I've been fortunate to meet a portion of the art community in Bristol through working the gallery at Spike Island, art and design studios. Here thrives an excellent model of creative endeavour that uplifts the critical intellect while inspiring processs for the artist and curators and curious participants. It offers residencies, art studios and exhibitions connecting it to global arts platforms while providing local community with classes, free exhibitions and lectures etc.
While i haven't had more than a small area of floor to work on I have spent time to research and observe trends in current conceptual art practice. Bristol being a University town I meet many young students studying to become curators. The richness of conceptual ideas and thoughts in this very whirred up time we live in is grist for fascinating discussions that describe and explain visual 2-D and 3-D installations.
What seems to be happening here in addition to LA and possibly NY is an outpour of evidence that of discovering threads that make unexpected connections in a treasure hunt of disparate ideas, research and concepts. I find it exciting! At the entryway of the exhibit one can be bewildered unless there is a pamphlet of explanation/story. The latter i prefer as it can be as a novel where only the author reveals those moments of conception. The best shows for me are when the public are invited to get involved by sipping elixir, playing with clay, writing their family tree etc. I'm can then enjoy that I mostly haven't got a clue and I'm given a space and time to sit with the work without having to "get it" therefore I "get" something.
Glow on cold stone