New printmakers’ workshop to launch this March at Bar Lane!

We’ve got some great news for you!

Special new evening courses are due to begin on March 7, 2011 at Bar Lane…

So, what’s on the agenda for these great sessions then?

There will be an introduction to printmaking with bitesize tasters of: Drypoint, Lino Cut, Silkscreen and Collotype. This will run on four Monday nights over the month from 6.30pm until 9.30pm. Of course, you will be supported by experienced tutors and technicians at all times.

The cost? A lovely £110 pounds with 50 per cent deposit  required to secure your place. Cost includes all materials and one piece mounted and framed!

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There’s also a introducing to screenprinting course that will take the participant through covering, mono-screenprint, stencil film, filler stencil and photo-emulsion. This will run four Tuesday evenings from 6.30pm until 9.30pm. The course starts on March 8. Cost (£110 with 50 per cent deposit required to secure your place) includes all materials and one piece mounted and framed, or printed on to a free t-shirt!

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What about the introduction to drypoint and etching? Fancy that? It’s fit for both those starting out and the individuals who have more experience and wish to develop existing drypoint and etched plates.  This runs for four Wednesday evenings from March 9. Cost (£110 with 50 per cent deposit required to secure your place) includes all materials and one piece mounted and framed.

The maximum class size is eight people so you need to book now to avoid disappointment! To do this you need to e-mail: enquiries@ypworkshop.co.uk or call: 07946 245 373.

All the best as we dive head first into 2011!

Kind regards,

The team at Bar Lane Studios

PS: We love you.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Hello everyone, it’s nice to see you again.

How are you all doing? Please drop us a message to let us know what you are doing to celebrate and how you plan to enjoy the New Year?

We’ve been getting all festive here at Bar Lane Studios with our Christmas celebrations going ahead last night – the event was an almighty success and thank you to everyone who came.

In fact, “almighty success” really does define the work that has been achieved this year. It’s been amazing and we are very proud of what we have been able to achieve together.

With your support we have created a great artistic community in York, and proven that creative industries can succeed with the right mix of passion, vision and dedication.

Thank you to the Bar Lane staff, interns and exhibitors that have invested their time and energy to support this venture.

You are all fantastic.

All the best for a healthy, happy and artistic start to 2011.

Best regards,

Thank you to everyone who helped out at the Hugo Boss Manchester store event

Recently, Bar Lane Studios was asked to curate an exhibition to help launch the new Manchester Hugo Boss store, the largest in the UK. Working with artists and agents across the country we put on a show that included works by:

- Derren Brown

- Goldie

- David Hockney

-  Edwyn Collins

-  Bod Dylan

-  Blek Le Rat

- Matisse

- Agnetha Sjogren

We also showcased York St John University graduates that are on the Bar Lane Studios Incubation Scheme to great reviews!

We would like to thank everyone who dedicated their time in helping us create the exhibition.

For more information visit the official website.

Bar Lane’s interns launch their own blog!

Bar Lane’s interns have recently launched their very own blog to talk about their experiences first hand!

You can check that out at this link!

Enjoy this unique perspective!

The first day of CIDA at Bar Lane Studios!

The first day of the CIDA course seemed to be a great success, reflecting on yesterday’s events we are very pleased to have Lee Corner and her dedicated team of mentors work with us at Bar Lane. A range of topics were covered,  all catering to support the creative entrepreneurs that have chosen to take part in the course. Those involved in yesterday’s events included York-based photographer Keith Findlater, Carl Letman of Agathon Productions and Six Lips Theatre along with many more talented and interesting people.

Topics covered in the opening session were balanced to take into account the creative mind at its best and the good points including the art of Strategic Thinking (the fact that creative people are very good at recognising opportunities), as well as Commercial Aptitude (the fact that creatives are also good at understanding the best practice within their chosen profession and then learning from it and improving), Persistent (the idea that they are determined enough to operate from out of hope of success rather than fear of failure) and, Making Things Happen (the fact, [and we enjoy this the most] that creative people are very good at turning ideas into reality.

Obviously as the programme’s director, Lee is no stranger to motivating people through truth and what’s quickly established through a nice balance of humour, real-life experience and community is that CIDA, will be able to help most of (if not all), the representatives that have chosen to attend from York St John‘s Phoenix Centre, DesignWorks and Bar Lane Studios over the next six months. It’s not all positive stuff mind, the talk also examined the challenges that creative people face on a daily basis trying to make a living as painters, writers, designers and photographers. Such challenges include the fact that creatives don’t always conform to traditional industrial processes like distribution and reproduction when going into business and as such, they tend to be much more collaborative, also that they can be perceived as being “flaky” by banks, friends and other important people in their lives (don’t you love that word? Click for a definition!) It was also discussed that creative people can often have difficulty accessing finance, which of course is a massive problem for anyone starting out, or even someone who has been in business for many years.

One of the highlights to come out of this part of the discussion though, was the examination of individuals’ values as Lee went around the room in an effort to familiarise the “class” with each other and to get them to talk about their projects and the ideals that inspire them to continue despite adversity. Supported by worksheets those in attendance responded well by listening to others and offering feedback where appropriate in order to offer constructive and welcome advice.

Another interesting point in the day came when those involved were asked to examine their own “toolkit” which meant that each person was required to examine their key characteristics, attributes, behaviours, skills and resources along with a group of other people from different businesses. This was particularly effective as it gave those involved a unique insight into each other’s personalities and from out of this discussion we saw many people offer to support others and extend help, support and resources that could help benefit their business.

The CIDA course successfully brings together a variety of different businesses, people and skill-sets to support each other under the “wing” of the Lee and also with the help of personal mentor sessions from friendly and experienced industry professionals. It is the hope that with the skills people learn from these sessions, they can become self-sufficient and can learn to support themselves by making profit as a creative person within their desired industry.  We managed to catch up with Lee once the day had concluded to talk a little bit about what has kept her inspired to continue helping creative people over her 35-year career. She explains that while managing 25 people is much more of a “tall order” than she has been used to in the past, she is more than ready for the challenge. “I do prefer speaking to individual people and catering for their needs usually, but with all of my experience I have been able to learn about dealing with a variety of people in a range of sectors,” she says. “The people who are a part of this course just need more confidence in their abilities.” Moving on to talk about her inspirations and what has kept her going, she examines how creative individuals benefit people around the world and not just in York. “The contribution that the creative community has made to society seriously improves on the quality of our lives,” she adds. “I will fight to the death for creative freedom.”

We would like to wish every participant on the CIDA course the very best, and good luck in the future. Especially considering that there will be a session coming up which will examine finances and the concept of survival and business income! It’s a fine balance!

Kindest regards to all of our readers and best wishes,

Bar Lane Studios

Revolving Gallery exhibit at Bar Lane Studios!

Just a friendly reminder that the awesome Revolving Gallery will be holding an art event that will take place this Friday from 7pm at Bar Lane Studios.

They will also be running a competition on Friday night to win a bottle of Moet and Chandon champagne, so if you’d like to take part while enjoying a glass of wine in a relaxed, informal environment, please come along.

For more information download our Autumn Collection brochure or visit their website www.revolving-gallery.com

Please note, the venue is a short walk from York railway station and for those who are driving, there is a nearby car park in Nunnery Lane.

We look forward to seeing you at the event.

Read our artist spotlight on Revolving Gallery artist Nathan Chenery here.

Artist Spotlight: Julia McKinlay

We catch up with Bar Lane resident Julia McKinlay to talk about her art and how she plans to use the space to her advantage. When discussing her first weeks, Julia also touches on some of her latest inspirations, ideas and plans for the future…

1] How have your first few weeks been at Bar Lane?

JM] Busy, I had only really just moved in when I left for a research trip to America. I travelled from LA to Seattle over the course of three weeks, I covered nine states and three thousand five hundred miles. I am interested in extreme environments and ecosystems so I decided to take a trip that would explore some really dramatic geology and a wide range of environments. The first week was all desert, which was something I have never experienced before. In Zion National Park I saw wild turkeys and I hiked up to Angels Landing, which was a five mile scramble on a metre wide trail. I hiked down into the Grand Canyon, and I was lucky enough to spend a night with the Navajo in Monument Valley where I slept in a traditional hogan. I was glad to get out of the heat when I got to Colorado, and into bear country. Rocky Mountain National Park was one of my favourite places; I hiked around many of the lakes and up to Andrews Glacier, in The Grand Tetons in Wyoming I went mountain biking through a herd of bison. In Yellowstone I saw geysers, mud pots, bacteria blankets and a black bear. I then moved on to stay in a ranch in Montana, where I went horseback riding in the mountains and visited a taxidermy workshop. Then up to Glacier on the border with Canada, which had severe fog, mountain lakes, and ospreys. My last stop before Seattle was Mount Ranier, a hike in 2ft of snow was a brilliant end to a trip that started in the Nevada desert. Since being back I have been in the studio going through my photographic research and I am beginning to make some drawings based on some of the things I have seen.

2] What projects are you working on at the moment?

JM] I am in the beginning stages of a new body of work, inspired by my trip to America. I am particularly interested in defence mechanisms in animals and plants that have specialised to cope with predators and extreme environments. The work will develop from this idea, and will also investigate the relationship between drawing and sculpture.

3] How did you get started in art?

JM] It’s always been something I have done.

4] Who or what are your biggest personal inspirations and why?

JM] Natural history collections like the Natural History Museum and the Hunterian. Much of my work comes from reading books about natural history, and documentaries by David Attenborough. Research trips like the one to America are also very inspiring. Some of the artists that have been an influence are Charles Avery and his project The Islanders, for the depth of detail and narrative and the strong relationship between his drawings and sculptures. I am interested in Claire Barclay’s use of materials, and how her work responds to the exhibition space. Anish Kapoor’s use of scale, form and colour has also been an influence.

5] What are your aims for the coming months and what do you want to achieve?

JM] My priority is to get going on some new sculptures and drawings. I am also thinking about some prints that I would like to make in the print workshop. I have an exhibition in November, so I’m planning something for that.

6] Are you able to use your space at Bar Lane effectively to expand and evolve your work?

JM] My studio is where I go to make drawings, go through my research, make models and diagrams. My have a process led practice; it is through making that ideas form and work develops, so it is really valuable having a space that allows me to experiment. I make sculptures that form connections within the space they are installed, so my studio allows me to experiment with the relationships that form between my objects and sculptures. I make quite large-scale work, so a lot of planning happens before I begin construction. I will be able to make smaller work in my studio, however a large part of my practice is working with technicians and specialists who work with specific materials and help with the construction of my large scale work elsewhere.

7] What has been your greatest achievement to-date as an artist?

JM] I was really pleased to be invited to be part of the Royal Scottish Academy’s RSA New Contemporaries 2010 exhibition this year. It was fantastic to be in an exhibition with artists from all over Scotland. I made a new group of sculptures for the exhibition, and it was a fantastic exhibition space.

8] What are some of your biggest challenges on a daily basis?

JM] [I am] definitely trying to balance my job with my practice. I think most artists have this problem; there just isn’t enough time to do everything. I’m always trying to find more time to be in the studio, or out doing research.

9] What’s the best thing about Bar Lane Studios?

JM] It’s good to have a busy environment to work in, with lots of artists around you. It is also really great to have a gallery attached to the studios with a diverse programme of exhibitions and the print studio is going to be really valuable.

10] Tell us about your typical day when it comes to creating new art?

JM] I don’t really have a typical day, I could be planning and model making one day, and in construction the next. If I’m making something out of wood, then I can spend weeks sanding, joining and painting. Or if I’m casting then I’ll be making moulds and mixing and pouring cement, plaster or rubber. When I am working in metal then I work with technicians, so I’ll be in their workshops instead.

For more information visit Julia‘s official website.

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Thanks as always,

Photos from our PechaKucha event!

The event took place last week and celebrated creative talent in the city.

It was fantastic, and hopefully we will be running this type of showcase more in the near future!

For more information on the concept, visit our previous blog post!

Pictures have kindly been provided by Heather Niven of Creative York.

For more information, visit our official website by clicking the image below!

A lovely August update from Bar Lane!

Hello!

We are back with another wonderful update for you this month and we hope that summer is treating you well?

Our fantastic summer exhibition opened up this past Sunday (you can see some pictures of that below) and the feedback we’re getting is amazing. It’s always been the team’s goal to have the public involved in the project as much as possible and so it is great to see so many people taking the chance to exhibit, coming to our showcases and popping in for a coffee each day. Thank you!

Speaking on the opening, Bar Lane‘s Director Ben Clowes says, “We had around 200 people come down for the opening, and the standard of the work was incredibly high – the exhibition is made up of local artists and I can say that all of it is really great, solid work.”

Ben explains that there were about 300 items put in for the show and around 200 of those are going over to the New School House Gallery located at Peasholme Green. He discusses some of the benefits of working as a social enterprise. “It’s great that we can work with School House, and that’s the benefit of us being a social enterprise business.” He adds: “We can work with whoever we want this way whether that be galleries, local and national artists and companies – as a result, we are able to progress and develop ourselves while supporting other organisations.”

Ben happily comments on new developments at Bar Lane over the coming months. He says: “We have been able to raise enough funds to have CIDA [Cultural Industries Development Agency] come and run a course with us which is open to 25 individuals from the creative sector. The organisation has never run anything in York before and we are very fortunate to be able to get involved with them as it will offer our interns and residents the chance to take their business forward and develop their ideas.”

Yes, indeed! We’ve got loads on. On August 18, we have a special PechaKucha event which will provide a platform for Bar Lane‘s resident and local creatives. The artists that take part will have three minutes to show and talk about their work using a projector – it’s going to be a fantastic challenge. You can find out more about this exciting concept here. We are looking to run these events every two months.

Looking forward, in the second week of next month (September), Bar Lane‘s courses and workshops will commence offering a variety of skills including life drawing, print making and photography – for more details on what’s being offered and how you can get involved, visit the website.

Bar Lane‘s brand new interns have moved in now and have at the time of writing been in there for two days! Six Lips Theatre Company are taking every opportunity to showcase their skills and shine, and they performed a small production down in the basement of our studios (which, incase you were wondering is a part of the building we will be hiring out to anybody that wants to use it as a rehearsal space or, for their creative endeavours). On that note, Six Lips will be performing again tomorrow (August 4) at Bar Lane from 7-9pm – be there or be…bored!

Ben has been observing how the new intake are getting on. “Everyone is settling in nicely and each person is beginning to form relationships and bonds that will help to benefit them – we are already starting to work with the Revolving Gallery [resident artist Nathan Chenery's business] alongside We Performance and the York Artisans are also continuing to work with us.

“It’s important for us to encourage young and new artists to showcase their work and promote themselves – we want everyone to get involved and come on board with what we are doing – we are open to helping everyone from graphic designers to film-makers.” To further promote this aim, Bar Lane has achieved funding (around £2,000) to hold a CDP (Continued Professional Development) course in York which also has 25 spaces to support local creative talent to develop business management skills. The course will cost £300. For more info on CPD and what it can do for you, visit the above link.

The studio has also been gaining momentum recently with great exposure in the local press with spotlights in both newspapers and magazines, not just in York but also outside of the city in key northern cultural hubs including Leeds and Manchester. Ben comments: “The exposure has been very positive because other organisations around the country are hearing about us and getting in touch asking, ‘How did you do it?’ and ‘How can we do the same thing?’ – it’s great that we are getting out there and again, it shows the advantages of being a social enterprise, because we are in a position to help out.”

For you dedicated readers are wanting to know if there’s still some space left at the studios to showcase work, it’s important that you realise that if you don’t succeed getting your work a space at this point then try, try again. Ben comments: “We have a constant stream of established artists wanting to come and exhibit, and we also have a constant stream of applicants looking for space for their work.

“If we can’t fit you in this time, please keep coming back because we are here to help you – if you are interested in working with us, we need a well-written proposal and in that, we have to see that your work is quality and we also need to identify the advantage of you as an artist.”

In other grand news, we’ve sold 22 Matisse paintings since his iconic work has been up in our main gallery! We really didn’t expect to do so well so quickly – again, thank you very much!

Last month we also hosted Danesgate Skill Centre‘s exhibition which featured two skateboarding Nun’s right next to our Matisse collection – it was a great experience having the kids in (some of them had never even been inside a gallery) and thanks to some more positive feedback, we will definitely be working with them again soon. As you can imagine, we’re very excited to see what Danesgate‘s budding artists can create for us next!

One veteran creator that would definitely appreciate the Danesgate approach to art is Part2ism – his work will be showcased at Bar Lane in October – it will be awesome!

That’s it for now!

To visit our official website, click the logo below.

Kind regards and best wishes. Come and visit us soon!

Dom Smith and the team at Bar Lane Studios

News from Bar Lane in July!

It’s exciting times for us at the moment.

The York Open Summer Exhibition will begin this Sunday from 7 – 9pm.

There are a number of interns going to be moving into the premises over summer. One of these is Six Lips – an arts theatre company in York.

We will be interviewing Ben Clowes this coming week about that opening  and his hopes for the interns. Next week will also see our second artist spotlight right here – you can see the first one by clicking this link.

For more information, as ever you can visit the official Bar Lane website.

Thanks as always for reading and keep in touch with us via Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks,

Dom and the Bar Lane team.