Darkness at Noon A group exhibition curated by Ruth Calland and co-selected with Mimei Thompson for Contemporary British Painting.  For it I’m exhibiting The Last Day Revisited, Woodland Study I and Mechanical Fly Study

APT Gallery, 6 Creekside, Deptford, London SE8 4SA
Private view: Thursday 4th November 6pm – 9 pm.
Exhibition dates: 4 to 14 November 2021

Artists: Karl Bielik, Ruth Calland, Jules Clarke, Deb Covell, Gordon Dalton, Jeff Dellow, Natalie Dowse, Susan Gunn, Susie Hamilton, Ruth Philo, David Lock, Paula MacArthur, Sekai Machache, Andi Magenheimer, Enzo Marra, Monica Metsers, Paul Newman, Sikelela Owen, Chantal Powell, Cherelle Sappleton, Anna Sebastian, Sarah Sparkes, Harvey Taylor, Mimei Thompson, Casper White, Jonathan Waller, Joanna Whittle.

The experience of feeling ‘in the dark’ about what is happening, is part of a Nigredo phenomenon: the term used by alchemists for a time of falling apart, putrefaction, chaos, contradiction, paralysis and closeness to death. Darkness at Noon explores the Covid-19 pandemic as a nigredo phase, in a wider process of transformation, and reverberates with a sense of the paradoxical in our times: the coexistence of anxiety and stillness, doom and hope, fracture and heightened connectivity. A show of mainly paintings, enriched by sculpture and film, many of the works seem haunted by an awareness of loss, impending or already dealt. This show elegantly weaves themes relating to the personal, social, and global effects of Covid. Sikelela Owen’s monumental picture of her family overseas is a testament to enduring connection during separation….

Anxiety & Defiance

Anxiety and Defiance includes the work of four artists made during the lockdowns of 2020-21, featuring Duncan Kostello, David Miller, Nita Newman & Paul Newman. They reflect on these times through personal and individual responses to their domestic and psychological worlds and to the reimagination of the urban environment.

Starting in the home, Nita Newman reinterprets the objects within them, including the domestic still life. Different personas and the inhabiting of housebound characters inspired by Kafka’s Metamorphosis and Frankenstein are explored in the reframing of performance work in the home by Nita and Paul Newman and the artist’s studio space by Paul.  The exhibition also takes the material textures and frameworks of the home environment into a wider exploration of the domestic landscape by David Miller.

Through the window, there are flights of fantasy, sublime imaginary vistas and feverish dreamscapes, with an ominous apocalyptic storm present on the horizon, elements explored by both  David and Paul.

Anxiety about the fragility of our environment is ever present from before, during and in a post pandemic world. It is pressing in on us from climate change to the changing face of where we live with the continuing demolition and rebuilding of new business smart cities like Birmingham, aspects explored by Duncan Kostello and Paul. As  Kostello comments, ‘it is part of the entrepreneurialism and politics that are reshaping our lives.’

And finally, not to leave out, the defiant finger to the frustrations, restrictions, and obstacles of the last 18 months…

These are the anxieties and defiant responses by the four artists.

Anxiety & Defiance Thursday 22^nd July – Friday 12^th August

Thurs 22^nd July 5-8pm. Launch event

Friday 23^rd-Friday 12^th August by appointment only

The Showcase Gallery The Jubliee Trade Centre 130 Pershore st Birmingham B5 6ND

Vans Flys and Tea cups on sale at Stryx Gallery Shop along with an exciting and eclectic range of artworks with other West Midlands artists

Browse for orignal artwworks and editions. Stryx is an artist led studio, project and exhibition space based in Birmingham’s booming cultural hub – Digbeth, showcasing original artworks and collectable editions from our portfolio of award-winning artists.

Stryx Gallery Shop Paul Newman 

Delighted to be taking part in ‘Yes/No’ an innovative  virtual open studios exhibition for Contemporary British Painting

Visit the Open studio show here

Including 32 members from the Contemporay British Painting   @paintbritain

Thank you to curators
@judithtuckerart @paula_macarthur and @debcovell and to @heyjoniyouresofine for building the amazing virtual studios.

A painter’s studio is usually a messy experience so this time enjoy floating through this blend of video game and virtual show.
In each studio you’re given a yes/no choice of two further doors to step through, but it’s an open studio in more ways than one!

@ainley.david, @iainandrewsart, @aansellstudio, @karl_bielik, @daybowmanartist, @julianbrownart, @simoncarter11 @debcovell , @23carousels, @gordondalton666 @pendaltonpainter, @natalie.dowse, @fionaeastwood2014, @nathaneastwoodstudio, @susie9hamilton, @suzanneholtom, @howey.barbara , @philillingworth, @art.ingham1, @paula_macarthur, @profdavid, @enzomarraart, @paulhnewman, @spalmerama, @ruthphilo, @freyapurdue, @jamesquinpainting , @katherinerussell__, @mthomson555, @judithtuckerart, @jowhittleart , @swseanwilliams.

See my virtual studio: PAUL_NEWMAN

The main feature! La Repetetion de Frankenstein (Rehearsal of Frankenstein) with Nita Newman live on IGTV Thurs 25th June 7.30pm. Unfortunately the IGTV recording in vertical vision has been lost forever.. However see the performance in a widescreen webcam recording  here. And in a final edit combined with overhead camera recording and credits! here

See the post performance interview here

As part of my residency ‘Reframing the Stage’ for  Peep@Stryx 22nd-24th June 2020

In June Stryx opened our new 6 month long online residency programme Peep@Stryx designed for 22 artists included in Stryx’s pre-Covid19 programme and showcasing the diversity of artistic practices in the West Midlands.

The artists will have 1 week each to make work and present it online. This will include an artist talk, home studio sneaky peek sessions and a community workshop that everyone will be able to join from the comfort of their own home.