Image: David Batchelor, Found Monochromes of London (Mayfair 04.05.99), 1997-2003
Courtesy the artist and Wilkinson Gallery, London

Urban environments may be built by man but the way in which they grow, evolve and adapt to change emerges in a more organic way.  Like the people who inhabit them, cities are continually on the move: shifting in pace, size and purpose in order to respond to the needs of society.  Our lives are knitted in to the fabric of a city and so the artists in this exhibition unpick these threads and sow new points of reference, mapping and marking out the moments when a city takes on a life of its own.

Within the exhibition, existing maps have been obscured, emphasised or obliterated to the point of incomprehension; our spatial awareness is instead, quantified through our memories of a place, rather than its true physical nature.  Some artists re-trace their steps though familiar territory, whilst others remain on the periphery, observing a city with fresh eyes as they travel from place to place.  The homogenous nature of urban centres provides inspiration to some, whereas the random chance of fleeting encounters provides the starting point for others.  Our city streets are lined with tales of our past and the artists in Shifting Ground embrace this rich history as they contemplate the future.

Before Angel Row Gallery’s doors close to the public, some of the exhibits escape and spill out on to the city’s streets.  These subtle interventions open up avenues of endless possibility and renovation, pointing towards the creativity that lies on the horizon as Nottingham’s cultural landscape shifts.

Image: Leo Fitzmaurice, Poster Removal

Detourist – Nottingham
Various city centre locations
28 July – 22 September

Leo Fitzmaurice subtly alters urban environments by adapting detritus already present through the placing of handcrafted structures that started life as commercial packaging.  Ephemeral in nature and delinquent in spirit, these works may only last for hours or minutes before being absorbed back into the street.

28 July – 22 September

Tim Machin will create a printed guide to Shifting Ground, offering an alternative route between the various off-site locations.  This free ‘map’ can be collected from the gallery.

Image: Juliana Capes, Pavement Astronomer, 2006

1 & 2 September
Various city centre locations

Following the success of Sideshow last year, Pavement Astronomer Juliana Capes will return to Nottingham to create another ephemeral yet poignant intervention on the city’s streets. Working with the alchemy of stuff and peculiarity of place, Juliana draws attention to the background of our daily lives, picking out beauty and magic where it generally goes unnoticed.

www.julianacapes.co.uk

Image: Clare Iles, S1 Artspace (Back of snooker club) Sheffield 2003

Artist in Residence
18 August – 1 September
Various city centre locations

For a two week period, Clare Iles will be resident in Nottingham.  Her ambiguous presence will be revealed through a series of sculptural installations on inner-city residential streets, animating the redundant objects which line our pavements in anticipation of ‘bin day’.  Throughout her residency, Clare will share her observations and sculptures in a blog on the gallery website.

While You Were Waiting
Angel Row Gallery foyer
6 August – 22 September

Sorrel Muggridge’s site specific installation draws inspiration from the gallery’s position on a busy high street.  By interacting with the bus passengers and drivers arriving and departing from this spot, Sorrel will gradually map and mark out this area of the city – a place we all share but individually recognise.

Image: Sorrel Muggridge, The Climb, 2007

The Climb
Departing Angel Row Gallery 4pm, 1-5 September

Laura Nanni (Toronto) and Sorrel Muggridge (Nottingham) invite you to join them on an ongoing quest to climb 699km high in order to see each other over the horizon.  This vast height has been quantified through a series of walks and climbs in their respective cities (front steps, churches, fire escapes and car parks) which will accumulate to this grand total.   The next phase of the journey will be guided by their search for new stairs to climb; unexpected viewpoints and long forgotten pathways will be revealed in the process, giving us all a new perspective of our city.  The climb will take place simultaneously in Nottingham and Toronto.

Places are limited and booking is essential - please call 0115 9152869 for more information.

For more information about the forthcoming exhibitions, please contact Angel Row Gallery on 0115 9152869, or email angelrow.info@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.