Red Wire is an artists studio group in central Liverpool, U.K.

We used to have a gallery, but we don't now- so don't email us asking to show your paintings. NO!.

Google map link to Red Wire: Carlisle Building, 69 Victoria Street, Liverpool

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Jayne @ Wrong love (5/3/10)

The WrongLove event held in The A Foundation and orchestrated by Come into Land last month involved 3 of our Red Wire members- Oliver Lomax, Alan Williams and Jayne Lawless. Jaynes work involved dozens of pairs of tights suspended throughout the hut in The Blade Factory and sent shadows throughout the space.  

 

Death Metal at The Citadel (4/3/10)

This exhibition was a few months ago now, but the image is new to the site- it is one of Mike Aitken's 'Hey Sweetheart, you make my heart sweet'- a piece from his series of death metal mottos taken from teenage sketchbooks, and was shown as part of one of The Soup Collectives exhibitions. Mike will also be exhibiting at Metal later this year with Soup, which is made up from TATE Liverpool staff. Picture thanks: Soup

 

 

Red Wire Presents 'me presents' 03/3/10

Julie Martin, aka 'me presents', one of Red Wire new gang of members now has a page on this site, which you can see here.

 

Julie Martin: Postcards

Jad Fair images (26/2/10)

Finally we have Jad Fair images from his Automatic Vaudeville exhibition last August online. It was a great exhibition, and possibly Red Wires final exhibition (at least in Victoria Street, as we have not got a gallery anymore). Together with Fear Yourself, Automatic Vaudeville was one of two shows we held by more famous artist/musicians

 

White Wings (23/2/10)

Its not often theres a new video to put on here, but this is Dave Pennys 'White Wings', a film of a paper plane in suspended animation.  


White Wings from david penny on Vimeo.

 

Newbs pages (22/02/10)

Two of our new members now have their own pages on this site- we now have work by both photographer and sculptor Dave Penny and drawing and mixed media artist Emma Gilmour.

 

Emma Gilmour - Ornithophobia 

Dave Penny (14/02/10)

Our final new member of the recent influx is David Penny, whose Blogspot can be found here. Ros Hyde, Emma Gilmour, Julie Martin and Dave will be moving in over the next couple of weeks, and Red Wire is settling down again after the rebuild.

 

Viewer, Devices for Progress, 70 x 50 cm, Lambda Print, 2009

Wrong Loved (14/02/10)

The Wrong Love event that people have been going on about for seemingly ages happened last night at The A Foundation. Red Wirers Alan Williams (whose slutty images and dildo brought laughter to many) Jayne Lawless's installation of tights (which someone stood next to me named 'stalactights') and a drunken Oliver Lomax live painting, into which a viewer was shoved (pictured, courtesy Jam E Blackburn) featured amongst the events

 

New Members- Emma Gilmour & Julie Martin (13/02/10)

Two new members have joined Red Wire, with one more yet to be confirmed. Emma Gilmour is a mixed media artist who makes large scale digital manipulations whilst Julie Martin aka me_presents often works with D.I.Y printing and book binding, as well as street art and installation. Martin was featured in Issue 8 of our zine

The All New Red Wire (08/02/10)

We have changed our gallery into 3 new spaces, so this marks a landmark in ending our exhibition programme for the foreseeable future. Painters Oliver Lomax, Karen O Brien and Joshua Tennant are to be housed in the new spaces, whilst we have developed several other spaces in the studio side to make them bigger. The result is a much better space for people to work in, and we are currently showing prospective new members round.

New Member- Ros Hyde (08/02/10)

The first of our new members is a fellow 2005 JMU graduate, Ros Hyde. Ros will be taking the recently departed Joe McNultys space. Joe was one of our longer serving members, who exhibited in Fear and Optimism, Roy Castles and Crapola Central as well as co-curating Apocalypse Now. More to follow, and a new Ros Hyde page will be up soon

 

Thoroughly unnecessary opinions (01/02/10)

Red Wire's Joshua Tennants new blog of reviewing books/films/art/games/whatever can be found here 

WRONG LOVE (31/01/10)

Set to be held at The A Foundation on February 13th, Wrong Love features several Red Wire members including Oliver Lomax, Jayne Lawless and Alan Williams. Tickets available here

The Alternative Valentine's Celebration
Dump true love for some unbridled WRONG LOVE.

WRONG LOVE marks a departure from the traditional Valentine's night of misty-eyed smooching. A celebration filled with intimate live art performances, installation pieces, bespoke sessions, video art and all night dancing when you can't take the love anymore. WRONG LOVE will have your head reeling and your heart shaking!

 

 

New Member- Jayne Lawless (28/01/10)

Jayne Lawless joined Red Wire just before all the mess with trying to find a new space. She new has a brand spanking new page on this website here. One of six finalists to the Liverpool Art Prize '09, and an exhibitor in Red Wire's 2006 Open, we are delighted to have her on board

"I have recently returned to the UK after travelling in the USA, Mexico including a period of 10 months study at The Cyprus College of Art. I believe Art should be visually stimulating as well as intellectually challenging which probably puts one foot in the conceptualist camp and the other in the traditionalists - I think good work doesn't or shouldn't need an essay pinned up next to it, we respond when we are stimulated and that is my aim, to make stimulating work"

 

The upheaval claimed some of our members (26/01/10)

The recent turmoil that has surrounded Red Wire regarding the plans for a possible new space has made a few of our members jump ship. These included original members Chris Mills and Amanda Ferguson, as well as new member Anna Lockwood, and now we have found out Hamish McDonald and Joe McNulty are set to move out this month. We are therefore looking for some new members, we have some ideas, but if your reading this thinking 'God I want to join Red Wire', email us, because you probably can!

 

Staying Put >> Under a different guise (24/01/10)

As you might have heard we have been looking for an alternative venue since around last October. There were a few possibilities, but instead we have decided to stay where we are, and transform our space into an arts studio only spot (basically installing 3 new spaces in the gallery). We are also taking this opportunity to rebuild our studio side, so a whole load of work is going to have to be done over the next couple of weeks.

 

The Originals (27/11/09)

Red Wire started on 2nd June 2005 with its members being Mike Aitken, Annie Houston, Amy Goring, Emma Wilkinson, Chris Mills, Joshua Tennant, Dave Tipping, Pete Formela, Hamish McLain, Zoe Langdell, Amanda Ferguson & Malini Vivian (maybe Kevin Hunt too, but I think he was a bit later).

Gradually time has taken most of these members, our present studio move has claimed another two, that being Chris Mills and Amanda Ferguson- thus leaving just Mike, Amy and Josh from this original cast. Chris is set to concentrate on his teaching and will paint from home, meanwhile Amanda is taking a hiatus to reassess her practice while she moves house. Best of luck to both.


Soaptank Studios (27/11/09)

Two Red Wire members are exhibiting at the forthcoming Xmas exhibition to be held at the newly founded Soaptank Studios in Warrington on 5/6th Decemeber. Both Joshua Tennant and (sadly soon to be departing Red Wire) Chris Mills will be showing new work that will also feature in an arts auction. More at www.soaptank.co.uk

Relocation Relocation Relocation (22/11/09)

Red Wire is currently looking for a new home, which will see us move from our studios at 69 Victoria Street. We have been at Carlisle Building since we graduated in 2005, so this is a huge undertaking, but early signs are promising, and we have been scouting locations, and contacting property owners of Liverpool. Hopefully we will have a new place up and running in the not too distant future.

JMU Talks (21/11/09)

Mike Aitken and Josh Tennant gave a presentation this week about Red Wire to about 40 JMU First Year students at their new building in the Cathedral Campus. This was first contact with the students, whom which we will be developing a drawing module in the new year. Also taking part are Metal ,The Royal Standard and Wolstenholme Projects, all of which also presented

Anna Lockwood (28/10/09)

Red Wire has itself a shiny new member, in the shape of Anna Lockwood. Anna was 50% of the 'Transmitions' performance held in Red Wire around a month ago, and members were invited to spit grape pips on Anna's targeted bare chest. She is also involved with The Magic Collective, as is Liam Greenall. with whom she sometimes collaborates.

We're delighted to welcome Anna, and will be revealing another new member shortly.


Dead of the Night - Chris Mills (19/10/09)

This painting was partly influenced by a painting called Villa by The Sea by 19th century symbolist painter Arnold Bocklin. Bocklins' original painting features a ghostly white female figure in the foreground overlooking a stormy sea, which I have changed to a road featuring a car driven by a ghostly white figure. The exterior wall of the house was also semi inspired by Frank Lloyd Wrights' The Enis House  which also featured in the opening credits of William Castles' The House On Haunted Hill (1959). I am now also influenced stylistically by the work of contemporary UK painter Geraint Evans who has a very detailed and narrative style.

 

 

Emails (17/10/09)

Our Emails are being annoying, and a bit screwy, so apologies if you can't get through.

NAN Films (02/10/09)

It took one hell of a long time to realise these were in exisance, but two films were made for our collaboration with The Royal Standard last year in the NAN Winner takes it all? tour, in which we invited about 20 odd artists to view the Capital of Culture and '08 Biennial. You might recognise some of us and the Standards in them...


 

The Really Long Night (22/09/09)

The Long Night of AND Festival is looking a whopper, Red Wire isn't taking part in this one, but our  member Josh will be interviewing people as part of the A Foundations plans

Thursday 24 September - Friday 25 September 

24 Hour programme including an after-party for the Long Night from 10pm with music and dancing, live dance and an all-night cinema programme (bring your own sleeping bag!)

TAXED: 24 Hour Interview Snickers
Midday Thursday 24 September to Midday Friday 25 September
The TAXED series takes on Hans Ulrich Obrist's 24 hour interviews, with a non-stop progarmme interviewing over 70 artists, curators, musicians and insomniacs. Breakfast will be served from 8am on Friday.

-transitions- (cultural bodies) (07/08/09)

an evening of moving image and live art works


Curated by Liam Greenall, this evening will bring together a unique interdisciplinary understanding of how the body speaks, moves and interacts in relation to the artists 'cultural' context and practice within live art and the moving image.

From cutting edge visuals to lo-fi aesthetic imagery this event is a mixed bag of cultural findings, surely to be experimental, head-f**king and down right different!

http://www.liamikey.co.uk/ 

 

 

oneandother plinther (14/09/09)

Antony Gormleys oneandother piece, in which people stand on Trafalger Squares 4th Plinth has reached the depths of artdom, Red Wire. Josh Tennants eating series resurfaced, with a repeat of what was the final eating session- Hard Boiled Eggs.

You can watch josh throw up infront of the nation at the oneandother website here

 


New Work - Lords of the Wasteland by Chris Mills 03/08/09

Good to see Chris, one of our few remaining original members is finding time to continue his series of works despite a heavy workload teaching. Below is some information on his new painting- Lords of the Wasteland.

This piece is a painting depicting an  an imaginary environment made to resemble a post apocalyptic wasteland or the surface of an alien planet and is partially inspired by the epic new world landscapes in the paintings of Albert Bierstadt.  I wanted to emphasize the height of the rock formations by using scale and placing figures on top of the rocks. The figures are the comic book like personas of the 1970's rock band KISS (The Demon, The Star child, The Spaceman, The Cat). I wanted to combine elements from (so called) high art with my fascination with images from trash culture and music  hence the iconic and instantly recognisable figures from original Kiss line up seemed perfect. The title Lords of the Wasteland refers to a line in the song - God of Thunder off the groups' seminal 1976 album Destroyer.                   

Automatic Vaudeville Film Day 30/08/09


Consider yourself fully invited to Red Wire's second film day on 6th September to celebrate Automatic Vaudeville - Jad Fairs solo exhibition. We are focusing this on outsider or avant-garde musicians, with Jad being a main-stay in the avant-garde. From the frankly berzerk Wesley Willis to the reclusive Jandek, and into the shrill of the wonderful Tiny Tim. The day is headlined by the award winning documentary about Half Japanese - The Band who would be king. More about it here

JAD FAIR - NOW OPEN 30/08/09

Automatic Vaudeville- the solo show by Jad Fair is currently open - we have had a really  great response to the show. Jad was the founder of Half Japanese, and continues to make art and music prolificly, and Automatic Vaudeville features all brand new artwork. Artinliverpool have written a really positive blog about the show here http://www.artinliverpool.com/blog/2009/08/jad-fair-automatic-vaudeville-at-red-wire/  , and Ian and Minako (who run the site) bought a piece of work. (picture by Minako Jackson)


Golden ladies welcome 27/08/09


For Apocalypse Now we exhibited Golden Boy by Matt Kelly, and just to keep the genders equal, we were host to Kevin Casey's (exhibited in the 07 RW Open) photoshoot of his sister Emma as a golden lady. The shoot was in aid of Casey and co's forthcoming flyer for Dead Cirkus Caberet. 

JAD FAIR- THIS FRIDAY 6.30PM 24/08/09

This Friday Automatic Vaudeville - the first U.K solo exhibition by American artist Jad Fair. The show is mostly hung now, and his work is looking fabulous, we hope you can make it for the P.V.

 

Decomposition 19/08/09

Red Wire has a great representation at Decomposition, with our members Mike Aitken, Katie Halsall and Joe McNulty all showing new work. Decomposition opens at Novas C.U.C TONIGHT! (19th August) and runs until 30th August
"This exhibition celebrates Soup's status in Liverpool's year of the environment. The task was to respond to our immediate environment, be it personal or public. To explore the space between our home base and our exhibition venue or more specifically the interpretation by the artist to include their living, working or studio space. "

 

The Lost Soul & Stranger Service Station - Revolver16/08/09

Exciting news in the life of Red Wirer Hamish MacDonald, who holds a new solo exhibition at The Bluecoat Barber Shop which opens this Thursday.

"Hamish MacDonald's work displays a lightness of touch and wry humour that does not detract from the serious nature of his practice. His work is paired down, at the same time both cryptic and poetic."


New Member- Alan Williams 12/08/09

Red Wire is happy to announced our latest addition to our unique squadran of members. Alan uses a wide array of materials including painting, sculpture, installation, video and sound. We are now back at full strength since the departure of longtime RW'er Toby Saunders. Alan has a new RW page here, and his own website here

 

Moving the blog- again 10/08/09

Just to keep you on your toes, I have moved the Red Wire blog back to this site- you can now find it on the left. I have even bothered to copy and paste our blogs from blog.com - which I got fed up with

Automatic Vaudeville press release  04/08/09

Automatic Vaudeville, the first UK solo show by acclaimed American artist and musician opens on the 28th August at Red Wire and is co-curaterd by Karen and Josh. You are invited to the Viewing on that night- this should be a great exhibition- Jad's new work is beautiful and intricate, and this is a real big coup for us to be showing artists of the caliber. The press release is here for a Word.doc download

one of us, one of us, one of us.  04/08/09

If you want to be part of Red Wire, now's your chance. Toby's now history (we gutted about this, so you've got some boots to fill) but if you can afford just a quid-a-day (paid as a lump sum of £30 at the end of the month) you can share a space with Ellie. Its near a window, has a table and all mod-cons (that being the table). Mail us with images and info on you and your work at mail@redwireredwire.com- you know you want to.

artinliverpool.com recommeds 04/08/09

We have been working on Apocalypse Now for a couple of months or so leading up to the show, and its absolutely brilliant the responce we have received from it. Artinliverpool.com have just posted a new blog about both the exhibition and the TAXED food element of the show. Theres not much more than artinliverpool.com, The Metro, and the zine Liverpool Art Journal for art in the public realm, and we are lucky to have all these elements on board for this show.

Shops back! 04/08/09

The complete failure of what was 'Red Wire online shop' has returned. We used to have this feature, and never sold anything, so I got rid of it. Now, almost specifically to sell our latest catalogue, its back. I'll try and find some other garbage to put on there so our shiny new catalogue doesn't look so lonely. The shop is down there to your left.

Blog on Sarah Harbridge 03/08/09

Sarah Harbridges piece 'One minute on each of the four days before her death'- a four screen installation currently showing at Red Wire in Apocalypse Now has been one of the most thought provoking pieces we've shown. This piece has inspired Red Wirer Vanessa to write a specific blog about the piece. You can see the blog here

Red Wirer on the 4th Plinth 03/08/09

2400 people are spending an hour each on the 4th plinth in Trafalger Square as part of Antony Gormleys oneandother project. On September 2nd at 9-10am, Red Wirer Joshua Tennant will go up there and repeat one of his eating series- probably the hard-boiled eggs one, taken from Paul Newmans attempt to eat 50 eggs in Cool Hand Luke. Josh's page on oneandother is here, and it will be broadcast on Sky TV and the website on the day

More apocalyptic photos 29/07/09

Thanks to Minako Jackson, who has sent through some more photos of the opening- (including food pics!- below)- they have been added to the Apocalypse Now page. If you have any you wouldn't mind sharing please send to mail@redwireredwire.com

   

Apocalypse Page 27/07/09

I've whipped up an Apocalypse Now page, so if your daft enough not to have made the P.V, you can see what your missing and come down before we close in a couple of weeks. CHECK IT!

Artwork of the week- Michelle Lord 27/07/09

Great News! Artinliverpool.com have voted Michelle Lords photograph 'Future Ruins' as this weeks 'artwork of the week'. To my memory, only Chris Mills has achived this from a Red Wire exhibition, so this is a great achivement by Michelle. See this link http://artinliverpool.com/blog/2009/07/artwork-of-the-week-michelle-lord/


Apocalypsed 27/07/09

Many thanks to all who attended the P.V of Apocalypse Now, we had a great time, exhibiting some really high quality artworks. Several pieces were peoples personal favourite, which is pleasing. The intrigue inspired by Sarah Harbridge's video piece was matched by the awe of Andrew Hladky. The show came alive when Mark Melvin and Laura Smith pieces began flashing, and the busyness was calmed by Paul Curetons CERN drawings, Govinda Sahs cloud movement painting, and Fiona Longs post apocalyptic items. The show is on Thursday - Sunday 1-6pm till the 8th August (Saturday 1st is the film day).

The Apocalypse is in 2 days!!! 22/07/09

Red Wire traditionally has loads to do just before an exhibition, and we are fretting aaround like monkeys, but for this one, we seem to have planned quite well, and most of it seems to be done. We still need to hang a couple of pieces, and Mark Melvin arrives on the opening day, so we need to do that, but all in all. we're not doing bad. I think I might even get to to Gabriel Stones and Paddy Gould's bar-brawl tonight. Lovely.   

Apocalypse Now Film Day 13/07/09

To coincide with Apocalypse Now we are holding a free drop-in film day on Saturday 1st August featuring awesome films relating to the theme of the Apocalypse. Staring at 11am and going on till around midnight, anyone can call in to watch anything from surrealist animation (Rene Laloux's, Fantastic Planet) to Japanese Monster battles (King Kong vs Gozilla) onto zombies fighting sharks (Zombie Flesh Eaters). There will be drinks and whatever else we can muster up. A full lineup is here is behind this link

Apocalyptic updates  07/07/09

Our forthcoming exhibition - Apocalypse Now curated by Joe McNulty and Josh Tennant is progressing nicely- it is set not only to be awesome, but to be full of events and tie-in thingy majigs. The flyers have arrived, and if you see a dork wearing a T-Shirt with it on, your either looking at Joe or Josh. Paul Cureton's work has been the first to arrive, and its a pretty ace start. The venue for the APOCALYPSE GIG has been booked, and the bands will be announced soon. The 4th TAXED event starts at Red Wire, and is food related. Apocalypse + food = screams of 'ewwww'. The line up for the APOCALYPSE FILM DAY is going well, with the temptation not to just include zombie films overwhelming. The Liverpool Art Journal are doing a special edition, enties for that is 20th July- please send your apoclaypse essays or writing  to Tracy Eastham @ tracey_eastham@yahoo.co.uk

 

Aitken Interviewed 29/06/09

Our co-founder Mike Aitken has been interviewed for AN Magazine about his work, involvement with Liverpool and setting up Red Wire

"work your arse off for three years, talk about your work with everyone available, don't miss tutorials...."

See the rest here: http://www.a-n.co.uk/degrees_unedited/article/536825.

 

Us Googled. 18/6/9

An enormous waste of time this was