neo:events

Neo:artists are calling for submissions to their first national open exhibition to be held
in the summer of 2012, the neo:artprize with a top prize of £1,000.
Neo: are expecting a high level of submissions with entry open to all contemporary visual artists living and working in the UK. As well as having the chance to win, selected work will be displayed in an exhibition at the brand new neo:gallery 22 in the heart of Bolton’s busy Market Place. The exhibition will run from 14th June to 28th July with a special preview night to launch the event guaranteeing maximum exposure to all artists who are selected to exhibit.
Work can be in any media and in the first instance artists are invited to submit images online by the 13th May for the first selection process.
Selections and curating will be made by Kwong Lee, Director of the prestigious Castlefield Gallery and Aileen McEvoy, former Director Arts Council England.
To find out more about the exhibition and how to enter please visit the website www.neoartists.co.uk

Press enquiries:
Jason Simpson
jason@neoartists.co.uk
Tel: 07855369522

‘BLINK’ An exhibition of work by Ian Irvine.

Ian is an artist living in Salford and working in Bolton, where he has a studio at neoartists in the town centre. Originally from Liverpool, most of his work involves printmaking, which he specialised in while doing a Fine Art degree at MMU. Ian has taught at colleges and universities around the North-West, including Wigan & Leigh College and University of Bolton, and currently leads regular workshops at Tate Liverpool. His work draws on an archive of found images, transformed from drawings or collages into sometimes surreal and often amusing artworks using screen-print, etching or some other print process. He is influenced by many aspects of popular culture, including films, graphic design and music, as well as artists both contemporary, and from 20th Century Art movements such as Pop Art and Surrealism. He exhibits regularly, including shows at Gallery Oldham, Salford Museum & Art Gallery, and View Two Gallery, Liverpool. He also recently won second prize at Bolton Museum & Art Gallery’s Open exhibition for a screen-print.
He says:
‘I love that bit in ‘The Rebel’ with Tony Hancock where he’s playing a famous artist and a critic says ‘How do you mix your paints?’ and he says ‘In a bucket with a big stick.’ It’s the best job in the world – where’s my cravat?

After attracting over 34,000 visitors to their exhibitions so far, neo:artists present the first exhibition at their new gallery neo:gallery 22 in The Marketplace, Bolton.

Whilst the exhibition is titled ‘State of the Art’ it is an un-themed exhibition aiming to showcase a diverse range of work from members of neo:artists, all living or working in the North West.

It is sure to be an exciting exhibition with neo:members working across medium as diverse as painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture and photography. As neo Director Jason Simpson says “The last three years have been an exciting time for neo: bringing independent exhibitions and workshops to the heart of Bolton, and to have so many people through the doors of our exhibitions has been a fantastic endorsement of our belief that there is space for a thriving art scene in Bolton”.

neo:gallery 22 premises have been kindly provided by The Market Place, Bolton and refurbished with help from Bolton Council. ‘State of the Art” is open from 1st March 2012 to the 1st April Thurs, Fri, Sat 10 – 4, Sun 11 -4. All members of the public warmly invited – admission is free.

Neo:studios presents Mind Maps a solo exhibition of contemporary paintings by artist John Wellstead. The show will be hosted in neo:gallery 32, Corporation Street, Bolton, BL1 2AN and runs from Thursday 15th March to Saturday 7th April.

The artist is a recent addition to the expanding studio group and this will be his first showing with them. John has had a life long interest in the arts and this is reflected in his work,

“For many years I lived in the Canadian Pacific North West. There I had many opportunities to visit the more remote Indian villages, where Legend and Art are intertwined and deeply treasured. I have never visited the South Pacific Rim but also love the Legend Art made by those Indigenous people.
Perhaps these images are retained in my subconscious and appear unbidden as I lose myself in my work.
The brain is a wonderful work of art in itself, I just tag along for the ride.”

The paintings, highly coloured oversize canvases, as the artist mentions, are influenced by years spent living abroad and viewers will readily recognise the aboriginal influences behind the work which make for an eye catching display in the popular corner gallery.

Neo:gallery 32 is open 10am – 4pm Thursday Friday and Saturday. All welcome, admission free.