Party Wall Gallery project - some first thoughts and trials

Party Wall Gallery project - an evolving concept

Located on a 6M long party wall on Harbour View Road, Portland, Dorset. DT5 1EP

Since this was written at the end of last year several people have tried out the house as a thinking space. The feedback has been positive. Short accounts of this are at the bottom of this page: 'Emerging Show Formats'

Aims: 

Initially proposed as a five year project to be able to host collaborative 'Routine Art Co' projects - at least one show per year. Routine Art Co being an umbrella for my work that includes other people. The first show was 'Dementia Paintings' by Joan Colnbrook 1926 - 2020. Along with a new book with the same title.

Last autumn we took part in the b-side Festival Fringe 8 - 11 September 2022 with an installation on the front lawn and a music performance by Martin Dixon's acoustic band.

Another show proposed for 2023 might be of 'artworks' or things made by people from the Fortuneswell estate in which the gallery is located. This could highlight a few creative works by people from this area, which is designated as 'most deprived in Dorset'. Giving a platform to local people. People may not make things intended to be 'art' but we might discuss their artistic qualities. 

For instance my neighbour, a retired mason who has made us a Portland Stone fireplace, makes unique pens on his lathe. It was interesting to invite the Italian poet Luca Paci to write a poem with one of his pens and present it to him. Making the relation between the makers of the tools used by artists and art made with them.

Maddie Collyemore, a upcoming curator supported by b-side Arts on Portland, was successful getting funding to organise a three day artists residency based at the 'Partywall Gallery' in June 2023. Other artists commissioned by b-side may stay at the house on an ad hoc basis.

A maximum of two other visiting shows sympathetic to the projects aims will be considered each year. Shows would ideally last 10 days and would have to be financially self-sustaining with a two week rental period. Visiting artists might be able to seek external funding to pay the expenses. 

The space can be used more frequently for putting up artwork-in-progress  - for use as a 'thinking space'.  Useful for critical appraisals with day guests and documentation. The minimum off-peak rental is £300 for three days. (NB its not a 'studio space')

A component of this is a small library or 'working class books'. This is simply a collection on the bookshelves in the study bedroom but also an invitation to think about your own bookshelves. The form this might take in the future is at an early stage. The study has a fantastic view and there is now a large desk on which to dream/write/sketch. Ideally suitable for a writer or artist working on a small scale.

Funding: 

We have found it better to let the uses evolve with people known to us. Ideally the expenses of the space would be covered by interested artists renting the space for 3 days or more.

Ideally we would build a studio in the large back garden which would be available to rent to a visiting artist, who might also have a simultaneous exhibition on the Party Wall. A two week hire of studio and house might be £800 - £1600 on a sliding scale. Price would includes the use of the 6M long gallery wall for (re)viewing own work, or to make a 10 day exhibition open to an invited viewers. Online opening night? Visitors by arrangement... In future we may be able to offer the use of a small workshop.

In terms of letting it has become clear that it is not suitable for one or two people for one or two nights, as the management (cleaning and laundry etc) costs outweigh the price it seems reasonable to charge 'per person per night'. Lettings are more economical for families or groups of 2 -5 people for three or more nights.

Context

Harbour View Road is in the Underhill area of Fortuneswell, Portland. North and north east facing in aspect but with amazing sunsets. The house is 25 meters from the famous Coastal Path down which you can walk to the old dock area in ten minutes and catch a ferry to Weymouth (April to October only). Walking up the coastal path continues around the whole island with its amazing rocky landscapes. The nearest beach to the house is the beautiful Chiswell Cove - ten minutes walk through the picturesque village of Fortuneswell. 

Portland is famous for activities such as: rock climbing and boulder scrambling, sailing, water sports and scuba diving from the once Olympic venue Portland Harbour, bird watching (with unique habitats and flora), coastal walks, stone carving (with cheap off-cuts of Portland stone available), sea angling and beach fishing off the vast Chesil Bank, cycling (eg to Dorchester entirely by cycle paths).  

The location would allow an artist's family or friends to enjoy an active holiday during the period of a show. The house now has accommodation for five people. (Low-cost additional accommodation is available close by in Independent Youth Hostel - The Bunker). It has a new bathroom and kitchen and a second toilet downstairs.

Portland

Emerging Show formats

1. The two day review of unframed draft works that are put up with masking tape. One or more friends stay to lend a listening ear, or give reflective feedback. It might be possible to make a video documenting an artists thoughts about a set of works in progress. Chris Saunders found that part of the value of this was in the selection of his work to bring (he came down on the train). The benefits of seeing work in a new context, with time to think about it and with attention from a supportive friend, can be refreshing at least and at most lead to dramatic re-evaluations.

Chris Saunders with his work on the Party Wall

2. A Space to Think. Artist and Doula Amy Dignam (founder of Desperate Artwives) spent a weekend with artist/counsellor Chloe Bowles to think and play together creatively. Somatic movement exercises evolved into a large body mapping drawing which was then displayed on the gallery wall. This allowed for in depth reflection and discussion. Other creative exchanges/explorations took place on walks around the island and in the evenings, including a new game of dual language Scrabble.

Dual language Scrabble

3. Family work has included Martin Dixon's extended family that did family portrait drawings in which everyone takes a turn in drawing a portrait of each person in turn, amongst other games. See his feedback here.

4. An exhibition of the Dementia Paintings of Joan Colnbrook was made to support the launch of the book 'Dementia Painting' by Stefan Szczelkun in May 2023. A few neighbours and people from b-side came and we had good discussions.

5. B-side, the Portland arts organisation rented the space for a residency to launch their 'Opes and Dreams' New Curators commission in June 2023. This was won by Carrie Mason who presented her ideas on the party wall as below.

 

6. Visiting poet Luca Paci wrote a poem using a pen bought from our neighbour Steve, who makes them in his workshop. The hand-written poem will be presented to Steve. 

7. B-side Fringe. A yearly open access format in September.

Installation by Stefan Szczelkun, Autumn 2022 - b-side Fringe

8.  Other possible formats. Working out and about in Portland and bringing work back to display on the wall each evening. Results might be shown on social media at a particular time each day. Good if a small group of artists hire the house for a week. (References Szczelkun's previous collaborative formats 'Photo Day Duets' and 'RoadWorks')

A detailed description of the house and booking rates (to cover our expenses!) are here. Have a wonderful break and support the project!