Bletchingley Arts Festival

I am pleased to say I have been asked to give an Artist’s talk on my life and practice at the opening of the Bletchingley Arts festival Art exhibition. More details below: Last year’s inaugural BletchFest Art Exhibition at Grange Meadow Bletchingley. successfully attracted interested visitors over a weekend in May. Local artists, working in differing media including paint, ceramics and photography successfully displayed and sold their creative works while Uncle Stubble2 , using spray paints ,gave a live demonstration of his art to admiring onlookers as he produced an 8 foot square mural. Giving local artists of all levels of abilities, some exhibiting for the first time, the joy of seeing their talents appreciated was a gratifying experience.

This year’s event, to be held over the 13th and 14th May with a preview event on the 12th features many more artists with added media such as decorative metal and wood crafts. The exhibition expects to showcase the art of wood turning along with many other examples of visual and creative arts. An exhibition can and should be a festive experience too and the sweet sound of music provided by local musician Nigel Chatfield will entertain as visitors browse the many unique artworks and creative crafts on offer.

As with all BletchFest’s events the focus is on the community. Both in providing a platform for local artists to showcase their talents and encouraging community engagement with the arts in its many varied forms but at the same time, supporting local community charities. This year’s BletchFest Art Exhibition sees Renewed Hope and Ukrainian Support Charities offering their own creative arts along with Bletchingley Skills Centtre. With some children’s activities to keep them entertained as you browse, taking the opportunity to admire and perhaps acquire unique original art, and a licensed bar in the Pavilion providing refreshments and snacks the BletchFest Artists and Artisans Exhibition promises to be both exciting and entertaining and at the same time relaxed.

Entry to the event is free! The doors open from noon to 6pm on Saturday 13th May and noon to 4pm on Sunday 14th May. So come along and appreciate the abundance of artistic talent we have in East Surrey.

Mc Hope @ The Brewery Tap Project Space, Folkestone, Kent

Press release

Mc Hope

The Brewery Tap Gallery & Project Space, Folkestone Arts Quarter, Kent, UK. April 10th -16th 2023.

Private View Thursday 13th of April, 5pm -10pm

Open Daily 10 am-5pm

Mr Paul David Chisholm

www.mrpauldavidchisholm.com

Coming home what does that mean exactly? Where is home what does a home mean? Is it the  planet Earth or our locality or even Nationality or familiar ties?  And where do I or you lie in that home? Bringing together over twenty years of practice the artist Paul Chisholm proposes the question what is a home and where do we come from? Are we animals, human organisms or spirits or all in one? The Artist was born in Canterbury in 1983 Un-yet he has not been back to Kent till now 40 years later. With 20 plus years of practice under his belt he beggars the question where are we? What are we doing to ourselves, the planet and our family? Are we human or just an answer?

The artists practice revolves around questions of identity, belonging, consumerism and total oblivion. Utilising everyday objects and paintings of clowns, murder victims, and people in his dreams and childhood memories through this the artist try’s to reconstruct or deconstruct the world around him. Having been brought up in the 80’s/90’s section 28 era of no gays allowed the artist has struggled with his self-esteem and belonging in this turbulent society and this anxiety shows in his portrait paintings of masks and other beings that are both distorted and worryingly familiar.

Since being born in Canterbury 1983 the painter has experienced many adversity’s firstly section 28, then homophobia and discrimination against his HIV status. His paintings and sculptures are a result of the hypocrisy and virulent and violent times in which we live.

The artist hopes to portray a home coming as both a soldier for lgbtq+ rights, a spy on the human mind and one of ultimate love and hope.

The Artist will present as series of his ‘ lost children of paradise’ and an installation/ performance of ‘mc whimsical’ This is bound to be a spectacle of delight and amusement for both Art lovers and the public alike raising issues of Capitalism, Queer Identities and the human condition as a whole.

 

Paul Chisholm (1983) Born in Canterbury, Kent, U.K Studied Fine Art  at Warwickshire College of Art and Design, Nottingham Trent University and Chelsea College of Arts, London.

The Artist has had numerous solo and group shows including but not limited to: The Terrence Higgins Trust annual auction @ Christies,London,  Turf projects, Croydon, London & The Lightbox Museum, Woking, Surrey (Upcoming November 2023). Last year he was awarded The Sane Grant for Visual Artists overcoming mental health, The Eaton Fund Grant, The Oppenheim John Downes Memorial Trust Grant and a grant from Visual Aids in New York.

Save the Date Terrence Higgins Trust Auction @ Christe's, London

On the 4 July 1982, Terry Higgins was one of the first people in the UK to die of AIDS-related illnesses. His passing inspired the formation of Terrence Higgins Trust and we have been at the heart of HIV and sexual health activism ever since. We support people around the country to live well with HIV; we campaign to end HIV misinformation and stigma; and we continue to urge government to take the steps necessary to ending HIV transmission once and for all. And we couldn't do any of it without supporters like you.

To help us mark 40 years of HIV activism, support and incredible progress, we are hosting our spectacular Auction on Monday 6th March at the world's most famous auction house, Christie's in London.

Our wonderful supporters are crucial to everything we have and will achieve, and we would love for you to join us to mark this important moment in our historyWe are delighted to introduce The Auction 2023

Taking place on Monday 6th March at the iconic Christie's Auction House we hope you will be able to join us in celebration of our 40th Anniversary.

Tickets can be bought here: https://ww2.emma-live.com/The-Auction-2023/?home_page=

Photograph by James Basire

Visual Aids New York Postcards from the Edge

I’m pleased to say one of my works will be available to purchase as a part of Visual Aids Postcards from the Edge fundraiser at Ortuzar projects in New York. Raising vital funds for this amazing charity. They have given me both the most amazing opportunities to exhibit in N.Y and several Artist grants over the years. Their work in normalizing HIV and Aids is needed now more than ever please support them in anyway possible.

https://www.ortuzarprojects.com/

The Oppenheim John Downes Memorial Trust

I'm pleased to say I have received a grant from the Oppenheim John Downes Memorial Trust. This will enable me to create a new body of paintings in 2023.

“The Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust provides small scale grants to British artists, designers, writers and performers over the age of 30 who are experiencing financial difficulties in the pursuit of their careers.

The Trust was established under the will of Mrs Geraldine Elsie Downes on her death in December 1969. Mrs Downes named the Trust in memory of her father, the author E Phillips Oppenheim, and her son, John Downes.”

COVID-19 ALUMNI SHOW CHELSEA COLLEGE OF ARTS LONDON JULY 2022

IM PLEASED TO SAY MY WORK WILL BE SHOWN AS A PART OF THE ALUMNI SHOW REALLY A POST COVID-19 THANKYOU BY THE UAL TO ALL THE STUDENTS AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC ACROSS SEVERAL SCHOOLS INCLUDING, WIMBLEDON, CHELSEA AND CAMBERWELL . THIS IS A HISTORIC MOMENT IN TIME FOR ALL OF THE FINE ART STUDENTS INVOLVED CURATED BY MARK LUNGLEY &
Zsuzsa Benke.