g39’s Unit project doesn’t begin until next week but I purposefully wanted to drop by during the build up.
I had read of g39’s move from the city centre in previous years and it certainly has a unique outer appearance.
The warehouse exterior almost looks more like the home of a hip microbrewery than contemporary art gallery, but that’s a strength rather than weakness. The gallery has big ambitions and they’ve found a place to match.
g39 was a key venue during Cardiff Contemporary 2014 and hosted the official launch with Carwyn Evan’s exhibition UDO.
Now it’s preparing for an extension of a successful pilot scheme from last year, where twelve artists, groups and curators occupy the ‘modular Unit spaces’ for production, presentation and development.
g39’s current artists focus is on dialogue and production. Given the gallery is an artist-run space – which accepts submissions from throughout the year – expect plenty of visual art which communicates along these thematic lines.
For example, Jason Pinder’s work is concerned with material experience but the g39 website shares the rundown of all who are involved. John-Michael Parry’s objects (which are known for ‘skewing logic or making little sense’) are also part of the programme and run from January 15 to March 14.
With 6,700 square foot of open plan exhibition space, I cannot wait to see the transformation over the coming weeks.
The main reason I have heard such favourable comments about g39 seems to be because it is as much a resource and community as it is a gallery. I look forward to going back and discovering the latest offering from this contemporary outlet.
