Introducing... Paul Newman

Over the next few weeks we will introduce each of the artists who have contributed to our inaugural exhibition Biophilia. The gallery is currently closed due to problems with the building. We apologise for this, our letting agent has assured us the problems will be fixed asap...

Paul Newman

Artist Statement

 I am a graphic fine artist who works exclusively in graphite.

I am intrigued by natural and man-made forms, especially where there has been a process of growth or decay, along with a sense of history or something unfolding over time. This can be ancient or more recent. I look to replicate the texture and substance of the subject I am investigating in detail; this could be weathering of an old church door, distorted growth of a tree, grain of a granite tor or the flow of a river. Moments in time and play of light are important in my work.

I am interested in walking to research my subject matter; some of the places I visit are off the beaten track, the more unusual the better. I like to explore subject matter by reading about it’s historical, geological or environmental background as well as referring to maps; to know and understand a place is important in being able to respond to it. I have walked many places in the South West including Purbeck, West Dorset and Dartmoor.

Work is always completed off site. I prefer to immerse myself in the moment and travel through a place; sometimes it is about the journey, how I found it, how I got there. I explore with my camera, using this to investigate composition, tone and texture. I make notes and scribbles. I might collect postcards or leaflets if they’re available. I will pore over maps and then forget them when I get to where I’m going. I enjoy making connections between things that I’ve read, such as how one author may reference another or point you to a place, and will use any relevant literature to build a picture and furnish these links.

My work enables the viewer to contemplate and reflect on the innate beauty of these distinct locations and their sense of place.

I completed my Degree at Falmouth College of Arts in 1995 and have recently shown at the Victoria Gallery in Bath 108th Annual Open show (winning the Diana Bourdon-Smith Drawing Prize), as well as the Society of Graphic Fine Arts 92nd Annual Open show in London and am currently exhibiting in The Royal West of England Academy’s 161st Annual Open Show in Bristol.

http://paul-newman.net/

Preview

We had a brilliant time at the preview. The place was packed out, there was a really good atmosphere and the work looked brilliant. Here's some photos:

All of the above photos courtesy of James Peat http://www.jamespeat.co.uk/

All of the photos below were taken by Jennifer Newbury

Gallery closed this week

Attention! The gallery will be closed this week due to building work stuff. Should be open again on Saturday.

We'll be posting about the preview and introducing another couple of artists over the net day or two, so keep your eyes peeled for that. 

Introducing... Jason Miller

Over the next few weeks we will introduce each of the artists who have contributed to our inaugural exhibition Biophilia. Come see their work in the gallery from the 9th December - 11th Jan (mon, tues, weds, sat: 9am-5pm)

JASON MILLER

Jason initially studied art history at The University of Sussex before becoming a multi-disciplinary artist.  He is a graduate in Applied Art and Design from Bournemouth University.

Jason spends many hours in silent meditation and on retreat, over the years he has observed the subtle relationship between light and colour in the environment and the condition of the mind and the emotions.  This has become the subject matter of his work.  His paintings are quietly personal and gently expressed, he builds each one through time until its presence is achieved and it "finds its pulse," as he says.

The sculptural work Jason creates from found and discarded materials also connects to his meditation practice.  He transforms everyday material into 3D objects that carry light and colour and are often painstakingly created through repetitious processes such as binding.  These mundane processes allow room for meditation and creativity to co-operate in the making.  The resulting forms are often compellingly alive and watchable as a result.

Jason is influenced by the tradition of abstract artists such as Agnes Martin and Richard Tuttle who eschew overt personal expression in their work and favour a careful, intimate approach to their craft.

http://www.jasonmillerart.co.uk/

Biophilia Artists

Preparations for Biophilia are going well, and we are pleased to introduce 7 contributing artists, each with a diverse practice and a shared passion for the natural world.

Jason Miller
Jean Stevens
Justine Smith
Olivia Huntingford
Rebecca MacPherson
Wren Franklin
Paul Newman.

We'll be releasing a short profile of each artist over the next week, so keep an eye out here for that.

Biophilia opens on the 9 Dec and runs until 11 January, opening times 9am-5pm Mon, tues, weds, sat, and other times by appointment.

We're hosting a private view on Saturday 7th Dec from 6:30pm.

The Old Print Room is in Gillingham, Dorset along the High Street. We're situated behind the Home Company estate agents, which is close to Hardings Lane and the Doctor's Surgery. We hope by the time we open there will be a shiny new sign up to help you find us.

Biophilia submission

We've been excited by the high calibre of submissions coming in for our launch exhibition, Biophilia. 

Our estate agents have been pretty rubbish at responding to problems with the building, which has pushed things back. The deadline has therefore been extended. We'll accept submissions up until the end of 11th November. 

Send web-sized photographs or scans of the original artworks in jpeg form to simon@dorsetframing.co.uk before the 11th of November 2013. Please entitle your submission Biophilia submission and attach your jpeg(s). Short biographies detailing your background, previous exhibitions or publications are welcome in the body of the email. Include your name and contact details and the number of images you are submitting.

If you've landed here after the 11th November, then feel free to try us and send something anyway. We can't guarantee we'll be able to consider anything that arrives after the 11th for the Biophilia exhibition but we might consider it for future exhibitions. 

The preview will be on Saturday 7th December, and the gallery will launch on Monday 9th December. The location will be disclosed soon. 

The Biophilia Hypothesis

Biologist and writer E.O Wilson introduced the Biophilia hypothesis in his book Biophilia, published in 1984. Biophilia literary means "love of living systems." Wilson says that Biophilia can be described as "the connections that human beings subconsciously seek with the rest of life." Humans have a deep connection with nature that goes beyond cultural influence, Wilson suggests this connection is intrinsic to our biological make-up.

Why are humans are so drawn to the natural world? What does this relationship mean to us and to nature in general?

David Attenborough's success is one marker of how nature enthrals us. Channel 4 recently broadcast a documentary called When Bjork met Attenborough, which looks into the relationship between humans, technology, nature and music. Bjork's album Biophilia explores these ideas both musically and also technologically via various interactive apps. Bjork, like most artists, is heavily influenced by her surroundings, both man-made and natural. 

The Old Print Room is located in Dorset, one of the most bio-diverse counties in the UK, and being situated here we can't help but be influenced by nature. We thought it fitting to launch this new gallery with a show that gets to the heart of what we're about: a fascination with our surroundings, questioning ourselves and our relationship to our environment, pushing at boundaries and exploring new ways of looking at an ancient world.

We are inviting visual artists to respond to the theme of Biophilia. Please view our previous post for details about how to take part. http://theoldprintroom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/biophilia.html