Sleeping Dreaming Planning

Sometimes theViewergallery sleeps and dreams.
While Eleanor is away busy elsewhere, theViewergallery plans its next projects.
Sometimes it applies for funding, but it hasn't been lucky yet.
When Eleanor finishes her MA perhaps theViewergallery will wake up a bit more.
There are screenings and exhibitions and projects and drawings and ideas to make and do and see.

August 2014

Guardian Culture live chat

theViewergallery on the panel for a live discussion on the Guardian Culture Professionals Network
on Friday 8th February 2013, from 12 - 2.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture-professionals-network/culture-professionals-blog/2013/feb/07/gallerists-galleries-curator-start-up-business-tips

Artist Eleanor MacFarlane of theViewergallery discussed setting up and running a popup gallery, and shared advice and tips.

And here is the Guardian's round up of the discussion:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture-professionals-network/culture-professionals-blog/2013/feb/12/how-to-open-art-gallery?CMP=


Eleanor MacFarlane/theViewergallery's top tips on setting up a popup gallery:

Ask for free space: I have negotiated free or reduced rates for gallery hire in the past. If you're enthusiastic and can add value to the gallery by having a pop up day, they will help you out – I have even been given staff for free for the day.

Be patient: There's nothing wrong with smaller organisations waiting a bit until the next generation of things become cheaper. Let the large funded places invest in developing digital tech first. As long as you keep up with Twitter, Facebook, blogging and so on, tailor-made apps can come later. There are free online QR code generators to at least appear being up to date – it's a better contrast to have the gallery a bit old fashioned while the art is cutting edge.


Public Liability Insurance: If you are artists or curators popping up, join AIR at Artists Newsletter:

http://www.a-n.co.uk/air

Membership includes public liability insurance.


Link up: One of the best pieces of advice for popups I've always tried to adhere to is to link with larger organisations.

So I linked with a local open studios programmes, linked my workshops with The Big Draw, etc.

http://www.campaignfordrawing.org/bigdraw/

It's mutually beneficial, and you get to be part of their publicity while you bring in new audiences for them.


Logistics and Layout of Gallery: I'd say shamelessly steal best practice ideas seen in various galleries and other venues. We should all do that!

Adapt ways of presenting according to what you have.
Galleries often have a resource table of books, etc, now - great idea which even a measly popup can replicate.
And definitely have seats available when screening video.

theViewergallery report 2

multitude

theViewergallery had been invited as the inaugural artist in a new venture, The Art Shed, set up by Mel Hardwick who runs the Freespace Gallery in Kentish Town, London. The Art Shed was set up for the day on the Art Street, part of a festival organised by Mel, on Sunday 27 May 2012. 

Setting up in a temporary space requires trialling and anticipation, and flexible solutions which can adapt to changing conditions. Wherever the plank goes, theViewergallery exists, and there are additional reproductions of the plank in various sizes as signs. We brought everything – stands, easels, tables, a ladder, fixtures and fittings, adding to theViewergallery’s store of stuff.

Despite being a baking hot day, over 100 people spent time in theViewergallery shed, viewing the screening and reading the books. There is reasonable space for two to view, but at times there were four.

The stream of visitors had much to say about the films, enjoying the variety, and also asking further questions about the artists, and about theViewergallery set up.

The screening had been selected from a call for work, and further edited to a maximum of three minute excerpts. The whole screening was ten minutes, which is a long time to spend in a shed. I had made a further curatorial decision to show two films together, including their soundtracks. They were Moving Image of train journeys, through Berlin and Moscow. The effect together, both still with their soundtracks, was mesmerising.

Duncan McKellar. 48 Hours in Moscow. Animation still. 2010

Steve Fossey. Berlin – The Space Between. Digital video still. 2010

The audience also enjoyed the weird humour of Shared Stuff, where items move between different split screens, and the cartoon figures in Leaders of Men. They were suitably disconcerted by the insects piece with the alien-sounding music.

Elin Ahlberg. Shared stuff. Digital video still. 2010

Jonathan Kelham. Leaders of Men. Animation still. 2010

Eleanor MacFarlane. X4. Digital video still. 2006

The theme of Multitude linked the pieces in split screens, with works with two, three and four simultaneous frames, and multiplicitous views, and with morphing characters within one frame.

I had trialled the screening in bright light, which was just as well, as the heat made closing the door and attempting a dark space impossible. The screening was still clear and visible even while battling direct sunlight.

theViewergallery shop project was set up, a set of fold-out cabinets.

Overall, theViewergallery had a busy, eventful and successful day, making new friends and fans. Despite many opportunities for things going wrong or blowing away, everything went well, and the screening was enjoyed by an appreciative audience.

theViewergallery report 1

  

Despite unexpectedly and unseasonably turning into one of the hottest days of the year, nearly 100 people attended the launch event of theViewergallery on Saturday 1^st October 2011, held in The Original Gallery, London N8.

Seven of the ten exhibiting Moving Image artists attended, some of whom helped enormously in setting up and taking down.

 Three artists talking

theViewergallery is all about being resourceful and adaptable. We made a makeshift screening room using available partitions. I had brought my projector and also backup technology in the shape of a TV, and showed the screening on both simultaneously, starting at different times. I love multiple screens and hope to show more in this way. The eye moves from one to the other, makes choices and connections.

Transmission 1 Drawing

Heather Barnett

                                                                                                                                                                       Rachel Evans

                                                       

Parul Gupta

  Parul Gupta. Hairfall. Digital video still. 2011

Paul Harrison

     Paul Harrison. Away From the Unknown. Animation still. 2011

Jacky Hutson

Spread Beauty. Jacky Hutson. Animation still. 2010

Colin Legge

    Unit. Colin Legge. Digital video still. 2011

                                                                                                                                                                        Eleanor MacFarlane

 Eleanor MacFarlane. Personification. Animation still. 2010

 Eleanor MacFarlane. Drawing. Digital video still. 2006

Duncan McKellar

 Duncan McKellar. 48 Hours in Moscow. Animation still. 2010 


                                                                                                                                                                                       Michael Szpakowski

      

Tom Walker

theLongLine has made a magnificent start in its quest to grow. This was really its trial run, and everything went smoothly, apart from next time I will have somewhere for all the pencil sharpenings to go. Even the youngest children got what they had to do. I was amazed by how much time people spent on drawing their part of this project, and then enjoying adding their piece to the line. My next big task is to scan each piece and create a moving Image from them, which I will show and add to every time I repeat this project. I have a system to record names and contributions, but also have several anonymous pieces.

The Moving Image will be on theViewergallery virtual space - this site.

We had a couple of extra drawing activities – one set up by a helper for the day, Anna Rootes  – a roll of paper taped to the floor, which started off with people tracing their feet and drawing their journey to the gallery. It was very popular and gathered some magnificent and anonymous contributions.

We also made a wall-based Post It Notes Portrait Gallery. I had collected a multitude of shapes, sizes and colours of post it notes. Again, there were some wonderful pieces. I have them all still, and will certainly in time make something with this magnificent resource – perhaps an animation.

We had a pop up shop selling theViewergallery handmade-corporate items – badges, magnets, bookmarks. I had produced a printed catalogue for the Transmission 1 screening, and had small framed stills to sell, and exhibiting artists brought other items. Again, this is a venture I will repeat, as I love making objects and devising multiples, and have concocted many devices and prototypes over the years. I am planning my next batches of art objects, and will also set up a facility to sell online.

The other piece of the day, Absolute Magnitude, I am not as yet adding to this report, as we MA students are keeping it secret from each other until we have all shown it. However, I’ll just note that one lady pulled up a chair and spend at least 40 minutes in front of it, just looking, looking, looking.

Overall, theViewergallery made a satisfying debut, creating connections between artists, furthering the cause of Moving Image, launching ongoing projects and enterprises, and celebrating Drawing in many forms. It’s a wonder how many signs, stands, easels, blackboards and so on I already had around my home, and how much now belongs to theViewergallery, waiting for its next occasion.

Many thanks to

Magnus Hannah Jon Liam Anna Colin Duncan Paul Heather Terry

 Eleanor MacFarlane 2011

6th October 2011