The AIR Open 2024 Returns for its 7th Year with an Expanded Showcase at Rogue Artist Studios.

The highly anticipated AIR Open 2024 is back for its seventh year, and this year’s event promises to be the most expansive and exciting yet. Hosted at Rogue Artist Studios CIC in Higher Openshaw, the exhibition will feature an extraordinary array of contemporary art from some of today’s most innovative artists.

This year’s showcase, with no thematic constraints, will present a diverse collection of contemporary works including video art, fine art, drawing, sculpture, textiles, and mixed media. Each piece was meticulously selected by a distinguished judging panel through an open call submission process, ensuring a high standard of artistic excellence.

Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to cast their vote for their favorite works, adding an interactive dimension to the event.

In addition to the physical exhibition, AIR Open 2024 will debut a virtual gallery on the opening night, showcasing the top 100 submissions that didn’t make the final cut. This initiative allows a broader audience to engage with the exceptional talent on display. For more details, follow our social media channels.

The exhibition kicks off with a private view on Thursday, August 15th 6-9pm, and will run until September 21st, culminating in an awards afternoon to celebrate the outstanding contributions of the artists.

The AIR Open 2024 is proudly sponsored by Castlefield Gallery, Saul Hay Gallery,

and Jacksons Art Supplies.

Event Details:

Opening Night & Private View: Thursday, August 15th

Exhibition Dates: Friday 16th – September 21st

Location: Rogue Artist Studios CIC, Higher Openshaw

Awards Afternoon: September 21st

For further information, please contact:info.airgallery@gmail.com

Stay connected with us on instagram.com/info.airgallery / facebook.com/AIRExhibitions

About AIR Gallery CIC: AIR Gallery is a contemporary arts organisation specialising in providing opportunities for emerging and early career artists across the field of visual arts in the North West.

From May 18th to June 29th join Neo: artists as they take over the Project Space at Rogue. Based in Bolton but with members from across the North West, Neo: is a thriving community of artists from all walks of life who come together to share their own unique and exciting practice with one another, and now with you. 

Opening: Saturday May 18th at 12pm – 4pm 

Open every Friday and Saturday from 1pm to 6pm until June 28th. Please message neo@neoartist.co.uk to make an appointment at least 3 days before your visit. Thank you.

RITUALS: WIP (Weaving in Progress)

Jenny Steele & Gorton Weavers

1^st-30^th June 2024

Rogue Platform Space (1^st Floor)

Rogue Artists’ Studios, 4 Barrass Street

Higher Openshaw

Manchester

M11 1WP

Opening Event: Saturday 1^st June 1.30-4pm

Opening Hours: Saturday 8^th, 22^nd & 29^th June 12- 4pm

To view by appointment at other times, email jennysteelestudio@gmail.com to arrange a time.

RITUALS: WIP (Weaving in Progress) is an open studio exhibition of two large scale woven sculptures by visual artist Jenny Steele, including weaving by local Gorton weavers. Part of Jenny’s current research, engagement and production project, Rituals for Tomorrow, she hasexplored sustainable ways to use weaving that supports our wellbeing, connection to nature and sense of belonging.

Combining local flora, such as leaves and grasses from Gorton parks and Fallowfield Loop with bright, colourful locally sourced ex industrial yarns saved from landfill, Jenny has created a celebratory, festive sculpture upon a 200 year old Lancashire cart. The work references the historic local ritual of the rush cart ceremony, which travelled throughout the streets of Gorton and other Lancashire and Yorkshire towns, uniting the community with nature and its seasons.

Over one month, Jenny taught back strap weaving skills and passementerie techniques to female former members of Gorton Visual Arts group. Weaving and tassels in plants and yarn made by the new Gorton weavers are included in the large woven sculpture upon a 200-year-old Lancashire cart.

The open studio exhibition will also provide an opportunity to view the second woven sculpture in progress grow throughout the month, a large semi-circular woven work to be completed and installed on a wooden boat in July 2024 at Art Gene, Barrow, Cumbria, working with a new set of weavers.

RITUALS: WIP (Weaving in Progress) will also displays woven samples, drawings and artworks using plant life and yarn by Jenny Steele, and weaving samples by Gorton weavers, as well as films in progress.

Gorton Weavers are: Jean, Julie, Lucianne Cannavan, Margaret Painter, Pat, Rebecca, Rita Oakley and Sue. With huge thanks for their time and participation.

Rituals for Tomorrow is supported by a Project Grant from Arts Council England.

Jenny Steele is a Scottish artist who has been living in Manchester since 2011, and her current practice uses heritage crafts of hand weaving, basket weaving and passementerie to create sculptures that explore ideas of ritual, grief, festive celebration and belonging.

Prior to that, Jenny’s work largely used processes of drawing, painting and printmaking and focused on the restorative effects of coastal and nature environments. Recent commissions include Textile City for Museum of Science and Industry (2022), The Joy of Union, MET, Preston City (2022), Our Library of Light, At The Library, Crosby (2019) and The Seafront, Art B&B (2019).

Recent residencies include Arnis Residency, Arnis, Germany (2022) Cove Park, Scotland (2021), Fountainhead Arts, Miami, USA (2017) and This House for Building, The Tetley, Leeds (2017). Recent solo exhibitions and projects include; The Maiden Voyage, George’s Dock Plaza, Liverpool, 2019, Why be exotic in private?, The Foundry Gallery, London (2018-19), This Building for Hope, The Midland, Morecambe (2017), and An Architecture of Joy, Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool (2016). Jenny is a graduate of Goldsmiths MFA (2007) and BA Fine Art DOJCAD, Dundee (2002).

For more information about the Rituals for Tomorrow project, visit Jenny’s weekly blog here

Website: JS (jennysteele.co.uk)

Instagram: @jennycsteele

Access information: We regret that Rogue Artists’ Studios is not wheelchair accessible on the First Floor. 

WILLIAMS AND SON

Frank Williams and Alun Williams: paintings and drawings

March 23 – April 27 2024

Private View: Saturday March 23, 12-4pm

Open Saturdays and Sundays, 12-4pm and by appointment (contact alunw@pm.me)

This exhibition presents the respective work of a father and son who came to their mutual passion for painting via different routes and whose subjects and techniques are apparently unrelated. One of the premises of the exhibition has been to see if the shared (artistic) DNA of the two artists rises to the surface in any perceptible way. As the first member of the family to attend university, Frank Williams had a career as an architect, and while draughtsmanship was a constant, he was only able to focus fully on painting and drawing much later in life. In consequence, his work has only rarely been presented in public, and this is in contrast to the work of his son, Alun, who was fortunate to study painting (with the clear support of his parents!) and who has exhibited regularly ever since in the UK and overseas.

Alun Williams has been committed to an exploration of the human presence in his paintings, frequently through a desire to represent specific characters, often historical ones, but rarely with any concern for “resemblance”, as such. This comes from the notion that paint has far more potential and potency for expression than merely by acting as a vehicle for observation. In this quest to give paint as rich a voice as possible, Williams also regularly resorts to referencing Art History. When Frank Williams began immersing himself more intensively in the challenges and pleasures of painting and drawing, about twenty years ago now, his reflex in terms of choice of subject was perhaps a conventional one: portraits, landscapes and the repetitive practice of life-drawing. However, behind this, it’s interesting that when contemplating some of his architectural studies, the viewer might discern a small element or device that would seem to be not strictly necessary – and therefore somehow of great interest! In a similar way, his portraits and landscapes, and other unrelated works, often include a more or less unexpected detail, element or protocol, which serves to activate the work in a more dynamic way than it perhaps might seem at first sight.

Frank Williams studied architecture at Manchester University, and ended his career by returning to teach in the new MMU School of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Design. In between, he worked first as architect and later as town planner for the City of Manchester, then for private architectural practices, and for an architects’ cooperative. He also later studied architectural conservation and has campaigned, often successfully, to save buildings of historical interest in Manchester.  

Alun Williams was born in Manchester, studied painting at the University of Wales and Goldsmith’s College in London, as well as at the National Art School in Bourges, France. He has exhibited regularly, mostly in the UK, France and the USA, in galleries, non-profit venues and museums, and his work is represented in numerous private and public collections. He has also been active within organisations offering opportunities to artists. For example, he was one of the founders of the Triangle-Asterides contemporary art center in Marseille, France, is currently co-chair of the Triangle Arts Association in New York, and was founder and director of Parker’s Box, an experimental, artist-run gallery in Brooklyn (2000-2013).

The Paths We Cross

Briony Jenkins, Stephen Milner, Mike Thorpe

“In this journey of life, even though we may begin at different times and places, our paths cross with others so that we may share our love, compassion, observations and hope.” (Steve Maraboli).

It is so of these three artists, living in Aberdeen, Sale & Macclesfield, brought together via Newlyn in Cornwall, their paths joined by a casual conversation. A path that had crossed forty years before, unknowingly for Briony & Steve as students of Manchester School of Art, but all three universally connected by one birthplace – Manchester. Now joined in passion for their art, this a first opportunity to engage with their home city.

Their work encompasses painting, collage and film, and embodies each individual’s search for a greater connection through their materials and experiences of landscape and the human form.

SPARK: Artist Interventions in a Time of Crisis

An exhibition of a network of North-West artists concerned with intervention in the climate crisis

Rogue Project Space

2-6 Barrass St, Manchester, M11 1WP

PV: 8th December, 2023, 6-8 pm

9th December – January 13th

Opening Times: Saturday, Sunday 12-4 pm

Or by appointment

Curated by Sophy King and John-Paul Brown.

Featuring: Artist A & Artist B, Chris Alton, John-Paul Brown, Eleanor Capstick, Nerissa Cargill Thompson, Maya Chowdhry, Helen Clare, Louise Ann Clarke, Sara Kristina Davies, Sarah Feinmann, Sarah Grant, Anthony Hall, Jackie Haynes, Tracy Hill, David Jacques, Adele Jordan, Nick Jordan, Lizzie King, Sophy King, Jane Lawson, Helena Lee, Ruth Moilliet, Rob Mullender-Ross, Mike Perry, Sam Pickett, Gwen Riley Jones, Lucy Roberts, Heather Ross, Rae Story, Steve Sutton, TEA, Debbie Yare

SPARK is the first exhibition by members of the SPARK Artists Network, who have been meeting since June 2022. Their monthly events have included guerilla gardening, moss walks, exploring urban and rural ecologies, tours of political sites and exhibition visits.

The exhibition aims to engender conversation and collaboration and foster the cross-pollination of ideas. The artists examine how their interventions can affect change, questioning whether art can be productive with or without overt activism. The exhibition, programme and conversations deriving from them will shape the future direction and plans of the Spark Artists Network.

There will be a programme of events alongside the exhibition:

8th December, 6-8pm, Private View with Performances from Artist A & Artist B, and Maya Chowdhry

9th December, 11-4pm SPARK #18: Talks and panel Q&A by invited speakers Rebecca Chesney, Liz Postlethwaite and Debbie Yare

16th December, 4-6pm Observed Ecologies: A programme of short films exploring the interconnections between human activity and the natural environment, selected from Braziers International Film Festival by Nick Jordan

7th January 2-4pm What is the Role of the Artist at the End of Time?: Workshop led by Rae Story

13th January 10am SPARK #19: Forest Bathing Walk with Niki Colclough. Part of the project ‘Rituals for Tomorrow’ by Jenny Steele. Followed by a Spark meeting – Where Do We Go From Here?

13th January, 2pm, Photography Talks and Networking – Climate Aware Photography Projects with Helena Lee

The SPARK Artists Network is open to all. Their meetings are usually on the first Saturday of the month. You can follow them @sparkartistsnetwork on Instagram or Facebook or email sparknetworkmcr@gmail.com for more information.

shifting ground

paintings by Margaret Cahill

Rogue Project Space

4 Barrass Street

Manchester

M11 1PU

November 4 – November 25

Open Saturdays & Sundays 12 – 4pm

P.V. Saturday November 4, 2-5pm

Shifting Ground is a retrospective exhibition of work resulting from projects undertaken in Europe in the last two decades alongside recent new paintings.

The work draws on the artists experiences of places containing resonances of social, political or historic changes. From an abandoned Russian airbase in Estonia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 90s through post conflict Kosovo to the 1936 Olympic village outside Berlin.

The images from these sites become the starting point for paintings of spaces balanced between the real and imaginary that look beyond the landscape to distil the essence of a place capturing the sensations it evokes.

The paintings are rooted in the experience of these places but at the same time are mediated notions of landscape refracted through memory.

The exhibition explores themes of memory, history and place and reflects on our relationship with landscape in a shifting and unstable world.

For more information or to arrange an appointment outside opening times please contact

Margaret Cahill at: margaretcahillartist@yahoo.co.uk

ROGUE OPEN STUDIOS 2023 

Rogue Artists’ Studios & Project Space
4 Barrass Street
M11 1WP

Opening Party 2-5pm
Saturday 30 September 2023

Open Studios
12-5pm
Saturday 30 September & Sunday 1 October 2023

The ‘Rogue Open Studios’ is an opportunity to visit the workspaces of more than 85 leading contemporary artists. Rogue artists work across media including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, collage, glass, textiles, film, photography, sound art, performance and assemblage, and will be on hand over the weekend to welcome visitors to our magnificent Grade 2 listed buildings. In addition to the Open Studios, Rogue’s Project Space, acclaimed by Time Out Manchester as one of the best art galleries in the city, will host ‘TEES’, an exhibition exploring the T-Shirt as art form. In our brand new Platform Space on the first floor Rogue artist Joe Hancock will present ‘Working in Progress’. All are welcome to the opening party on Saturday 30 September from 2-5pm.

Free entry and parking.
Coffee stall
Wheelchair accessible (ground floor only). 

Or contact: rogueartistsstudios@yahoo.co.uk

Rogue Project Space 
Ground Floor Gallery Space
2-6 Barrass St
Manchester, M11 1WP


TEES 
An exhibition exploring the t-shirt as art form

Preview: 30 September 2023, 2-5pm
Show runs until 31 October 2023
Opening Times: 12-4pm
Or by appointment

Curated by Mike Chavez-Dawson & Co. Assisted by; Jamie Kirk, Grecia Balassone, Vincent Patterson, Maggie Stick and John Paul Brown.

Featuring Sir Peter Blake, Jeremy Deller, David Shrigley, Bob and Roberta Smith and artists from Rogue Artists’ Studios, Paradise Works, Suite, Bankley Studios, AWOL Studios, Islington Mill and beyond..

Ten Obstructions are a porous group of ten artists that came together in late 2019 through bOlder, a Castlefield Gallery artist development programme. This is their sixth group exhibition and they continue to offer each other support critique encouragement and friendship. The exhibiting artists are:

Maya Chowdhry, Jane Fairhurst, Sarah Feinmann, Sabrina Fuller, Claire Hignett, Christopher Rainham and Ian Vines.

In Gladly Beyond Ten Obstructions embrace the opportunity for experimentation that Rogue Project Space offers. The title comes from ee cummings, himself  a radical experimenter with form: ‘somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond any experience’.

Gladly Beyond journeys literally, visually and imaginatively through time and through space. It explores the possibilities of visual representation: through light, through simplification of form, or by playing with scale. It delves into the nature of perception, the process of looking, the connections and dialogue between visual representation and the natural world – capturing a feeling, a pulsing life essence. 

Journeys of the imagination take us from fabled and mythic magical gardens to speculative fictions. We leave behind the constructs and fictions that justify existing hierarchies and inequalities – all responding to the inexorable march of man-made climate change. 

Rogue Women Returns.  

An exhibition bringing together and celebrating the work of women artists from Roque Studios plus invited artists from around the UK.

Please join us for our PV on Friday 5^th May 6-9pm

Exhibition runs from Sat 6^th May to Sun 28^th May

Open Saturday & Sunday 11am – 4pm

Weekdays by appointment only

Ground Floor Gallery Space

Rogue Artists’ Studios CIC

2-6 Barrass Street, Higher Openshaw

Manchester M11 1PU

In November 2019 in response to the gender imbalance in the arts we organised and co-curated a hugely successful exhibition of all female artists entitled ROGUE WOMEN. This was shown in the large ground floor Rogue Studios Gallery Space with most female members taking part. 

As the dialogue surrounding the inequality of women in the arts continues, we have decided to create ROGUE WOMEN 2. 

We have a 50% representation of female artists practicing both nationally and internationally here at Rogue and the exhibition will showcase the talent of up to 40 of the women members alongside a small number of selected guest artists from around the UK.

Throughout art history women have been largely invisible, ignored and excluded. Our aim is to place women in the spotlight, show solidarity and to continue the discourse around these issues. 

Our guest curator will be Natasha Howes,

Senior Curator at Manchester Art Gallery

Spring as a Rebel, Act I & Act II
John-Paul Brown

Act I   01.04.23 – 16.04.23
Act II  22.04.23 – 29.04.23
Open Saturdays and Sundays 12-6pm*
*excludes Easter Sunday

Evening Performance with artist Kelly Jayne Jones 
18.04.23 6-8pm

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spring-as-a-rebel-evening-performance-with-kelly-jayne-jones-tickets-572864341667

John-Paul Brown explores what it is to communicate in an age plagued with disinformation and polar opinion; how the present day written word and verbal languages are failing to connect, unify, inform and address the climate emergency. A rise in climate-related anxiety is effectively shutting down social capacity to sustain a collective demand for change, and feel optimistic for our futures. 

Embracing a no blame, no shame approach to discussing carbon footprints, he aims to create a safe space for open dialogue and shared learning, juxtaposing global issues such as deforestation, mass migration, permafrost, new energy etc, with notions of self care, resilience, and future affirmations. 

Taking inspiration from the ancient visual languages of cave art, and the Rosetta Stone in the age of short-hand emoji chat, he has produced a series of symbols and signifiers to encourage climate curiosity, self education and continued conversation. He explores alternative ways of low-carbon art-making through material choices, utilising non-recyclable materials, and post-art recycling considerations. 

The show is presented in two acts. Act I offers research and development through a series of installations, climate equations, AI sound, and painting. Act II explores performance and ritual meditation with artists Kelly Jayne Jones, transformation of Act I materials, and regeneration of self.

About John-Paul Brown 

John-Paul Brown (b.1981) graduated with a BA (Hons) in Photography from Blackpool & Fylde College in 2004. His practice ranges from documentary photography and drawing, to large scale installation and social engagement. His work addresses concerns relating to the climate and ecological emergency, non-recyclable materials, urban environments, and low-carbon art-making. 

He combines research with personal experience to create layered narratives of social present, exploring the material choices and positive roles artists can play in tackling the climate crisis.

www.johnpaulbrown.com

About Kelly Jayne Jones

Kelly Jayne Jones is a Manchester-based artist making work that combines performance, installation and sound. She is self-taught and began working in DIY experimental noise music. Her practice has expanded to include sound installation, dance, gesture, sonic drawings, stone sculpture and film scores.
She is interested in creating multi-sensory experiences that create possible conditions for communication and exchange. She is currently exploring animist ideas around the breath and spirit of mountains and rivers and how we can reconnect with our planet by means of ancient and modern rituals.

www.kellyjaynejones.org

Thirty years of making art and running projects and programs in France and the USA

Artist’s talk with Alun Williams and Claire Lesteven

Rogue Residency Studio Friday February 24 at 7pm. Admission free.

Alun Williams

Alun Williams was born in Manchester, UK and studied painting at the University of Wales and Goldsmiths’ College, University of London. He has exhibited internationally, and his paintings are represented in private and public collections in Europe and the USA, where he has lived since 1998, dividing his time between New York City and Brittany in the north west of France.

Since more than a quarter of a century, Williams has devoted much time and energy to running non-profit organizations offering time and space to artists, including the Triangle Arts Association, New York, where he has been a Board member since 1993, and is currently co-chair, and Triangle-France in Marseille (of which he was a founder in 1995). He was also a founder of Parker’s Box, an experimental gallery in Brooklyn (2000 – 2013) and more recently a new project, Minoterie21 in Brittany, France organizing various contemporary art projects and residencies.

Williams has lectured or taught in numerous art schools and universities in Europe and North America. Most recently he was artist in residence/ visiting professor at the School of Visual and Media Arts, University of Quebec in Montreal, Canada.

In 2004, Alun Williams was honoured by the French government with the medal of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, in recognition of services to international culture.

He is represented by Galerie Anne Barrault in Paris.

www.galerieannebarrault.com/en/artiste/alun-williams/

Claire Lesteven

Born in Paris where she spent her childhood, Claire Lesteven then lived in Brittany, then in Nantes where she studied at the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. After a new period in Paris, she moved to Marseille where she became one of the founders of the Triangle France Association, whose mission is to support artists through an experimental program of projects, residencies and exhibitions.

At Rogue Studios, Clare will make a new work that will be a fusion between landscapes photographed recently, and new landscapes from the Manchester area with a camera-obscura, and distant views borrowed from the history of painting, to include examples from the City Art Gallery collections. http://www.h-gallery.fr/claire-lesteven/

Noses
Rogue Platform Space

1st Floor
2-6 Barrass Street
Openshaw
Manchester
M11 1PU
Ongoing from 13th February – 17th March.
The space is open to the public on Friday 17th March from 4-7pm.

Following the success of their duo show at Manchester’s Holden gallery in August 2022 (curated by Julia Makojnik), Steve Oliver and Jon Whitter will spend 21 days in Rogue’s first floor project space, exploring making and installation strategies in real time. Expect actors, plasterers, 3D scanners and screens.

Free

Access is via two flights of stairs to the first floor

How to get to Rogue: 2-6 Barrass Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11 1PU. Rogue is easily accessible by rail. Take the Rose Hill Marple train from Platform 2 at Manchester Piccadilly and alight at Gorton station. Leave the station and turn left. Walk 50 yards and turn left again into Beeth Street. Rogue is straight ahead of you. By car, turn off the Ashton Old Road onto Lees Street towards Gorton Railway Station. After approximately 300 yards take a right turn into Beeth Street. Rogue is straight ahead of you.

Artists in Residence

Alun Williams and Claire Lestevan

Artists Talk Friday 24 February 7pm

Front Nursery building at Rogue Studios

Admission and parking free

Born in Paris where she spent her childhood, Claire Lesteven then lived in Brittany, then in Nantes where she studied at the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. After a new period in Paris, she moved to Marseille where she became one of the founders of the Triangle France Association, whose mission is to support artists through an experimental program of projects, residencies and exhibitions.

At Rogue Studios, Clare will make a new work that will be a fusion between landscapes photographed recently, and new landscapes from the Manchester area with a camera-obscura, and distant views borrowed from the history of painting, to include examples from the City Art Gallery collections. 

Alun Williams was born in Manchester, UK and studied painting at the University of Wales and Goldsmiths’ College, University of London. He has exhibited internationally, and his paintings are represented in private and public collections in Europe and the USA, where he has lived since 1998, dividing his time between New York City and Brittany in the north west of France.

Since more than a quarter of a century, Williams has devoted much time and energy to running non-profit organizations offering time and space to artists, including the Triangle Arts Association, New York, where he has been a Board member since 1993, and is currently co-chair, and Triangle-France in Marseille (of which he was a founder in 1995). He was also a founder of Parker’s Box, an experimental gallery in Brooklyn (2000 – 2013) and more recently a new project, Minoterie21 in Brittany, France organizing various contemporary art projects and residencies.

Williams has lectured or taught in numerous art schools and universities in Europe and North America. Most recently he was artist in residence/ visiting professor at the School of Visual and Media Arts, University of Quebec in Montreal, Canada.

In 2004, Alun Williams was honoured by the French government with the medal of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, in recognition of services to international culture.

He is represented by Galerie Anne Barrault in Paris.

www.galerieannebarrault.com/en/artiste/alun-williams/

Artist Artiste
Board of Directors, Triangle Arts Association, New York
Board / CA Triangle Canada, Montréal
Président, Minoterie21, Guéveneux, Peillac, France
Membre d’honneur, Triangle France-Astérides, Marseille
CA Art Contemporain en Bretagne
www.galerieannebarrault.com/en/artiste/alun-williams/
www.triangleartsnyc.org
www.trianglenetwork.org
www.minoterie21.tumblr.com
ww.artcontemporainbretagne.org