MK Calling 2013

Exhibitions

28 June - 8 September 2013

MK Calling (28 June – 8 September) is the Gallery’s summer programme of exhibitions and performances, featuring 100 artists, musicians and performers from Milton Keynes. This dynamic season of painting, video, dance, music, poetry and much, much more will showcase MK’s finest emerging and established talent.

The MK Calling preview and MK Gallery’s Summer Party with free hog roast and live jazz will take place on Thursday 27th June from 6-10pm. Everyone is welcome. There will be speeches by Anthony Spira (MK Gallery’s Director), Hedley Swain (Area Director, Arts Council South East) and Peter Geary (MK Council Cabinet Member for the Arts) at 7pm.

Earlier this year an Open Call for Submissions resulted in 300 proposals being received from artists and creatives connected to Milton Keynes. The range and quality of work was so extraordinary that the selection process was extremely difficult. MK Gallery invited external experts to assist in this process: David Rayson, artist and Head of Painting at the Royal College of Art, London; Professor Gill Perry, Head of External Collaborations at The Open University; and Emma-Jayne Taylor, Director of Artworks MK, Milton Keynes.

Speaking about the exhibition, MK Gallery’s Director Anthony Spira, said: “We were thrilled by the response to the call out and delighted by the diversity of proposed work and events. As well as the exhibitions, performances, screenings etc this is one of many Gallery projects that provide opportunities for artists and audiences in Milton Keynes to meet, network, share ideas, and participate in workshops, training and mentoring.”

Simon Wright, MK Gallery’s Events Manager added: “We’re working with an amazingly talented group of artists and performers to deliver the MK Calling Season of Events in July and August. Highlights include an evening about body art/tattooing, a UK music première featuring a 26 piece electric guitar orchestra and a cycling exhibition tour linking MK Gallery and Artworks MK, ending up in a pub! Hopefully there will be something to entertain, challenge and inspire everyone.”

In addition to the exhibitions and events at MK Gallery, Artworks MK will host a presentation of nine artists from 6 July to 8 September 2013. The preview will take place on Saturday 6 July from 12–3pm, with a free social eating event organised by MK Calling artists TendayiVine and Tracey Suen. All welcome. More information can be found at www.artworksmk.co.uk. Artworks MK’s regular opening hours are Monday – Saturday 10am -4pm. MK Calling is the first of a two-part programme by MK Gallery about art in Milton Keynes. Part two, titled Treasures in MK, features works from 50 private and public collections in and around the city and will take place from January to April 2014. In addition to presenting fascinating exhibitions in their own right, the intention is that the ‘producers’ in MK Calling meet the ‘consumers’ from MK Treasures to build and develop a strong cultural and creative eco-system within the city in the lead up to the Gallery’s ambitious £10m expansion, scheduled to open in 2017 to celebrate the city’s 50th anniversary.

MK Calling Participants

Exhibiting at MK Gallery:
Action Beat; Nathan Barlex; Black Dogs; Boyd & Evans; Jack Brindley; Ben Cavers; Mat Cross; Caroline Devine; Robin Dixon; Saliha Elhoussaini; Alex Evans; Lee Farmer; Lance Fennell; Kyle Gibbings; Peter Gorse; Aaron Head; Jonny Hill; Mandy Hudson; KEELERTORNERO; Lauren Keeley; Michelle Kopczyk; Victoria Lamburn; Jack Leibowitz; William Lindley; Tom Nash; John Oates; Karen Parker; Yannick Perichon; Marion Piper; PLAZA; Shereen Rahwangi; Suzanna Raymond; Thom Rees; Jade Sarson; Caroline Shadbolt; Annabelle Shelton; Edward Simpson; Helene Sorensen; Gavin Toye; Elizabeth Walker; Thérésa Wedderburn; Emma Wilde; Jayne Williams; Luke Williams.

Video Programme
(27 June – 31 July):
Roisin Callaghan; Carl Sebastian Lindberg; Giulia Ricci; Emily Shepherd; John Strutton; Emmett Walsh; Tom White
(1- 30 August):
GhostApproach; Helen Judge; Alex Pascual; Matt Waruszynski

Online
Sasha Coggin

Exhibiting at Artworks MK:
Melanie Bush; Do A Good Turn Daily; Caitlin Erskine-Smith; Katie Fields; Hannah Gaunt; Grand Union Artists; Kirsteen Holuj; Ruth Salter; Tendayi Vine & Tracey Suen; Debi-Sara Wilkinson.

Season of Events:
Alleyway Theatre Company; Sally Annett; Jen B; Bine the Peg; BRAVE NEW WORLDS; JamesBrightman; Eleni Cay; Chris & Sioda; Jon Clark; Elena Cologni; Richard DeDomenici; Urja Desai-Thakore; Electric Bikini Basement; Deborah Fielding; Karizmatic Roots; Emma & Joe Kent; Hannah Meara; Moly; Tamzen Moulding; Helen Parlor; Poet Tree Alliance; Emily Porter; Scribal Gathering; Peter J. Taylor; The Bard of Stony Stratford Richard Frost; The King Biscuit Boys; The Box Ticked; The Sucettes; Sebastienne Williams & Bolt-Hole Theatre; Steve Winch.