- Students on the inaugural MLitt Curatorial Practice (Contemporary Art) programme have jointly commissioned the new work
- Barr will commemorate Meirles’ failed proposal to locate a model of a typical council house by the City Chambers during Glasgow 1990
- Exhibition will be staged in Intermedia Gallery at the CCA as part of the GSA’s 2015 Graduate Degree Show
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Michael Barr: Untitled Work for Glasgow Cross (2015).
Photograph courtesy Rae-Yen Song
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Graduating students from the inaugural MLitt Curatorial Practice
(Contemporary Art) programme have commissioned a
new work by Glasgow-based artist, Michael Barr, for Intermedia Gallery at the
CCA as part of the GSA’s 2015 Graduate
Degree Show. The work combines historical material held in The Third Eye
Archive at the CCA with documentation of an off-site performative intervention,
that will occur in the days preceding the opening of the exhibition. The
exhibition runs from Saturday 12 September – Saturday 19 September 2015.
(Contemporary Art) programme have commissioned a
new work by Glasgow-based artist, Michael Barr, for Intermedia Gallery at the
CCA as part of the GSA’s 2015 Graduate
Degree Show. The work combines historical material held in The Third Eye
Archive at the CCA with documentation of an off-site performative intervention,
that will occur in the days preceding the opening of the exhibition. The
exhibition runs from Saturday 12 September – Saturday 19 September 2015.
“The proposal
for John St. has been received from the artist, Cildo Meireles. He wishes to
construct a ‘council house’ within the precinct formed by the arches,
essentially to bring ‘the periphery’ into the centre and to articulate the
complex interconnections of poverty, wealth, power and responsibility,
specifically focussed on issues of housing and planning in the city.”
for John St. has been received from the artist, Cildo Meireles. He wishes to
construct a ‘council house’ within the precinct formed by the arches,
essentially to bring ‘the periphery’ into the centre and to articulate the
complex interconnections of poverty, wealth, power and responsibility,
specifically focussed on issues of housing and planning in the city.”
Extract from a letter from Euan McArthur, Glasgow
organizer of the TSWA Four Cities project, held in the Glasgow Miracle Archive
at the CCA.
organizer of the TSWA Four Cities project, held in the Glasgow Miracle Archive
at the CCA.
September 2015 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of Cildo Meireles’
failure to make a temporary public artwork in Glasgow. Meireles was invited to
propose a work for the TSWA Four Cities Project in 1990, but his intention to
install a model of a typical Glasgow council house in John Street behind the City
Chambers was rebuffed by the then Glasgow District Council. Barr will
acknowledge the anniversary by reimagining Meireles’ proposal whilst preserving,
or even furthering, the poetic potential of its failure.
failure to make a temporary public artwork in Glasgow. Meireles was invited to
propose a work for the TSWA Four Cities Project in 1990, but his intention to
install a model of a typical Glasgow council house in John Street behind the City
Chambers was rebuffed by the then Glasgow District Council. Barr will
acknowledge the anniversary by reimagining Meireles’ proposal whilst preserving,
or even furthering, the poetic potential of its failure.
Barr frequently makes unannounced interventions in public spaces which
push at the meanings of the contexts in which they unfold. His practice seeks to engage broad audiences in ways which are
often beyond his control, and is more concerned with [the production of cultural
signs than it is with the making of art.
push at the meanings of the contexts in which they unfold. His practice seeks to engage broad audiences in ways which are
often beyond his control, and is more concerned with [the production of cultural
signs than it is with the making of art.
‘In my practice I often use
public intervention which treads lightly but deliberately across a political
terrain,” says Michael Barr. “The archival material concerning the
rejection of Meireles’ proposal offered a timely focal point, around which I
could arrange an exploration of these interests. This commission represents a
very welcomed opportunity to make such an exploration.’
public intervention which treads lightly but deliberately across a political
terrain,” says Michael Barr. “The archival material concerning the
rejection of Meireles’ proposal offered a timely focal point, around which I
could arrange an exploration of these interests. This commission represents a
very welcomed opportunity to make such an exploration.’
The commission has been delivered collaboratively by the graduates from
the inaugural MLitt Curatorial Practice (Contemporary Art) programme. It is one
of five curatorial projects that include exhibitions, a mobile screening
programme and a library, curated individually by students Ashley Holdsworth,
Marcus Jack, Grace Johnston and Rosie O’Grady.
the inaugural MLitt Curatorial Practice (Contemporary Art) programme. It is one
of five curatorial projects that include exhibitions, a mobile screening
programme and a library, curated individually by students Ashley Holdsworth,
Marcus Jack, Grace Johnston and Rosie O’Grady.
The graduates said: ‘In
commissioning a new work by Michael Barr, we wanted to provide an opportunity
for an emerging artist as a gesture of commitment to supporting artistic
production. We are excited by the work that Michael has developed for
Intermedia Gallery, which continues to demonstrate his considered and playful
response to specific contexts.’
commissioning a new work by Michael Barr, we wanted to provide an opportunity
for an emerging artist as a gesture of commitment to supporting artistic
production. We are excited by the work that Michael has developed for
Intermedia Gallery, which continues to demonstrate his considered and playful
response to specific contexts.’
For further information on the TSW Four
Cities Project see:
Cities Project see:
http://glasgowmiracle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/the-1990-tswa-four-cities-projects-in.html
Ends
For further information, interviews and images:
Lesley Booth
press@gsa.ac.uk
0779 941 4474
Listing
GSA 2015 Graduate Degree Show: Michael Barr
Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA),
350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD
Saturday 12 September – Saturday 19 September.
Tue – Sat: 11am – 6pm; Sun: 12noon – 6pm closed Mon
This specially commissioned exhibition by students from the inaugural
MLitt Curatorial Practice (Contemporary Art) programme at The Glasgow School of
Art reimages Cildo Meireles’ proposal for a temporary public artwork – a model
of a typical Council house – during the Glasgow 1990 Year Culture, which was
sadly rejected by Glasgow District Council.
MLitt Curatorial Practice (Contemporary Art) programme at The Glasgow School of
Art reimages Cildo Meireles’ proposal for a temporary public artwork – a model
of a typical Council house – during the Glasgow 1990 Year Culture, which was
sadly rejected by Glasgow District Council.
Entry free
For further details visit www.cca-glasgow.com
Notes for Editors
For further information on the TSWA Four Cities Project see http://glasgowmiracle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/the-1990-tswa-four-cities-projects-in.html
Michael Barr
Michael Barr is a Glasgow-based artist. He read Geography at the
University of Cambridge (2007) before graduating from the Environmental Art
department at the Glasgow School of Art (2015). Recent works include durational
performative interventions at Glasgow Cross (2015), Kelvingrove Art Gallery and
Museum (2015), and the Isle of Eigg (2014). His work was included in SO IT IS,
The Briggait, Glasgow (2014). Recent residencies include those with the Saint
Laurent Arts Programme, France (2014), The Bothy Project (2014), and Cuxhavener
Kunstverein, Germany (2013).
University of Cambridge (2007) before graduating from the Environmental Art
department at the Glasgow School of Art (2015). Recent works include durational
performative interventions at Glasgow Cross (2015), Kelvingrove Art Gallery and
Museum (2015), and the Isle of Eigg (2014). His work was included in SO IT IS,
The Briggait, Glasgow (2014). Recent residencies include those with the Saint
Laurent Arts Programme, France (2014), The Bothy Project (2014), and Cuxhavener
Kunstverein, Germany (2013).
MLitt: Curatorial Practice (Contemporary Art)
MLitt Curatorial Practice (Contemporary Art) is a new 12-month
programme, offered jointly by The Glasgow School of Art and The University of
Glasgow. Embedded within the city of Glasgow, it draws upon the community of
artists, gallery professionals, institutions and international connections.
Taught by dedicated staff and guest faculty, including curators and artists,
the programme strikes a balance between discourse and practice and follows a
workshop model, whereby participants engage on a range of live briefs and
projects throughout the year. Earlier in the year, the graduating students
collaborated to deliver The only way to do it is to do it, an exhibition
and series of events at the Hunterian Art Gallery, which runs 17th March – 4th
October 2015.
programme, offered jointly by The Glasgow School of Art and The University of
Glasgow. Embedded within the city of Glasgow, it draws upon the community of
artists, gallery professionals, institutions and international connections.
Taught by dedicated staff and guest faculty, including curators and artists,
the programme strikes a balance between discourse and practice and follows a
workshop model, whereby participants engage on a range of live briefs and
projects throughout the year. Earlier in the year, the graduating students
collaborated to deliver The only way to do it is to do it, an exhibition
and series of events at the Hunterian Art Gallery, which runs 17th March – 4th
October 2015.
CCA
CCA: Centre for Contemporary Arts is Glasgow’s hub for creative
activity. The building is steeped in history and the organisation has played a
key role in the cultural life of the city for decades. CCA’s year-round
programme includes cutting- edge exhibitions, film, music, literature, spoken
word, festivals, Gaelic language events and much more. CCA also provides
residencies for artists in the on-site Creative Lab space, as well as working
internationally with residencies in Norway and Quebec. CCA curates six major
exhibitions a year, presenting national and international contemporary artists,
and is home to Intermedia Gallery which showcases emerging artists. www.cca-glasgow.com
activity. The building is steeped in history and the organisation has played a
key role in the cultural life of the city for decades. CCA’s year-round
programme includes cutting- edge exhibitions, film, music, literature, spoken
word, festivals, Gaelic language events and much more. CCA also provides
residencies for artists in the on-site Creative Lab space, as well as working
internationally with residencies in Norway and Quebec. CCA curates six major
exhibitions a year, presenting national and international contemporary artists,
and is home to Intermedia Gallery which showcases emerging artists. www.cca-glasgow.com