Film Noir exhibition at GFT

A small group of Connect artists visited the GFT's Cafe Cosmo last week to see their work on the walls.

For the whole month of January, GFT showed a selection of small work from the very successful exhibition Film Noir (first exhibited in Platform). The paintings represent scenes of black and white movies, recent or old, obscure or classic, so what better place to show them than the GFT? The show is on until tomorrow, so if you haven't already seen it, now's your chance! Let us know if you manage to guess the titles of the films...

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

Reminder: Outside In 2012 Induction Day

Don't forget to book a place to the Outside In 2012 Induction Day, taking place in Project Ability on Thursday 26 January, 1.30pm - 4pm.

Outside In 2012 is a National Open Art competition for people who find it difficult to access the art world, whether due to disability, health, social circumstance or art process.

Come along for a chance to meet the Outside In team and an artist engaged with the project. We will tell you how you can get involved, how to create an online gallery and all about the Outside In: National in 2012 and the regional exhibitions in 2013.

For more information on the event, please click here.

Posted on 18th January 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News  Trongate 103  Workshops 

Help us reach our £2500 target: join us in Mono this Thursday for our Xmas fundraiser!

We are well on target for reaching our 2011 Xmas Pounds Appeal fundraising total of £2500. To date we have raised a staggering £1358 in cash donations and a magnificent £650 profit from the sale of our original xmas cards and calendars making a grand total of £2008.

We are accepting cash donations up to our close of business on Friday 23rd December and the BIG annual fundraiser complete with music, exhibition, pop-up shop and a RAFFLE !!!! is this Thursday 15th December at Mono from 8pm ‘till late. There are wonderful prizes to be won, and the money made through the raffle goes towards our Xmas Pound Appeal!

Please join us for a fabulous evening of music and laughter.

Every donation contributes directly to Project Ability’s original and innovative programme of visual art production and exhibition.

Posted on 14th December 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  Fundraising  News 

Outside In: 2012 Induction Day

Come along and learn more!

Outside In 2012 is a National Open Art competition for people who find it difficult to access the art world, whether due to disability, health, social circumstance or art process. Outside In has changed the landscape of the art world. It has no set creative criteria or boundary in art process or limit on subject for the artists that choose to align themselves with the project.

Thursday 26th January 2012
1.30 – 4pm
At: Project Ability
103 Trongate
Glasgow
G1 5HD

Please RSVP to Project Ability:
By Phone: 0141 552 2822
By email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Come along for a chance to meet the Outside In team and an artist engaged with the project. We will tell you how you can get involved, how to create an online gallery and all about the Outside In: National in 2012 and the regional exhibitions in 2013.

Agenda for the day:
13:30 – 14:00 = Arrive at Project Ability for coffee/tea.
14:00 – 16:00 = Outside In overview, how to get involved, regional exhibitions and how to set up an online gallery. There is time at the end for questions and to practice gallery set up.

Outside In was set up by Pallant House Gallery in 2006 to showcase and give opportunity to artists who would otherwise be excluded from taking part in the art world.
For more information, please visit http://www.outsidein.org.uk

Image: Dannielle Hodson, Swallow

Posted on 13th December 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News  Trongate 103 

Xmas pound Appeal Update

In four weeks we have raised a massive £783.

This is a considerable amount of money and we are thankful to every person who has been kind enough to donate. This money will help us provide more visual art workshops and film classes to more people.

‘Gives you something to get up for in the morning, mixing with other people, gives you the opportunity to do things that if you didn't come you wouldn't take on” - participant on the Connect programme. Connect is our specialist arts and well-being programme for people with mental health issues.

“My seascape picture has worked out beautifully and I feel confident that I have achieved something.” – young person attending the Saturday Art Class.

You can help us reach our target of £2500 by donating money – cash, cheque or card or through JustTextGiving (text PABL11 £10 or any other amount of your choice to 70070), buying our original xmas cards and 2011 calendar, purchasing original art work from the gallery (Project Ability takes a 40% commission on all sales) and publications and gift items from our shop and coming along to our fantastic fundraiser on the 15th December at Mono.

“Keep up the awesomeness!” - Create participant.

Posted on 23rd November 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  Film & Animation  Fundraising  News  Shop  Workshops 

Meet the Volunteers: John Cocozza

For Meet the Volunteers this week we have John Cocozza, a very familiar face over the years at Project Ability and one of the founder members of Art Trek. John has been involved with our organisation for many years and as well as constantly producing new pieces of art within our Aspire programme, he also contributes in lots of other ways. He and a number of his fellow Art Treker’s have been manning our gallery for several weeks now, meeting and greeting visitors.

‘I’m really enjoying it and it helps to get me out the house. It gives me a chance to do my ideas too and draw them.’

In between meeting our visitors, John quietly sketches in his sketch pad, this role allows him to explore new ideas for his own art work too. So not only do our visitors have an opportunity to talk to one of our participants first hand, but also see the artist at work!

John and all of our volunteers' hard work is greatly appreciated and very much enhances the service we can provide, so a big thank you to you all for your contributions!

Posted on 9th November 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News  Recruitment & Volunteering 

Highlights from my Welsh residency - by Cameron Morgan

"I like Wales, it's very nice, nice wee quaint shops. It’s like a Miss Marple's town.

There are lots of nice buildings in the area with lots of details.

The countryside is brilliant. We went to the dams on a dreichy day, but it was still good. We went to see an old church. Katie took us for a walk to see Red Kites. The farmer puts meat on the ground and the kites come flocking in. I went on a few walks around the town. There was a nice park with a lake and lots of grey squirrels.

We worked in the small studio space downstairs which is really small but nice and quiet. The flat we stayed in had original stained glass windows.

Quite a few people came on the opening night. Edward sold a picture of a spoon-billed bird and I sold a life drawing.

We did life drawing on Saturday and drew bikes in a museum on Tuesday.

I took a lot of photos and drew the dragon on the lake, the stained glass in the flat and bikes, life drawing and wild life and one of Edwards jacket. I used oil pastels mainly and ink and chalk pastels.

I would go back, and if I was born there I would stay there... but its nice to be back home."

For more photos, please visit our Facebook page, or click here for a slideshow.

Posted on 8th November 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News 

Gallery Talk: Ninna Hultgren Borg, Director of Inuti

Ninna Hultgren Borg, Director of Inuti, Stockholm, Sweden will be in the gallery on the 23rd November at 2pm to talk about the work of Inuti.

The INUTI foundation is an arts organisation which provides opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.

Inuti has two studios and a gallery all situated in downtown Stockholm and works with 30 people. They have a staff of ten people who are qualified supervisors with backgrounds in the arts, education and psychology. Their work is built upon the LSS law, a special law in Sweden which gives people with intellectual disabilities the right to their choice of support and fulfilling daily activity.

Inuti looks upon art as a means of communication and tries to guide and help each individual to develop their personal style and proficiency, giving them means to express themselves in different ways.

Wednesday 23 November 2011 - 2pm - Project Ability Gallery.

Image: Inuti, studio 1

Posted on 7th November 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News  Trongate 103 

Project Ability and Outside In are partners

Project Ability and Outside In are partners and Project Ability will curate an Outside In Scotland exhibition in 2013.

 Outside In aims to provide a platform for artists who find it difficult to access the art world either because of mental health issues, disability, health, social circumstance.

Create yourself an online gallery now and you can choose to submit two pieces of art to go forward for selection for the Outside In: National to be held at Pallant House Gallery from October 2012 to February 2013. There will be further regional exhibitions in 2013, including one at Project Ability, Glasgow.

For more information see the website http://www.outsidein.org.uk or call Jennifer on 07735568531.

Image: Peter Andrews, My Interpretation

Posted on 1st November 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News 

Meet the Volunteers: Steven Reilly and Tommy Mason

This week, meet two of our brilliant volunteers: Steven Reilly and Tommy Mason. Both artists have been attending our Aspire programme for many years, and are founding members of Art Trek. They are very involved with Project Ability, taking part in many projects, and have recently started volunteering with us as gallery invigilators.

When Steven hasn’t been busy painting for the SECC commission, he looks after the gallery on Thursdays afternoon, where he likes to spend his time sitting at the desk browsing the internet. ‘You can look at different things and you can learn a lot and you can have a good good chat!’

Our other Thursday gallery invigilator is Tommy Mason. Tommy enjoys the gallery time because it gives him time to draw in his sketchbook, he spends all his time drawing and colouring; he is very focused. ‘I just like to draw.’

Thanks to both of them, as well as all our other volunteers, for their time and dedication!

Images from top: Tommy Mason, Steven reilly, Tommy Mason's sketchbook.

Posted on 26th October 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News  Recruitment & Volunteering 

Simon McAuley: last artist in residence for 2011

Simon McAuley was the last artist to take part in our residency programme this year. Click here to read more about his work and experience during the residency.

Simon's work will be exhibited in our gallery in January 2012, alongside the other artists who participated in the programme: Karly Burns, Abi Pirani, Duncan Wilson, Patrick Butterworth, Lea Cummings and Ross Byers.

Posted on 25th October 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News 

Stirling Books pops-up in Project Ability’s gallery on Thursday 3rd November

Stirling Books is an independent retailer of second hand books located in the centre of the historic town of Stirling. It carries an eclectic range of books including academic texts, classic fiction, history, children’s books and comics and current best sellers.

For one night only Stirling Books is packing up and relocating to Project Ability’s gallery in Trongate 103 bringing with them a carefully selected choice of affordable books on subjects related to art, architecture, Scottish history and collectables. So whether you are shopping for yourself or looking for an original gift for that special person come along to Project Ability’s gallery on Thursday 3rd November from 6 – 8pm and drop-in to our one-off, pop-up book shop.

One third of sales proceeds will go to Project Ability.

www.stirlingbooks.co.uk

Posted on 24th October 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Exhibitions  News  Trongate 103 

First selection of work for the SECC Project

The SECC Project is about to come to an end, after many weeks of hard work from the selected artists.

Today, two people from the SECC team came over to have a look at the work produced, and make a first selection. It was not an easy task! There were over 100 pieces, drawings or paintings, and all very striking, beautiful and interesting. We were all very impressed with the quality of the work, and would like to say a big WELL DONE to everybody involved!

Keep an eye on the website for more information on the exhibition at the SECC.

Posted on 11th October 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News  Workshops 

Two Project Ability artists in residence in Wales

Next week, Cameron Morgan and Edward Henry, two Project Ability artists and founding members of Art Trek, will start a three-week long residency at the Beaufort Gallery, in Llandrindod Wells, Wales. Every year, they run a programme of projects for people with learning disabilities and people who are often excluded from society, including a residency programme.

From Wednesday 12 October, the two artists will share a flat and a studio next to the gallery, where they will produce new work. Both artists are known for their vibrant and colourful drawings and paintings,as well as for their productivity: the studio will quickly be filled with beautiful multicoloured artworks!

The residency will be followed by 'Glesga Boys', an exhibition of the work Cameron and Edward will produce during the three weeks, and running from 1st November to 22nd November. Keep an eye on the website and on Facebook for some photos!

For more information, please click here.

Posted on 4th October 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News 

Home Works artists celebrate the show

A group of Aspire artists, including quite a few currently showing in our exhibition Home Works, took over the gallery this morning to view the show together and celebrate their participation in it.

The theme being Home, the exhibition showcases eclectic objects including customised crockery, cupcakes sculptures, and tea cups. So what better than a tea party in the gallery to celebrate? Real cupcakes joined the fake ones, and everybody cheered to the artists and the work.

The exhibition runs until the 1st of October, Tuesday - Saturday, 10 am - 5pm.

Posted on 14th September 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Exhibitions  News  Workshops 

More images from the SECC Project

The SECC Project is well under way now, and the artists involved have made an amazing amount of (great) work!

For three days, every week, they paint and draw images relating to the SECC one way or another: boxing games, Batman, the Cirque du Soleil, dodgems, landscapes past and present, and even Kylie Minogue! We don't envy the SECC team when they'll have to chose only 25 artworks! There are so many great pieces already.

Click here to see more photos (or here for a slideshow).

Posted on 12th September 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News  Workshops 

Lea Cummings, artist in residence for the month of July

We have uploaded a short article about artist and musician Lea Cummings, who was in residence at Project Ability for the month of July.

Click here to read more about his work.

Other artists in residence this year are Karly Burns, Abi Pirani, Duncan Wilson, Pattrick Butterworth, Ross Byers and Simon McAuley.

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

Project Ability and the SECC are partners in a very exciting project

A group of Connect and Aspire artists have been chosen to produce 25 installations in a variety of medium for the SECC. The work will be used as a permanent display within the venue towards the end of the year.

Today, most of the artists involved took a trip to the SECC in order to see what the venue was like, and where their work will be exhibited. The theme of the project is 'How does the SECC inspire you?', and by the looks of it, heads were buzzing with ideas!

We will keep a photo diary of the project on Facebook, so make sure you check our page!

Posted on 20th July 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News  Workshops 

Pum Dunbar - Artist Talk

Posted on 16th June 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News 

A short profile of Duncan Wilson, artist in residence in May, is now online

Click here to read more about Duncan Wilson, our artist in residence for the month of May.

His work will be exhibited in the gallery in January 2012, as part of our second Residency show.

Posted on 6th June 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News 

June’s First Thursday was a great success!

After a very interesting artist talk by drama artist Clare Hume (more information on the talk coming up soon), Project Ability's gallery opened its doors to 'Le Pop-Up Shop', a wonderful event organised by the lovely ladies at Preloved Popup.

Shoes, bags, jewellery and other vintage / preloved clothes were on display and for sale for one night only. The vibe of the shop mixed in perfectly with Pum Dunbar's exhibition, with the items on display colour-coordinated in response to Pum's incredible paintings! 

Many people (staff included!) found something to their taste, and asked for the shop to come back in the future. A really great evening if you ask us!

Posted on 6th June 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Exhibitions  News  Shop  Trongate 103 

Project Ability was in London for the Impact Art Fair

Last weekend (21-22 May), a selection of artworks from Project Ability artists was showcased in London, for the Impact Art Fair. Drawings, paintings, books and cards, we had a great collection on show! Our booth wasn't very big, but the artists' talent was huge!

Celine Mcilmunn, who was representing Project Ability at the fair said: 'The Impact Art Fair was a very busy and vibrant place to spend a few days. It was lovely to meet the artists and representatives from other organisations and see some of their artwork. The work on the Project Ability stand received some great feedback from visitors with lots of people saying they would like to come to visit us in Glasgow. Apart from a gallery in Berlin we were the furthest travelled to be there!!'

For more photos, check our Facebook Fan page. 

Posted on 25th May 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News 

Preloved Pop-Up Shop coming to Project Ability

Are you interested in re-cycling and saving cash on clothes and accessories?

For June's First Thursday, Preloved Popup will bring 'Le Pop Up Shop' to Project Ability's gallery! The ladies behind Preloved Popup source vintage and preloved clothing/accessories of various sizes, eras, styles, for various budgets, and from high street to designer, so there's every chance you'll find something great that you love.

The shop will be set up in the Gallery, and will be open from 6pm - 9pm.

For more information: http://prelovedpopup.com/

Posted on 25th May 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Exhibitions  News  Shop  Trongate 103 

Create artworks going to China!

To help celebrate National Children’s Day in China, from the 1st of June Thread Gallery in Beijing’s famous 798 Art District will be displaying the work of participants from Create's 5-8yrs and 8-12yrs Saturday Visual Arts Workshops.

The two large felt pieces inspired by the theme of ‘home’ will be shown alongside work created by children who have participated in similar workshops in Beijing.

For more information on the exhibition, please click here. (Scroll down for the English version).

Posted on 16th May 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Exhibitions  News  Workshops 

Abi Pirani, artist in residence - April 2011

Abi Pirani is finishing her month long residence at Project Ability this week. She makes incredibly detailed and delicate papercut works, and will be giving three papercutting workshops to Connect participants this week.

To know more about Abi and her work, please click here. 

Posted on 26th April 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News 

Artist in Residence Programme - deadline extended to Friday 1st April 2011

We are offering artists the opportunity to work in our studios for one full calendar month - from May to September 2011.

Monday to Friday from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.

We have open studio space, a ceramics studio, print making facilities and a glass studio. There is an opportunity to exhibit work produced during or, after the residency in our gallery in January 2012.

Please, send an artist statement, a proposed course of study, your preferred month and up to 5 images to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or, hand-in to Project Ability, Trongate 103, Glasgow, G1 5HD

New Deadline: Friday 1st April 2011.

Posted on 28th March 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News 

‘Let the Games Begin’ mural finished!

Cameron Morgan finished his giant mural today! It will be on display in our Gallery until April 21st. Make sure you come by, it is well worth a look!

For the next couple of days the gallery walls will also be adorned with the results of Cameron's workshop with Croftcroighn School. The pupils responded to the exhibition by drawing on the walls and floor with coloured tape.

Posted on 22nd March 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News 

Great opportunities at Project Ability

We have three great opportunities for local and international artists:

• Our residency programme for 2011 will start soon. Glasgow based artists are invited to submit a proposal before 28 March. Click here for more info on the residency and how to apply.
• For 'Everyone at Trongate 103', we are inviting artists across all disciplines with a professional interest in Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities to share their own practice during public events at Trongate 103: we are calling for artist talks, performances, evaluation reports, research papers etc. Click here for more information. Deadline 04 April 2011.
• We are calling for submissions for collected a collective exhibition in Project Ability’s gallery in Trongate103, as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2011. We are welcoming submissions in any medium and on any theme. Anybody can submit one (or more) piece, the only restriction is one of size. Deadline Friday 12 August 2011. Click here for more information.

Posted on 15th March 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News  Recruitment & Volunteering 

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 

Only a few days left before ‘Xmas Show - prints prints prints’ closes

Xmas Show - prints prints prints closes this Thursday, so come see it before it's too late! All prints are for sale and they make great Christmas presents.

Project Ability will then close for the holidays, until Wednesday 05 January.

Posted on 20th December 2010 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Exhibitions  News  Shop  Trongate 103