JOSEFINA POSCH EXHIBITION PREVIEW, ONE TO ONE SURGERIES AND CRITIQUE Friday 19, Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 November

ARC  is pleased to be able to offer one to one surgeries and a critique with Josefina Posch, the 2010 Art Space Portsmouth International Artist in Residence.  Josefina's exhibition - The Logic of Basho - an installation and video, opens at GASP (Gallery Art Space Portsmouth) on Friday 19 November from 6.30 to 8.30pm and is then open to the public on 20, 21 and 22 November from 12 - 4pm.

Josefina's work has been exhibited in Europe, China and the USA.  She has also successfully completed residencies in New York and Shanghai.  Her work explores interactive and kinetic sculpture, new media and moving image, with particular interest in the 'intersection between man and machine'.  During Josefina’s residency in Portsmouth she is developing a project that includes body castings from live local models.  As Josefina explains in her blog: “The idea is that these body parts from different individuals will be assembled into one figure. This figure becomes the representation for the "average" Portsmouth inhabitant. To reflect the demographics of Portsmouth I have been casting male and females white British 20-40 year old average height and weight but also representatives from the less than 10% non-white British minority communities in the area as well as persons of much older age.

The starting point for my project is the techniques of the old renaissance masters Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo’s usage of several different models in order to create one ideal figure. With the Vertruvian man Da Vinci illustrated his ideas of the ideal human (proportions) which he saw as a “cosmografia del minor mondo” (cosmography of the microcosm) believing the workings of the human body to be an analogy for the workings of the universe. But my ideas, living in the 21st century, of the perfect figure or human being is rather based upon the beauty of a multiethnic collage ofcultures existing within the same figure. It might be more connected to a baroque (from barrocco meaning imperfect pearl) idea of the necessity of imperfection in order to achieve perfection.” 

For more information, follow Josefina’s blog at:http://aspinternationalresidency2010.blogspot.com/

On Thursday 25 November from 6.30 to 8.30pm artists are invited to attend a critique with Josefina when she will consider the results of her residency.  The critique will be led by arc Lead Artist, Jonathan Parsons and held at aspex.  Please email arc@aspex.org.uk to reserve your place.

On Wednesday 24 November we have four one to one surgeries available toartists in the South East.  Artists can use these sessions to gain feedback on their work or to discuss any aspect of career development, fundraising, making proposals, or a particular project. Surgeries last 50 minutes.  To register your interest, please email a copy of your CV, artist’s statement, 4 jpeg images of current work and a paragraph or two about what you would like to discuss to arc@aspex.org.uk. 

You can find out more about Josefina and her work at http://www.wooloo.org/artists/694

6by4 Secret Postcard Exhibition & Sale this weekend!

Don't forget this weekend is the preview of the 6by4 Secret Postcard Exhibition and Sale at GASP (Gallery Art Space Portsmouth)  - so go get yourself a bargain!
Preview: Friday 12th November, 6pm - 9pm
Sale of artwork commences at 7pm on a first come first served basis

Exhibition and sale continues:
Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th November, 12noon - 5pm
at GASP, Art Space Portsmouth, 27 Brougham Road, Southsea, Hampshire, PO5 4PA

This is a one-off opportunity to buy an original art work for just £20 the perfect Christmas gift!

To help celebrate their 30th Anniversary Art Space is hosting an exhibition full of  surprises. They've asked artists, designers, musicians, TV personalities and assorted creative types to make and donate an original postcard-sized artwork in their medium of choice. The artists' identity will remain secret until the point of purchase.

Emerging talent will be shown alongside established artists and media superstars giving art lovers and collectors the chance to purchase a hidden gem at the very reasonable flat rate of £20.

Contributors include Martin Parr, Wayne Hemingway, Sir Paul Smith and Richard Wilson. They've had entries from all over the world including the Ukraine, France, USA and the British Virgin Islands. Many submissions come from artists with international reputations, some of whom have played a significant role in the history of Art Space Portsmouth and Aspex Gallery.

All proceeds from the sale of postcards will help support future Art Space projects and initiatives.

Art Space Portsmouth is a charitable organisation providing much needed support for artists in the region. 28 of the 45 members rent studio space in a converted chapel and the group makes a significant cultural contribution to the city and beyond through exhibitions, workshops and public art projects.

For further information please visit the Exhibitions section of web site:
http://www.artspace.co.uk/?page_id=3D85

Images:  Some of the postcards received - preview all of the postcards on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/groups/6by4/

400 Women

12-18 November 2010
Shoreditch Town Hall Basement, 380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT

A portrait project featuring new work by 200 artists including Tracey Emin, Maggi Hambling, Swoon, Humphrey Ocean and Portsmouth based artist Mike Bartlett in response to the widespread murders of women in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

This ambitious project was conceived by artist Tamsyn Challenger in response to the brutal murder and rape of more than 400 women over a decade in the US border town of Ciudad Juárez and the region of Chihuahua in Mexico. Some 200 exceptional artists have each painted one of the murdered women, confronting us with and safeguarding in our memory the dead and disappeared. The exhibition raises important questions about the capacity of art to represent tragedy and commemorate the dead, as well as the potential for art to affect an audience and the collective nature of grief. The exhibition is curated by Ellen Mara De Wachter, a curator and writer based in London.

The exhibitions website: 400women.tumblr.com
Shoreditch Town Hall: shoreditchtownhall.org.uk
Mike Bartlett's website: michaelbartlett.org.uk

An Orchestra Of Strings

4-14 November
The Crypt Gallery, St Pancras Church, Euston Road, London, NW1 2BA

While fear of love and loss can be a heavy subject to tackle, a group of 17 artists have come together to explore the related themes with humour and imagination. In the show, An Orchestra of Strings the artists use a variety of media including paint, sculpture, photography and film to make artworks about motherhood, ageing, absences, the memorial and overcoming fears. The result is a far- from- depressing experience.

Throughout our lives intimate attachments to other human beings are essential to our well being. The experience of loss at an early age, as we separate from our mothers, is a natural part of our psychological development. As we grow up falling in love and loving can re-stimulate these early feelings of loss leading to fears of emotional attachment. By risking loving others, a person draws strength and enjoyment of life and can contribute to give the same to others.

More details at The Crypt Gallery's website: cryptgallery.org.uk

Pictured: Saudade by Jane Tudge, see more of her work at janetudge.com