Last night in Belfast

Thought I might give you a bit of a steer on what I observed last night and please remember that this is my own particular view which is quite simply my own particular view.

So First off Ps squared gallery, is it something to do with our education system that I did not understand the name of this gallery for such a long time as they use the technical formula as signage. Nor did anyone else I knew, what does that say about your education system???? Anyway you were shocked before going in by being asked for your shoes to enter and there were two different ways to enter, nice baileys but the one surprise I had in the show was for a moment at the end I could not figure out how to get out of the room, I thought I'd be trapped in the room forever ...ah ah. I notice that PS squared is not always open but at least they have a window. The Installation is in two parts for who knows what the second part will be?

Welcome - a bit odd being asked for your shoes, the people I was with were put off, no written details were given. Offered food and drink in an interesting fashion.

Thinking- I did have new thoughts.................................oh I'm trapped.

Sales- no indication of what you might buy??

Then we headed across the road to Belfast Exposed, they always have interesting themes that to me are related to Northern Ireland in some shape or form. Here we see religion, the Mexican icons have a lovely naive quality about them and at the back for the room it shows you something of what people will do for religion. (Maybe that's not the best thing to say writing this in Northern Ireland ) again a warning which is always tempting to peek at but scenes of self flagellation..................pain;-( Not sure what that is then go have a look.................

There is also something about looking at a photograph of other people worshiping that makes you think a bit about what worship is for. (any relevance to NI in that comment I'll let you decide??)

Welcome- someone hiding behind there desk but they did respond went prompted.

Thinking- did get reaction watching the video and particularly enjoyed the icons.

Sales- don't think anything was on sale but enjoyed the professional signage. Excellent

Next we went over to the Golden thread gallery where there was the mystic video I have to say it was really hard to hear the video in fact I didn't get to hear it as there were lots of people gossiping on the seat in front of where you could view it from. I felt a bit of a low energy in the room. Maybe it was the physic vibes.The professional artist I was with made a very good observation, that beacuse the video was on a wide screen TV people did not see it as Art they saw it as a TV programme as so many people have wide screen TV's now.............. the none ART educated person I was with could not work out were the Art was.

Welcome- we were offered details as we went in, but the person I was with was not sure what to look at.

Thinking- didn't get to think about the Art as could not hear the video.

Sales- The golden thread has a sales room, I took some of the people in that wanted to leave because they thought there was not any ART we stayed quite a while but no one came to see what we were doing there or if we wanted to buy anything.

Next we were off to Catalyst Arts now I've been in there many times and even I found it difficult to find, the people I was with would never have found it but I kinda liked the graffiti. Up we went all the flights of stairs ( disabled access?) to Ursual Burke now I quite liked some of the embroidered images of Ireland that she had and her carved Hurley sticks and framed Aran and tops made out of tea towels. Then I remembered why, it is because it reminded me of my degree show 20 years ago. I based my final collection on images of Ireland after I had spent a month cycling from Cork to Strangford. It was very tongue in cheek I used Irish Tea towels for shorts and linens for tabards, embroidered jumpers and new age knitted Arans with Celtic imagery little sculptural pieces for jewellery and "objects of Art" . Funny what resonates.

Anyway I digress, what I did notice is that she used to be a co-director of catalyst, and they are looking for others www.catalystarts.org.uk and is now doing her PHD at York Street.

Welcome-no one welcomed us they were all gossiping/ didn't even know who's show it was until afterwards as there was no signage.

Thinking-reminiscence

Sales-No information.

Off we went then to Queens street studio, buzzer welcome as we once again climbed up the stairs ( disabled access?) when we got to the top we were welcomed nicely and handed information on the exhibition, this however was mared a bit by a guy hanging around saying how much longer do you have to stay open (must be wanting to go to the pub) . In Queens street there was a selection of paintings for artists who have studios there Gary Shaw stood out and a noticed a couple of people that I had seen at the London Art fair. As we were leaving we were warmly thanked and given an invitation to the next opening, nice touch that makes a difference..for a yoke I said to the people we were with that the next exhibition was in the Bingo hall beside it and for a moment they believed me ;-) I wonder if I had of went in and made something up about what I saw around me they would have believed me?

Welcome- professional but galleries have to remind their friends that a door greeter is there in a professional capacity and not to hang around them trying to drag them off to the pub.

Thinking-did it make me think? more of a ponder.

Sales- well thought out information, it might be an idea for them to have an artist book there with details of different artists careers on it something to help people ponder for those who dont recognise the Artists.

Wow and we still had time to go to PLACE where girlie concrete were having their show I have to say I really like their concept concrete and textiles, it must be the textile designer in me coming out.................I really enjoy the concept the part of the freeze they have developed looks fantastic, the smaller pieces am not sure what you would do with them and they have now come onto my radar and its great to see research coming out of the University of Ulster with that kind of innovation. I just hope they are getting the right advice in terms of how they are commercialising the concept.Start linking the dots people.

Welcome- no welcome not sure who was in charge.

Thinking- again it was wow now what to do with it.

Sales- this was confused what numbers meant what how was the customer to know what when were, tags?????himmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm not the best a bit confused.

So was there any energy to do anything after that???? well as we headed back to the Black Box one of the people I went with said, I really feel that I'm not in my own City, I would go and do something like this is another city but never thought the opportunity existed to do it in Belfast. In the Black box lots of people were eating and drinking and talking after there different tours, Belfast Print workshop had over 100 people attending their exhibition and as people munched on their £1.50 pizza (it's always good to have pizza by the slice) our group pondered what was going on.

What I observed was that the audience they had in each exhibition space were very young, there were the people who had not grown up with the troubles as a back drop, I wondered if they knew just how lucky they were? I wondered what they were all going to do with their lives? There was exhibition of David McSwiggan "Humans captured on tape" on the walls and as a human captured with my Pizza I was left thinking how is all of this going to pan out??? These young people are trying to find their way in Belfast, networking and gossiping and sharing information and opportunities and ideas. Anyone older were the ones on the tour bus( again only one bus???) who was the Late night Art opening nights for?????? Are they reaching their target audience???

Who is their target audience???? what are the hopes and dreams of these young creative people? where is the audience for this ART who is getting the opportunity's to exhibit? Why are they getting them?? How are they getting them? but that's for another time....................what I do know is that Late night Art has started something and it's great to see this in Belfast and may it continue to help develop the creative energy of the city..................................so why not put the date in your diary for next month..........................;-) First Thursday of every month.
www.belfastgalleries.com