Exhibitions

A selection of work on display at The Castle Pub, Old Town, Swindon

2011-12-09T15:09:00.000Z

As the title says, an array of my work is on display up at The Castle for the next few months. Again, its something we complain about in Swindon - the lack of affordable (or for that matter, ANY) gallery space. However, local business people help to fill the cultural chasm: The Beehive and The Castle have work by local artists on display, Belgravia Lettings latterly used to hold regular exhibitions - and I believe two of the new cafes on Victoria Hill also encourage local artists to display their work. The results advantage all parties: the owners get free decoration - and increased footfall as a result of friends, family and admirers coming to see the work. The artist gets public exposure. Its a win win.

What a shame that the council doesn't see the need to provide this space. Despite its often touted appreciation of the arts, we never got the gallery which was originally promised as part of the (now moribund) 'Swindon Regeneration'. We've also lost one of the few public galleries since the Art Centre was combined with the Old Town Library. That means no available wall space for hanging/displaying work and it also means the loss of one of the few affordable studios.

Its a little known fact that Swindon also holds one of the largest and most important collections of modern art outside of London. Unfortunately, there's a good reason that this fact remains hidden: the town museum is simply way too small to display more than a few % of the collection. Add to this, the museum is miles from the train station and opens infrequently - the rather arbitrary Wednesday to Saturday, 10.00am to 5.00pm.

Its a shame that the council seems fit to splurge literally hundreds of thousands of pounds on failed projects like Wi-Fi, or big one-off ego fests like the Radio One Big Weekend, but fails to understand that a well designed art museum could be a cultural draw AND net long-term money earner for the borough.

In the meantime, local artists have to continually struggle against the notion that Swindon is irredeemably culture-less. Its a struggle against a failed brand in many respects - and the expectations that any member of the public might have when you mention Swindon and art in the same breath.

Exhibit of IKB#2 as part of Bullpen Exhibition at The Pitt Rivers Museum

2011-11-22T21:36:00.001Z

Yes - very exciting! IKB#2 will be on display at the Oxford Pitt River from the 22nd of November to the end of January.

I'll be off to get some better photos over the Christmas break when my muse joins me - but heres a few priview shots courtesy of Helen (to whom I owe a big thanks!)

Please go and have a look! More more information, visit the Pitt Rivers site: http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/iron.html

The Columbus/Indiana Cast Iron Invitational 2011 (aka 'The Paradise Pour)

2011-09-13T04:26:00.000+01:00

I've just been informed that I will be having the pleasure of participating in the following exciting event: http://www.artsincolumbus.org/caac/index.cfm/calendar/paradise-iron-pour-columbus-indiana/

Exhibiting artist - Swindon Open Studios

2011-09-13T04:22:00.000+01:00

Exhibiting artists as part of Swindon Open Studios
http://swindonopenstudios.yolasite.com/

Toby's work will be on display at The Beehive for the whole of September
http://www.bee-hive.co.uk/home.mhtml

Sculpture Trails - Solsberry, Indiana, USA

2011-09-13T04:18:00.000+01:00

Participant study artist July 2011
http://www.sculpturetrails.com/
Piece on display as part of the Sculpture Trails open air museum.

A Month at The Beehive...

2011-03-13T18:52:00.000Z

March is metal month at The Beehive. I'll be exhibiting a selection of smaller wall mounted stuff as artist in residence at the Beehive - the town's cultural hub!

http://www.bee-hive.co.uk/home.mhtml

Exibition at Artsite

2011-02-13T13:42:00.000Z

One week to go at Artsite and lots of fun, a few sales and lots of ideas. Go have a look at the main blog for the latest info. I thought I'd post a couple of images to show you what an excellent space the Artsite Gallery provides (this one courtesy of Gordon Dickinson - as inspiring and fun as ever!):

A big thanks to Stany too for the images taken on the day of the private view. I will post some here and some in the Finished Works section:

Exhibition - 1st Feb to 18 Feb = Artsite in Swindon

2010-12-30T17:27:00.000Z

1 February - 18 February - FeAl

Old Town based artist and sculptor Toby Robson will be showing his latest exhibition 'FeAl' at The Post Modern Gallery from Tuesday, February 1st to Friday February 18th 2011

Toby specialises in metal casting in aluminium and iron and has a small workshop and foundry near Devizes.

"The exhibition itself is a follow on to some work I exhibited at Belgravia Lettings last year. Some of it reflects my experiences over a very difficult couple of years, others pieces reflect my interest in organic forms, and throughout I've played with different casting techniques to create a range of effects and finishes. The name 'FeAl' is both a pun on process of creation and of the chemical symbols for my two favourite mediums."

The exhibition serves as preparation for this summer, where Toby's been given the chance in a lifetime lifetime offer to cast and install a large scale iron sculpture at the internationally famous Sculpture Trails outdoor museum in Solsbury, Indiana.

The Post Modern Gallery will be open from 11.00 to 4.00pm weekdays and Saturdays (private views can be arranged outside these hours by appointment).

Artsite and Beehive exhibitions

2010-10-26T15:25:00.002+01:00

A selection of work will be available to view at Artsite in February 2011 and at The Beehive in March 2011. Details to follow.

Aluminium Overcast at Artsite 50/50 exhibition - Sept 2010

2010-10-26T14:36:00.000+01:00

Artsite (of which I'm a member) regularly hold exhibitions of work by local artists - well worth a visit. For the latest news, visit http://www.artsite.ltd.uk/

Forthcoming stuff

2010-06-02T12:22:00.000+01:00

We're hoping to have some of our stuff on show at the Wanborough show on the 21st of August (watch this space)

Toby is hoping to participate in this summer's Swindon Open Studios (details to follow)

We're also hoping to have a stand at the Swindon Big Arts Day on the 10th of July (again, details to follow)

On view in the summer...

2010-05-14T01:19:00.001+01:00

A selection of my work will be available for viewing over the summer months, courtesy of my friend Moon - Aka Paul Augustus Waters, at the Cotswold Water Park. http://www.cotswoldcountrypark.co.uk/pages/about.html

Beehive Exhibition, February 2010

2010-04-10T16:44:00.001+01:00

We seem to have forgotten to mention that a selection of stuff was up on the walls of Swindon's finest alehouse - the incomparibe BeeHive - in February. Nowt were sold, but several interesting conversations were had and local artists Gordon Dickinson and Moon (aka Paul Augustus Waters) came to have a look, said many kind things and gave some good pointers on mountings, bases and plinths - thanks chaps! Incidentally, here are some links to their websites: Gordon and Moon

(Thanks to John and to Rocky for helping me get stuff on and off of the walls!)

TOES Exhibition, Oct 2009

2010-02-28T14:20:00.001Z

Toby and I had a small display of our works at the TOES exhibition in Oxford (Templar's Square OX4 3XH), which ran in October and November 2009 (if my memory serves me correctly). Thanks to Kavitha Paramasivan for organising the event and inviting us to participate. Note: That's me in the photo that is (John).

The Beehive, Feb 2010

2010-01-31T14:46:00.000Z

A selection of Toby's works are going live this afternoon at the Beehive Pub (SN1 3JS). Pictures to follow.

Belgravia Lettings, Feb 2009

2010-01-24T15:33:00.003Z

A big exhibition of Toby's works (SN1 5NX)