Newcastle Artists Society

Several of our studio holders, (including Jim Edwards, Eva Bauer, Sarah Blood and Lee Turner of Hole Editions)  have recently become members of the Newcastle Artists Society so we thought we'd give them a shout on our blog! 

They've got a great site filled with artists interviews, upcoming and current exhibitions and mailing lists sign ups. And they've very kindly linked our blog to their news feed. Thanks NAS!

things we forgot to mention

Our current show Quite the Character is on for one more week.  The exhibition is dedicated to illustration, includes animation and some other treats worth seeing. If you've not come along yet, what have you been doing? This is a very popular show and an intriguing insight into the minds and working methods of illustrators so come on down the gallery is open from 12-5 Wednesday through till Saturday.

The hugely popular storytellers from Seven Stories came along for our story time back in July. A creative imaginative and colorful time was had by all. Great fun! Little Betsy Armstrong (pictured) certainly had a lovely time. (Betsy's mum, Clare is one of the exhibitors.) 

Up and coming events Drink and Draw next Saturday evening ... Get sharpening those pencils! Bring your friends, neighbours and the children this event can be enjoyed by all the family. A selection of all sorts of drinks and drawing equipment will be provided. 

For more information see our Facebook events page.

it's nice being talked about!

If we get the chance we usually ask all our visitors how they found out about our shows. This week one of our visitors mentioned that they'd read a review on northeaststreet.co.uk. Mushroom Works hadn't heard of this site before so we had a little look, and we're pleased we did. The article features our Quite The Character show and has some very nice things to say, particularly of two of the artists exhibiting, The Cloud Commission and Jack Fallows. Thanks northeaststreet.co.uk!

Hard at work...

Our lovely and very helpful Ashley hard at work this afternoon

Eva's talk

Had a lovely night last night hearing all about Eva's work, what inspires her and what her future plans are. Thanks to everyone who came along - we're sure you found it as interesting as we did and thanks to Eva for being such a good speaker (and good sport!). If you'd like to find out more about Eva you can visit her website www.evabauer.eu/

Home of the Turner prize!?

Who'd have thought you could find winners of the Turner prize down in the Ouseburn Valley? Well, you can! Winners of the Lee Turner, (Hole Editions Publishing) Prize that is! 

Studio Holder, Lee has been running his own business, Hole Editions, an independent printing and publishing organisation, producing hand printed original lithographs, from Mushroom Works since it's opening back in 2005. Over the past three years, Lee has collaborated with a large number of national and international artists, including Jonathan Lasker, Julia Jacquette, Ruth Root, Ellen Birkenblit, Larry Brown, Jock Mooney, Alex Charrington, Jaune Quick-To-See Smith, John Morris and Mark Dion. Lee also works with emerging artists and recent graduates. Having completed a Masters in Fine Art at Newcastle University, Lee has maintained good relations with the University's arts department and in 2008 he launched the Publishing Prize. Lee is currently working with prize winner, Carla Bromhead (pictured). 

Lee and Hole Editions will be exhibiting as part of the Northern Print Biennale festival, running until 4 October. His show, here at Mushroom Works, (4th – 26th September) will include a display of printers’ proofs of collaborative projects whilst at Tamarind; and a number of publications from the Hole Editions catalogue, which include the work of Andrew Wilson (BA Fine Art 2008), who won the first Publishing Prize in 2008.

If you'd like to know more about the Publishing Prize there's a super article on Newcastle's Alumni site and if you'd like to know more about Lee you can book a place for his Artist Talk, taking place on Tuesday 15th September (6-8pm) at Mushroom Works Gallery (and Lee's studio).

Mushroom Works is Expanding

The Mushroom Works is expanding south of the river with two new ventures. The demand for affordable creative spaces reminds high and Mushroom Works are leading the way in providing for this need. The two projects in Gateshead are Brighton Road Studios and Starter for Ten.

Brighton Road Studios is the conversion of an old church creating 17 studio spaces housing creatively vibrant people transforming the building into an inventive hub. This is currently at the planning stage and will hopefully be ready for people to move into by Christmas.

www.brightonroadstudios.com

Starter for Ten is a Gateshead Council initiative to release the region’s creative potential, innovative practitioners are to be given rent-free workspace to help support them in difficult economic times. Gateshead Council approached Mushroom Works and asked us to manage the project for them because of our expertise in managing creative studio spaces of this sort. There will be spaces for twenty creative people. The lucky people have already been selected to move in and the project is set to happen in the next 6 weeks. The people range from Graphic Designers to Fashion Photographers.

http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/Business%20and%20Industry/support/starter4ten.aspx