Visual Art.
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‘WE OFFER A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE'
Big tent approach
Liz Shannon talks to the founders of a unique artists’ residency as an exhibition of work inspired by the residency pitches up at the CCA
rtists‘ residencies sound like wonderful things. Who wouldn't appreciate the opportunity to go somewhere new and moon around with a
paintbrttsh'.’ ITnfortunater. this is not the reality of
most residencies. Instead. pressure is often piled on artists to produce significant new work. without allowing time for experimentation. or even enabling ideas to be thought through properly.
But there is another way of doing things. From the end of November. the (‘(‘A will be home to a special group exhibition that has resttlted from a different kind of residency programme. featuring work by I5 artists. including Kate Davis. Hayley Tompkins and Ann-Marie (‘opestake
I’ounded by artists Sarah Kenchington. Belinda (iilbert Scott and Katy I)ove. the (‘aravan Residencies have enabled some of Scotland‘s tip-and— coming artists to create work away frotn the usttal pressures and deadlines. Based on a dairy farm in Balfron near Loch I.omond. the residencies are extremely flexible. and run from a week to a month in length. 'We have a woman who comes who has kids. so she just attends for a week a year.‘ says (iilbert Scott. ‘So far. we‘ve never turned anybody away — there's no criteria. We provide a space for work that's not only open to artists. but to people who want to be creative. We offer a completely different experience.‘
It all sounds too idyllic to be true. but (iilbert Scott sets the record straight: ‘It’s very picturesque down here. but its basic. There‘s a cold tap. a compost toilet. and when it rains on the roof of the caravan it‘s
very loud. It can be tough.’ Still. she is convinced of
the value of residencies: ‘It‘s‘ essential that artists have time to work without having to worry about an
end product — not thinking about a completed piece of work but how the work is developing.‘ The success of
such an outlook will be demonstrated by the eclectic
exhibition at the (‘(‘A: ‘We have a selection of
fantastic cttrrent artists and some unknown namesf says (iilbert Scott. ‘It‘s a real mixture of people.’
Accompanied by a programme of performances. film screenings and other events. the exhibition is designed to reflect the communal and experimental nature of the original residencies. Sarah Kenchington explains: ‘We do an event here called The (‘aravan (‘lub Iiveryhody that comes has to perform. so it‘s a safe way for people to try out new ideas. We have this residency with no expectation of outcome. but there has been a lot of ongoing stuff that‘s come out of it with people working together.‘
Kenchington will be exhibiting a renovated horsebox that contains a mechanical orchestra. and giving performances with different invited guests. ‘I was keen for the work that I put into the show to reflect the ethos of the residencies. which is why I built something with a literal platform for other people. so I can share my space at the ('(‘A with other artists.’ But doesn‘t she fear the inevitable rise in profile for the residencies that will result from a show at the (‘(‘A‘.’ She dismisses this with a laugh: ‘We might have to become a bit more choosy.'
Open Field, CCA, Glasgow, Sat 22 Nov-Sat 17 Jan.
THE BEST EXHIBITIONS
=é= Unreliable Witness Featuring work by Andrea Fraser, Peter Friedl and Susan Hiller among others. this diverse exhibition looks at how artists explore the gaps between truth and fiction and the art of telling stories. See review, page 88. Tramway, Glasgow, until Sun 7 Dec.
>ic' Alex Frost: Compassion Fatigue Frost uses the packaging from breakfast cereals, eye drops. tooth polish, moisturising lotion and other everyday items to explore social issues relating to our use of health and lifestyle medicine. Sorcha Dal/as, Glasgow, until Sat 75 Nov.
>i¢ Langlands and Bell This exhibition, which charts multi- media artists Ben Langlands and Nikki Bell’s joint career since the 19703, showcases an enduring assessment of visual culture in the moving image. Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sun 73 Dec.
Gerhard Richter: Paintings From Private Collections Major retrospective of painting by the man widely considered the greatest postwar German artist. National Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sun 4 Jan.
at: Open Field Group show inspired by a unique artists' residency. which has enabled some of Scotland’s up-and— coming artists to take advantage of the opportunity to create work away from the usual pressures and deadlines of the city. See preview, left. CCA, Glasgow. Sat 22 Nov—Sat 77 Jan.
3%: Richard Forster Forster’s meditative first solo exhibition in Scotland features 45 near— photographic pencil drawings, which map the ever-changing nature of the sea. See review, page 88. lng/eby Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sat 22 Nov.
11% 9/ Nov 2008 THE LIST 87