Right in the heart of Broughton, but tucked away off Gayfield Square (on the lane leading down from the square itself to East London Street), is a cluster of quite newly opened creative spaces offering an eclectic mix of curated exhibitions, space for hire and artists' studios. They are well worth visiting.
Whitespace Gallery, at No. 11, is run by artists Leigh Chorlton and Kenneth Le Riche who met at Edinburgh College of Art in the 1990s. Chorlton also teaches at Leith Academy, whilst Chorlton heads the Drawing and Figurative Painting course at the Leith School of Art.
From 21–8 August they are exhibiting 'Configure': figurative oil paintings by contemporary Scottish artist Paul Muzni.
Muzni was born and now lives in Edinburgh, but he studied first at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen, where he graduated in 1995. He then completed a postgraduate MFA at The Slade in London under Euan Uglow and Norman Norris, where his interest in working from life was established.
The works on show here are more or less abstracted female nudes, sensitively deconstructed and reassembled against boldly rendered but subty variegated blues, yellows and reds. I found them visually more than emotionally engaging, but no less appealing for that.
'Working in such a discipline,' writes Muzni, 'forces one to realise that understanding the relationship of one colour to the next can occupy the soul'. Shown above is his Held Down (oil on canvas, 30 x 30 inches).
Superclub, at No. 11a, is a 4-person artists' collective whose 'uber-trendy', multi-levelled jurmummle of studios, gallery and shop occupies a former garage. They describe themselves as committed to 'a DIY approach to creating and disseminating art through fanzines, gigs, screenings, performances and events as well as exhibitions'. They are keen to back local and emerging talent, and to encourage contributions from abroad as part of their scheme to encourage a vibrant scene.
From 26–9 August, the space will feature a solo exhibition by New York-based Eric Shaw: mostly large-scale abstract gouaches exploring the 'corruptive and creative powers of vision'. Stand by for: 'Geometrically fractured humanoids, whose jointed limbs resemble the exoskeletons of arthropods, assume grotesquely erotic poses; competing for the viewer's attantion, they force their bodies into strange, contorted shapes in an attempt to seem appealing'. Sounds like a night at Maddogs, but more fun.
Last but by no means least is Framed Gallery, a huge airy space at No 11b where Alan Forgie and Neill Connell are forging a diverse programme of exhibitions, music events, talks and classes.
Until 25 August, 'Under Exposed' will feature work by emerging photographic talent; then from 26 August–23 September there will be a 'bold, colourful and quirky' solo exhibition – 'Woodland' – by Scottish artist Terry Quinn.
Superclub: info@superclubstudios.com
Whitespace Gallery: Tel: 0781 4514771; info@whitespace11.com
Framed Gallery: Tel. 07809 758670; neill@connelforgie.co.uk