New Card - Adrianne Neil

We are thrilled to say that this month's Secret Preston artist is Adrianne Neil - fab!

Adrianne is an illustrator based in Newcastle and produces intricate, strange, beautiful drawings and she has produced an intriguing little drawing especially for Preston - what a star!

Her hand drawn illustrations explore imagined realities and creatures developed through a love of heavy industry, birds and Japanese woodblock prints. Recent projects include participating in Jake Blanchard’s Menagerie 3, and she is currently collaborating with Sheffield artist and designer Emma Presland.

You can see more of her work on her blog:
 

http://jesuisdesoleejesuisoccupee.blogspot.co.uk/

Adrianne's card is available now for free at the Museum of Lancashire, The Tourist Information Centre, The Pavilion in Avenham Park, The Continental Pub and Scene on Friargate. However, we're sad to say that Wonderland on Friargate is now closed - the lure of the south was too much and they've relocated to Manchester.

Get your card now - they'll not be available for long...

The next card is coming...

You're forgiven for thinking that Preston may be experiencing some weird time delay and a bit behind everyone else, but you'd be wrong.
We know it's a bit odd that the May SPA edition is being released in August but by some random coincidence all of the members of the SPA team* moved house all at the same time which then delayed the project for a couple of months. But we promise to catch up - so look out for a flurry of editions in the next few weeks.

The May edition has just come back from the printers and is being stamped tonight! It should be available in the next day or two - we'll keep you posted. And - it's a belter.

*Director, Director of Finance, Logistics Coordinator, Marketing Manager and Chief Studio Janitor.

April 2012 - Thomas Saible

The April SPA artist is Thomas Saible - brilliant news!

Saible's work references imagined landscapes and remembered places by using washes of colour to disguise faint images and the over layering of lines and marks.  Blurring in and out of focus many of Saible's paintings and drawings seem to reveal an insight into his thoughts and unconscious meanderings through time and space.

Saible has shown work in Germany, UK, Ireland, France, Japan and Italy. His work is held in numerous private collections and also in public collections: Kreisgalerie Sigmaringen, Germany; Regierungsprasidium Tubingen, Germany; Ludwig-Maximilians Universitat Munchen, Germany and Bundesamt fur Kultur Bern, Switzerland.
 

Take a look at his website for more information:

www.saible.de

You can also see more of his work at the Art Archive organised by Peter Kerschgens:

www.kunst-archiv-peter-kerschgens.de

Saible, who was recognised as the first official tourist in Preston, has been visiting the city on a regular basis since 2005. He lives and works in Munich, Germany.

And from today you can pick up a free Secret Preston Art card featuring a beautiful painting of Preston by Thomas Saible - available from: The Museum of Lancashire, The Tourist Info Centre,  Scene, The Continental Pub, The Pavilion (in Avenham Park) and Wonderland Vintage Boutique - full details of venues are listed below.

a-n Review for Himid

Sorry, but you're now too late to collect a free copy of Lubaina Himid's Secret Preston Art postcard - they are all gone! However, the April card is well on the way to being ready and will be available in the venues listed below from mid month.

We noticed that the April issue of a-n Magazine has a review about Cotton: Global Threads at Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester and features an image of Lubaina Himid's work that was commissioned for the exhibition.  How current are we?!

March 2012 - Lubaina Himid

The March SPA artist is Lubaina Himid - excellent!

We've launched Himid's edition today to coincide with International Women's Day.

Himid's work focuses on themes and issues surrounding cultural history and looks at the representations of the people of African diaspora and their cultural contribution to the contemporary landscape. Known for her paintings and prints she also makes work in response to museum collections - questioning their role in the discussion around cultural histories. 

Himid has exhibited internationally since the 1980's: ICA, London; Hayward Gallery, London; Transmission Gallery, Glasgow; V&A Museum, London; Peg Alston Gallery, New York; St Jorgens Museum, Bergen, Norway; and the Havana Biennial in Cuba. 

She also has works held in a number of public collections: The Tate Gallery;  the Victoria and Albert Museum, London;  Birmingham City Art Gallery and Bolton Art Gallery. 

Please visit her website for full details:

www.lubainahimid.info/

She is currently in  Cotton: Global Threads at the Whitworth Art Gallery in
Manchester until 13th May 2012

www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/

She is also currently in Migrations at Tate Britain until 12th August 2012 

www.tate.org.uk/britain

And best of all Himid lives and works here in Preston - local and international at the same time - is that possible? We are thrilled she is the third Secret Preston Art artist!
All the cards are in the venues now (see below for list of venues) - so if you want a free artist card you'd better get along and grab one asap. 

What's Theg

You may well ask "what's theg?"

Well, every 20 years there is a festival here in Preston called the Guild. Apparently the first one was in 1179 and it's been going ever since.

And 2012 is a Guild year - hooray!

We are knee deep here in Preston with bunting and flags celebrating a festival that only seems to celebrate past Guilds. Nobody is sure of its identity or relevance, but what the hell: lets get all the community groups of Preston to dress up and ride a float around town and in 20 years time we can reminisce and laugh at everyones outfits and funny hairstyles.

It's because of the Guild (and in spite of it) that the Secret Preston Art project was conceived. Each of the SPA team was born in a Guild year and within the sound of a Ribble Bus horn from the top of the bus station. Even with this strict criteria, there are 5 members in total (2 aged 20, 2 in their 40th year and one aged 60).

So, for each month during this historic year we are producing a free edition of 100 postcards.

It goes without saying that all the Mark Dion cards are now gone... but have no fear, the March edition has come back from the printers and is being stamped and packed as we speak. It should be ready and available in the different venues sometime during this week....

February 2012 - Mark Dion

The second SPA artist for February is Mark Dion - how exciting!

Dion's work examines the ways in which dominant ideologies and public institutions shape our understanding of history, knowledge, and the natural world. He incorporates elements of biology, archaeology, ethnography, and the history of science and has worked all over the world. And now he's produced a special drawing for Preston!

He has exhibited internationally since 1985 with solo shows at the Tate Gallery; Museum of Modern Art, New York; South London Gallery; USF Contemporary Art Museum; and the Natural History Museum, London to name only a few.

He is represented by Tanya Bonakdar Gallery in New York. The website shows examples of his work and also a full CV too:

http://tanyabonakdargallery.com

Dion is currently showing at the USF Contemporary Art Museum in Florida, USA (in case you're passing). Troubleshooting runs until 3rd March 2012.

http://www.usfcam.usf.edu/CAM/cam_exhibitions.html

The Secret Preston Art edition of 100 cards with Mark Dion's drawing on has now gone into all the venues around Preston city centre - so if you want one for free, you'd better get a move on!

Michael Lewy - New York Times

All of the Secret Preston Art edition for January have all gone now, but you can see more of Michael Lewy's charts in a little book available from J&L Books based in USA.

www.jandlbooks.org

Go to the website and scroll along until you see "Chart Sensation" and click on the book for details and to order your copy.

We're also pleased to announce that Michael has just been commissioned to illustration an article for the New York Times Book Review:

www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/books/review/stay-awake-stories-by-dan-chaon.html?_r=1&ref=review

The February edition is going to print tomorrow - so it should be ready to go to all the venues in the next few days.... 

Venues

There are a few venues around Preston where you can pick up your free Secret Preston Art edition:

Wonderland Vintage Boutique

128 Friargate Preston

PR1 2EE

Carefully sourced vintage and retro clothing, shoes and accessories.

Mon - Sat 09.00 - 18.00

The Pavilion

Avenham Park

Preston

The Pavilion was designed by McChesney Architects - it's such a beautiful building, and it houses the Preston City Council park manager and rangers and also the Riverside Cafe. 

It's open 7 days a week. 

April - Sept 10.00 - 17.00

Oct - March 10.00 - 16.00

www.mcchesney.co.uk/projects/preston

The Continental Pub

South Meadow Lane

Preston

PR1 8JP

With a great selection of beers, wines and yummy food there's also a program of events including music, studio theatre, live literature, workshops, classes and masses more...

www.newcontinental.net

Scene
47 Friargate
Preston
PR1 2AT
Skatestore with clothes, footwear, accessories and skateboards.
Mon - Sat 10.00 - 17.30
www.scenepreston.com

Preston Tourist Information Centre
The Guildhall
Lancaster Road
Preston
PR1 1HT
The Tourist Information Centre has just been refurbished and is situated in the Guildhall.
Mon - Sat 10.00 - 17.50
www.visitpreston.com

Museum Of Lancashire
Stanley Street
Preston
PR1 4YP
The MOL has just re-opened after redevelopment - and it's really great! It's now free to enter, has free parking and a cafe - why haven't you been already?!
Tues - Sat 10.30 - 17.00
Sun 12.30 - 17.00
Closed mondays except bank holidays
www.lancashire.gov.uk/acs/sites/museums/index.asp

January 2012 - Michael Lewy

Michael Lewy is the first SPA artist!

Lewy lives and works in Boston Massachusetts, USA and uses photography, illustration and painting in his work. 

Lewy says:

What is the first question people ask when they meet you for the first time?

"What do you do for a living?" 

I am interested in how what we do defines us and how our ideas of success and failure shape our culture. After receiving my MFA in 1996 I began working in an office in an administrative capacity. I have been there ever since. Office work is not my chosen profession but a way to make a living.

I started constructing City of Work in 2006 as a way to distill these ideas. I am constructing the City of Work by using photography, video, and computer graphics. I use blueprints to create a plan of the city.  

I have also created several different characters that I portray of different archetypes that live in the city. They are as follows: Office worker, Ceo of Omnipresent Industries , Scientist of the Human Potential Institute and a Laborer who works in the under bowels of the city. I am trying to create a detailed world of this corporate dystopia where work is all consuming. 

In this City of Work, vacations are given by lottery, jobs are determined by the Human Potential Institute and it is illegal to be unemployed. 

Its motto is "If you worked here you would be home by now".

Lewy has shown work in Boston, New York, Atlanta and Berkeley and is currently showing work at Carrroll and Sons in Boston, Massachusetts until February 18th

www.carrollandsons.net/exhibitions/index.php

See more of Lewy's work here:

www.mlewy.com

and more of the City of Work here:

www.cityofwork.com

Secret Preston Art