The former home of Gardiner Haskins has reopened as an art gallery showcasing the work of more than 60 Bristol-based artists.
Having launched to the public on Saturday (October 3), the Centre of Gravity exhibition will be a month-long celebration of the city’s vibrant contemporary art scene.
The collaboration between the arts collective after which the exhibition is named after and First Base, owner of the Grade II listed Soapworks site, will be home to more than 60 visual artists living and working in Bristol.
Together they will be displaying work which "navigates the challenges posed by our new reality in an exciting programme of visual arts, performance, events and talks".
The exhibition will bring together major and established contemporary artists in Bristol including Jo Lathwood, BEEF, Rhys Morgan and Huma Mulji as well as emerging artists Caraboo Projects, Rising Arts Agency and Latch.
The exhibition, which aims to create a network of support for artists, collectives, producers and curators, comes at a time when many artists are struggling to find opportunities to showcase their work.
The Centre of Gravity team is made up of curator Paula Orrell, artists Tim Knowles and Mariele Neudecker and producers and art workers John O’Connor and Rosie Bowery.
They said: "We’re so excited to officially open the Centre of Gravity after months of intense discussion and planning.
"It’s not an easy environment to open an art exhibition but we’re confident that after months of lockdown and limited access to the arts, people will be desperate to come and see the work that’s been going on behind the scenes, which sensitively responds to our new normal."
Centre of Gravity was established in 2018 by a group of passionate arts practitioners, including Paula Orrell, Tim Knowles, Mariele Neudecker and John O’Connor, to showcase Bristol’s thriving visual arts community and work.
The exhibition has been designed to ensure all visitors are able to keep to social distancing guidelines and feel safe while enjoying the art on display.
To find out more information about it, visit Centre of Gravity's website.
First Base is the mixed-use property developer behind the Gardiner Haskins site, with a £175 million development in the works.
A spokesperson for the firm said the plan would "reinvigorate a site that has been at the heart of Bristol’s economy for generations, delivering a mix of high-quality workspace, new homes and green and social spaces".
The application will be submitted by Bristol City Council over the coming months.
