Thanks to Quay Arts for this detail about the upcoming series of events around the Chasing Sputnik project. In their own words. Ed
Working in partnership with Quay Arts, Arts University Bournemouth and the National Trust; the artists have recreated giant rockets in cardboard along with photographs of performance, text work on light boxes, a pair of leather maps and a sculpture with a working CB radio.
They have taken the optimism of early national space dreams and created a sense of excitement about our future. The artists have used High Down as a research opportunity to find a visual way to record the austere concrete remnants into a new discussion about Britain’s desire to be part of space exploration.
British experience of space
The project examines the ways in which the British experience of space has been portrayed and how it has seeped into public consciousness through design, literature and entertainment. The exhibition intends to re-ignite boyish dreams of interstellar travel and the idea of one day going to the stars.
The Chasing Sputnik exhibition can be seen at a preview on Saturday 21st September at 2pm and the exhibition runs in the West Gallery at Quay Arts until Saturday 23rd November 2013. The galleries are free and open to everyone to come and view the fantastic work on display.
artSOUTH : collaborations
In conjunction with the Chasing Sputnik exhibition, there are a number of further collaborative works …
Midnight by Tom Hall
The Needles New Battery, West High Down, IW
Saturday 7 September – Sunday 3 November 2013
Bournemouth-based artist Tom Hall collaborates with Mike Elliot, ex-employee of the old rocket testing facility, which housed the British Space Programme through the 50s and 60s at West High Down, now owned and maintained by the National Trust. Making reference to the Doomsday Clock, a room at the site is reconstructed in cardboard, as though it was abandoned in a hurry.
Related artSOUTH Events and Exhibitions at Quay Arts
Binstead & The Bay
Learning Curve Gallery
Saturday 12 October – Saturday 23 November 2013
Work made in response to the Chasing Sputnik exhibition by students from Binstead Primary School, Ryde and The Bay CE Primary School, Sandown, in collaboration with artists Letty Clarke from Aspex gallery Portsmouth and Ian Whitmore from Quay Arts.
artSOUTH Coach Tour and Talk
Southampton – IOW – Southampton
Saturday 28 September 2013 – Booking Required
Join us for an artSOUTH grand day out, starting with new artwork by artSOUTH artists Jeremy Millar and Bouke de Vries at Southampton City Art Gallery, then onto IW to look at Tom Hall’s cardboard room at The New Battery National Trust site at West High Down, moving on to Quay Arts where Tom Hall will be talking about both exhibitions. A great opportunity to see new work, accompanied by Gill Nicol, artSOUTH Engagement Programmer, who will be your guide for the trip.
artSOUTH Talk: What is Contemporary Art?
Saturday 16 November 1.00 – 2.30pm free booking essential
Led by Gill Nicol, this is an informal, but informative, look at contemporary art from the last 70 years, exploring why artists make the work they do and what it’s all about. Gill Nicol is the artSOUTH Engagement Programmer and also runs lightsgoingon – her mission is to make contemporary art accessible, delivered through courses, talks, workshops and projects. www.lightsgoingon.com
