EXHIBITONS
1995
1996
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006 2007 2008
-1995-
1st Joined Exhibition called Seconds out ISIS Gallery- Melmerby
Cumbria
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-1996-
1st Solo Exhibition called Circle Triangle Square ISIS Gallery- Melmerby Cumbria
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-1997-
Organised separate Degree Show In a disused industrial space called Shaddon Mills in Carlisle for 8 fellow students also working on large scaled sculptures on my year.
1997-1998: New Deals Scheme, working with P.A.C.C ( Practical Alternative to Care or Custody) a youth program offering creative solutions for young offenders to interact with society.
1997-1998: Blue Gate Montessori School- Carlisle.
This involved my 1st Commission, with the support of PACC, I designed and built an interactive playground constructed around a living tree. It was designed the structure with the help of the children at the school (ages 2-7)
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1998
1997-1998: New Deals Scheme, working with P.A.C.C ( Practical Alternative to Care or Custody) a youth program offering creative solutions for young offenders to interact with society.
1997-1998: Blue Gate Montessori School- Carlisle.
This involved my 1st Commission, with the support of PACC, I designed and built an interactive playground constructed around a living tree. It was designed the structure with the help of the children at the school (ages 2-7)
The Northern Graduates Exhibition- Curwen Gallery & New Academy Gallery in Central London. A group show comprising of 18 graduates selected from 15 Universities in the North of England. My work sold out.
Grizedale Sculpture Park, Lake District, Cumbria. A public commission of 2 major sculptures over 4 months residency situated within the beautiful Grizedale Forest Park and Sculpture Trail.
During this period of transition from being a student into the real world, I met Robert Howy Smith who was a mature student just starting a Creative Arts Degree at CCAD. Straight away we discussed the advantages of artists working together and how a group of artist working under one umbrella have a greater chance of making a mark in the Art World than a single individual.
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-1999-
A POSITIVE STEP
The beginning of 1999 spelt the end of my time in Cumbria, and as a final tribute the a land I fell in love with, I created my first major public art action to celibate my departure. On January 7th 1999 with only a bag on my back, I left Carlial for London, and a hole new perspective on life and the artists way.
As I embarked on this new adventure, I found my camera and photography was to be a great way to get out and exerace the London Party Seen. Within a few months, I had linked up with a unique theatre company called The Warp directed by Ken Campbell and his daurghter Dassy a play written by Neal Orem. We began to develop a 24-hour experience in central London to accompany this rather unusual theatre play leading up to the Millennium.
The Warp Experience: A 24 hour theatre show and experience, based within the arches under London Bridge station.
I co-organised a series of 9 / 24-hour shows, involving the creation of The Meta-Conceptual Gallery, in which I curated 9 extremely diverse and challenging exhibition inviroments.
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-2000-
The TAZ: a Temporary Autonomous Zone. In an old disused ABC cinema on South End Green- Hampstead Heath- London. The building was split as one half theatre and one half Meta-Conceptual Gallery. We were given temporary use of the space by GHB Developing Group. The TAZ allowed the creation of The Art Organisation Limited, from which came our first members.
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-2001-
March 2001: The Art Organisation Ltd was registered with non- profit status at Companies House of England and Wales on 5th March 2001as a Private Limited Company by Guarantee (company no. 04172873). Volunteer Co-directors of the company are Robert Howie Smith and Gregory Scott-Gurner. Paul Flack is company secretary.
Sept. 2001: The 1st Meta-Conceptual Gathering (MCG01)- Somerset
The Meta-Conceptual Gathering was inspired by the desire to create out-door artworks (Outstalations) that were not overshadowed by commercial enterprises that you find at the majority of modern festivals. It was our intention to provide a space for artist to come to gather and manifest there ideas in a rural environment that aloud the freedom for their creativity.
Oct. 2001:The start of the 491 Gallery- Leytonstone. London
During this year, I became a young father and again had to find even greater solution to survive. It was at this point I put my hands into interior design and build, using as much recycled material as I could find. Very quickly I learnt all the major skills needed to regenerate a property. Soon after my daughter Jasmine was born, I incorporated these newfound skills with TAO, and opened a disused property in Leytonstone that we called The 491 Gallery.
From 2001 to 2005, I lived and worked on the development and curation of 491 Gallery. Over those 3 years, I gained an amazing amount of experience working with artists, musicians, actors and performers from within and around the community; people from all walks of life.
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-2002-
From 2001 to 2005, I lived and worked on the development and curation of 491 Gallery. Over those 3 years, I gained an amazing amount of experience working with artists, musicians, actors and performers from within and around the community; people from all walks of life.
Sept 2002: MCG02, www.theworldwideweb, The Pod- Somerset / Liverpool Biennial 02 / 491Gallery
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-2003-
From 2001 to 2005, I lived and worked on the development and curation of 491 Gallery. Over those 3 years, I gained an amazing amount of experience working with artists, musicians, actors and performers from within and around the community; people from all walks of life.
Sept 2003: MCG03- Coed Hills- Wales, The Pod
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-2004-
From 2001 to 2005, I lived and worked on the development and curation of 491 Gallery. Over those 3 years, I gained an amazing amount of experience working with artists, musicians, actors and performers from within and around the community; people from all walks of life.
Sept 2004: MCG04, Liverpool Biennial 04 / 491Gallery / The Pod / Unlimited Funding for the Boat Project
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-2005-
From 2001 to 2005, I lived and worked on the development and curation of 491 Gallery. Over those 3 years, I gained an amazing amount of experience working with artists, musicians, actors and performers from within and around the community; people from all walks of life.
Sept 2005: MCG05, The Pod- Devon
As a result of 491, I have had the opportunity to speak about regeneration on radio (BBC You & Yours plus others...) and on TV (Richard & Judie Channel 4).
More recently in 2005, I was invited to Brussels to take part and speak in a European debate on the subject of temporary use of disused space, organised by a group called Precare part of Citymine.
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-2006-
So much happened in this year I haven't had a chance to conpile all the information yet!
TAO has gone from strength to strength braking into the International Art World, at the Liverpool Biennial 2006, with our Ropewalks Project. As well as working on our involvement in Liverpool Capital of Culture 2008 and Liverpool Biennial 08.
Liverpool Ropewalks Regeneration Art Project
Launching at The Liverpool Biennial 2006,TAO, in association with Frenson Limited, are offering its members, a selection of working artists in the Liverpool local community, graduate artists from art-related courses at Liverpool John Moore’s University and Universities in the North West of England, and an exciting array of international artists, the opportunity to exhibit within five TAO galleries in Liverpool; to work toward the production of new artwork, produce arts based workshops for the community and exhibit in designated spaces and venues, curated by The Art Organisation, through The Ropewalks district of the City in The Liverpool Biennial 2006, and be part of the district’s artistic regeneration and Liverpool’s progression toward the City of Culture 2008.
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-2007-
Neo Public Art in Practice; is the action of temporarily utilising disused or derelict urban space, from empty commercial buildings to fallow city spaces, like parks or car parks. Its aim is to produce artworks, exhibitions and performances within the public realm. Through interacting directly with their audiences, artists create new opportunities for themselves to show their work in buildings and on walls that would otherwise remain unseen or bare and highlight open-space, passed through apathetically by hundreds of us on a daily basis. Neo (new) public art is dependant on placing objects and situations directly into context with its environment on a temporary basis only. Moving away from the 200 year or more bronze statue, or marble figures (‘plus tasteful architectural fountain designed by distant highly regarded artist’ - Rozak) allowing artwork to be seen and experienced by people that may not make the choice to engage with ‘Art’, let alone consider going into a white walled gallery space. Not ruling out the beauty and benefits of permanent artworks, Neo Public Art is designed by its ephemeral nature to be seen in the timeframe that it exists by those who see it, and then it’s gone. The exhibition and its impermanency to places, focuses the importance on the manifestation of the work and its successful exposure to a new audience, whilst allowing for a more meta-conceptual approach and understanding of shared space.
Meta-Conceptualism; is the process of manifesting ones artwork beyond the singular concept of being an artist.
