The Twelve working days til Christmas

Janice Thorn- mosaics, Theresia Cadwallader- bead jewellery and Nathan Pendlebury

The show is on until the 20th of January, email alison.roberts@2bio.co.uk to visit, with many Christmas gift ideas from local artists and contemporary craftspeople.

Artwork coming in

We have books from Stephanie de Leng, 15 photos from Michael Burns, lots of photos from Roger Sinek and Nathan Pendulbury, 4 prints from Joel Bird, 1 giclee print from Claire McCarthy, lots of works by Susan Meyerhoof Sharples including Christmas trees, Prints and cards from Freida McKitrick, watercolour/ink drawings from Jane Hughes, mosaics from Janice Thorn, 4 framed photos taken this weekend by Sebastian Cowden, prints of Chris Millichamp's watercolours, jewellery from Alison Bailey Smith and Theresia Cadwallader....and more!

New show starting 9th of December

WATCH THIS SPACE

Jane Hughes of About here is On the Edge

Jane Hughes who is currently showing at MerseyBIO is also part of Future Station at Metal, Edge Hill Station

She will be showing ten drawings from her latest documentary drawing project: On the Edge.

On the Edge is a project aimed at capturing life in the brave small businesses clinging on to life amidst the demolition and regeneration of the Wavertree Road area. The shops have approximately 12 months before they are demolished and many only renew their leases on a 3 monthly basis.

You might be interested in this because it's just up from Mount Vernon behind MerseyBIO, 5 minutes away and it's just such a different world!

The exhibition continues until 20th November and is open on Saturdays from 12 until 4.00pm and Tuesday to Friday times are 2 - 6.00pm.

There are other events happening - nights of music , film and theatre, so it's going to be a lively two weeks.

Susan Meyerhoff Sharples

Susan Meyerhoff Sharples’ an international artist is based at Elevator studios Liverpool, was born and educated in the Merseyside area gaining a first class honours degree in Fine Art from John Moores University, Liverpool. In 2004 she was awarded a Fellowship from Wirral Art School.

Her work is concerned with evolution, provocative defence systems and the primal instinct for survival achieved via diversity and adaptation. Repetition is a constant element in the work: repetition within diversity and diversity within repetition.

She creates hybrid sculptural forms exposing a glimpse of evolutionary fantasy, suggesting relationships between ancient organisms and their modern descendants. Their ambiguity reflects cultural, social and environmental concerns of identity, protection, genetic engineering and global warming. Viewed from a playful perspective, they transform a materials utilitarian functionality into mythical forms linking prehistoric with futuristic.

Recent work, Cultural Crossing Series has been supported by World Museum, Bluecoat Liverpool, Atelierhaus Salzamt Austria, Ars Electronica Austria, Maerz Kunstlervereinigung, Austria, Sinebrychoff Gallery, Finland.

Exhibitions, commissions and collections include: America, UK, Eire, Canada, Spain, Austria and Israel.
Larger outdoor sculptures can be seen at:
Lancelyn Green Sculpture Garden, Poulton Hall Wirral.
The Woman’s Hospital, Liverpool.
The Leonardo Centre, Neston, Wirral.
South Wirral High School. Wirral.
Hope University, Liverpool.
Mount Pleasant Gardens, Cheshire.

BA Hons Fine Art
www.susanmeyerhoffsharples.com

Jane Hughes: About here

Jane Hughes was born and educated in Liverpool, gaining a first class honours degree in Fine Art at Liverpool John Moores University.
Since November 2008, Hughes has been involved in a documentary project at Liverpool Hope University where she has been Artist in Residence. This follows a similar archival project at Liverpool John Moores University.
Hughes’ work has been shown in a number of juried national and international exhibitions. During October/November 2010, a series of her drawings will be featured in an internationally selected exhibition in the Czech Republic.
Hughes’ landscape paintings are all developed from on-site drawing and note making, never using a camera in preference to a much longer engagement with the real experiences of being there.
This may involve moving through, or simply sitting reflectively in the landscape. Sometimes a series of drawings emerges as a finished statement, and at other times they become part of an evolving and reductive process, resulting in acrylic paintings.
Hughes’ paintings concern the purity of the experience, often with all recognisable shapes being stripped away to leave the landscape represented by simple bands of colour.

Christine O'Reilly Wilson: About here

"The Language of Colour

Painting Colour has been my chosen method of artistic self expression for the last ten years or so. Through the language of abstract colour combinations I attempt to evoke a glimpse of past experience. Using translucent paint is a means of allowing the colour to build in intensity while also allowing the previous mark-making to be seen.Working on a large scale allows me to become absorbed into the colour and generates an intuitive response allowing further creative development.

Printmaking formed a large part of my working process throughout my years at University but I never had the same enthusiasm when leaving the easy access to a printing press, upon graduating. Working mostly upon canvas, painting in acrylics employs many aspects of the printing process.

I will pour, splash, sponge and imprint colour onto the surface. Paint is applied to the surface of the canvas and can be scraped, scoured, sponged, wiped away or applied in thick opaque areas to cover over the previous painting. Colour intensity develops within the translucent layers.

With colour I am attempting to convey my own experience of humanity. Using the confines of the stretched canvas as the rigid boundary of my expression I concern myself with colour and the structure of a balanced composition. Over several layers the colour develops intensity and allows me to become absorbed into the colour.

Christine O’Reilly Wilson
2010

Wendy Williams

Wendy Williams: About here at MerseyBIO

Wendy Williams studied Fine Art in Birmingham and took additional further studies later on in Liverpool, in both Community Arts and Interior design.

She has won several awards for her work and has been involved in artist exchange programmes in the UK, Europe and America.

The mixed areas of study has enabled her work to evolve and adapt from the painterly order of earlier years, to the more recent combinations of mixed media.

A concern for the environment has been the basis for this recent body of work. Working primarily with recycled materials, she uses plastic as a tool to convey the relationship between our own existence in the use of these materials with their or our follow on journey after disposal.

'A Means of Travel' was one of the works shown recently in the Independent Biennial exhibition 'about Here', at The Gallery, Liverpool. It is one of many pieces in which wings have been used to convey this personal journey.

It not only follows the literal interpretation of the Biennial integral theme of 'Touched', but conveys a sense of being 'moved' by the destructive elements of pollution.

Our new exhibitors

Our next exhibition at MerseyBIO opens on Wednesday evening
in the incubator building, MerseyBIO
at the Biosciences building on Crown Street, Liverpool.


Susan Meyerhoff Sharples
Wendy Williams
Jane Hughes
Christine O'Reilly Wilson

About here. Image by Billy Wilson of The Gallery, Stanhope Street

The exhibition "About here" is on public viewing at The Gallery in Stanhope Street, near Cains Brewery. The four artists make good use of the changeable hanging space, opening the centre up for all the work to be viewed as a whole. The show ends at The Gallery on the 17th of October. The image used on our invitation is by Billy Wilson of The Gallery, a wonderful shot of Sue Sharples piece "Follow the Spoor".

Our next exhibition: About Here

Former exhibitor _ Stephanie De Leng

Our exhibitor from January, Stephanie de Leng has an exhibition of photographs called Body Landscapes at Blackburne House on Hope Street. If you would like to read a review of the exhibition go to l

Alex Corina - Collectibles

The collectable ware in the cabinet in the kitchen is made of bone china and features Alex Corina's Mona Lennon and 3 graces. The pieces are decorated by hand using printed ceramic transfers, hand finished then fired to 800 degrees. The picture here was taken in Alex's studio in Garston.

When our exhibition is finished the mugs and placques can be purchased through this site http://www.liverpoolshop.com/blog/new-liverpool-art-mug-collection-october-2009

Alex's show will be finishing on the 14th of July so enjoy the artwork in the incubator while it is still there. We will be having a break from exhibitions for the summer while we resolve the issue of the lack of natural light due to the building work next door.

Former exhibitor at Blackburne House

Click on the title of the posting for details of Stephanie De Leng's exhibition. Open to the public from the 5th of July at Blackburne House on Hope street.

Roger Phillips will chair a paneled debate entitled "Body Image and the Media and how it affects Young Adults" July 15th from 6.30 - 8.30 pm at the same venue. It is open to all, but again you are asked to RSVP. I am looking for a young female between 16 - 25 who would like to be a panelist so please Stephanie deleng@blueyonder.co.uk.

Former exhibitor _ Anthony Smith

Latest from the Victoria Gallery and Museum (just round the corner from MerseyBIO)

Family Saturday Art Workshop
Saturday, 26 June, free event, drop in between 1.00 & 4.00pm
Join local wildlife artist Anthony Smith who will show you how to draw some of your favourite animals. This event is most suitable for children aged 4 – 11 but all are welcome.

Alex Corina's opening at MerseyBIO

Alex Corina's opening at MerseyBIO, originally uploaded by abscraft.

Mersey Bio show | Project blogs | Artists talking | a-n

Mersey Bio show | Project blogs | Artists talking | a-n


Julie Dodd who was our previous exhibitor at MerseyBIO with her exhibition "Life in Paper" has been blogging as part of her progress as a student, then as a graduate and now as an exhibitor and she has written up her experience of exhibiting at MerseyBIO.

Exotic passenger!

Exotic passenger!, originally uploaded by abscraft.

We had the Mona lennon Lamb Banana for 2 days

If you would like her for ever then this may be for you
Mona lennon Lamb Banana Auction (Sealed Bids Required)
FRIDAY 28 May 2010, 17:00 - 18:00 at STUDIO 2, 33-45 Parr Street
There is a reserve price (1,200). If interested you can hand bid in a sealed envelope into STUDIO 2 reception
Venue: STUDIO 2
33 - 45 Parr Street, Liverpool

Alex Corina at MerseyBIO

Alex Corina at MerseyBIO, originally uploaded by abscraft.

We had our opening for Alex Corina's show last night and one have loan of his Lamb Banana - Mona Lennon before it goes back to Parr Street to be auctioned off in a silent auction.

Alex Corina- Past, Present and Future

Alex's opening is on Wednesday 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Wine and nibbles served.

Parking sadly, is virtually non-existent because of the building work.To find our building is easy, follow the white hoardings!

The best description of where we are is the Pembroke Place end of Crown Street, behind the Royal Hospital. We are between Brownlow Hill and Pembroke Place/West Derby Street.…

Currently we are a building site with white hoardings around where the car park used to be, so parking is a nightmare. My best advice is come by public transport and then you can have some of our lovely wine. If you are travelling by train go to Lime Street then walk up the Hill towards the University Campus or get a taxi.

RSVP's essential - alison.roberts@2bio.co.uk

More info on Former Exhibitors

Former Art @ the incubator exhibitor Desdemona McCannon, who showed "Under a Victorian Microscope" and "Characters in Search of Science has been in touch about developments for her project


NWSAD staff and students will be running a 'Character Lab' creating 3d characters with scientific properties in collaboration with children during Wrexham Science Week
1st- 10th July 2010
Festival link is http://www.wrexhamsf.com/en/

"Characters in Search of Science was a very successful research project we ran with students from NWSAD and Rhosddu school in 2007, introducing children to scientific ideas using drawing, making, storytelling and animation. We asked them to create characters that embodied concepts in the school curriculum, and it was a great experience for all involved.

Since then I have given conference papers and talks in Oxford, Tokyo and Mumbai on the project, and have had a great response from educators, students and children as to the use of creativity in teaching traditionally 'dry' subjects in schools. We exhibited the puppets and animations from the project at the Wrexham Science festival in 2007, and have been invited to run a 'Character Lab' during this year's Festival in July.

The Festival runs from Thursday 1st - Saturday 10th July 2010, and we aim to run the 'lab' on two days including the Saturday. We would like to use the character lab to encourage children to make a 'science monster' in 3d, which we will photograph on the stand, and rate as to its scientific abilities. This may be part of its personality or make up or may be embedded in the character- magnets, propellors, lights etc."

Giclee Prints

Some of Alex's work's that will be arriving in the incubator are Giclee prints. This is Wickipedia's description as to what they are:-

Giclée (pronounced /ʒiːˈkleɪ/ "zhee-clay" or /dʒiːˈkleɪ, from French [ʒiˈkle]) is a neologism for the process of making fine art prints from a digital source using ink-jet printing. The word "giclée" is derived from the French language word "le gicleur" meaning "nozzle", or more specifically "gicler" meaning "to squirt, spurt, or spray". It was coined in 1991 by Jack Duganne, a printmaker working in the field, to represent any inkjet-based digital print used as fine art. The intent of that name was to distinguish commonly known industrial "Iris proofs" from the type of fine art prints artists were producing on those same types of printers. The name was originally applied to fine art prints created on Iris printers in a process invented in the early 1990s but has since come to mean any high quality ink-jet print and is often used in galleries and print shops to denote such prints.

About Alex in the Daily Post, Liverpool

New Garston art gallery offering art and performance space in Liverpool’s far south

Apr 22 2010 by William Leece, Liverpool Daily Post

SOUTH Liverpool’s newest arts venue has launched a programme of performances and exhibitions stretching right through the summer.

The Garston Art Works, in Duke Street, Garston, is the project of Alex Corina, a Yorkshire-born artist who has lived in south Liverpool for 20 years and ran the Slaughterhouse Gallery, in St Mary’s Road, during Capital of Culture year.

But funding for the Slaughterhouse ended with Capital of Culture. Now the Art Works has been set up in the former Conservative Club in Duke Street, providing both a studio and living space for Alex, and an exhibition and performance area on the ground floor.

The first exhibition of Alex’s own work, including a well-know series of paintings merging John Lennon’s face into the Mona Lisa, has already opened, with the first performance evening pencilled in for Thursday, April 29, when local schools are being invited to a day of African drum workshops, followed by a performance from Global Pulse and Kevin Paton, a musician, writer and performer who makes instruments from recycled materials in a workshop located next to the Art Works.

An exhibition entitled Creative Cargo 2010 is pencilled in for the end of June, but before then there will be an exhibition and performance from pupils of St Benedict’s School, in Garston, marking the achievements of pupils and also the end of the school before it merges with New Heys to create a new academy from September.

“There is a huge pool of creative talent in south Liverpool, and we are aiming to give it a space in which everyone can come and see what is going on here,” said Alex.

Parking

Normally we have problems with parking at our events, but now we are a building site and have less than ever, the best advice I can give is come by public transport or a taxi, then you can have some of our lovely wine and go on somewhere afterwards, as the night is still young.

Former exhibitor _ Anthony Pendlebury

The Gallery Clayton Square (Madelaina Artz) presents

Thought & Surface

A small but perfectly formed exhibition

of paintings by Anthony Pendlebury.

(www.erpenstudios.co.uk)

Anthony paints from within, and lets the painting take on a life of it's own.

His paintings evolve and explore texture, mark making and surface, and tend

to take on landscape as a subject. The artist uses a variety of medium,

including aerosol paint, acrylic paint, pen, pencil, and ink on a variety of

surfaces including vinyl, paper or canvas.



Exhibition runs from April 29th until 15th April. (There will be no preview for this exhibition.)



Curated by Maddy Murthwaite.



Gallery email: thegallery@madelainartz.com

Gallery Website: www.madelainartz.com

Opening hours: Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun 12.30pm - til close of centre!

Location: First Floor, Clayton square Shopping centre, Liverpool.

Background of Alex Corina

Our next exhibitor, Alex Corina is an artist and community worker based in Garston, Liverpool.He is an interesting character so thought I would give some more background information.

Alex is a Yorkshire man, born in Bradford where he attended Buttershaw Comprehensive School and Bradford College of Art. In 1985, he moved to Liverpool 1985 where he worked as a civil servant for the Drugs Prevention and Community Safety Unit.

Corina is known in Liverpool for his picture, the "Mona Lennon" which features the Mona Lisa, John Lennon (whose 70th anniversary will be celebrated around the world later this year) and the Liverpool waterfront in the background. It is a work that aims to represent Liverpool's past, present and future and is the image I have used for our invitation and I am currently in the process of trying to borrow the original purchased by Prof Phil Redmond and is now in the collection of the National Museums of Liverpool.

In 2007, Corina was named on Bradford College's list of 175 heroes as a celebration of 175 years providing education and training in Bradford. Corina is one of the leaders behind the idea of Garston Cultural Village which, is a campaign to encourage redevelopment in Garston. On 31 May 2008, Garston declared 'Cultural Independence' at the Garston Embassy, formerly The Wellington School. He has since set up an new studio on Duke Street, which will also be an exhibition space for himself and other artists.

Alex has been very much involved in every community he has been part of and his interest in politics was fostered by his father. Joe was described by Bob Cryer MP as 'a well-known orator in Bradford'. Between 1980 and 1983, Alex was elected to Bradford City Council as a Labour Councillor for Wibsey Ward.

On 5 August 1983, after leading the National Union of Public Employees' Bradford Health Service Branch during the health workers' dispute of 1981-82, Corina led the Thornton View Hospital Occupation campaigning against the closure of the 82 bed long-stay geriatric hospital as branch secretary. The occupation lasted for over 2 years and was one of the longest ever hospital occupations.

On 3 May 2007, Corina stood for election as a City Councillor for the Liverpool ward of Cressington, as an Independent, in the council election of 2007. He gained 316 votes. Corina also publicly endorsed a campaign for a referendum on an elected Mayor for Liverpool.

As usual our exhibitions are closed to the public and limited to arranged viewings, should you wish to attend the opening please send a request to alison.roberts@2bio.co.uk

Alex Corina- Past, Present and Future

Alex Corina- Past, Present and Future

Our next exhibitor for Art @ the incubator will be Alex Corina, best known for his picture "Mona Lennon", used as an awning over the renovations of St George's Hall. The image represented Liverpool's Past, Present and Future but also symbolised the city's aspirations for the Capital of Culture. Alex's work from the year 2008 captured the spirit and humour in Liverpool. This exhibition is a review of his work and reflects a desire to move onto new ventures as he sets up a new studio space in Garston.

Opening night for Life in Paper

Great turn out from Julie's supporters

Julie Dodd's opening at MerseyBIO of Life in Paper

Julie Dodd's opening at MerseyBIO of Life in Paper, originally uploaded by abscraft.

Nice opening with lots of support from Julie and a good number of sales.

Julie Dodd

Artist Statement from our current artist at MerseyBIO



My art practice is based in print, installation work and bookmaking. I usually work with paper, making books from it, printing on it, constructing with it, and recycling old paper to make new.

My work is generally based upon repetition and I focus my ideas on patterns and shapes found within the human body. I'm interested in human life, who we are, physically and emotionally, from how the body is structured to our characteristics and qualities. My obsessive nature compels me to work in multiples and I use it to illustrate how the body repeats functions in order to repair renew and survive, often mimicking life, growth and regeneration. My work is about the processes involved along the way rather than the finished product.

Julie Dodd 2010
www.juliedodd.co.uk

Our next exhibition: Life in Paper

Our next show with Julie Dodd's wonderful paper artwork is already up in the incubator and has caused a big stir including comments like "best show so far" and "what a lot of work goes into these". I am currently working on the individual statements for each piece which gives Julie's reasoning for creating each work.

If you are part of the university or the local bio sciences industry and would like to attend please feel free to email me for an invitation alison.roberts@2Bio.co.uk

Stephanie de Leng in group show that opens on Friday

The Gallery Liverpool is situated in the Baltic Triangle District of the city, offering an exciting new venue which promotes a range of creative approaches, be it contemprary or traditional. It seeks to showcase and actively promote “ home-grown “ artists of all disciplines.

The gallery has been refurbished to retain the integrity of the buildings industrial heritage, occupies the entire first floor offering a large versatile space of 3000 sq ft which can be used for a multitude of events.

They are hosting a mixed photographic exhibition from the 13th March – 3rd April 2010 displaying a wide, diverse collection of works by locally acclaimed photographers. All works will be for sale

Private view 12th March 7 – 9.30pm

Francesco Mellina
Stephanie de Leng
Mark McNulty
Jim Connolly
Mary Fitzpatrick
Ken Lewis
Charlie Charlton
Charlotte Bird
Jen Allanson
Jan Rogerson
John Grieve
Claire Freeman

Opening Monday – Saturday 10.30am – 4.30pm. Free admission and parking available. For further details on our venue and future events please call 0151 709 2442 or email arts@thegalleryliverpool.co.uk web; www.thegalleryliverpool.co.uk

First floor, 41 Stanhope St, Liverpool L8 5RE

Former exhibitors

Joel Bird who is exhibited with us in Birds of Feather with Anthony Smith is showing this week in Calderstones park .

Ruth Ball who had an exhibition with us in January 2009, will be giving a talk tomorrow at the Walker Gallery about her enamel work from 1pm until 2pm. Check with the gallery for details.

Liverpool Daily Post article

The art in the incubator's current exhibition at MerseyBIO is featured in today's Liverpool Daily Post.

Image by Stephanie de Leng of Dr Rhys Roberts of 2Bio Ltd and Stephanie de Leng with her portrait in the background of local roofer,Eddie. Each of the images in the exhibition include a description of the person behind the image.

"– Eddie Woodchuck, Roofer
His face never fails to cause a reaction. Of all the people in this book, Eddie is the most talked about. In a different life he would have been a successful actor. But as it is, he is a roofer, a damn good one, and what’s more, he is not afraid of risky situations.
In circa 1998 there were some heavy storms in the North and we had quite a number of tiles blow off the roof. Worse, others were on the verge of falling, and I was worried that someone might get hurt. It was a Sunday. I called our then roofing company, Renown Roofing. We don’t do Sundays, the boss said. He had just collected £3000 from me one month before. I explained that the situation was dangerous. He hung up.
So Eddie entered the scene. He does Sundays, when it is important. He gets right in there and does what needs to be done. Even in winds. And if the wind is blowing, and his roll-up goes out, he re-lights it with his blowtorch. I witnessed this through the skylight and two years later asked Eddie to repeat this for the camera. He was a bit perplexed so I added that I needed some roof work done. He came and cleaned out my gutters, and then stood in the garden with his blowtorch and roll ups and I took a few pictures. He was still perplexed. When he saw the results, nothing was clearer, but he accepted a photo (it was free) all the same. His wife took one look at it and said he would not get any women looking like that. No way was she going to put that photo on the wall.
That was a few years ago and I think they may be beginning to come around to my way of looking at things now. " Stephanie de Leng

Ruth Ball

Artist Talk
by Ruth Ball - Designer Enameller

Looking at the diverse aspects of enamelling, Ruth Ball will talk about the development of her work and sources of inspiration.
In addition Ruth will present an overview of contemporary enamels through the images of other leading practitioners.

The Walker Art Gallery Liverpool
17th February 2010 from 1 - 2 pm
Tickets are free and available from The Walker

More info > http://ruthballenameldesign.com/Press.aspx

People in Liverpool

Sorry not open to public but look at my images on here of Stephanie's exhibition and check out her blog
stephaniedeleng.blogspot.com/

For those in the incubator and on the VIP invite list

"PEOPLE IN LIVERPOOL"
- An exhibition of photographic portraits of people of Liverpool by Stephanie de Leng

Due to the current adverse weather conditions and the operational impact this has had on most organisations across the region, it is with regret that we have had to postpone the opening of the 'People in Liverpool' exhibition which was due to take place on Thursday 14th January.

The opening night Private View will now take place on Thursday 28th January in the MerseyBIO Incubator.

Please note this is a "BY INVITATION" only event. Please contact me for more information
alison.roberts@2bio.co.uk