Bloc is a contemporary art space and studio complex based in Sheffield city centre. This website includes information about past and current exhibitions, new commissions on the billboard, and Bloc Assembly events. It also tells you about artists that are based in the studios.

Gallery open: Thursday - Sunday 12-6pm (exhibition times only)

Now at Bloc:

Mr Palomar - Sarah Hughes & Patrick Farmer

Last modified on 2008-07-07 14:46:08 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

For their exhibition at Bloc Sarah Hughes and Patrick Farmer have installed a series of loudspeakers in the gallery that emit macro sound recordings of melting ice.

The title is taken from Italo Calvino’s philosophical novel Mr Palomar, which considers the significance of a mundane and anthropocentric view of life, and the apparent insignificance of the world around us.

Hughes and Farmer use macro recordings of nature, time immemorial, to draw our attention to frequencies and life cycles that are either too high, too low, or too quiet to be heard. In this way the artists offer new perspectives that invite us to consider where we place ourselves within our environment.

The work highlights the vastness of the unseen world, and the relative insignificance of the hectic ethos of modern civilization. By utilising one to demonstrate the other we see that the two can’t live without each other.

See the artists’ blog for more information about their work.

www.compostandheight.blogspot.com

Preview Friday 4 July, 7 - 9pm. Exhibition open from 5 - 20 July.

About the artists


Sarah Hughes graduated in Fine Art from Sheffield Hallam University in 2007 with first class honours. Previous exhibitions include Oisen “and…and…and”,Sheffield (2007); 65,000 feet, Victoria Baths, Manchester (2007), Gift, Liverpool Biennial Fringe (2006) and [insertspace], Islington Mill, Manchester (2006).
Patrick Farmer is currently a guest lecturer in postgraduate studies in musical improvisation at Newcastle University. Recent projects include live performances at the ICA, London (2007); Spike Island, Bristol (2007); National Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden (2007) and No Fi music series (2007). He is also a drum and percussion teacher.

Billboard

Stuart Sandford

Last modified on 2008-06-11 09:16:21 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Bloc continues its series of commissioned public works for its billboard on Eyre Lane. Stuart Sandford’s work Untitled (Venice) explores ideas surrounding public/private dualities and the role of the image maker, whilst being informed by crosscurrents of sexuality. The image is taken from his recent series of photographs and videos documenting cruising grounds around Europe - public urban and rural spaces where men have sex with men.

1 June – 31 July

About the artistStuart Sandford is a visual artist from Sheffield, UK. Working predominantly with photography and video, his work has been published and exhibited internationally.
website

DiscourseIn Charver with Art; or The Body is Gone , Lukasz M. Maciejewski explores issues relating to Stuart Sandford’s current billboard commission at Bloc. Contains strong language.WorkshopsField Recording with Jez Riley FrenchSaturday 19 July, 10am - 11pm£25/£20 concessionsJoin artist / intuitive composer Jez Riley French for a day of sound spotting, workshops on how to make contact microphones and hydrophones (for recording under water), live performance and a chance to present your own work or join in the discussion about the creative possibilities of field recordings and our daily surroundings.Jez is one of the UK’s most respected artists using extended field recording methods and his work has been performed, published and exhibited around the world in various contexts. He is currently engaged on the ‘in place’ project exploring the sonic architecture and audible silence of key structures and environments across Europe.For more details and to download a booking form, click here:Field Recording Booking Form

Space Hire

Bloc Space is available for hire.read more Bloc Space is now avaliable to hire for artists’ projects, presentations and workshops, subject to availability:Check our Google calendarPlease call or email us for more information or to make a booking.