Quantum Exhibition Blog

The 11 artists who have been working on the Quantum exhibition for the last year have been keeping a private working blog.
We have transferred much of it onto a public blog and are now updating it regularly so everyone can see what is happening in the run up to the show.

Quantum Exhibition Blog

Julie Caves, 100x100cm, work in progress

Plaster sculptures in progress

Plaster sculptures in progress for the Curiosity exhibition in October.

Julie Caves:

40cm plaster sculptures in progress
- Julie Caves

The latest apple drawing

Julie Caves pastel drawing

State of the Arts in East London

Thursday August 15th 2013 the exhibition celebrating the arts in Waltham Forest opens at The Mill on Coppermill Lane.

The 19 artists participating are member of the Waltham Forest Arts Club. Organised by Julie Caves and Mo Gallacio.

Helen Porter, Valeria Bateson, Linda Rowland

Waltham Forest Arts Club Summer Exhibition

Waltham Forest Arts Club was set up in 2003 to provide an arts network and meeting point for creative practitioners across the borough. Members include painters, printmakers, writers, filmmakers, photographers, musicians and craftspeople.  For their summer exhibition the visual artists in the group will be each be showing a recent artwork that together will represent the state of the arts in Waltham Forest.

“The Arts are very active in our borough and this exhibition will show the wide variety of work going on”, says Julie Caves one of the organisers.   The exhibition opens on August 15^th with an evening party to meet the artists and continues for three weeks.

August 15th to September 7th, 2013
Open Evening Thursday August 15th 6-9pm to meet the artists

At The Mill on Coppermill Lane (near St James Station)
7 – 11 Coppermill Lane
London E17 7HA

Mill opening times:
Friday and Saturday- 10 – 6pm, Tuesday to Thursday- 10 – 7pm, Sunday- 11 – 2pm

Another apple for the apple collection

Oil Pastel on paper by Julie Caves

E17 Art Trail Summer Show picture

106 artworks are hung in the E17 Art Trail Summer Show at Penny Fielding's Gallery & Interiors.
My painting is on the top left.

click for larger view

“Quantum: A journey through The Standard Model” exhibition at Espacio Gallery

For the exhibition “Quantum: A journey through The Standard Model” 12 artists have grappled with the mind-bending ideas behind modern physics with some unexpected outcomes. 
7-19 November 2013 at Espacio Gallery in East London.

The exhibition is a visual conversation between the participating artists about The Standard Model of Particle Physics through a diversity of disciplines. Using their works they raise a fundamental question posed by those who look in at this field from the outside. How do we connect with a subject, on a human level, that can at times be so alien and so far removed from common sense? 

Within the exhibition delicate prints and drawings face expressionist pieces, figurative and kinetic sculptures set off character studies of physicists, icons collide with Black Holes and to top it all, visitors are invited to have a go at a hands on "particle collider" set up in the gallery.

The artists have been working on the project for almost a year.  Catch-up with their ideas and progress at www.quantumexhibition.co.uk

A number of events will be taking place during the course of the exhibition to stimulate conversations between the public, the artists and scientists.  This includes a Private View on Thursday 7th November, artist-led tours on Saturday 9th November, a lecture by Dr David Berman, Theoretical Physicist at Queen Mary College, University of London on Thursday 14th November at 7:30pm. A catalogue detailing the works with a written contribution from Dr David Berman will also accompany this stimulating exhibition.

The exhibition will be held at Espacio Gallery, 159 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 7DG.  Entry is free. 

"…about the standard model, the laws of the very large and the laws of the very small, it has got me thinking that perhaps we as human beings exist at a golden size where reality is at its best."- Roan Allen

Behind Closed Doors exhibition

It is still not all organised but there will be an exhibition in the Artworks Space at Blackhorse Lane Studios of the artists in the studios. 11, 12 and 13 October.

Neil Irons is selecting the show and I believe it will be called Behind Closed Doors.  The title is fitting as we will be showing what the artists are up to in their studios and because we are not having an open studio this year because of the hiatus of the E17 Art Trail.

Our near neighbours at Inky Cuttlefish may also open their studios that weekend so there will be another reason to come to Blackhorse Lane.

Waltham Forest Arts Club Summer Exhibition

Waltham Forest Arts Club Summer Exhibition

The State of the Arts in Waltham Forest

An exhibition of painting, drawing, photography, printmaking and more representing the work of the artists in Waltham Forest, East London.

August 15th to September 7th, 2013
Open Evening Thursday August 15th 6-9pm to meet the artists

At The Mill on Coppermill Lane (near St James Station)
7 – 11 Coppermill Lane
London E17 7HA

Mill opening times:
Friday and Saturday- 10 - 6pm
Tuesday to Thursday- 10 - 7pm
Sunday- 11 - 2pm

and yet More Apples

Another apple pastel drawing today.

Three Apples - Julie Caves
Conte crayon (hard pastel) on paper - 2013

More apples

I have been obsessed with apples as a still life subject for a long time.
They are my go-to object when I want to do some observational drawing or test out a new material.
I love looking at the individual apple and getting to know its shape, colour and texture, how the light reflects off of it and the shadow it casts.

Apples in conte crayon (hard pastel) - July 2013 - Julie Caves

Lisa Freeman's text about the Curiosity Exhibition

For her talent with words in addition to her talent with art a big thank you to Lisa Freeman for her great text about the Curiosity Exhibition.

Excerpt:

"Art, to Julie Caves, is all around us. There’s a fine line between a work of art and the art of nature, and she is constantly walking the tightrope between the two. This is most notably seen in her large window paintings, where she has created a series of works of views through windows, some with panes in view so the window is quite apparent, and in other compositions no pane is shown so the work resembles and references traditional landscape painting. Reminiscent of Gary Hume’s enamel Door Paintings from the mid-90s, instead of confronting us with a barrier to a world beyond, Caves’ windows invite us to explore that same world, and realise it really is quite beautiful.

Read the full text in the press release on the website.

Julie Caves artwork for the Memorabilia exhibition

I got excited about participating in the Memorabila exhibtion and for a few weeks devoted my complete time to producing work for it.

Here were the results: (click on images for larger views)

"Big Bird Brought to You by the Letter J"
50x50cm acrylic on canvas

"Remembering Pong"
24x30cm acrylic on linen

 



"Memory (fish tank)" approx 10x15x5cm acrylic on wood




Memory
One Christmas in the 1970's when I was a child in California my sister and I were given a huge dollhouse. All the furniture was made by hand to be a duplicate of our apartment (except even better because it had separate bedrooms for the sisters). My parents must have worked on it for a whole year. It was amazing. 

One item was made by a close family friend who was a painter. He made a little copy of our fish tank. We moved often as my father was always searching for greener pastures. Each time we moved we left behind our possessions to “travel light” so I have no childhood possessions anymore.

The last one to go was that little painted wood fish tank. I still had it in my late teens.

For 'Memorabilia' I wanted to re-create this personal object. I thought it would be easy as it was a simple object. But as I made each decision about the size and shape I found that I didn't really remember. The harder I thought about it the less I was sure. 

Each step in the creating process was one more unknown. So I made uncertain decisions about the size, shape, design, colours and kinds of fish and plants. I couldn't even say if the original had a cover or the water was visible on top. (I think the water was visible.) Did it have a covered back or were the plants and fish visible through from the front and rear? (Even less sure- but I think maybe it was visible.)

Before I started I was certain that I knew this object, but I came to realise I really only have a general idea of it. I have a memory of it that you can describe in words but not the specifics you need to paint a picture of it (the difference between the word ‘chair’ and a picture of a specific kind of chair). Although it feels like the picture in my mind is specific, that feeling is actually an illusion.

What I thought would be a comforting reminder of a relic of my childhood instead became a process of acceptance of the vagueness of memory. I had this toy for a long time. The fish tank was important to me so the vagueness is upsetting. It is disturbing to see how unreliable my memory is. Even important memories cannot withstand scrutiny.

I am my memories so if they are not solid what am I?
Julie Caves
July 2013


Two views of the building block set I did for Gillian Swan's project and one of it on display.
Acrylic and 24kt gold leaf on wood.

Arts Club at The North Star images

Waltham Forest Arts Club at The North Star
part of the Leytonstone Arts Trail 
July 6-14 2013

Brett Banks

Julian Beere

Julie Caves

Linda Rowland

Kathleen Gregory

Lucy Gregory

Natalie Gray

Memorabilia Paintings

Studio snapshots of paintings I am delivering in a few hours to the Memorabilia exhibition.

'Remembering Pong'

24x30cm acrylic on canvas

'Big Bird or Brought to you by the Letter J'

50x50cm acrylic on canvas.

E17 Art Trail Summer Show 2013

1–25 August 


with an artists’ reception on Thursday 1 August from 6.30


I have had a painting from my recent series of bird paintings selected for the salon-style exhibition and fundraiser for the E17 Art Trail.  

Around 200 artworks were selected by the hanging committee to go into the show at 
Penny Fielding Gallery & Interiors is hosting the first E17 Art Trail Summer Show which will showcase artwork by both emerging and established artists including painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking and architecture.

Penny Fielding Gallery & Interiors is a beautiful, eclectic gallery/shop selling contemporary art and 20th century collectables. In Walthamstow Village, London E17. Supporter and champion of local artists and designers.

Painting Building Blocks

I am participating in Gillian Swan's project BLDNG BLCKS. The finished artworks will be exhibited at ‘Memorabilia’, an exhibition of artwork and objects that celebrate childhood memories and memorabilia, Sat 6th/ Sun 7th July 2013 at Norlington Road Studios, 66 Norlington Road E10 6LA, during the Leytonstone Arts Trail.

Read more on the Blding Blcks website. 

Julie Caves contribution to Building Blocks - in progress.

Waltham Forest Arts Club at The North Star

Waltham Forest Arts Club at The North Star
an exhibition as part of the
Leytonstone Arts Trail July 6-14 2013.

Waltham Forest Arts Club will have a group exhibition of painting, drawing and a wide variety of types of sculpture in the lovely garden and inside at the North Star pub for the 9 days of the Leytonstone Arts Trail. With an evening event on Tuesday July 9th 7-10pm (or later) with a new band - The Broken Swing Band, an artist talk by sculptor Brett Banks, and possible interactive sculpture participation games.

The North Star pub is in a designated conservation area, dates from 1858, and is named for a train so has lots of interesting train memorabilia.

Location:
North Star
24 Browning Road
Leytonstone
London
E11 3AR

Opening Hours: 
Monday 4-11pm / Tuesday-Friday 12-11pm / Saturday-Sunday 12-8pm

Transport:
A 5-minute walk from Leytonstone tube station the Central line.

Memorabilia Charity Art Exhibition

Memorabilia Charity Art Exhibition

6th and 7th July at Norlington Road Studios E10 6LA

From Bill and Ben to Buzz Lightyear, Barbie to My Little Pony, Rubik’s Cubes to Wombles, Elvis to Adam Ant, and everything in between! Norlington Road Studios in East London hosts an exhibition of Art and Artefacts based on Childhood Memories, Nostalgia and Memorabilia in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Memorabilia will recall precious moments from childhood, conjuring an atmosphere of nostalgia and reintroducing you to some gems from the past, all through the work of some of the UK’s most influential artists.

The event will take place at 66 Norlington Road, Leyton E10 6LA on the weekend of the 6th and 7th July 2013, 12-5pm as part of the Leytonstone Arts Trail.

Saturday night from 8pm will see a party hosted by the artists at Norlington Road Studios during which visitors will be encouraged to try out some of the games of yesteryear, indulge in a fine selection of retro food and drink, and catch some audio-visual gems from a golden age.

Over 60 artists have been invited to contribute artwork, with each artist donating between 30 and 100% of sales to Great Ormond Street Hospital. Originals, prints, toys and sculptures will be exhibited alongside items of memorabilia, including toys, music, games, food and fashions of the 1950s 60’s 70’s 80’s and 90’s.

Memorabilia’s all star cast features artists:
David Bray, Chris Cunningham, Ben Slow, Danny O’Connor, Carrie Reichardt, Lewis Bannister, Nigel Cox, Carne Griffiths, Infinity Bunce, David Hensel, Tim Goffe, Julia Colquitt Roach, Ben Oakley, Jewel, Eleanor Bedlow, Gillian Swan, Carlos Martyn Burgos, Mason Storm, Carl Smith, Raj Kaur Phull, Anna Stiles, Nina Farrell, Mark Dickson, Asa Medhurst, Lorna Holdcroft, Louise McNaught, Neil Benjamin, Blair Zaye, Jeff Cox, John Clair, Sarah Carpenter, Lynne Blackburn, Roseanne Artisan, Rachael Berry, Stuart Harris, Francesco Jacobello, Matt Gee, Darth Art, Square Foot, Julie Caves, Kerrie Jane Stritton, Cos Ahmet, Warren Fox, Rachel I’Anson, Natalie Percy, Sean Worrall, Jonny Burt, Elliott Ashton, Paul Cummings, Maria Slovakova, Cathie Hubert, Amelie Peace, Caroline Zaian, Sarah Jane Whittaker and many more!

More information including a press pack with maps, posters, flyers, eflyers and how artists can get involved, is available from http://www.memorabilia2013.wordpress.com

Sponsors: Ashdown Gallery | Debut Contemporary | Electroset Studio | West London Art

Quantum/Standard Model exhibition at Espacio Gallery

12 artists are working towards an exhibition about physics
at Espacio Gallery near Brick Lane in London.
6 November 2013 - lasting 2 weeks  
Details will soon be available. 

We are working with a physicist from St Mary University who will be giving a talk during the exhibition and writing an essay for the catalogue. We will all have been working on the art for the exhibition for over 12 months and the evolving work has been fascinating so far. Lots of learning, interacting and helpful critiques. Everyone is going in different directions- some looking deeply at particle physics and others looking at the popularity of "science for everyman". It is going to be a really good exhibition.

Here is something I have been working on:

Motion is Shape, acrylic on canvas 100x70cm

I've been thinking about:
particles and waves, shape and motion, symmetry, macroscopic and microscopic, and vibrations among other mind-expanding things. The world is not what we intuitively think it is.