Small Worlds: Future Lives - Exhibition opportunity

Small Worlds: Future Lives

An exhibition of small sculptures that are inspired by the dwellings, societies and worlds of the future. During February 2018 we will placing small artworks (Maximum size = 5cm wide x 5cm deep x 8cm high) on the streets around London Bridge. The artworks can be picked up by the public for free.

Over the past few months we have been finding and cultivating a series of public art spaces (niches, ledges, railing, flowerbeds etc) called the #unsettledgallery. The artworks will be placed one by one in these spaces during February 2018.

We will be photographing the worlds once they are in place and asking writers to create small written works inspired by these miniature societies. These written pieces will be published alongside photographs of your world on the CollectConnect website/blog. Hopefully we'll produce a small physical catalogue/book too, but I'll ask your permission separately if this comes to fruition.

There are further opportunities available too. Eskild Beck will organising a Small Worlds exhibition in Aabenraa, Denmark in May-June 2018 (Opening 3rd May). He will select some artists from our exhibition (but probably not everyone as he has limited space).

How to get involved
Small Worlds: Future Lives (#unsettledgallery London Bridge)

1) Contact Alban Low at his email address to express an interest.
or email collectconnect4@gmail.com
2) Alban will email you his home address.
3) Send your Small Worlds to this address by 19th January 2018.
4) Your sculptures should not be larger than 5cm wide x 5cm deep x 8cm high. A maximum of 3 artworks per artist.

Don't forget you must be prepared that these artworks will be exhibited on the streets and therefore may be taken by members of the public or destroyed by the weather/animals/refuse collectors etc.

Dazzle High-rise - Alban Low (#unsettledgallery No.8)

#unsettledgallery

Mooncrow - Dean Reddick (#unsettledgallery No.2)

It is only a lack of time that keeps us from organising more exhibitions each year. Our annual flagship exhibition the Art of Caring continues to grow in popularity, and stays true to our original ideals of inclusivity for artists. Because of its theme the Art of Caring is usually shown in hospitals or in nursing related spaces. But recently we've been getting that itch to exhibit artworks back out on the streets.

When we first started CollectConnect we found exhibiting outdoors was the most flexible, accessible and democratic of spaces. If someone didn't like the art we'd displayed in public, they quite simply picked it up and threw it away. More frequently people would pocket our art magnets, and take them home to display in their own gallery at home (usually their fridge!).

Dean placing Dogcrow at #unsettledgallery No.1

Over the last few months Dean Reddick and Alban Low have been cultivating a series of public spaces around London Bridge. Although these spaces change and evolve on a daily basis, we have located several that can house artworks for a longer period of time. These have been in flowerbeds, on railings, between bricks, in gullies, beside drainpipes, attached to gates and basically anywhere an artwork can rest and be seen by the public.

The #unsettledgallery, as its name suggests, is an evolving space that we have been populating with art. The London Bridge area is a thoroughfare for thousands of commuters each day. The Tate Modern, White Cube and Jerwood Space are a few metres away, Guy's Hospital sits within it boundary, alongside Europe's tallest building, The Shard. It has recently been targeted by 'terrorists' and people queue in a long line every day outside the Immigration Centre on St Thomas St. It has given us plenty of inspiration already but we hope it will now become a breeding ground for both our own art and other artists too.

Small Talking Heads - Alban Low (#unsettledgallery No.8)

Dean Reddick has exhibited several bird related sculptures in Gallery No.1 (Dogend Gallery) and Gallery No.2. While Alban Low has settled on a group of railing in Snowsfields at Gallery No.8. Where he's been placing a series of painted wooden heads based on his friend's profiles called Small Talking Heads.

Your can follow all the placements on Twitter or by dipping into this online photo album. #unsettledgallery Photos

Of course we'll be posting many of them here on the website/blog too, especially as more artists come together for exhibitions. Our first exhibition will be Small Worlds which we'll be running in conjunction with Danish artist Eskild Beck. More info soon.

Art of Caring Film Night

The Art of Caring closed on October 19th 2017 at St Pancras Hospital with a wonderful night of artistic goodbyes, where fresh ideas flowed forth and future plans were laid. It was an opportunity for artists to collect their work and for the buyers to take their treasured purchases home.


Anna Bowman premiered her brilliant short film about the 2017 Art of Caring exhibition. Curated by Peter Herbert, the Gallery exhibition expands CollectConnect's St George's Hospital Art of Caring show, held in connection with International Nursing Day. As you probably already know Alban and the CollectConnect team started the annual Art of Caring exhibition in 2015. The film gives us a unique insight into the exhibition and we also meet nine of the 35 artists whose work is on show at the Gallery, St Pancras Hospital and see many of the 200 postcards and haikus first displayed at St George's Hospital.

We hope the future of the Art of Caring is secure and we'll return in 2018.

Keep an eye out for Dean Reddick and Alban Low as they are researching a new CollectConnect exhibition around London Bridge. #Unsettledgallery goes back to CollectConnect roots, exhibiting on the streets, making an immediate commentary on our modern lives in a contemporary living space.

AOC Opens at St Pancras Hospital

Ella Penn

Last night (20/07/2017) we officially opened the Art of Caring at St Pancras Hospital with a fantastic summer's evening of wine and song. The exhibition started as a postcard show at St George's Hospital way back in May but here it took on a new life. St Pancras curators Peter Herbert and Elaine Harper-Gay brought together many of the postcards again but also a healthy slice of original work by the artists involved.

There were many eye-catching contributions, including David Marron's Fentanyl Dreams, and Mark Carr's two paintings from his Cup of Life series. Two sculptural pieces which captured the attention of the Private View revellers were Louise O'Boyle's glass domed world and the Melanie Ezra and Graham Parker hand that reached out from beyond the a mirror. Once again Herbert and Harper-Gay had engineered an artistic exhibition that broke boundaries, creating a new exciting physical space but also an emotional world that talked of compassion and shared experience.

artwork by

Melanie Ezra and

Graham Parker

Many of the artists exhibiting were also in attendance. This was Caroline Streatfield Chalk's first exhibition with CollectCollect, while Ella Penn is a die-hard of the CollectConnect inclusive genre and has been exhibiting with us for more than 5 years. Penn had brought along Freya, the subject of her Alopecia Tableau, to join in the opening night celebrations. Aran Illingworth had sold two of her beautiful textile pieces by the end of the night, as had the famous Stuckist and Outsider artist John Sheehy. Chris Brown and Dean Reddick chatted amiably to the gallery visitors, and David Napier was on hand to demonstrate his ceramic chessboard/backgammon set.

The Sensory Garden was full of visitors and just by its entrance was Jill Rock and her challenging work Duty of Care. Many more of the artists were in attendance, thank you to everyone who was there to make this night such a success. We had speeches from Caroline Harris-Birtles (C&I Director of Nursing) Andrew Machin, (Associate Director and Charity Development Project Manager from The Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust NHS Charitable Fund) and Paul Newcombe (Pre -Registration Nursing Course Leader at St George’s Hospital and Kingston University).

Sarah Vista

We were treated to a live set of original country and western ballads from The Sarah Vista Social Club (with Jeff Mead). It was an evening both of celebration and though provoking pathos, many of the artists were explicit in their support for Nurses and NHS, with artworks that highlighted the political and financial threats that currently harry the profession.

Once again thank you all for supporting the Art of Caring. The exhibition runs until the 19th October at CONFERENCE CENTRE GALLERY, ST PANCRAS HOSPITAL, 4 ST PANCRAS WAY
LONDON, NW1 OPE. Please go an visit.

You can see a selection of photos by following this LINK.

See you next year.

Art of Caring 2017 at St Pancras Hospital - Opening Night 20th July

We're putting the finishing touches to this year's Art of Caring at St Pancras Hospital, another fantastic exhibition that combines original artwork and postcard art from around the world. The first exhibition at St George's Hospital was very much appreciated by staff and patients in May and this is another opportunity to celebrate the work of Carers, Nurses and the NHS.

I hope you'll all join us on Thursday 20th July from 5.30pm -8.30pm for the Private View. There will be refreshments and entertainment. St Pancras Hospital curators Peter Herbert and Elaine Harper-Gay have chosen a selection of original artwork to go alongside many of the postcards that were originally exhibited at St George's Hospital. We couldn't have a Private View at St George's so please come along on the 20th July to St Pancras and meet everyone who has been involved in the exhibition in 2017.

The exhibition is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, until October 19th. Last year we had a closing event with a talk from artists and a film screening too. If we have a Closing Event this year I'll let everyone know.

Venue
CONFERENCE CENTRE GALLERY
ST PANCRAS HOSPITAL
4 ST PANCRAS WAY
LONDON NW1 OPE

Friday 21 July - Thursday 19 October 2017
Monday to Friday 9am-5pm

Opening Night
Thursday 20 July 2017
5.30pm-8.30pm

Travel: Bus 46/214, Tube: Kings Cross, Overground: Camden Road

CONTACT ARTS PROJECT -  Elaine Harper-Gay at theartsproject1@gmail.com 

Peter Herbert 020 7916 841

Artists that have been selected by Peter Herbert and Elaine Harper-Gay for the St Pancras Art of Caring 2017 exhibition are -

Alan Carlyon Smith

Alban Low
Amal Haibe
Angelina Lawson
Ann Froggatt
Ann Kopka
Anne Guest
Antoinette Brown
Aran Illingworth
Ashley Passwater
Barbara Usher
Ben Ransome
Beth Louella
Bogusie Redford
Brittany Isom
Bryan Benge
Carmel Blackie
Carol Blues
Caroline Kirton
Caroline Streatfield Chalk
Chris Brown
Christen Trogolo DNP Student
Claire Leboutet
Dane B.
Danny Mooney
David Baker
David Lim
David Marron
David Napier
Dawes Gray
Dean Reddick
Diana Trinca
Dominic O'Ryan
Doreen E. Aidoo
Dorie Ellis
Ella Penn
Esperanza Tielbaard
Fiona Cosgrove

Graham Parker

Gloria Eisen BSN Student

Hawra Harianawala

Helen Attwood
Iffy Ali
Imogen Perkin
Jae J. Rhee
James Whatley

Jane Lambert

Jasmin Bowen
Jelena Jovančov
Jelly Arnold
Jenny Meehan
Jess Sneddon
Jessica Adrianna Wayar
Jill Rock
Jina Wallwork
John Sheehy
Junu Gurung
K. Clasper
Kajal Shah
Katka Sedlackova
Kayliegh Daly
Kenny & Vito
Kim Miller
Kristi Doke
Lesley Cartwright
Li Huizi
Lilian McCann
Louise O'Boyle
Lynne Smith
Malc Dow
Mark Carr
Maryam Bibi
Melanie Ezra
Miriam Cima
Mounir Larhrib, SRNA
Natalie Low
Nataliya Zozulya
NATASA MARINKOVIC PETRIC
Natasa Vladisavljevic
Olajide Jegede
Olubukunola Temidara
Oluwaseun Ogundipe
Oscar Newcombe
Peter Turton
Rachel Rummun
Raymie
Rebecca Hope
Rebbeca Lowe
Rekha Vijaysbankar
Rima Ahmed
Ruby Bradley
Sally Ward
Samantha Underhill
Sara Burgess
Sara Lerota
Sara Rivers
Sarah Lawton
Saron Rai
Sean Herbert
Shelly Mastericks
Silvani Buccat
Simon Naish
Stella Tripp
Sue Lyons
Tamara Jelaca
Toyon Asaaju
Tracy Boness
Tracy Ferriss
Yuet Yean Teo
Wayne Sleeth
Winnie Sendyose

A special thank you to Ann Froggatt, Melanie Ezra and Graham Parker for the AOC2017 publicity image. Supported by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund

Registration Nos: 1082989

For those of you that haven't seen the photos from the Art of Caring 2017 at St George's Hospital then follow this link HERE.

Art Therapy in the Early Years launch conference

CollectConnect co-founder Dean Reddick will be launching his new book Art Therapy in the Early Years on Friday 2nd June 2017, 9am to 12.00 (Noon) at The Laycock Professional Development Centre, N1 1TH, Islington.

50 places available, £12 each, email deanreddick@yahoo.com to reserve a place.

Would be lovely to see you there.

The book about therapeutic interventions with infants, toddlers and families and published by Routledge is ground-breaking in its field. There will be refreshments at 10.30-11am and fishbowl discussion afterwards.

The Art of Caring opens at St George's Hospital

Yesterday we opened the Art of Caring 2017 exhibition at St George's Hospital. We had an immediate and favourable response from patients and staff at the hospital as they walked past our display of postcards and haiku pill bottles. You can find the exhibition of more than 330 artworks by Cardiac Investigations, Ground Floor, Atkinson Morley Wing, St George's Hospital, SW17 0QT.

The exhibition is sited on a busy corridor that services several departments and if you sit there for a few minutes then porters swish by, pushing patients in beds and wheelchairs. While we were there several people spoke about the artwork on display. One of our first visitors Jill Partridge said, "I've been prodded and poked today, the staff have been wonderful but I've been to so many appointments and tests, it feels like I'm on a conveyor belt. How nice to have a moment to breathe. I like seeing the art, it helps me remember what is important to me."

The Art of Caring is running alongside the SNAP Conference this year and many Kingston University Nursing students came to have a look at the art and find the haikus that they had written themselves. The haikus have been printed onto pill bottles and made a great display, a big thank you to ICU Nurse Nikki Yun and Dr Karen Norman who helped install the work on the Atkinson Morley Wing walls.

We also had a important visitor, Jane Cummings, who is the Chief Nurse at NHS England. She viewed the whole exhibition and enjoyed the diversity of the work.

Thank you to Dr Julia Gale and all the staff at Kingston University and St George's University, London for supporting the exhibition. Also to the Arts Director Joanna Wakefield and Curator Carla Di Grazia, both at St George's Hospital. Most all thank you to all the artists and authors who contributed to the exhibition, we rely on your support every year and you give us such a wonderful creative response.

There is an additional album of photos HERE (and we'll add to them as the exhibition progresses).

The exhibition closes on the 12th May. International Nurses Day.

AL.

The Art of Caring 2017 at St George's Hospital

With less than a week to go we're all working away here at CollectConnect in preparation for this year's exhibition. The postcards are all printed and need trimming to their correct sizes and the haiku labels need to be stuck on their 2D pill bottles, but all will be ready for the 3rd May 2017 when we launch the Art of Caring exhibition at St George's Hospital in Tooting, London, UK.

This year Paul Newcombe, Associate Professor on the BSc Nursing programme at Kingston University, chose Caroline Kirton's image for the exhibition publicity material. Thank you to Caroline for the fantastic artwork that adorns all our posters and flyers at St George's. These will be placed all around the hospital for the duration of the exhibition which runs from 3rd - 12th May 2017.

There wont be a Private View this year as both the Hospital/NHS and Education budgets are under pressure but Alban will be on site during the 3rd May if you would like to meet him and some of the other artists. The exhibition runs alongside the Student Nurse Academic Partnership (SNAP) at St George's on the 3rd May. If you would like to attend or find out more details then visit https://snapcon.wordpress.com

The exhibition will be in the Atkinson Morley Wing (ground floor) and available to view at normal hospital opening hours so please come along and have a look at this year's selection of work on the theme of Care, Caring and Sustainability. The exhibition closes on the 12th May which is International Nurse's Day. Thank you to everyone who has contributed and continues to support our Nurses, Carers and the NHS by sending us their artworks and poems.

The exhibition will next go onto St Pancras Hospital from July to October 2017 with a selection of original work chosen by curators Peter Herbert and Elaine Harper-Gay alongside the postcards. As soon as we know the details we'll post it up here.

Chemicality

Ella Penn - Alopecia tableau - Art of Caring

Ella Penn - Alopecia tableau, Freya: Me My hair and I

Submissions for this year's Art of Caring have started to arrive in our inbox and we've been both excited and emotionally piqued by the artworks (and haikus) that people would like to exhibit. If you're reading this and would also like to exhibit then visit our SUBMIT page, you've got until the 3rd April to do so and it's totally Free. So just do it.

When we get a few spare minutes from sifting through the entries it inspires us to reflect on the artworks and the power that they possess. Today I've been particularly caught by a series of photographs by Ella Penn, who has been exhibiting with us since the Rarities magnet exhibition on Hasting's Pier in 2011. Although her work is primarily photography based she has a keen eye for the conceptual. In 2015 she took part in the wonderful Art Language Location festival in Cambridge where she exhibited her work 52 Card Pick Up with Liam Whitfield. Over a 6 year period they collected a full pack of cards after finding them individually discarded in public places.

The Art of Caring has always been close to the heart of Ella as she was a carer for her dad for 10 years. This year she has submitted a powerful triptych dedicated to her friend Freya, who is raising awareness of Alopecia.

Ella Penn - Alopecia tableau, Freya: Me My hair and I

"The photos are of Freya Barnes who I've known all my life. Both Freya and her sister Roxy have battled with Alopecia as they were growing up and this knocked their self confidence, as a woman hair is seen as one of the key factors in femininity. The NHS gave Freya wigs and referred her to hair loss shampoos. All of which are designed to cover up or try and restore the growth of her hair. 

I suggested this photo project to Freya as photo therapy and hopefully to give her confidence in herself without her wig. When I showed Freya the images after the shoot she was really pleased and decided to share an image on the Alopecia Facebook page to inspire other women."

Ella Penn, 2017

Alopecia UK Facebook page

Ella Penn - Alopecia tableau, Freya: Me My hair and I

It goes without saying that we were inspired here too, by both Freya and Ella. We thank them both for contributing to the exhibition. If you would like to see these artworks and many more like them then visit us at St George's Hospital on the 3rd-12th May 2017. A selection of AOC work will also be exhibited at St Pancras Hospital from 20th July to 19th October 2017.

AL.

The Art of Caring 2017 - Submissions open

Now in its 3rd year The Art of Caring is needed more than ever to show support for Nurses, Carers, and the NHS. This is your chance to exhibit an artwork or haiku that demonstrates your passion for this theme, whether you have faced its challenges from the perspective of a carer or patient.

The Art of Caring is split into two clear exhibitions.
The first is at St George's Hospital (3rd-12th May 2017) where printed postcards of your artwork are displayed on the walls of the hospital to help celebrate International Nurses Day. This is an inclusive exhibition.
The second is at St Pancras Hospital (July-October 2017) and uses a mixture of original artworks and printed postcards. Works will be selected by Arts Project curators Peter Herbert and Elaine Harper-Gay.

It is Free to enter.
Send up to 3 jpeg images at an A6 size to collectconnect4@gmail.com
and/or
Send a haiku to the same email address collectconnect4@gmail.com

The theme this year is Care, Caring and Sustainability.
It is inspired by the theme for International Nurses Day 2017 which is Nursing: A voice to lead - Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.


You'll receive a confirmation email within 7 days with your catalogue/exhibition numbers. Before the exhibition we will print 2 postcards of each of your artworks. One copy will be sent to you and the other will be exhibited at St George's Hospital, Tooting, UK from the 3rd-12th May, 2017.

This year we will be opening the exhibition on 3rd May 2017 alongside SNAP (Student Nurse Academic Partnership Conference) and finishing on International Nurses Day (12th May).
If you would like to see last year's exhibition and some of the 380 submissions then click here. - 2016 Launch Party & exhibition

For the full details about how to submit your work visit our SUBMIT page.
Deadline for submissions is Monday 3rd April 2017
(We may close early if all 400 exhibition spaces are filled)

Alban Low, Bryan Benge, Dean Reddick and Stuart Simler