I was not going to go to late night art last night because I have too much on and too much going on but decided to take the time to go and see as it's important to take the time for Art in your life. I took Tonya from Solo who was over from Edinburgh and her friend Martin who was literary "off the boat" first time in Ireland.
First they went to Belfast Exposed and were really impressed with which the speed of the exhibition about racism was put on in the gallery particularly with respect of the recent events.
After a quick drink in the John Hewitt it was over to the Golden thread, it was the first time I have seen the unbuilt exhibition on in the gallery and I have to say Architecture exhibitions are often boring but what was interesting was it shows you what can happen when you let artists look at the medium. What strikes me about the first gallery is that there are lots of modern iconic building that have never seen the light of day in NI , is the the planners? the lack of political will? the mentality of the population? why, why, why. Then we have information about Craigavon, interesting propaganda that was in the newspapers at the time about it " new life" . There is a good video from residents that moved there. But something resonated with me, because of the planning policy's that went on at the time all sorts of problems happened in Craigavon and because of that my two sisters Ngaire Jackson and Clare Lawson of Red Apple arts are doing a big project on one of the estates in order to bring back some community co-hesion through Art, sculpture, community gardens etc, etc, etc. So one bad planning policy developed a certain kind of society and then more money has to be thrown at the problems years later.
In gallery 2 I love the way the motorway has been mapped out on the floor and the discussion of slum clearing on the planning maps, where did all those people go? Flats? Craigavon ? where are there decdendancs now? Was it a concious planning decision to cut off West Belfast from the city centre? who made the decision? who was in power at the time ? who voted form them to be in power? who could vote? and on and on the cycle goes.
Miguel Martin had a beautiful drawing of sentimental things that people brought into the project space. The things were housed in little cardboard box houses on the floor, little keepsakes hidden away just like in real life. Special but only to those who know the history. Miguel is based in Belfast platform for the Arts.
Next onto Belfast Print workshops gallery with predominately blue exhibition, It's my image on the poster from a print called what the fairy left behind, inside it interesting to see what just the colour blue can do in an artists mind. Great to see lots of sales. But maybe I'm biased because I'm the Chair of the organisation.
Over then to PS squared ( in the blue picture up above) were Catherine was on overdrive she always has something to eat there which I think is nice.crazy after being there from yesterday morning, good to have the space really doing something different now.
Next it was off to Queen Street studios, edge past the bingo players outside and it was up the stairs for your exercise to visit Brendan and the golden trolley( good title for a film) Gary Shaw is showing at the gallery and it says something that I went back a second time to visit it the "meanderings" still work, while there I was talking to a guy who was first time at the Late night art and was raving about it, his brother bought one of the paintings and at £50 - £250 they are very reasonable. It was great to see another convert to the joy of art. Lastly be was to the Black box for the end of tour get together and Catalyst art with there music, great pizza and good conversation.
So what did everyone think that went ? well I was delighted I went out because I wasn't going to , Tonya was pleased to visit some of the galleries that she had not before Martin from Edinburgh felt he was right in the heart of the "happening" of Belfast and we all had a great evening. So that's a few more converts to late night Art. May more continue. Brendan at Queens streets studios is talking about doing something special with his trolley next time and the other thing I noticed is that there are still lots of people in Belfast, other years everyone leaves because they don't want to deal with any hassle where as this year people are hanging around. Great to see and another wee change in Northern Ireland.
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