Art Organisation @ 52 Roscoe Street

5th - 31st October 2005

By Kenn Taylor

A group called the Art Organisation have converted a derelict warehouse on Roscoe Street (between Hardman St and Duke St) into a new exhibition space and open studio to give young artists new opportunities in the community. The group specialises in finding new purposes for run-down buildings; transforming them into performance and exhibition spaces and has previously opened spaces in London, Margate and Kent.

This first exhibition showcases work from recently graduated artists and designers from Liverpool John Moores University. The ethos of the space is to be artist-centred, with no rigid structure and any sort of work able to be produced and shown in the building from music to sculpture. For this opening show exhibitors were simply asked to ‘react’ to the new space in their work.

On entering the space one work obviously dominates; Gordon Culshaw has coveted a knackered-looking SAAB car into a makeshift rocket on a launch pad. At first I thought this was a comment on SAAB’s ‘We also make aircraft’ adverts but reading the rest of his exhibit it becomes clear that this is Mr Culshaw’s idea for a new economical space vehicle. Well it would probably more reliable than the shuttle.

From scrap metal to brown stuff Jamie Torode’s ‘Mypod II’ takes up one corner of the exhibition is a peculiar den constructed out of what I think was either clay or mud. Ducking inside I was treated with a comfy chair to rest on and a video screen showing something unidentifiable to me. If only they had BBC1 I could have sat and watched Bargain Hunt in the comfort of the mud cave.

Due to the nature of contemporary art I then confused the gallery’s kitchen with an exhibit. Laughing at my own stupidity I was later informed that part of it was in fact one of the exhibits.

In contrast was Katriona Edrich’s piece of illuminated paper, pricked with tiny dots to form a William Morris-like wallpaper design. A pretty piece in itself, on close inspection it revealed that at the centre of the design were a series of small tanks. I paused for thought but found it hard to decipher any meaning, interesting though. Another interesting installation was Julie Swallows' ‘Washing Line Jive’ - a series of stuffed shirts seemingly dancing with each other in a riot of colour.

My personal favourite exhibit was Annie Houston’s untitled installation - a pile of crumbling bricks with what looks like papier mache flowers springing from them. Perhaps a comment on the art in this gallery, or maybe - as will be obvious to anyone familiar with that area - the fragility of what humans build and how quickly nature claims it back from them after we stop maintaining things.

It’s always good to see new exhibition space open in the city, especially one that gives new life to old buildings. Together with some good graffiti inside and out this show is full of varied, interesting and amusing exhibits.

For more information visit their website: www.theartorganisation.co.uk