Monica McCarey
iota...What IS this place?
iota...What IS this place?

iota OPENING! NOON 19 March 2022

Particularly as Colin Robertson’s show was the first to be cancelled due to Covid 19, we are delighted to present a two part show of his drawings.

Please note our new opening hours: Wed Fri Sat 12-5. Thurs.12-6 and by appointment.

Part 1.

MARY DON’T YOU WEEP

It’s the backing to Aretha Franklin by the South Carolina Community Choir, the hand-clapping, the guitars and the organ that grabbed me. 

All Saints   The Mangrove Steel Band’ and ‘The Undivided’ played reggae and jazz in our street when we lived just round the corner from All Saints Road in London’s Notting Hill.   At that time I made drawings and paintings of three West Indian women in Afros and platform heels seen on the Circle Line -  they are somewhat reinvented in a number of drawings.

Bad Moon  “Can we have some music” was the cry that often went up to the bridge from the deck of the Ross Cougar.

 A couple of years back I was in a record store in Glasgow.  ‘Bad Moon Rising’ came up on the turntable.  Instantly I was carried back fifty-odd years to being one of the yellow oilskin-clad figures on that deck, knee deep in fish, knife in hand: ‘fish in the other and two in the air’.

These drawings all date from the period just before Covid. The second batch follows on chronologically.

Mary Don't You Weep

Mary Don’t You Weep

Part 2.

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT THEN

I’ve often used words and/or text in drawing but, for a time at least, they appear to have taken over, to become the main building block of the image on paper and spell out what the drawings are about   Statements – questions - no answers or resolutions but, on the positive side, the fact of wonder.

iota Presents: Transitional Toys (Security Objects):13-21 December & 4-11 January

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An exhibition with events by Scottish, Swiss  and Italian artists.

The Swiss connection:

Geneva based Scottish poet, Peter McCarey invites internationally acclaimed artists to consider an international concept, produce new work and conspire to bridge cultures across five disciplines.

See https://www.iotaarts.space/press

With support from Pro Helvetia, Fondation suisse pour la culture

and République et canton de Genève.

The artist Carmen Perrin exhibits a mobile sculpture entitled "Le bruit des yeux";

Alexa Montani (Geneva) plays a composition by Jacques Demierre (Geneva) specially composed for toy piano and musical box on the opening night;

Vincent Barras (Geneva and Lausanne University) performs an improvised "speech" on the theme of the exhibition on 4 January;

Peter McCarey (Glasgow/Geneva) designed a sculpture for the exhibition, which will be Clyde built. Peter McCarey's previous installation in collaboration with Duncan Scott was exhibited at Iota and at the Fonderie Kugler, Geneva.

Scottish/U.K based artists include T.D. Coats, Laura A. Hunter, Chris McCabe,Robert McNeil, Craig Mulholland collective ‘Hommages’with CARMEL O’BRIEN & M.V.BROWN plus Italian artists, Caterina Borelli and Clara Brasca Plus a guest contribution from Russian artist Yuri Vashchenko.

Norman Sutton Hibbert: KINDER KINDER

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19 Sept.-5 October @iota

For most of his adult life Sutton Hibbert has been interested in the impact that the behaviour and attitudes of adults, both in the micro and macro sense, have had and are still having on children.

Children still die every day or become parentless due to preventable diseases; world-wide there are thought to be in excess of 250,000 child soldiers; countless die or are maimed due to senseless conflicts, while others are persecuted because of religious or ethnic intolerance.

The works in this exhibition respond to the stories of many of these children, past and present. 

The unashamed use of materials such as fabrics and bright colours, which are part of the daily lives of all of us, are aimed at engaging the viewer and encouraging reflection on the lives of children today.

Artist gets press coverage!!

Great to see all the recent press coverage on our favourite 'discovery', Robert McNeil and his works recently purchased by Glasgow Museums.

Robert also produces great work outside of this story, as do so many talented artists, but the coverage of them and their daily contribution to our lives is way too low.

Thanks also to the Evening Times, the Daily Record & Artdaily.com for mentioning iota.

https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/17856033.artist-robert-mcneil-39-s-art-marks-bosnia-massacre-anniversary/


Ruaridh Fraser 'STREET SHAPES'

Friday - 23rd August - More emerging talent at iota!

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‘Street Shapes’ presents the emerging talent of Photography Student, Ruaridh Fraser.

Born and based in Glasgow, this urban context offers him endless inspiration and source material for street photography, which is his main interest. Fraser uses an old Pentax to produce carefully composed images. Packed with rich colours, shadows and shapes, this young view of the world is both painterly and punchy.

Clara Brasca: 'ATELIER'

iota welcomes Italian artist, Clara Brasca, and presents 'Atelier': new, large format work, and projection of her previous work.

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Opening Night: 6-9pm. Fri. 14th June.
Exhibition until Saturday 29 June  2019

Clara Brasca was born, lives and works in Milan, where she graduated in architecture from Milan Polytechnic and from Brera School of Art. Interested in the development of contemporary work through classical language, and working predominantly in portrait and landscapes, she explores various techniques, scales and materials: oil on linen, mixed media, paper, glass, ceramics. As well as collective shows, her work has shown in solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Kyoto, California, Barcelona, Glasgow and throughout Italy.

'Atelier'

‘The artist’s studio is primarily a mental space, rather than a physical one. It is an existential refuge and it is where the work is realized; it envelopes the thoughts, meditations, the artist and all the objects and materials which combine to bring about the manifestation of work.

After many years of painting in the studio, I felt a desire to paint it’s portrait. Painting one’s studio is similar to painting a self portrait, even if depicting the pure architectural space rather than one’s own image.

Time passes differently in the studio and from within it, everyday reality is breached, giving access to another place, another reality: that of art.’

Clara Brasca.

Colin Robertson: UNCONNECTED FRAGMENTS

Opening on Thusday 2nd May, 6-9pm (as usual), the exhibition is on until Saturday 18th May.

'Drawing is needed.  It sets me on the way to try to understand.  Understanding is unachievable, so I have to keep on trying – to keep on drawing.'
Colin Robertson.

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iota welcomes you to this third solo show of new work by Colin Robertson. He mentions needing 'triggers' to start drawing, and cites 'things seen- figures, or parts of figures- adverts on a van- works by other artists- the dark line of the sea where it met the sky- the perspective on a slope of cobbled concrete blocks under a motorway...Photos in the newspapers- of female pop singers, pop groups and of women soldiers from North Korea marching (goose-stepping) on parade. A doodle where I let music activate my hand and pen.'
Robertson was born in Glasgow 1936, graduated in Dundee and travelled the world. He lives and walks and works in Scotland. Turn the image, see this work.    
Original work available for purchase. 

iota will not let you down! an action packed programme for 2019!

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As 2019 continues (with it’s own unique brand of chaos), you can rely on iota to bring you a great range of new work from across the arts disciplines and from Scottish and International artists. Having started the year with a packed house for Lewis Waugh’s EAST-WEST:WEST-EAST show, we will sustain your cultural needs!.

Drawing, mixed media, photography, poetry, film, installations. We have it all in the bag! sign up for our emails or like iota gallery on facebook to get the latest info.

LEWIS WAUGH : EAST-WEST:WEST-EAST

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Lewis Waugh’s ‘EAST-WEST:WEST-EAST’, inspired by travels and cultures from Morocco to Scotland, opened on Friday to a packed audience at iota. We promised you art, poetry, calligraphy, Scottish & Arabic culture and VIPs. All duly delivered. A Meg Bateman poem was read in Gaelic, Iyad Hayatleh’s poem ‘50’, was read by the author in Arabic. The VIPs? Guests, Artists, Poets & Politicians. This show is on until 2 March.

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LEWIS WAUGH : art and poetry: EAST-WEST:WEST-EAST

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Glad to report that at as well as this exhibition of new work by Lewis Waugh, we are happy to present words & poetry at the Preview on Friday 15th February. There will be short readings of work by Gaelic poet Meg Bateman & Glasgow/Palestinian poet, Iyad Hayatleh.

Edinburgh – based artist Lewis Waugh acknowledges the influence of Islamic art on his imagery. The resultant abstract forms are a fusion of Islamic geometry and Hebridean dreaming.

Hope to see you there.