Idiot Compression

Jonathan Callan's work in Hay

We are delighted to be showing several works by Jonathan Callan in the Never Judge a Book... exhibition. The artist has been in Hay-on-Wye this week to re-site his installation work Idiot Compression on the first floor of Richard Booth's Bookshop.

The work is made up of hundreds of books, which have been cut down. They still function as books in a way, as the pages can be turned, but much of the information has been taken away, in the discarded part of the book. Callan is referring to the idea, often touted as fact, that we only use 20% of our brains and only retain 20% of the information that we read.

When reinstalling an artwork like this, the place it is being shown (its new site) will have an influence on how the work looks. Jonathan Callan has been testing ideas during his time in Hay, finding a configuration that is appropriate for the artwork within its new temporary site.

Click here to read more about Jonanthan Callan and the works being shown in the Never Judge a Book... exhibition.

www.meadowarts.org

Installing Never Judge a Book...

Artworks arriving in Hay: part 2

 
Once you have the artworks in the building, it is time to install them in their correct places for the exhibition. Lots of work goes on behind the scenes in advance, when the curators make visits to the venue and plan where each piece will go. There are many things to think about when planning where the artworks will be sited, to ensure that the art looks its best and the exhibition takes a coherent form that engages its audiences. 

Practical concerns include the weight and size of an artwork. Working in unusual venues means that there may not be the same kind of large entrances that a purpose built gallery has, or there could be a weight restriction on an upper floor. Tape measures are a vital piece of kit for the Meadow Arts team!

The Never Judge a Book... exhibition is open from Friday 27 May to Sun 17 July at Richard Booth's Bookshop, Hay-on-Wye.

Installing Bill Woodrow's sculpture, Open Book

David Leister testing the projection for Luke Fowler's work

Thom Snell installing Sound Books

Oli, Manda and Anne taking a well deserved rest

Tape measure at the ready

Read more about the Never Judge a Book... exhibition and artists here

www.meadowarts.org

Installing Never Judge a Book...

Artworks arriving in Hay: part 1

It has been a very busy week for the team. The Never Judge a Book... exhibition opens this Friday, so artworks have been arriving at host venue Richard Booth's Bookshop in Hay-on-Wye over the past few days.

Our curatorial team, Louisa and Anne, have been on site to supervise the artworks, liaise with artists and art transport teams. Our technician, Oli, is making things ready and putting work in place. Manda has been providing on-site support and Rebecca has been at her desk as backup. All hands have definitely been 'on deck'!

The interior of the bookshop is really something special, so it is quite exciting to finally get our hands on it, after months of planning. Oli has had to put a film over the windows upstairs, in order to protect the precious artworks from the sun's rays, which can cause things to fade.

The upper floor of the bookshop, with artworks ready to be unwrapped

C'ART art transporters arriving

Many of the artworks will be on the first floor

C'ART transporting Bill Woodrow's work

The exhibition is based around the idea of the book as an object: many of the artists whose work is shown have played with the concept of the book, sometimes using it as a sculptural material, as a form to wrap and alter or in a playful and subversive context. You can read more about the exhibition here.

www.meadowarts.org