Winter Warth 2009 at the Park Gallery

Winter Warmth 2009
Saturday 31 October – Thursday 31 December 2009 at theparkgallery and Callendar House, Callendar Park, Falkirk

Now in its fifth year, Winter Warmth 2009 will focus on textile design, in all its forms. It will highlight contemporary textile design and the original and innovative use of textile materials and techniques in all areas of applied arts and crafts. A unique and tantalising array of work will be on show from sixty artists from the UK and beyond.

This year’s exhibition will be a rich, colourful and vibrant showcase of textile practices; including modern and quirky embroidery sculptures, felt flowers and insects, knitted animation, patchwork birds, crocheted ceramics, silk and corduroy quilted tapestries, woolly toys, tweed jewellery, organic cotton cushions, velvet handbags and linen cards.

This exhibition includes work by artists at the forefront of their practice. For example:

Michael Brennand–Wood is internationally regarded as one of the most innovative and inspiring artists working in textiles. His recent work is inspired by traditions of floral imagery which have utilised computerised machine embroidery, acrylic paint, wood, glass and collage. Michael’s work can be seen all over the world, including in the Victoria and Albert Museum, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, in Japan and the National Gallery of Australia. He was appointed Visiting Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2005 and is Research Fellow at the University of Ulster.

Aberdeen artist Donna Wilson is one of Scotland’s most notable young textile designers. She will exhibit an installation of her playful and bright knitted creatures and toys that are inspired by the everyday oddities and deformities of life.
A graduate of Glasgow School of Art Deirdre Nelson’s textile work employs a variety of techniques and materials fusing traditional textile skills and contemporary reinterpretation through photography and digital manipulation. She has been artist in residence in a variety of locations from Sutherland, Outer Hebrides to Western Australia, creating work for exhibitions and with local communities. She has recently been selected for the Jerwood Contemporary Makers award.

Abigail Brown’s work is instantly endearing and full of childhood charm, she makes beautifully crafted bird sculptures with scraps of materials and eccentric hand stitching. Stirling based artist Iona Crawford, is described by Vogue magazine as "one of the most avant-garde young fashion designers emerging today".

Claire Moynihan a recent textile graduate from the University of Hertfordshire creates hand embroidered artistic insects in felt balls as part of her entomological collection, using local and sustainable alpaca wool. Her work can currently be seen in London at Paul Smith's and it will be in Liberty's from the end of September.

French artist Ode Marie and is now based in London, she explores handicraft techniques such as knitting, crochet and embroidery to create colourful three dimensional sculptures and fashionable pieces of jewellery. Sarah Symes grew up in the UK and is currently living in California; she creates her unique textile abstract tapestries from scratch, hand-dyeing different colours of cloth for each piece before cutting, stitching, and layering the entire composition together. She won the Best of Show prize at the Los Angeles Art Association last year.

“We’re tremendously excited about this new exhibition of textile design at the Park Gallery and Callendar House. All work is for sale and available to take away. It will be a great opportunity to see innovative artwork of the highest standard, and will provide an irresistible choice if you’re looking for unique ideas for your Christmas shopping,” says Gillian Smith, Arts Development Officer.

The Park Gallery and Callendar House opening hours from October: Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm/ Admission is free, all welcome!

Participating Artists

Max Alexander
Harriet Appleby
Maggie Ayres
Michael Brennand - Wood
Claire Brown
Abigail Brown
Annette Bugansky
Janet Clarke
Pauline Coddington
Sylvia Corsie
Iona Crawford
Kandy Diamond
Anna Divers
Victoria Evans
Betty Fraser Myerscough
Midge Gourlay
Anita Hutchison
Wendy Inkster
Jo Jack
Samantha Jack
Gourlay Jenkins
Rebecca Johnston
Louise Kirby
Vikki Lafford
Ruth Lee
Stephanie Liddle
Ode Marie
Sheena May
Paola McClure
Lyndsay McFarlane
Angharad McLaren
Carol Meldrum
Claire Moynihan
Pringle & Murray
Joanna Neil
Deirdre Nelson
Agnieszka Niciak-Marciniak
Clare Nicolson
Louise Oppenheimer
Sue Rankine
Marilyn Rattray
Ebba Redman
Mouse and Bean
Jenny Sweetnam
Sarah Symes
Annette Tait
Moira Third
Lucy Turner
Morag Tweedie
Allison Weightman
Donna Wilson
Nicola Wilson
Sylvia Woodford
Shona Young

From James Trust, United Kingdom
I'm disappointed that the Labour/ Tory administration has forced through the closure of The Park Gallery in Falkirk, which was a wee cultural jewel in Falkirk district. The culprits who voted for its closure were: Cllr Linda Gow (Labour) ,Cllr Alex Waddell (Independent Labour), Cllr Craig Martin (Labour), Provost Pat Reid (Labour), Depute Provost Allyson Black(Labour), Cllr Charles MacDonald (Labour)|,Cllr Craig R Martin(Labour),Cllr Gerry Goldie (Labour), Cllr John Patrick (Conservative),Cllr Joe Lemetti (Labour),Cllr Adrian Mahoney (Labour) Cllr Billy Buchanan (Independent) Cllr Malcolm Nicol (Conservative), Cllr Alan Nimmo (Labour). Philistines one and all!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/sign-the-petition-to-save-the-park-gallery-falkirk

Exclusive - A new play by Falkirk Writer Alan Bisset

Come along to the exclusive first performance of the one - woman show

"TIMES WHEN I BITE"

Written and performed by Alan Bissett

Author of Boyracers and The Incredible Adam Spark

Directed by Sacha Kyle Winner of Arches New Director Award 09

Friday 6th March doors at 7.30pm @ the Glen Club, Glen Village, Hallglen

£3 entry

All proceeds going to Hallglen Primary School

Warning : Content not suitable for children

Rabbie Burns in Falkirk

Dan Mailer has written a piece for the next edition of the Village Voice Magazine, VV5, about the time The Bard spent the night in Falkirk and wrote a poem as a result of his visit. We are in the process of finding out which one...

In the meantime here's a photograph, taken by Helen Beurskens, of the plaque that marks the spot where he stayed the night, 25th August 1787, at the East end of the High Street.

Calendar Park in the Snow

Here's some lovely photos of the recent snow in Calendar Park taken from Symon Tower, by Catherine Anderson. Beautiful!!

Calendar Pics from Virginia, USA

A photograph sent to us from Forest, VA, USA by Mrs L. Boswell.

More Calendar pics

More pictures of the Calendar in situ.... with thanks to Westend Cabinetmakers, Glasgow; Walter Simms, Designer,Callendar House: Gillian Smith, Community Engagement, Martin Richmond in Security, Elaine Craig Arts Development Officer for Music, Callendar House.

Yvonne's Kitchen

Here's an image of the Calendar in the kitchen of Yvonne Cieslar. Yvonne has recently moved to the Callendar High Flats and joined the Village Voice group, she featured in the October page of the Calendar modelling the Tank top made by Mandy McIntosh.

Here's an image of the Calendar up in the office of Ruth Barker, who organises the PARS website. We have been contributing to a blog for PublicArtScotland over the last year at www.publicartscotland.com

The Calendar in California

Here's an image sent by Alex from California, he's been in San Fran again.

Calendar Pics - In Situ

Here's a picture of the Calendar up on the notice-board of Richard Higlett an artist based in Cardiff. (www.richardhiglett.com)
It would be great to get more images of any other Calendars now they have been sent out, so if you have received one, please take a photo and send a jpeg image to janienicoll@yahoo.co.uk. We'll include them in the next edition of the Village Voice magazine due out in February, or on the website.www.vvgroup-falkirk.org. Thanks !!

The TWINS Calendar

The TWINS Calendar 2009 has been distributed to every flat in the Callendar Park High Flats, featuring the work of 12 Scottish Artists as listed below. Each artist has been teamed up with a resident or with a member of the Village Voice group. The artworks were photographed in the home of each resident and also contain a selection of Scottish Recipes. We hope the Calendar will be a useful as well as an interesting household item.

JANUARY Alex Hetherington Judy Beattie
FEBRUARY Amy Marletta Irene Dickson
MARCH Cath Whippey Ann Miller
APRIL Hanneline Visnes Marion McLuckie
MAY Jim Colquhoun Dan Mailer
JUNE James McLardy Mary Johnston
JULY Janie Nicoll Isabel Johnston
AUGUST Kenny Hunter Helen Young
SEPTEMBER Lindsay Perth Helen Beurskens
OCTOBER Mandy McIntosh Yvonne Cieslar
NOVEMBER Rachel Mimiec Catherine Anderson
DECEMBER Tommy Grace Chris Smith

Information about the Artists

JANUARY Alex Hetherington
“Campaign For A Hollywood Walk of Fame In Falkirk 2009”

www.alexhetherington.com

FEBRUARY Amy Marletta
'Untitled'. Video Projection, Gold Shoes.

Amy Marletta is a visual artist based in Glasgow. Her work is multi disciplinary involving video, performance, music and collage. Amy graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee in 2002 and since then has exhibited at home and abroad. She is currently undertaking a Masters of Fine Art at Glasgow School of Art.
www.ganghut.co.uk

MARCH Cath Whippey

Cath Whippey aims to create magical and fascinating moments. In recent work she has explored metamorphosis, transformation and change through masks, worn items, sculpture and animation and video pieces. These are often experienced as temporary projects in public spaces, including projection and installation, in gallery exhibition and at artists’ film and video events.

http://cathwhippey.50webs.org/

APRIL Hanneline Visnes

“The Spoonmakers Diamond” Oil on Board, 29 x 25 cm

Hanneline was born in Bergen, Norway but lives and works in Glasgow. She gained a BA and MFA from Glasgow School of Art . She has exhibited widely in Britain and abroad and is represented by Doggerfisher Gallery, Edinburgh.
www.doggerfisher.com


MAY Jim Colquhoun

'A State of Nature' Poster work

Jim Colquhoun is an artist and writer based in Glasgow. His work seeks to negotiate the boundaries between art and life, waking and dreaming, fiction and fact. To this end he produces drawings, installations, performances and texts. He has shown recently in Edinburgh, Copenhagen, New York, Akureyri and Glasgow.

JUNE James McLardy

'Grand Parallel’ Tufa, Wood, Foam

James McLardy's work encompasses drawing, video and sculpture, which he combines in order to observe and arrange objects to suggest their gesture, narrative and authenticity. Recent sculptures bring together modern materials like MDF and silicon sealant with traditional methods and materials like wood carving, bronze casting and Tufa

www.glasgowsculpturestudios.org/
www.re-title.com/artists/james-mclardy


JULY Janie Nicoll

“Family History”

Installation, bed and digital projection of slide images.
Janie Nicoll generally uses photography and installation to make artworks. This digital projection was made using slides taken by Isobel’s late husband during the sixties and seventies. These had been left in a box, unseen for decades. They were scanned and made into a single digital image and projected, imitating the original slides.

AUGUST Kenny Hunter

"Out on the rolling Sea". Resin, paint, wooden roof shingle. 2008

Born in Edinburgh in 1962, Kenny Hunter studied sculpture at Glasgow School of Art between 1983 and 1987. He has exhibited extensively in Britain and Abroad including solo exhibitions at Arnolfini 1998, Scottish National Portrait Gallery 2000, CCA 2003 , Yorkshire Sculpture Park 2006 and Tramway, 2008. Hunter has also created a number of high profile, commissioned works in Scotland including; Cherub/Skull, 1997 for the Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Man walks among us, 2000, for Glasgow Museums, Youth with split apple, 2005 for Kings College, Aberdeen and Citizen Firefighter, 2001, outside Glasgow’s Central Station. Kenny Hunter lives and works in Glasgow.

SEPTEMBER Lindsay Perth

“Doorways” video work

Lindsay Perth is a Canadian born artist, who has lived in Scotland since 1986. A graduate from Duncan of Jordanstone in BFA Printmaking and PostDip Electronic Imaging, Perth’s artwork is often motivated by collaborative art processes. Many of her artworks engage with diverse social groups and individuals. Although predominantly but not defined by media based work, her approach is interdisciplinary and includes screen-based work, installation, photography and performance. She is currently artist-in-residence for Street Level Photowork's Collaborative Arts project, Multi-story.
www.lippi.org
www.multi-story.org


OCTOBER Mandy McIntosh

Tank Top

Mandy McIntosh is a Glasgow based artist who uses an array of media: animation, video and knitting in the development of her projects. Employing a variety of methods McIntosh’s work often responds to particular social, historical and geographical contexts. Mandy has recently been featured in the book “Knit Knit, Knitting's New Wave”.

www.hamandenos.com/

NOVEMBER Rachel Mimiec

“Moon Leaves” Aluminium leaves

Rachel Mimiec is an artist who works with people in communities, while also developing and exhibiting her own work. Her most recent exhibition was at Tramway in Glasgow and was the result of a residency in The Hidden Gardens.

www.rachelmimiec.com

DECEMBER Tommy Grace

“Fifteen Easy Pieces” Oil on Canvas

Tommy Grace's work is a play of opposites, balancing tight draftsmanship with messy gesture. Previous paintings present imagined ruins, meticulously drawn from Classical architecture but swimming beneath the random stains of Rorschach inkblots, or exquisite geometric patterns skilfully corralled from a testing combination of red wine and blotting paper. Taking the disposable detritus of our everyday, consumer-driven lives and playfully combining it with historical reference, Grace explores the legacy and lifespan of things, considering current visual culture through that of the past.

“Fifteen Easy Pieces” casts a realist eye across the scant remains of a dinner party and a chance display of abstract mini-masterpieces.

www.inglebygallery.com/