Art liberates a warehouse

DIY, Friday 17th September to Saturday 16th October, Warehouse on Water Lane, Exeter

Surface Arts, working in partnership with Book Cycle, present DIY, a site specific exhibition which liberates a derelict warehouse awaiting development on Water Lane near Exeter Quay side.

DIY will be a cross art form exhibition multi art disciplines on a huge scale. The work will range from sculpture to performance all involving interactive processes and participation.

Surface Arts have created this stimulating exhibition and has invited artists to Exeter in order to respond to this redundant space.

All materials used in this exhibition will be sourced from the site; all artists will work on their own initiatives with limited funds.

The nationally identified artists are Adam Garrett, Chiara Gill, Hanna Downing, James Burgess, Jessica Mautner, Jo Willoughby, Julie McCalden, Mark Houghton, Megan Hoggins, Michele Louise Schiocchet and Sarah Farmer.

This exhibition aims to question artist led activities within this time of financial instability and asks if this way of creating new independent opportunities is now becoming essential. The traditional gallery and studio cannot always respond to the interactive processes of artistic production so this gives artists a chance to develop and realise site specific, performance, ephemeral or time based works and much more.

A short residency or ‘collabortory’ period for artists will take place in the warehouse prior to the exhibition opening. This provides an opportunity for the artists to work together and allows them to produce work that is truly responsive to the site.

The show aims to create a non-alienating environment where artists and the public can engage in a meaningful exchange of art and ideas. The productive space of the working artist as a site of valuable, visual and intellectual interaction will be in plain sight to the public, creating a more holistic creative and exhibition space.

DIY will open with a celebration of live music, performance and art on Friday 17th September from 7pm until 10pm. We welcome everyone to enjoy the evening and celebrate the launch with complementary drinks and a chance to meet the artists and see the space that will be a hub of activity for four weeks.

DIY will run for four weeks form Friday  17th September until Saturday 16th October and will be open to the public Thursdays to Saturdays 10am to 6pm and Sundays 11am to 4pm or by appointment please ring Katie Hawker on 07812566759.

The exhibition will have a positive impact on Exeter and will highlight artist led activity happening in the area. Part of a rolling exhibition program being developed for the warehouse in collaboration with Book Cycle and will also form the first of the ongoing site specific projects being pursued by Surface Arts.

www.surfacearts.co.uk