18th November 2012
Open Studio today. 11am – 6pm.
I’ll be there with my work and demonstrating wire sculpture construction Studio 17, Unit 0
18th November 2012
Open Studio today. 11am – 6pm.
I’ll be there with my work and demonstrating wire sculpture construction Studio 17, Unit 0
8th October 2012
On 21st September, 14 Lewisham College students from the BTEC Level 3 90-Credit Diploma performed a dance they titled “Live Art” in the no format gallery during my exhibition, dancing amongst the work. To watch the performance filmed by Jack Thrush Lewisham College Media & Music Technician please see:
The brief had been to create a new piece of work using my art work as a starting point and inspiration. The Project Leader is Robert Nicholson. The project was a collaboration between myself and Lewisham College Dance department.
24th September 2012
My exhibition at no format gallery finished on Sunday evening, it’s been up for 10 days, lots of visitors to the gallery, many of the visitors know my work and came specifically to see the exhibition and buy, some were complete strangers who chanced upon the show on their way to or from The Reach Climbing Wall, parents collecting kids from the circus training area in Hangar Arts, some just out exploring on bikes.
All were welcome and many had interesting comments about the exhibition. Here are some comments from the visitors book:
“Wonderful work – so much energy, strength and life” J
“Love the work especially the sculpture with the poem” L
“Great show – fantastic movement depicted with beauty and feeling” C
“Great movement in all pieces” Ch
Tweet from rognbrow and another
However responses from dancers I’ve worked with were perhaps the most meaningful. This next message is from Italian dancer Alessandra Ruggeri who I worked with making the YouTube film Chasing Shadows in 2009
“The body I see in your drawings is the body I feel as a dancer”
The 3 paintings below were made after spending 4 weeks drawing the Russell Maliphant Dance Company. One day in the Lilian Baylis Studio during a rehearsal, lighting designer Michael Hulls shone lights the colours of fire on the dancers bodies, as they moved they created pools of burning glowing light and for those moments they stopped being dancers and became mystical or other worldly.
When Dickson Mbi showed up he hugged me when he looked at the painting of him in The Rodin Project. He didn’t need to say anything. (see above middle)
Jack Jones from Yorke Dance Project who danced a solo on the opening night, realised that I must have also drawn him dancing in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake when he saw a painting on canvas derived from those drawings. (see below left)
I loved watching dancer Irina Baldini spend some time with the sculpture of her, (life size wire sculpture, Irina, above, but the woman pictured is not Irina the dancer). Probably the last time we shall see this sculpture as she now lives in a lawyers office in Essex (although I’d be happy to make her again to commission).
I enjoyed observing the students from Lewisham College walking around the gallery discussing my work, showing their response through movement, asking questions, chatting about the emotions that came to them when looking at the sculpture, drawings and paintings.
And of course I loved their dance created in 1 week specifically for a performance in the gallery by the students as a response to my work.
20th September 2012
My sculpture, Marilyn, is now in Bath ICIA theatre ready for the performance, Words Worth, tonight. The sculpture is of Yolande Yorke-Edgell in the dance Marilyn, inspired by a letter written by Marilyn Monroe to her psychiatrist after being committed to a clinic in New York after suffering mental exhaustion.
I drove to Bath on Tuesday with Marilyn lying in the back of the car.
Marilyn on stage
Yolande Yorke-Edgell on stage with the shadow cast from the sculpture
13th September 2012
Sally McKay: Multisensory experience and artistic images of the moving human figure
My Exhibition at no format gallery opened on Thursday evening.
The gallery ready for the evening opening
Yolande York-Edgell and Jack Jones of Yorke Dance Project danced solos surrounded by my work in the gallery. The sculpture, Marilyn, will be leaving the gallery early next week to join Yolande York-Edgell on stage at Bath ICIA when she dances in the company’s World Premier of Words Worth.
Thanks to Nicholas Carn for filming the performance.
13th September 2012
Hanging the exhibition with Gallery Director Matthew Wood
Sculpture, paintings, drawings, etchings and sketch books ready to be viewed this evening
No format gallery opens at 5.00pm, Yolande Yorke-Edgell and Jack Jones from Yorke Dance Company will dance 2 solos at 7.30pm, the gallery will close at 9.00pm.
If you can’t make tonight I will be at the gallery tomorrow 11.00 – 5.00pm and at the weekend, 15th and 16th September 11 – 6pm. Next week the gallery will be open Friday 21st 11.00 – 5.00pm with a performance at 2.30pm from Lewisham College dance students.
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd 11.00 – 6.00pm will be your last opportunity to see the exhibition at no format gallery.
The story of my exhibition is currently featured on the front page of of the Dancing Times website
http://www.dancing-times.co.uk/news/item/1005-sally_mckay_exhibition
Sally McKay: Multisensory experience and artistic images of the moving human figure
Irina. Life size wire sculpture, dancer Irina Vainio
no format gallery Thursday 13th September – Sunday 23rd September
Opening times: Fri 14th, Sat 15th and Sun 16th September. Sat 22nd and Sun 23rd September and from 17th – 21st September by appointment (07803 609977)
Opening night Thursday 13th September 5pm – 9pm dance performance by Yorke Dance Project at 7.30pm
The exhibition is in conjunction with freelance writer Stephen Baycroft
Russell Maliphant Dance Company rehearse The Rodin Project. Oil and acrylic on canvas. 127 x 91cm
I will show life size wire sculpture, paintings, framed and unframed drawings and etchings
no format gallery, 2nd Floor Studios, Harrington Way, Woolwich, London SE18 5NR
Artistic Director and choreographer of Yorke Dance Project, Yolande Yorke-Edgell, will be dancing a solo on the opening night of my exhibition, inspired by a letter from Marilyn Monroe to her psychiatrist. I am working on a full size wire sculpture of Yolande dancing Marilyn. The sculpture will be on show on the opening night of my exhibition and then on stage with Yolande during the tour of Words Worth with Yorke Dance Project.
Solo exhibition Sally McKay: Multisensory experience and artistic images of the moving human figure
no format gallery Thursday 13th September – Sunday 23rd September. The exhibition is in conjunction with the academic and freelance writer Dr Stephen Baycroft.
Opening night preview Thursday 13th September 5pm – 9pm with dance performance by Yorke Dance Project
Opening times: Fri 14th, Sat 15th and Sun 16th September. Sat 22nd and Sun 23rd Sept
17th – 21st Sept by appointment (07803 609977)
Open Studio. May 2012
Studio 17, Unit 0, Second Floor Studios
Thursday 17th May 5.00 – 9.00pm
Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th May 11.00 – 6.00pm
Painting, Drawing, Etching, Sculpture
All work for sale, new commissions taken
Oil on canvas. 2012. 96 x 76cm. Cath James of Yorke Dance Project rehearsing City Limitless
My studio: number 17, Unit 0. The building next to the river. New terrace cafe will be open for tea and coffee, homemade food and a BBQ
Location: Second Floor Studios & Arts, Mellish Industrial Estate, Harrington Way (off Warspite Road), Woolwich, London SE18 5NR
Transport. Train: Charlton and Woolwich Dockyard Stations. DLR Woolwich Arsenal. Bus: 180, 177, 161, and 472
Contact: sallymckay@btinternet.com http://www.sallymckay.co.uk 07803609977
Furthermore a date for your diary, Solo Exhibition
13th September – 23rd September 2012
Part of On Sublimity and Synaesthesia I shall be exhibiting in conjunction with freelance writer Dr Stephen Baycroft.
At: No Format Gallery, Second Floor Studios, Mellish Industrial Estate, Warspite Road, London SE18 5NR