Issue 4.5

fon·i·ca

According to McGee

ACCORDING TO MCGEE, 2011 IS THE YEAR OF THE SPARKY, ENERGETIC ARTIST, WHEN ABILITY BATTLES SELF PUBLICITY AND BEATS IT. TO IMPART AWE OR ENGENDER JOY, ART NO LONGER HAS TO PRIORITISE IDEAS OVER SKILL, CONCEPTS OVER RIGOUR. § THESE ARTISTS TAKE PRIDE IN THE PROCESS OF HONING THEIR WORK. PROVOCATIVE AND THRILLINGLY FINISHED, THEIR ART CONDUCTS ALL THAT IS GENEROUS ABOUT BEING IN THRALL TO THE INVENTIVE PROCESS, FROM INCEPTION, TO EXECUTION, TO EXHIBITION. § ACCORDING TO MCGEE IS GRATEFUL TO YORK ST JOHN FINAL YEAR STUDENTS

NICK BOOTH, KIRSTY BOUTLE, AMY HODGSON AND RACHEL HANKS, AND RECENT ALUMNI MATT DURRANT, LISA GORTEN, JACK COOK AND TOM HODGSON FOR MAINTAINING THEIR PROGRESSIVE CRAFT. THEIR COMBINED FEARLESSNESS, HEWN FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE AT YORK ST JOHN, WILL PROVIDE A PRECISE LITMUS TEST FOR THE STURDY STATE OF CONTEMPORARY ART IN NORTHERN UK. § ACCORDING TO MCGEE, ART IS WHAT MAKES LIFE MORE INTERESTING THAN ART. QUITE A RESPONSIBILITY. WE’RE JUST PLEASED THAT WE’VE CHOSEN SPARKY, ENERGETIC ARTISTS TO CARRY THE BURDEN.

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8 Tower Street, York, YO1 9SA www.accordingtomcgee.com

01/04/11 – 11/04/11 York St John: Past & Present IV

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UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS –

Greg, Ails & Holly

The birth of ‘According To McGee’ came in November of last year. Greg and Ails McGee felt their previous gallery ‘Artspace’ needed a transformation, and along with help from York design agency The Beautiful Meme, the glorious AtM sprung into life with Full Circle, an exhibition by art icon Douglas Binder.

For Greg and Ails AtM is about championing artists new and experienced, but more importantly it’s about championing “artists who see their practice as their raison d’être, not their birthright”. Greg tells us (and Ails wholeheartedly backs this up) “there’s a lack of patience with artists who prioritise playful ideas over draughtsmanship. I think to be forced to respond with ‘wow, I could never do that’ calls upon a generosity of spirit that people appreciate and are grateful for. It’s all part of being awestruck, and I think people have missed that for a long time. You can only sell sizzle for so long”.

Holly Bonarius has recently joined the AtM team and shares a similar outlook. “As a gallery we will never lose the punk ethos. We love mixing it up, resampling, and kicking complacency whenever we see it. But being punk and being professional are not mutually exclusive. It does new talent and young artists a disservice to expect them to be happy with second-rate provincialism. York will only keep it’s gorgeous glow going if it continues to be outward looking”.

The inspiring couple of Greg and Ails couldn’t be any more at the forefront of their gallery. Hands on with every aspect of AtM, exhibition choices, support and encouragement of artists, promotion, sales and holding life-drawing classes in venues around York. They have even given their name to the gallery itself, as Greg states, “the title According To McGee gives us no room to hide or shirk our right and our duty – to bring top class art that both thrills us and enriches York as place to live and visit”.

The future continues to look bright for AtM. Their next exhibitions are group shows promoting the talents of York St John University and York College students past and present, an exhibition that could also be shown next year in Shanghai. Possible future exhibitions are kept under wraps but there is excitement in the air. “I don’t want to give too many names out just yet as exact dates haven’t been confirmed, but some of the artists have the likes of Hugh Grant, Ringo Starr and even the Big Brother House on their client list” Greg informs us with anticipation.

“We’re both grateful and honoured to earn the attention of fonica. Having them on display in the gallery is one thing, but being the subject of article is a thrill. You can’t fake the bristling hunger that a young magazine needs to maintain such a stylish vibe”.

At fonica we are also grateful and honoured to be working with and promoting such an inspirational and forward thinking gallery. An asset to the artistic and creative world, not just in Yorkshire but the whole of Britain.

Words: Harry Tolmie-Thomson

York St John:

Past & Present IV

In the month of April AtM will be running two exhibitions, the first will be showcasing talent from York St. John’s University as they present work from current students and recent graduates.

The annual York St John: Past & Present art show has been running for a number of years and returns again to occupy the space at AtM. The pieces presented this year are said to “flirt with the grumpiest of Conceptual Art dissers”. Work in this years exhibition ranges from the photographic to mixed media and there is no doubt that it will be another successful show for the budding talent at York St John.

Artists Kirsty Boutle, Rachel Hanks, Tom Hodgson and many others, this years show looks set to raise the bar even higher by providing some of the finest conceptual art from around the county. This year’s curator Matt Durrant believes the show will once again remind artists and art lovers alike that York is a crucial location in the growing northern art scene.

The Exhibition will run from the 1st till the 11th of April.

Words: Richard Chappelow

For the past few years, Greg and Ails have been running life-drawing classes, which have proved to be a big success for the pair. Their fresh approach has helped break down the walls for what many would consider the norm for life drawing, a silent room filled with easels and people drawing.

Not with Greg and Ails. Music, the buzz of conversation and the freedom to express yourself and your personality are key. They demand energy and charisma to take centre stage, while technical ability is pushed to the back, but not forgotten. Another way Greg and Ails draw out the best from their groups is the use of a stopwatch, timing the sessions and piling on just the right amount of pressure to make the good become exceptional. Greg suggests, “There’s an edgy vibe to be found,” in each lesson. The classes aren’t just wild adventures into ones self though explains Greg, “Don’t prioritise anatomy; the building blocks of drawing the body well don’t depend on anatomical accuracy but harnessing the energy of limbs and the sensitivity of skin”.

Life Drawing

Greg and Ails tackle the role of tutor passionately. One-minute cheerleaders, the next mascots, always encouraging their students. “Synergy between tutor, model and student can produce glittering artwork”. The pair synchronise with students, offering praise, but pushing their students to produce work against the clock. The countdown encourages students to add last minute flourishes. Greg describes this as “the clock can engender healthy panic in the last few minutes. Mark making can pull a crackle of genius out of the bag”. It must be said then that the “sink or swim” attitude of this class leaves students and artists coming back for more.

Words: Richard Chappelow

meet the team

contact usIf you have any comments or suggestions about

the publication, please feel free to contact us.

web: fonica.org.uk

email: info@fonica.org.uk

richard chappelow

editor

writer

photography

print design

dominic wynter

print design

photography

sam peat

writer

design

harry tolmie-thomson

writer

design

photography