance (sic)

Gallery: Elective Gallery 2 and 3 at Cadman Studio, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent

Exhibited and Curated by Mary Smith, Debbie Mills, Roseanne Omsan and Jennie Malbon

Date: 12/02/09

What is it about? The theme’s about objects, no matter how normal, great, mundane or whatever description you want to put to everyone, they’re seem boring to you and me. However, there will be times that these same objects can be something important to a selected group of people. And hence the pun with a sic tag for that pretty visual font display, [in]significance (sic).

What’s Interesting? Omsan’s childhood-innocence-gone-horror Tooty Fairy jar seems to have hit the mark, with its stand and pretty lighting effects, making it delicate, yet sinister-looking. And then there’s Mary Smith’s selection; thanks to the atmospheric lighting design, like the rustic keys hanging on, giving an ‘imprint’ to the crippled paper, which I’m amazed I thought it was just a piece of fabric.  And even her photographs, which they were just pictures of dressing pins on foam up close, have been cleverly pinned on the wall with dressing pins, giving it a fragile feminine aura to them.

What’s Not So Interesting? I’m not blaming Jennie Malbon’s works for having some rather ‘interesting’ drawings of scribble nonsense, though one of them looks like a heart, it’s the poorly-lit corridor of Gallery Three I’m complaining, due to the fact, there’s only one laughable working ceiling light. And don’t get me started on Debbie Mills’s works: although her 2D piece works fine on the wall, it’s the 3D pieces that are somehow felt a bit distant and distracted from the other artists’ works that have a good theme flowing along.

 Overall? A few hits and misses on the works and some of them aren’t slightly fitting to the theme, but [in]significance (sic) is very interesting, with fragile, sensitive and interesting works that progresses from formality to personal.