“Usurp produces exhibitions, performances, film and sound art events, and facilitates artist residencies. Open to experimental ideas in all media, Usurp supports artist to work with communities for social change, actively encouraging a wide range of audiences to participate in the creation of art works that challenge conformity, prejudice and discrimination. “
Since launching in february 2010, hundreds of visitors have passed through our door, from locals to those who travel to see us, from artists to the community. The debut exhibition “Naissance” included the work of Mona Hatoum, Disinformation, Chila Burman, Jess Hurd, Alia Syed, Matt Jordan, Dulari Summaria, Nazneen Ayub-Wood, Sousan Luqman, Usurp, Vistamundi, Steve Beresford, The Pardhan Gond Collective, Tokyo Rinpa Eshidan. This showed harrow its place in Modern art and displayed the diversity of local and global artists. Usurp’s next exhibition was a solo show by Cathy Ward. Her work “intertwines mysterious drawings of convoluted masses of hair with symbol laden landscape installations”. For imagery from past events visit www.usurp.org.uk
And now for something a bit different
Currently showing at the Gallery is *ahem* Myself and another young artist, Natalie Leer. The launch was a great success with the sun shinning, spritzers flowing and the reggae pumping, the gallery was flooded with a young contemporary crowd. The art was contrasting and the performers were chilled with an acoustic performance by Lora and poetry by Steve Tasane. Of course them emphasis is on the art work. For this exhibition Natalie Leer has experimented widely with UV elements and digitally manipulated photography. Her electric, vivid colours nicely contrast my work which adopts traditional colours and tones. obsessed with natural materials and recycled objects, my work embraces the old and injects some contemporary world issues. It is sickly sweet with dark secrets.
The Current exhibition runs untill Wed 9th June 2010, The Gallery is open 12-8pm daily
The gallery also holds events weekly. Most recently a live art performance outside the Gallery called Shop Bought, Custom Made, an ongoing collaborative work by Usurp artists. A mannequin is the centrepiece of the exhibition and will be painted, customised, taken apart, and put together again.
Another notable regular event is the Last Sunday of every month where experimental music meets local community. there is a full article on this event and previous of its kind below.. well worth a read and a visit!!
ahhhh what else… oh yeah, forthcoming events…
Well as soon as my exhibition is over *weep* we welcome the onset of Harrow Open Studios. When local artists all over Harrow open up the doors of their homes and studios to the general public. I’d love to open my lovely pint sized studio shed, but maybe next year. This year however you can see two local artists, Ann Burnham and Jane Pomiankowski, exhibiting at the Gallery. Ann’s work includes, Etching, linocut and collagraph prints inspired by landscape and observed patterns of light, contrast and texture. Jane works with fine and sterling silver, semi precious
beads and pearls.
The studios are open on:
Saturday 12 June 11 – 6 , Sunday 13 June 11 – 6 , Monday 14 June 11 – 6 , Saturday 19 June 11-6 ,Sunday 20 June 11-6
Events for your calendar include
3rd July 2010 shows The Launch of “A Whisper in Shallow Window” , this collaborative project has produced a short film inspired by the photography of Daniel Ackie and the writings of the Scrybe. Again there is an article below which shows some of my photography from the shoot. This exhibition continued untill the 17th July 2010.
23rd July 2010 marks the beginning of an exhibition, “MetroLand”, celebrating the work of a group of unaccompanied minors living in Harrow who have taken part in workshops run by Poulomi, Natalie and myself exploring written word and stop motion as a media for story telling… yet again there are weekly updates on our progress below.
Also, don’t forget our monthly event “The Last Sunday” and events in the pipeline which include film showings, community art projects etc. Keep an eye open on www.usurp.org.uk and join us on facebook.
