exhibit reviews:
Mills
MFA Degree Show, Mills College
Oakland, CA
by Tonya Warner
Ted
Pushinsky, Photo Epicenter
San Francisco, CA
by Tonya Warner
Insider/Outsider,
Root Division
San Francisco, CA
by Tonya Warner
articles:
Back
Garden Biennale, Fairmilhead
Edinburgh, Scotland
by Rea Cris
Back Garden Biennale
Fairmilhead
Edinburgh, Scotland
5 July 2008
by Rea Cris
Small is Beautiful in the World of Biennales
This 5th of July will see the second Back Garden Biennale (BGB) in Edinburgh,
with rumours of appearances by artists such as Eilidh MacAskill and her
Ukulele, recent Edinburgh College of Art graduate Paul Chiappe and the
current world champion whistler Shelia Harrod.
Created by artist Sara Sinclair, the BGB first took shape in June 2006
literally in Sinclair’s back garden. Artists included Beagles and
Ramsay, Rabiya Choudhry, Martin Vincent and Ayaka Okutsu. Unlike blockbuster
biennales, such as Venice, BGB reminds us that art can be comical rather
than simply satirical. BGB No.1 paid tribute to 2005’s Turner Prize
winner, Simon Starling’s “Shed, Boat, Shed,” with it’s
very own “Shed, Biennale, Shed.” This squeezed in four artists’
work, including Maragret McCormick’s litmus papers which measured
the acidity and alkali levels between the West and East of Scotland and
Laura Cresser’s “Anomalous Anatomies” which mixed taxidermy
and museumology. To add to the humour, Benjamin Newell provided planting
instructions on how to grow your own variety of artist, with tips such
as being careful not to damage talent when re-potting and keeping them
out of direct critical theory.
Sinclair is simultaneously curator, director, resident artist and PR manager.
The idea for the BGB came about when Sinclair was disappointed with the
lack of exhibitions available to benefit the community and lack of opportunities
for emerging artists. One of the main and unique features of BGB is that
it includes artists from all stages of their careers. This year’s
selection is a mixture of international artists, local favourites and
some who are still studying. In order to get the community to be more
involved, Sinclair invites youth organizations and the elderly to participate
by growing or painting their own BGB banners. Another unique aspect of
the BGB is that it is extremely family friendly and actively encourages
the children to physically run around interacting with the art and in
some cases seeking it out of its hiding place.
Sinclair lists her aims clearly: “To use a local shared space for
exhibiting which did not come loaded with an art context, thus creating
art for the community in the community”. It is wonderfully encouraging
for all artists to be able to participate in something like this, devoid
of bureaucracy, pretensions or preconceptions. The BGB is a wonderful
creation that actually reminds us that art is not about galleries or phenomenal
auction sums, but rather about the people who make it and those who engage
with it.
If you would like more information about this year’s BGB please
contact Sarah Sinclair at: bgb.sinclair@btinternet.com
BGB 2008 after 5 July by appointment only.
Do you want to add your thoughts? Email us at percolatormag@gmail.com and we’ll put them below.