Duncan Gray, The Himalayas – Artwork of the Week #21



Next in our artwork of the week series, we are pleased to bring you a majestic landscape work by Duncan Gray. Duncan’s paintings show a wilderness-obsessed, environmental consciousness and resemble a slow-motion spanning of the world’s most inaccessible peaks. Gray’s mountain tops are luminous, in brand-new white with ruddy colour applications that slowly give way to abstractions that drift from the landscapes they represent.
 
Tell us what you think of Duncan’s work on Facebook!

Posted on 31st August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

ReConnect

We are pleased to announce the return of the Connect programme.  We were extremely disappointed when Connect closed at the end of June.  We had been unsuccessful in our bid to continue to deliver this Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS funded programme and had no choice but to close.  One hundred people recovering from mental ill health lost a service which they valued.  Connect provided structure and purpose, friendship and peer support and in our accessible, professional studio people had space and resources to develop their creative practice. 

However, all is not lost.  We kept talking to the service users and while the Board and management of Project Ability investigate how we can take this programme forward and make it sustainable in the future we have asked people to pay a small fee to cover the cost of a tutor and are now able to invite them back into the studio.

 

 

 ‘It’s great to be back in the Project Ability space and to have the assistance of a tutor but also the freedom to work independently’

 

‘I am so pleased to have been given the opportunity to come back to Project Ability and meet with a group of artists whom I have come to know as friends’

 

‘I am enjoying having the space and freedom to paint again, not many other projects give you this kind of experience’

Welcome back.  We missed you !!

 

Posted on 30th August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

Sunday 25th August: Paralympic celebrations at Tramway

 

 

The flame banner at Tramway was created from coloured transparent self adhesive vinyl embellished with sequins, glitter, threads and yarn.  Children and adults drew their flame shapes onto the back of the vinyl, then peeled off the backing then used embellishments to add spark to their flame.  The flames of varying sizes and colours were placed onto the transparent plastic and layered up to create a streak of fire, then further worked into with pens to add a further dimension and added colour.

 

 

The atmosphere at Tramway on Sunday was fantastic. There was a real buzz about the place, with events and art and music workshops both inside and outside. We worked upstairs in the dance studio which gave us plenty of room to create a huge table space for adults and children to work.  Everyone who participated really enjoyed the workshop, and were eager to find out where it would be displayed.  At the end of the day it was decided to suspend the finished 20ft x 3ft banner across the width of the foyer space on the upstairs landing, where the sunlight would shine through it, casting it's fiery flames on the floors and wall.

 

This workshop was delivered by artists Sandi Kiehlmann, Steven Reilly, John Cocozza and Doreen Kay.

 

Posted on 30th August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

Consuelo Rosa Servan

 

 

Project Ability is very lucky to have artist Consuelo Rosa Servan visiting from Madrid, Spain.  Consuelo has been working with an art association for disabled people in Madrid called Debajo del Sombrero, and has embarked on a number of exchange programmes throughout Europe researching similar organisations.  In May and June 2011 Consuelo volunteered at Vaalijala Rehabilitation Center in Finland.  While she was there, she attended a European Outsider Art Association conference in Helsinki which had delegates from many other arts organisations in Europe, including Project Ability.  She then contacted us expressing an interest in volunteering and was successful in getting Grundtving Exchange funding, to spend a month in Glasgow.

Consuelo is wrting a blog about her experiences at Project Ability which you can read by clicking on this link http://procesoscreativosenarteoutsider.blogspot.co.uk/

After 3 weeks in Glasgow and many hours spent in our studio and workshops we caught up with Consuelo to see how she was getting on:-

“I like the people in Glasgow; they are very easy going and friendly.  Project Ability is very similar to the organisation I work for in Madrid with its many years of experience in working with people with disabilities.  I chose to come here to improve my English and I love the space Project Ability has here at Trongate 103. I have gained lots of knowledge for my blog and many, many memories which I have been able to capture with my camera.”

We are very pleased that Consuelo has chosen to work with us and she has been a great asset to the team, we will be sad to see her leave when her month finishes on the 14th September and she returns home.  We wish her all the best for the future.

Posted on 29th August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News  Recruitment & Volunteering 

You, Me and ASD

 

Project Ability and the Autism Resource Centre (ARC) are working together to deliver a programme of visual arts activities for Adults with Autism and Learning Disability, Adults with Asperger Syndrome/High Functioning Autism, Young People with Autism and Learning Disability and Young People with Asperger Syndrome/High Functioning Autism. 

The project will take place in Project Ability’s studio in Trongate 103 and will run from September to November 2012 and again from January to March 2013 and will culminate in an exhibition. Click the links for workshop detail for adults and for Young people.

We are delighted to be working in partnership with the ARC.  For further details and booking please contact the ARC.

Posted on 28th August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

Preparations for this Sundays Flame Celebration event at Tramway

 

 

Project Ability's Aspire artists have been busy in the workshop preparing for Sundays Flame Celebration event at Tramway.  This event is to mark the start of the Para Olympic games on Wednesday 29th August 2012

 

 

Join artists Sandi Keihlmann, Doreen Kay, Cameron Morgan, Steven Reilly and John Cocozza from 12noon till 2pm on Sunday to help them create a huge, bold and very brightly coloured collage inspired by The Flame and The Games.

We are all very excited and hope to see you there!

 

 

Posted on 24th August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

Margaret Booth, Untitled – Artwork of the Week #20

 



Next in our artwork of the week series, we are looking back to 2010 with Margaret Booth’s abstract painting from the exhibition No One Watching. Usually drawn to figurative painting, Margaret created this experimental piece with crowded hordes of small and large forms, sharp lines and coloured blobs that assemble or appear to radiate from distant nodules. This abstract landscape seems to pulse with constant movement and her abstract forms appear as gregarious life forms.

 

Posted on 24th August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

The Golden Jubilee Hospital

 

 

This week sees the start of a very exciting project for some of our artists here at Project Ability.  The Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank, has commissioned some very special art work to celebrate their 10 year anniversary as part of the NHS.

 

 

To launch the project the group enjoyed a grand tour of this state of the art hospital, learning about their specialities and seeing first hand some procedures taking place! Over the next 10 weeks the group will meet to develop ideas for this exciting commission, some pulling on their personal experiences of the hospital, others responding to their visit to the hospital this week.

 

 

The prognosis is good!  Watch this space to see their progress.

 

Posted on 23rd August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

Let the Games Begin Part 2

 

A wee reminder for anyone interested in seeing our exhibition 'Let the Games Begin Part 2'. The exhibition which is in our Gallery on the 1st floor at Trongate 103, has been extended and is now open until Saturday 25th August 2012.

The Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am till 5pm.

So you have only 2 days left to pop down and see this delightful, colourful alternative exhibition on the theme of sport, victory and success, which is in timing with the various festivals and cultural events happening around the London 2012 Olympics. 

Exhibiting artists are John Cocozza, Robert Cornish, Gerard Deighan, Edward Henry, Doreen Kay, Tommy Mason, Robert McCamley, Jonathan McKinstry, John McNaught, Cameron Morgan and Steven Reilly.  

Posted on 22nd August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

Friends and Family Fun Weekends

 

There are still a few places left in this Saturdays Friend and Family Fun weekends!

This week's workshops will be Junk Sculptures and you can come join in either of our two time slots, 11am-12:30pm or 1:30pm-3:00pm.

These classes provide the opportunity for young people with disabilities and their friends and families to participate in an exciting programme of visual arts activities. What's more you can take away a goody bag of ideas and materials to help you continue structured arts activities at home.

All young people must be accompanied by an adult.

The workshops are free but booking is essential.

Please contact us on 0141 552 2822 to secure your place.

Posted on 22nd August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

Flame Celebration event at Tramway this Sunday

 

 

Join Project Ability artists this Sunday 26th August at The Tramway. between 12 noon and 2pm and help create a large collaged art work inspired by The Flame and The Games.

Posted on 22nd August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News  Workshops 

Introduction to Film classes

 

 

We are very excited here at Project Ability as our Introduction to Film workshops for 6-12 year olds start back start tomorrow evening!

The workshops run from 18:00 till 19:30, from 22 August - 10 October 2012 and are only £40 for 8 weeks!

If you would like to book a place please call 0141 552 2822, or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

All of these programmes will be delivered from our specially equipped workshops at Trongate 103, Glasgow.

Posted on 21st August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

David Kerr, Untitled – Artwork of the Week #19

 

 

Next in our artwork of the week series, we are pleased to bring you this stormy scene by Aspire artist David Kerr. Completed without a title, this intriguing piece of work with an unidentifiable backdrop, unknown time and place, somewhat recalls the absurdity of the black and white Disney cartoons of the 1920s.

Posted on 17th August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

Rave reviews for ‘Language of Situation’ exhibition at Platform !

 

We have been receiving great feedback on the current Connect exhibition at Platform which is on from 3rd August 2012 till 28th September 2012.

 

 

The Language of Situation is an ambitious exhibition incorporating logos, signage, symbols and advertisements rendered in paint, constructing patterns of thought moving from the real to the symbol.  

 

All artwork is for sale and is of varying prices, please contact Project Ability by email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), for more information.

 

Posted on 16th August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

Create Saturday Classes

 

 

There are still some spaces left on our Saturday classes for young people. Participants have access to a professional studio environment and get support to develop creative skills and ideas. They can also explore a range of techniques and materials including print making, painting, ceramics and textiles. Workshops run in blocks of eight weeks, four times a year and take place in our centre in Trongate 103.

The next block will start on Saturday 18 August and will run until Saturday 13 October. Please note that there will be no class on Saturday 22 September.

We run four classes:

• 5 - 8 yrs: 10am - 11am 
• 8 - 12 yrs: 11.30am - 12.30pm
• 12 -18 yrs: 1pm - 2pm 
• 18 - 21 yrs: 2.45pm - 4pm 

Cost: £40

Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or call 0141 552 2822 for more information or to book a place.

Posted on 14th August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

Robert Cornish, Andy Murray & Winning the Trophy – Artwork of the Week #18

 

 

Next in our artwork of the week series, we are pleased to bring you Robert Cornish’s drypoint portraits of tennis gold medallist Andy Murray!  The open-mouthed face grimaces a shout or expresses a winning shot shown alongside the jubilant athlete winning a trophy - showing the prowess of emotion and physical prowess in sport.


Currently on show in the exhibition, Let the Games Begin Part 2 in Project Ability’s gallery until Saturday 25 August.


 

Posted on 10th August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

“Connect Stories”

 

 

“Connect Stories”  evidences the role of the arts in contributing to mental ill health recovery and emotional health and well-being.

The Connect programme which closed at the end of June is re-emerging as ReConnect. 

ReConnect is the result of a very determined group of Connect artists who are supporting us to find a sustainable future for the programme.  In the short term the Studio will reopen at the end of August, two days a week for three months. 

Posted on 9th August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

Residency: Suzanne Wason, July 2012




Can you talk me through what you have been working on during the residency?

“…I intended to open up a bit more but the first couple of weeks, I found difficult after finishing college, I struggled with inspiration out of that working environment. I starting painting the bottles of Irn Bru I drank whilst working here, it is related to my OCD.”

Suzanne paints the half-full partly empty bottles with a free energy and rich mining of these daily rituals. The genre of the still life has its historical origins with leftovers abandoned on crumpled, stained and crumb strewn table tops telling stories of an event; Suzanne’s working practice explores the possibility for anxiety, beauty and subversion through the discarded objects of consumption.



“…I used to just draw and it was my tutors that encouraged me to paint and I made my degree work with rags and the ends of paintbrushes. I also work better with a deadline and giving myself a plan that I worked to, opened up and working better than I was at the beginning.”

Has taking part in the residency been good for your confidence?

“Yes, I’m planning on working on canvas, painting the bottles and exploring repetition and series.”

What is it about Irn Bru that made you choose it as a sole subject?

“I just really enjoy it and it affects the way that I think, I drank it once and that was a good day. I drink it now because of the colour orange. The part of the brain that processes fear and anxiety appears orange in a brain scan and I find that really interesting. Also, I like the figure on the bottle; the right leg is behind the left as is his arm and that works best for me.”







Where will you go from here?

“I will spend some time developing; I have not quite found my style yet. I am also interested in exploring a career in art therapy.”

Suzanne Wason will be exhibiting new work in Project Ability’s residency exhibition in January 2013.  Forthcoming projects include a group exhibition at the RGI Gallery, Glasgow later in the year.  


Posted on 8th August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News  Residency 

Volunteer Opportunities

 

 

Project Ability has new volunteer opportunities for graduate artists, to contribute to our forthcoming Autumn Workshop Programme 2012. 

We are looking for an artist with skills in ceramics and an artist with skills in printmaking to support our ‘Aspire’ participants, starting the week commencing 27th August through to the week beginning 26th November 2012.  Volunteers for these roles should be able to commit at least 2 hours per week. 

We are also hoping to recruit six artists for our ‘Create’ Saturday Workshop Programme.  We have two opportunities from 10 am to 12:30pm to volunteer with our youngest artists aged 5 – 12 years and two opportunities from 1pm to 4pm to support young people aged 12 - 21 years.  We also have a further two opportunities to volunteer with “Art Matters” our 21 – 28 year old artists, in a new ‘studio time’ slot from 4pm – 6pm.   These volunteer positions will run from Saturday 25th August until Saturday 15th December 2012.

We would also like to hear from you if you are interested in supporting young people in their personal development and learning but do not necessarily have experience in the visual arts.

All these positions are based at our workshop in Trongate 103.  Travel expenses will be paid.

If you are interested in volunteering in one of these roles please complete the application form and return it to Tracy Gorman at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .

Closing date for applications is Friday 10th of August 2012.   Informal Interviews will be held the week beginning 20th of August.

If you have any queries regarding these positions, please feel free to contact our Volunteer Co-ordinator, Tracy Gorman.

Posted on 8th August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

The Language of Situation

A big thank you to everyone who turned out to celebrate the opening of The Language of Situation @ Platform last Friday - everyone was in agreement as to how impressive the works were in situ!


 




The exhibition incorporates logos, signage, symbols and advertisements rendered in paint constructing patterns of thought moving from the real to the symbol and amassing to an abstract configuration of colour and shape. This landscape of signs offers different viewpoints of the imagery that is encountered in everyday life, depicted in large scale and potentially limitless.





Don't miss this impressibly scaled exhibition at Platform, The Bridge, Easterhouse until Friday 28 September, Monday-Friday 9am-8pm and Saturday-Sunday 10-5pm.

Project Ability would like to thank all the exhibiting artists for taking part, also thanks to John Fitzpatrick and Celine McIlmunn, Paul Marsden and Margaret McCormick at Platform and to The Bridge Cafe Bar.


Posted on 7th August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

Project Ability On Film - Not Another Happy Ending 2012





Project Ability were recently asked to supply a variety of artwork for the set of the film, Not Another Happy Ending. We were greatly privileged to be part of the backdrop of the story, gracing the walls of the houses of the characters with paintings of the Olympic Village, Strawberry Cream Tarts, UFOs and an ode to the ‘Great Glasgow Fish Tea’. 

Not Another Happy Ending is a love story between publisher and author, charting the story of a struggling publisher who discovers his only successful author has writers’ block and he knows he has to inspire her or he is finished. On the success of her first novel, Jane Lockhart (played by Karen Gillan) has achieved critical acclaim and ultimately, happiness too. How will the publisher (played by Stanley Weber) inspire her to write again when her only inspiration is unhappiness?


See the film and spot Project Ability artists’ work in the backdrop on its release in October 2012…

Not Another Happy Ending  is produced by Claire Mundell and Wendy Griffin at Synchronicity Films, written by David Solomons and directed by John McKay. 


Posted on 7th August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Film & Animation  News 

Sandra Ormiston, Today is the Happy – Artwork of the Week #17

 

 

Next in our artwork of the week series, we are pleased to bring you this very sunny text work by Aspire artist, Sandra Ormiston. ‘Today is the Happy’ is a pleasing jumble of words that sound like a declaration or metaphor. Whatever the meaning, this is a beautifully constructed elliptical message with a poetic sentiment and annotated with bunches of kisses at the end.

Posted on 3rd August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

Create Summer Family and Friends Workshops

The last of Project Ability's Create Summer friends and family workshops took place today in our space at Trongate103.

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Lots of lovely bright colours of paint, glitter and feathers were used to make an eclectic mix of masks fit for the most extravagant of masquerade balls!

 

 

Walking in to our 3rd floor workshops today, meant being greeted by a snake mask, a beautiful gold mask with feather eyelashes and a bright pink cat with glittery ears.

 

 

Thanks to everyone who participated in the summer workshops, we hope you all had fun!

 

Posted on 2nd August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

First Thursday @ Trongate 103 - Tonight!



 

*Tonight* Come join us for First Thursday @ Trongate 103 from 6-8pm. We have lots of lovely new shop items for your perusal including drawings by Robert Reddick...

 



And new Young Talent mugs by our Create artists featuring drawings of Luke Skywalker and Her Majesty the Queen!

 

 

 

Posted on 2nd August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News 

Support Project Ability as a Waitrose Local Charity

 

 

 

Project Ability are excited to announce that our Young Film Makers Equipment Fund Appeal has been sponsored as a Waitrose Local Charity for the month of August. Our local Waitrose store on Byres Road will share £1000 between 3 charities in August, with customer votes deciding what percentage of this money will go to each charitable organisation. So get down to Waitrose on Byres Road today and support Project Ability to raise funds for new equipment to make our film making programme more accessible and successful than ever before!

For further information on our Young Film Makers Equipment Fund Appeal, including information on how to donate, please click here.

Posted on 1st August 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Film & Animation  Fundraising  News