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ProjectAbility – Online Exhibition ‘Altered Space’

Altered Space is an online exhibition launching on 28th May 2021

x3 continues with online exhibition, “Altered Space”, hosted by Glasgow studio Project Ability Leading disability arts organisations across the UK are working together on a series of online exhibitions showing work by learning-disabled artists. The exhibitions – part of a project titled ‘x3’ – are presented by Project Ability (Glasgow), ActionSpace (London) and Venture Arts (Manchester). For the ‘x3’ series each studio will host an online exhibition showing work by an artist(s) from each studio.

In total there will be three exhibitions with ten artists participating. Altered Space is the second in the series. ALTERED SPACE Artists: Ronnie & Paul Stokesley (Project Ability), Luca Agathogli (Venture Arts), Thomas Owen (ActionSpace). Audio description poetry by Sally Hirst (Venture Arts). Online exhibition. “Altered Space” – the second of three exhibitions in the x3 series – is hosted by Project Ability. It will explore the ways we view our environment, reflecting on the past year and the resulting shift in how we interact with space.

The first exhibition in the series, “Electric Dreams” was hosted by Venture Arts and was a particularly special online viewing experience due to bespoke and moving Audio Description poems penned and read by Venture Arts’ Sally Hirst. Sally will be creating more bespoke Audio Description poetry for “Altered Space” to accompany the artworks. “[Sally’s] words bring a whole new layer of meaning and life to the work.”

Creative Tourist The work in the show incorporates different approaches and mediums. Luca Agathogli creates intricate and multi-layered digital artworks, and Thomas Owen uses coloured pens to render multi-angled landscapes. Ronnie Stokesley’s paintings are bold and distinctly composed, whilst brother Paul Stokesley creates sparse abstract compositions that allude to man-made forms. Luca Agathogli, Castle Thomas Owen, Stargirl Ronnie Stokesley, untitled.

The issue of how to negotiate public space is a new consideration for the majority in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, however for many learning-disabled people – including artists from our supported studios – interaction with public space is not a new concern, as environments are not designed to meet their needs. Digital participation has improved access for some, but for others it has caused additional barriers, as some artists don’t have internet access at home.

“We will try and not leave anyone behind when we reopen the studio, but we will struggle to maintain what will effectively be two programmes – one for people who can access the studio and one for people at home still shielding because of health complications or because they are plain fearful and have lost confidence.”

Elisabeth Gibson, Project Ability In light of the pandemic and the additional strain placed on our already stretched resources, the x3 exhibitions aim not only to promote the exceptional work and talents of the artists who are supported by ActionSpace, Project Ability and Venture Arts, but also to raise wider awareness as to the vital and encompassing nature of the services these charities provide.

“The kind of services we provide are often viewed as non-essential but there are so many examples of why they are in fact absolutely fundamental, at this time more than ever.” Amanda Sutton, Venture Arts Exhibition dates: Altered Space is an online exhibition launching on 28th May 2021. It is available to view at: project-ability.co.uk; actionspace.org; venturearts.org

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