contemporary temporary artspace

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Gallery 39

Contemporary Temporary Webspace

events & projects

G39 often organises events or projects that are designed to reach a wider audience and engage with a mixed public.

residency programme at Fairbridge Inner City Youth Project with artists Maria Wilson and Gail Howard

Gail Howard Fairbridge Residency

Maria Wilson Fairbridge Residency

With the support of Cywaith Cymru·Artworks Wales, g39 organised two residencies during 2001 with Fairbridge, a charity that rehabilitates marginalised young people. We hoped to encourage the young people to understand and take interest in contemporary art through their direct involvement in the artists' making process. Both residencies gave all involved the chance to explore and discuss ideas which were then developed through the production of an artwork. The residencies not only gave the clients at Fairbridge the opportunity to work with professional artists but also to have their work exhibited at g39. The In Retrospect exhibition was a vital and exciting complement to both residencies.

Working with video, Maria Wilson encouraged the young people to examine ideas of memory and story telling. The final work both challenged and engaged the viewer, demonstrating sophistication in the young people's ideas that is rarely given the opportunity to be expressed or developed. Following the In Retrospect exhibition that profiled her work 'Doll's House,' Gail Howard undertook the second residency at Fairbridge. Using Doll's House as a staring point, Gail encouraged the young people to express their ideas through their manipulation of a real house.

Essentially this project not only gave the participants the chance to explore their own identity as individuals and as a group but it has also encouraged mutual respect and understanding between group members and the artist. The fact that the work has then been exhibited in a 'proper' exhibition gives credence to the work and a sense of achievement to all involved.

spring fęte

In May 2001 g39 ran a one-day event- the g39 Spring Fęte. Parodying the traditional spring fęte artists were invited to make games or intervention work within the framework of the traditional village day out.

The g39 Spring Fęte created a fun environment for people to come in and take part in the gallery and the art. We hoped that through this we could encourage new audiences into the space, break down boundaries between the artist and the public, and encourage children and young people to come to g39.

The idea of the Spring Fęte evolved out of an earlier show at g39, 'Under Construction' where artists were dealing with ideas of the constructed landscape. The Spring Fęte looked at many of these issues through parody. Artists were invited to devise games along the lines of a spring fęte but with a contemporary twist. Amongst others the 'International Owl Project' (Simon Blackmore and Tony Hall) made a version of Catch The Rat, Phil Martin organised Pin the Fig Leaf on David, an art Tombola was made by Rob Pitwell and Ruth Pelopida & Gail Howard made cakes and Elvis gingerbread men. There was also much tea-drinking and cake for the grown ups, a jumble sale and perhaps the highlight of the day was a Z Lab music performance by Paul Granjon.

The day was great fun. Many people came and stayed for the afternoon and we were able to promote the gallery to new visitors. People also came in off the street and had a look around, and we did reach new target audiences.

summer fete[02]

Watch this space! Scheduled this year for the 21st July it looks like it will be bigger and better than last year's.