BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art - Spank The Monkey show - By Matthew Sefton- Posted 10-11-06
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Matt's back again. If he keeps this up he will be our UK bureau chief. - K.ed.
Got a story for you if you're interested - yesterday I skated a 24ft wide, 6ft high ramp in one of the biggest public art galleries in the UK and in effect became a piece of "performance art" while visitors walked around the gallery space! The ramp is part of an exhibition called Spank the Monkey that features artists from all over the world like Banksy, Ryan McGinness - even Ed Templeton! Here's the arty-farty blurb:
"This exhibition will be the first serious international examination of urban and suburban art bridging the gap between the street and the traditional art space. With strong links to graphic design, graffiti, manga comics, skate boarding and surfing this group show includes artists based in urban centres across the world. Work will also be seen outside BALTIC with large-scale public interventions in both Gateshead and Newcastle."
But screw that - free ramp dude! It was really weird to skate a ramp with people watching you like a piece of art! But it was a cool ramp. I've attached a bunch of pictures (pretty poor I'm afraid - I was too busy skating!) of the ramp and the gallery itself.
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Here's a link to the exhibition on the Baltic website at www.balticmill.com There's also a dedicated Spank the Monkey website at: www.spankthemonkey.uk.net
Matt Sefton, October 2006.
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art - Spank The Monkey show - By Matthew Sefton- Posted 10-11-06
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photos © Matthew Sefton