We counted around 192 people through the studio doors with many passing positive comments about the studio space and the work on display. It was great to see many of our artists present and helping with meeting and greeting and the running of the show.

Special thanks to Alan S for painting the whole studio white and to T.M and Imran who helped hanging the work on Thursday before the exhibition. Well done to everyone who took part and supported the event to make it another Pool Arts success. (pictures to follow)

Edmond To “Seih-Yi”
Event Date: 18:30 – 20:30 Monday, 19th Sep 2011
Venue: Pool Arts Studio, 404. 4th floor Hope Mill, 113 Pollard St, Manchester, M4 7JA.
Email: poolarts@gmail.com
Website: http://www.poolarts.org

Artists: Edmond To

Description: This is a talk and demonstration on the Traditional Chinese Painting style of “Seih-Yi”. Seih means Write, and Yi means Mind. So we can translate Seih-Yi as mind writing, or directly writing down the mind. The paintings reveal the painters personality, and the level of their mind. So personal development is as important as the painting. By recognizing and letting go of all ego-self, the universal true-self will reveal. Within the painting process the artist is balancing Yin and Yang, achieving the union of Heaven and Human, learning from Nature, and realizing the Source of Heart (the Essence of Mind) within. Therefore, the paintings show this healing journey of the artist. Furthermore, when people view the art, they also receive the Healing Qi from the paintings which can benefit their health.

This is the final talk in the series What Lies Beneath? a sereis of contextual events curated by Rae Story on behalf of Pool Arts

What Lies Beneath the surface image we project; how do artists
explore the workings of the mind? What function does art play in
understanding our emotional or political lives if any? How does art
reflect and act in the face of the pressures on the human from
environment and society?

Historic, contemporary and local perspectives…..This series of talks complements our year long project, which includes an exhibition of work by Pool Arts at Nexus Cafe running until 18th September

We welcome all to these talks

This talk starts at 19:00 at Pool Arts studio in Ancoats, doors open at 18:30 and refreshments will be provided
The cost is £3.00 (free for Pool Arts members)
07767356302 or e.mail poolarts@gmail.com for more details
Supported by Arts Council England North West

Pool arts presented the What Lies beneath Exhibition to Nexus Art cafe on Dale St Manchester. The exhibition ran from the 21st July to the 18th September 2011. The work exhibited was created as part of a year long project exploring the working of the mind and the subconscious. 13 Artist exhibited a selection of paintings, photographs, limited edition prints, installations and sound art / video performances.
The exhibition had a changing window display with Lauren W’s fantastic Mirror piece and sound installation and later Alan S’s autobiographical installation “Where ever I lay my hat”. One of our more prolific artists Eddie Price AKA OPITZ took over the entrance to the cafe with his fantastic pieces “Tabla Rasa” and his Nebuliser Man. Other artists presented there paintings and photographs in the main cafe area, with Trae exhibiting some beautiful photographs inspired by the normally less than beautiful toilets in the toilets. Singer songwriter Caroline presented some new music along with some great paintings, flanked by the introspective photographs of Becky and Hazman and the political pieces of T.M.

The thought provoking £3000 by Dave S was jostling for position amongst some of OPITZ’s installation pieces in the green room. The whole exhibition was a great success with over a hundred people attending the opening night, card sales of Annettes work were strong and her prints looked fantastic against the backdrop of Laurens slideshow about body dismorphia.

The Nexus exhibition ran for a further 6 weeks, with the artwork in the window box changing after 3 weeks. the feedback from Pool Artists and members of the general public felt that it has been a fitting end to a fantastic project.

speakers include:

Ria Roberts Monday 11th April 2011

Ria is an artist training in art psycotherapy. Art and Pyscotherapy -  how art and symbolism can be a communication between the viewer and the subconcious.

Langley Brown Monday 9th May 2011

Langley is an artist researcher; Around the beyond: the Surreal in the history of Art and Mind.

Ailie Rutherford Monday 20th June 2011

Ailie is a freelance artist who will be exploring the Ganzfeld sponge and Automatic drawings.

Tam Hinton Tuesday 2nd August 2011

Tam Hinton is an artist, performer and writer. In his customary energetic style, Mr Hinton will speak of the importance of intuition and courage, illustrating his words with strange and magical films.

Stuart Nolan Tuesday 30th August 2011

Stuart creates performances and training based on the art of the impossible and the psychology of play; this will include a contemporary Magic Performance and Psycological illusion.

Edmond Ho-Yuen To Monday 19th september 2011

Edmond is an artist, qigong master and Buddhist teacher, he will be presenting Mindful brushstrokes; ‘Seih-Yi’ the traditional Chinese Art of Watercolour painting.

In the damp barn at Elterwater, Cumbria following the war, Kurt Schwitters, an artist and refugee from Nazi Germany, spent his latter years creating one of his influential MERZ structures. He was to become one of the most important figures in modern art.

In March 2011 a reproduction of the original Merzbarn was as part of the Royal Academy British Sculpture exhibition, and artists all over Manchester were invited to celebrate Schwitter’s legacy in the North West and his relevance to today’s artists.

Manchester based Pool Arts members Hazman, poet, painter and comic book maker and Eddie Price, who created the first Merzshed project in 2008 agreed to work together to create a Merz inspired installation. Using Price’s “Homage” as a starting point and using their own individual techniques and ideas. The work was informed by a field visit to the Merzbarn near Ambleside, Cumbria hosted by Littoral and the artists’ own research and studies into Schwitters works.

A publication accopmapnying the exhibition is available by contacting Pool Arts and sending us £2 post and packaging