Bristolite n 1 dweller and inhabitant of the Bristol area: I’ve been a Bristolite since I was born
2 temporary visitors to Bristol’s city centre, a person who feels engaged in its cultural and vibrant activities. [Coined by Faith of IYP, circa 2011]
Perhaps not the most usual way to begin a blog entry, but after last Saturday’s events at Bristol with IYP I seriously think Collins (and Oxford University Press) should consider this entry for their next edition of the dictionary.
As you can tell, IYP and I ventured forth to Bristol on June 11th to have a rather eventful day down South. After (literally) sprinting down the escalator at New Street station at the crack of dawn to catch the 9 o’ Clock to Bristol Temple Meads station meant that we could catch the Arnolfini as it was just opening up for the day, and was fairly quiet. But what an atmosphere Bristol has! The sheer notion that a city can perfectly combine a vibrant city atmosphere with the tranquillity of the docks and marine life is rather incredible! (Actually, should just mention there that I have no qualms with Liverpool either...) Moreover, Temple Meads station is actually BEAUTIFUL. I recommend you all take a visit.
So strolling over to the Arnolfini we went, to meet Hannah and her YAACs. Hannah’s part of the Learning department there and YAAC (Young Arnolfini Artist Collective) are her group of young people who attend the local sixth form, who are all very much engaged in Bristol’s art scene. Being a Saturday we only met India, Anna, Connel and the two Charlies but they gave us an invaluable insight into how they operate as a youth programme working alongside a gallery space. We even had our very own bespoke exhibition tour, in which we became utterly perplexed with Onkar Kular and Noam Toran’s piece entitled The MacGuffin Library- so bizarre! Honestly, I’d try and explain it on here, but there wouldn’t be enough web space.
No, I guess this photo doesn’t give that last paragraph any justice. At all...
After a whistle-stop tour of the gallery spaces, we broke for a hummus, brie and baguette lunch (what else!) before rushing off to squeeze a dash of Spike Island in.
Approaching Spike Island.
I should add that before checking out Theatrum Orbis Terrarum at Spike Island we had a peek at the ‘Stripped’ exhibition at Bristol Diving School. Might have just been me, but Marjolijn’s exhibition at Spike Island was dwarfing! Perhaps I got a bit used to her photos at Ikon, which were half the size. Here’s us at the LUNÄ table down there, just so those of you who checked out her work when it was at Ikon get a bit more perspective...
NB: This photo also includes Yaac’s very own Connel, Anna and Charlie, just in case some of you wondered why IYP had spontaneously expanded.
We found it quite interesting that Marjolijn had chosen different photographs for parts of this exhibition, and that she included an additional video piece, which explored notions of utopia and idealisation of the world. Isn’t the Lunä table perfect for discussing these themes?!
Why wouldn’t you project images of tea? (UWE)
Following this, we checked out the UWE’s (University of the West of England) Fine Art/ Art & Visual Culture Degree Show, entitled Party Pieces. Utterly bizarre pieces, but interesting nonetheless! (Might be worth a mention here that the exhibition ended on June 16th). Then we ventured to upstairs at Spike Island, to mull over one or two of the artist studios there, I find it’s really insightful to watch the progression of an art work, and to see an unfinished piece, I like to believe you can engage with the thought processes of the artist to a much greater extent. We even saw some of Hannah’s own projection-based work on our way out!
Maybe this is starting to sound like a habit, but yeah- we dashed for the train back as well.
Vikki Jessop
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