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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Un-Affordable Art Fair £2003+
Verdict: Exhuberant show in new theatrical space
London - Menier Gallery - 03
The Un-Affordable Art Fair is an entertaining concept launching The Menier Chocolate Factory as a potential venue for theatre and art. This review concentrates more on the Menier itself, as it's likely to be of interest as a coming theatrical space.
About the Menier as a theatrical space - as at May 03:
The Menier Arts Centre is the gutted and refurbished building which used to house a 19th century French chocolate factory(Menier). It's located in Bankside, near Tate Modern, The Globe Theatre, Vinopolis, The Southwark Playhouse, and the Bramah Tea & Coffee Museum. Tube: London Bridge.
At present (May 03), it houses the Menier Gallery - a commercial art gallery - and the Menier Café. The gallery has been open for a year, the café is in the process of opening to the public.
Of most interest to theatre professionals and audiences is the proposed theatre space. It's being used as a rehearsal venue at the moment (May 03). Around June 03, the intention is to fit it with a full light rig, sound equipment, show relay and tannoy (and a technical manager to go with them). The object is to create a 190-seat versatile studio space suitable for theatre, comedy, mime, physical theatre and more.
The Menier Theatre intends to pre-launch with a season running from October to December 03. They propose an official launch either at Christmas 03 or New Year 04. Programming is intended to focus locally - on both commuters and families - as well as the wider London arts audience.
The Menier tell us they are currently programming these forthcoming seasons, and welcome inquiries from producers and companies interested in performing at the venue.
About The UnAffordable Art Fair - which ran 2-6 April 03
The show draws together a number of dealers with all works priced over £2003.
It's dominated by two huge pieces, a sculpture and diorama. Gilbert Ledward’s architectural relief Vision and Imagination (1960), weighs in at 20 tons of Portland stone.
Mariusz Kaldowski’s diorama, laid out here around 3 sides of the theatrical space, is inspired by Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Titled The Four Seasons - Four Stages of Life, it's 22 x 1.5 metres of acrylic painting. Its colours are bold as poster paint, illustrating the moods of the seasons in a sufficiently abstracted way to allow individual interpretation - and keep a psychiatrist happy for months.
List of Artists Artists shown at The Un-Affordable Art Fair £2003 include (alpha order): Eva Adams, Peter Arnold, Jonathan Barnett, Vadim Bjasso, Michael Browne, Ronald Cameron, Evgeny Chuikov (1924 - 2000), Valery Chuikov, Luo Fa Hui, Nina Gruschwitz, Steven Heffer, Maryla Jakubowska, Sue Jelley, Mariusz Kaldowski, Willi Kissmer, Leonid Kudryavtsev, Anya Lauchlan, Gilbert Ledward, Vivienne Licudi, Petro Magro, Ken Paine, Stephanie Rew, James Scrase, Grygoriy Shyshko (1923-94), Ivan Slavchev, Carolinda Tolstoy, Panas Tytenko, and Olena Yakovenko.
END
John Park
21 May 03 - the Menier / 3 April 03 - UnAffordable Art Fair
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
