2011 Residency Scheme: Call for proposals

Project Ability is offering Glasgow based visual artists the opportunity to take part in a volunteer residency scheme.

Our workshop is fully accessible and applications are particularly welcomed from artists who have a disability.

The successful artists will have access to workshop space and production facilities five days a week (Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays) for a full calendar month. This is not private space and you will have the opportunity to interact with staff and tutors, artists and visitors to the workshop. A reasonable materials allowance of up to £10 per week will be made from our stock supply (i.e. canvas, paper, clay) but extra costs will be incurred if for example you are planning on working extensively in the glass room.

The Residencies will be offered to artists who can successfully demonstrate how they will use the time and resources to develop their artistic practice. This is an opportunity to undertake an intensive period of work; to develop work for an exhibition and / or for your own personal development. You might want to explore new materials such as ceramics or glass and by immersing yourself in the activity you will develop a better understanding of the mediums and processes. Alternatively, you might feel a period of concentrated drawing or painting would be beneficial to you.

You will have the opportunity to submit work to an exhibition: Residency 2011 – the collection in our gallery in January 2012.

In return, we will encourage you to schedule an artist talk for Project Ability artists and friends.

Applications must contain 4 images preferably emailed or on a disc, an artist statement, a work plan, an estimate of materials required and your preferred calendar month from May through to October 2011. Please contact Elisabeth Gibson .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you would like assistance with any aspect of the application process.

Applications must be received by 28th March 2011. Artists will be notified if they have been awarded a residency by the 18th April. The programme will commence from the 3rd May 2011.

Applications should be submitted online at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with residency programme in the subject bar or mailed to: Project Ability, 3rd floor, Trongate 103, Glasgow, G1 5HD

Posted on 28th February 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News  Recruitment & Volunteering 

FUNDRAISER - The Mighty Deerstalker 2011

Staff member and artist John Fitzpatrick and his friend Pat Kane are taking part in The Mighty Deerstalker 2011 on the 19th March.

The Mighty Deerstalker is a 10K turbo-charged roller coaster of a run. It's fun, it's fast, it's action-packed and it's as tough as you can bear (and its at night!). The onus is on fun but this is also a serious challenge, involving off-road terrain, steep gradients and exciting obstacles.

          'It will be my first Deerstalker so I’m not too sure what to expect. I’m not aiming for a time as it is cross country, through rivers and over a series of obstacles. I’m starting to wonder what I’ve gotten myself into!' John.

John and Pat very generously decided to raise funds for Project Ability: if you want to show your support, and help us reach our target of £300, you can click here and donate online.

Good luck to both of them, they'll be needing it!

For more information on the event: http://www.ratraceadventure.com/notorious/deerstalker.html

Posted on 16th February 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Fundraising  News 

Screening of Project Ability short films during GYFF

On Friday 11 February, the Glasgow Film Theatre showed a programme of short animations, selected by the London International Animation Festival, as part of Glasgow Youth Film Festival. Project Ability was offered a 15 minutes slot to show some of our recent animation films.

Ian Bruin, a young filmmaker who attended Project Ability's film classes, was kind enough to introduce the films, including his own: 'Fantastic Foxy Bingo'.

Here is what he had to say:

"Hello, My name is Ian Bruin.

I have always loved drawing on paper and on my computer. I have been doing short animations since 2008 at home on my PC.

My school art teacher got me started at project Ability in the summertime doing a film-making course.
I met Alan and Ben. They showed me how to use a camera to make an animation. I had never done this before.

There were 6 of us on the course: Cameron, Angus, James, Ewan, Adam and myself. We talked about our ideas and what we wanted to do. We talked about using plasticine to make our characters. I had never used plasticine before but I love Morph and Wallace and Gromit, so I wanted to try it. I had an idea about wanting to make animals with plasticine. I also wanted to make a little hand to play with them. I started by drawing and painting my backgrounds, and then I made my figures.

My teachers showed me how to light up my backgrounds, and how to do stop frame animation with my figures. It took a really long time to do but it was great fun. Then they put it into the Mac software to make it into a proper film.

I also liked meeting other people who liked doing the same things as me. They had really good ideas too.

I love being at Project Ability."

Posted on 16th February 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Film & Animation  News 

Studio visit in WASPS

A small group of people from the Connect programme went for a visit to volunteer glass artist Julie Chapman’s workspace in Wasp Studios in The Briggait.

It was really interesting to see Julie’s work which varies from small jewellery pieces to larger sculptural works. There were lots of questions about the equipment and technical aspects of her work as well as how she manages her time in the studio and where she shows and sells her work.

Julie will be introducing some new techniques to Connect artists in the next workshop block, starting on Monday 21 February.

Posted on 15th February 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  News 

Art Trek and Project Ability Visual Arts Workshops

Come along and take part in a programme of workshops and creative learning. Join artists Sandi Kiehlmann, Gary Turner and John Cocozza in Trongate 103’s foyer and take part in a banner making project. The finished banner will be exhibited in Trongate 103 during March.
Celebrate the oncoming of spring. Draw and make leaves for a springtime banner using a range of beautiful coloured and textured fabrics.

In the afternoon artist Iona Grey will introduce a stained glass “cheat”. You will get the chance to create your own stained glass artwork using perspex instead of glass, glass outliner rather than solder, and glass paint rather than coloured glass - a safe and easy technique with your design inspired by colourful, textile designs from the 1960’s.

Art Trek and Project Ability: Visual arts workshops will take place on Thursday 24 February 2011 at Trongate 103.

Note: The workshop is for people with learning disabilities.

Banner Making in the foyer: 10am-12noon or 1-3pm
“Stained Glass” 3rd floor workshop: 1-2pm or 2-3pm

The workshops are free of charge but places are limited and must be pre-booked. Call 0141 552 2822 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Posted on 8th February 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News  Workshops 

Some feedback from our first round of volunteers

The first round of our volunteers programme just finished, and here is what our great volunteers had to say about it:

"I have really enjoyed volunteering at Project Ability's Monday Night Social club. It has been fun getting to know the regulars in the class and helping them with their art projects. Each piece of work that is created in the studio has character and is always an original. Volunteering in the class, I feel I have learnt more about different techniques etc, but mostly that I am more inspired and motivated in my own creative ideas."
-Lori

"I love the relaxed atmosphere you immediately feel as you come through the doors. To me this is the purpose of art- pure and simple enjoyment, not profit, not public acclaim and accolades, just good old fashioned fun and inconspicuous stress therapy. I would enjoy doing this on a permanent basis as Project Ability is a place I like to spend time and feel appreciated when sharing knowledge and problem solving."
-Julie

"I have really enjoyed my time at Project Ability. It’s an amazing place to work in and has a really friendly atmosphere where lots of beautiful work is made. I have learned a lot and feel like my teaching skills have developed. I always look forward to my workshops cause you get a chance to meet new people with interesting approaches to their art. It's a great thing to do."
-Richard

"I have really enjoyed the project I've been able to do with Gary and feel I have been learning a lot from it. The placement has also confirmed my wish to seek further work of this nature and hope that this may aid in finding other similar opportunities."
-Lila

Posted on 2nd February 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News  Recruitment & Volunteering