UNITED

About

Using contemporary arts practitioners as a starting point, ESA explores how collective and collaborative events can take shape to express and share ideas. With references to workers unions and other representative bodies, UNITED will examine how the professional field of art operates without formal structures, resulting in a supportive and independent series of events that reflect the artist-driven sector and the many facets of social networks. UNITED seeks to investigate the development and changes of the artist-driven movement of past decades in contrast with social networking and the use of new technologies that now enable everyone to be an active and creative participant.

Events

Salon : Vardøgr: ESA @ Leeds Art Fair
@ The Light, The Headrow, Leeds. LS1.
Exhibition Open: Fri 1 May ' Mon 4 May 2009
Times: Fri - Sun 10am - 6pm / Mon 10am - 4pm
Preview: Thur 30 April, 6pm
www.leedsartfair.org

Salon : Vardøgr is the third in a series of exhibitions with a changing collection of work from Leeds and Dortmund. ESA have collaborated with Dortmunder Gruppe for Salon : Vardøgr as part of the 40th anniversary of twinning between Leeds and Dortmund, which will culminate in a visit to Leeds by the German artists and their works during October 2009.

UNITED launch event
All welcome to join us at the launch event for UNITED which will include the photography exhibition, Eternal Now, by Stephanie Ballantine, live music from These Mountains, food and drink.
@ Map. Hope House, 65 Mabgate. LS9 7DR
Event open: Thur 7 May, 6pm - late.

More on: Eternal Now by Stephanie Ballantine

Ballantine's collection of work represents a progression into something that is not seen, where images and sound interact to provide a structure that is contrasted and obscured by uncontrolled, abstract forms of nature.

STFU: Electronic Music Festival: Militsiya (Neo Ouija) / Autistici (Audiobulb) / Scrubber Fox (Skam) / Mortal and Chemist (Skam) / Jonathan Fisher (Hippocamp) / Bla (STFU) / Tommy Walker III (Human Shield) / Zanf (Electronical) / Bromance / Murw / Unknown Forces of Everyday Life (STFU) / Igor Hax / Wrongbot / Visuals curated by Liz Ainge
@ The Common Place. 23 - 25 Wharfe St. LS2 7EQ
Event Open: Sat 9 May 7pm - late and Sun 10 May 2pm for film showings
Admission: £4 Common Place Members, £6 Non-Members
www.stfu.regicide.org
www.stfumusic.org
www.thecommonplace.org.uk

STFU is an open collective of electronic musicians and visual artists who use the internet as their main means of communication. It is a network of groups and individuals who come together to make live electronic music events happen.

The Object of Photography: Ignaz Cassar, Hondartza Fraga, Joe Mawson and Andrew Warstat
@ The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, Parkinson Building, University of Leeds. LS2 9JT
Exhibition Open: Tues 7 April ' Fri 19 June 2009
Times: Mon - Fri, 10am - 5pm

Four Yorkshire artists explore the medium of photography itself as their subject. The artists respond to and critique photography and theories of photography in a variety of media, using traditional and digital photographic formats, collage, drawing, installation and animation. Playful and subtle treatments of the photographic process show that there is more to the medium than meets the eye.

Morphic Resonance: Rachel Lancaster / Ant Macari / No Fixed Abode / Nous Vous / David Steans and Hardeep Pandhal / Rebecca Chesney, Robina Llewellyn and Elaine Speight (Pest Publications) / Richard Rigg / Silver Mawson (Rhiannon Silver & Joe Mawson) / Daniel Simpkins and Penny Whitehead (The Royal Standard).
@ PSL (Project Space Leeds) Whitehall Waterfront, 2 Riverside Way. LS1 4EH.
Exhibition Open: Wed 25 Mar ' Sat 27 June 2009
Times: 12 - 5pm (Wed - Sat)
Exhibition preview: Tues 12 May, 6-8pm
www.projectspaceleeds.org.uk
www.kunstfreund.co.uk
www.morphic-resonance.blogspot.com

An experimental project for PSL by artists and artist collectives nominated by artist-led spaces from across the North of England. For the first 6 weeks the artists will be working at PSL using it as an extended studio space moving towards an exhibition from 13 May. Co-curated by Zoe Sawyer of theartmarket, the project examines the urge among artists to control the dissemination and production of art. PSL is open to the public throughout.

The term 'Morphic Resonance' describes 'the basis of memory in nature… the idea of mysterious telepathy-like interconnections between organisms and of collective memories within species' (Rupert Sheldrake, 1981).

Evolution Festival: various artists across venues in Leeds.
Full details at www.lumen.org.uk
All events £5, except creative workshops, £25

Wed 13 May
Interval II: Suki Chan (free entry)
@ Pavilion Gallery. 7 Saw Mill Yard, Round Foundry. LS11 7WH.
Times: 12 - 6pm
Launch event (free entry)
@ Leeds Met Gallery. Civic Quarter. LS1 3HE.
Times: 6 - 8pm
Lux 2 ' short films
@ Hyde Park Picture House. Brudenell Road, Headingley. LS6 1JD.
Times: 8.30 -10pm

Thursday 14 May
Interval II: Suki Chan (free entry)
@ Pavilion Gallery12-6pm, Pavilion Gallery. 7 Saw Mill Yard, Round Foundry. LS11 7WH.
Times: 12 - 6pm
Projection Gallery 2 - short films
@ Hyde Park Picture House. Brudenell Road, Headingley. LS6 1JD.
Times: 4 - 4.45pm
Creative Workshop: Digital Projection for Exhibitions
@ Lumen Screening Lab. Barkston House, Croyden Street. LS11 9RT.
Times: 3 - 5.30pm
BASE artists - show & tell event
@ Leeds Met Gallery. Civic Quarter. LS1 3HE.
Times: 6 - 8pm
Baerbel Neubauer experimental animation films
@ Hyde Park Picture House. Brudenell Road, Headingley. LS6 1JD.
Times: 6 - 7pm.
Lux 1 - short films
@ The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, Parkinson Building, Leeds University, Woodhouse Lane. LS2 9JT.
Times: 6.30 - 8pm
Projection Gallery 1 ' short films
@ Hyde Park Picture House. Brudenell Road, Headingley. LS6 1JD.
Times: 8.15 - 9.45pm

Friday 15 May
Interval II - Suki Chan (free entry)
@ Pavilion Gallery. 7 Saw Mill Yard, Round Foundry. LS11 7WH.
Times: 12 - 6pm
Creative Workshop: Recording Sound for Art
@ Lumen Screening Lab. Barkston House, Croyden Street. LS11 9RT.
Times: 3 - 5.30pm
Journey ' short films - Lily Markiewicz
@ Leeds Met Gallery. Civic Quarter. LS1 3HE.
Times: 5.30 - 6.40pm
Projection Gallery 1 ' short films
@ The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, Parkinson Building, Leeds University, Woodhouse Lane. LS2 9JT.
Times: 5.30 - 7pm
Projection Gallery 2 - short films (with director's introduction)
@ Leeds Met Gallery. Civic Quarter. LS1 3HE.
Times: 7 - 8pm

Saturday 16 May
Curators' discussion panel event
@ The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, Parkinson Building, Leeds University, Woodhouse Lane. LS2 9JT.
Times: 1.30 - 3pm
George Barber film retrospective
@ Hyde Park Picture House. Brudenell Road, Headingley. LS6 1JD.
Times: 4 - 5.45pm
Lux 2 ' short films
@ Hyde Park Picture House. Brudenell Road, Headingley. LS6 1JD.
Times: 6 - 7.15pm
AVOID - sound art - live: performance evening
@ ESA Patrick Studios: Project Space. St Mary's Lane. LS9 7EH
Times: 7pm - 1am

This year's festival includes work from international London based agencies Lux and The Projection Gallery, reflecting a rich selection of the best in experimental film and video work by artists from across the UK such as Stephen Sutcliffe, Ursula Mayer, Sheena MacRae and Gunter Puller. Artist Lily Markiewicz presents an alternative series of films that explore the theme of 'Journey' and we show new and retrospective works by renown animator Barbel Neunauer and Brit filmmaker George Barber.
Technology & art innovators BASE artists collective present an evening of show and tell, inviting contributions from the public, and Suki Chan exhibits her Interval II video installation. To close the festival we have a vibrant live performance sound-art club evening AVOID at ESA Patrick Studios with international performances from Mark Fell (UK) Lee Gamble (UK) Marinos Koutsomichalis (GK) Theo Burt (UK) and DJs.
www.pavilion.org.uk
www.leedsmet.ac.uk/arts/
www.hydeparkpicturehouse.co.uk
www.leeds.ac.uk/gallery/contact.htm
www.esaweb.org.uk

FREE BEER / Something's Brewing: Gordon McKiernan
@ ESA Patrick Studios. St Mary's Lane. LS9 7EH.
Exhibition open: Throughout UNITED
Times include: Tues 12 May, Sat 16 May, Fri 22 May and Sat/Sun 26 & 27 June (12-6pm)

McKiernan will develop a new beer for UNITED in a temporary micro-brewery at ESA Patrick Studios alongside guest beers and wines from Wakefield and Sheffield based artists creating a social meeting space for the event.
More info on FreeBeer: www.freebeer.org/blog

Day Off: Kristy Noble and Tom Poultney
@ ESA Patrick Studios: Project Space. St Mary's Lane. LS9 7EH.
Exhibition open: Sat 9 May ' Fri 15 May 2009
Times: 12 - 6pm
Exhibition preview: Tues 12 May 2009, 6-8pm

Kristy Noble and Tom Poultney's exhibition investigating how what we do in our spare time has shifted in recent years.

AVOID: Mark Fell (UK) Lee Gamble (UK) Marinos Koutsomichalis (GK) Theo Burt (UK) and DJs.
Evolution Finale event
@ ESA Patrick Studios: Project Space. St Mary's Lane. LS9 7EH.
Event open: Sat 16 May, 7-11pm
£5 on the door

AVOID, curated by Leeds-based sound artist Joe Gilmore, presents an evening of sound art and computer music exploring the extremes of synthesis, abstraction and transformation. www.lumen.org.uk/?page_id=15

superscript: Alex Farrar, Harry Meadley and Iona Smith
@ ESA Patrick Studios: Project Space. St Mary's Lane. LS9 7EH.
Exhibition Open: Mon 25 May ' Fri 5 June 2009
Times: 12 - 6pm (open weekdays only)
Exhibition preview: Fri 22 May 2009, 6 - 8pm

superscript sees this trio of artists referencing not only their shared place amongst their Fine Art Degree course, but the importance and relevance of a microcosmic artistic community on all its levels.

ESA UNITED Commissions:
Demo: Daniel Lehan
@ PSL (Project Space Leeds) Whitehall Waterfront, 2 Riverside Way. LS1 4EH.
Workshop event: Sat 30 & Sun 31 May 2009
Times 12 - 4pm

Artist Daniel Lehan has been invited by ESA to develop a new work exploring how disparate individuals find common ground in working together which will lead to a arch of solidarity. The workshops include discussions, films and presentations, as well as hands on creative exploration of banners / badges / t-shirts and slogans.
No previous experience of demonstrating, marching or 'being involved' required. Participants are welcome to join the events for as long or short a period as they like.
www.esaweb.org.uk
www.daniel-lehan.com
www.projectspaceleeds.org.uk

Open Letter: Daniel Lehan
Taking place as part of Demo, Daniel will develop a Leeds issue of his publication 'A3'.
An invitation to Leeds based artists to write an 'open letter' to London based artists. The letter will form an entire side of A3 (JUNE Issue), and will be read out to the audience at the Second Thursday event in South London on Thursday 11 June.
London artists will be asked to respond to the Leeds letter and these responses will form an entire side of A3 - (JULY Issue)

Marching On Together: Daniel Lehan
Leeds city centre - route TBC
Event: Sat 6 or Sun 7 June (TBC)
Times: 12 - 2pm

The route, context and approach to the march will be determined by the workshop event on Sat 30 and Sun 31 May. All welcome to join in.

UNITED brand: Nous Vous
Artists and dsigners Nous Vous will collaborate with Daniel Lehan in support of Demo, Marching On Together, mapping exercises and the branding of UNITED.

The Vessel and Eye: Hardeep Pandhal and David Steans
@ ESA Patrick Studios: Project Space. St Mary's Lane. LS9 7EH.
Exhibition Open: Wed 17 June ' Wed 24 June 2009
Times: 12 - 6pm
www.xymphora.co.uk

The Vessel and Eye offers the viewer a unique record of acts violent, mysterious, arcane and ridiculous where Steans and Pandhal will stage a closed performance capturing footage of an invented initiation rite. The exhibition that follows will display the rite's costumes, stage, props and other detritus in a life-size diaroma where the artists will be in character, leading viewers individually through the installation adopting the form of the museum tour theatricalizing the space between the hidden ritualistic actions and their subsequent artifacts.

UNITED closing party: featuring a diverse range of events.
@ Barkston Studios. Barkston House, Croydon Street, LS11 9RT
Event Open: Fri 26 ' Sat 27 June 2009
Times: 12 - 6pm

Picnic: Daniel Lehan
A special social gathering event for everyone involved in UNITED. More details to follow.
www.daniel-lehan.com

'Edwige_and_Megan_at_Barkston_House_Leeds': Megan Smith
Megan Smith's performance based on her avatar in Second Life will be screened.
www.megansmith.ca

To support and compliment Smith's work there will be a series of workshops run by tutors from Leeds College of Art and Design and Leeds Metropolitan University in Second Life. Dates, Times and bookings TBC.

Meet the Maker!: Organised by experimental film collective EXP24
An open submission artists film and video event dictating that film makers have to attend the final screening in order for their work to be shown. www.exp24.org

Open Studios:
The ESA members based at Barkston Studios will open up their work areas to the public.
www.esaweb.org.uk

Instruments: Ben Byford
www.benbyford.co.uk

Artist Ben Byford will show films and a sound installation including Orchestra where visitors will be asked to participate by talking to a camera about themselves for 5 minutes and CoMelody where volunteers will sing the next note in the melody listening from the last person, resulting in a melee of vocal tones spiralling through an unconventional key to an unpredictable climax, with the final installation recorded onto several CD players.