LOL (7″ X 10″)

I am proud to be showing work alongside some of my fellow international artists in the first show of it’s kind – The Twitter 140 Art Show – which is taking place at the Grandon Art Gallery in Flagstaff, Arizona.

The Twitter 140 show is a collection of international artists that have created artwork inspired by twitter.

The show will run for 14 days from Friday September 5th

Twitter 140

The Grandon Art Gallery
20 N. Leroux
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Here are a few pictures of The Canvas Project in Atlanta which features some of my work…

The exhibition is currently up at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in their Atrium Gallery where it has been on display since 31st July and it runs until 4th September…

Thank you to all who supported my recent Mines & Monuments Exhibition which ended on Monday 24th.

It was a hugely successful week during which I met some very interesting people, held many discussions about my inspiration and working practices etc. and total sales of circa £5,000.

On 31st July I was asked if I could donate a painting for a charity auction event, in aid of “Tanya’s Courage Trust”, to be held on Sunday 16th August at the office nightclub in Truro.

The auction is being organised by Darren Hoare in a bid to raise much needed funds for the charity that has given inspiration and support to Darren and his family, and his 17 year old sister Lauren, who was at that time in hospital having been diagnosed with a rare form of tumour.

Of course I gladly offered to help and I made the decision to donate one of my paintings. Earlier today I presented the family with “Blue Sail, StrangeLight Falmouth”, which had previously featured in the West Briton.

I am most sad to say that Lauren passed away on August 2nd and I wish Darren, Maxine and the entire family every success with their auction on Sunday, I truly hope that it raises a lot of money.

Well what an incredible experience that was. Thank you to all of my family and friends for your amazing support and for the very kind compliments that have been flooding in since I appeared on Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth. A particular mention of thanks must go to the One & Other staff who were wonderful throughout the whole process.   Huge thanks of course to Antony Gormley as without his vision the event would not have happened.

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist arriving by hoist, Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth,Trafalgar Square, London

I was watched from all parts of the globe and some of your comments have been very humbling indeed and I feel incredibly honoured by them. In response to the many requests to get some pictures out here are a few from my hour……

Chris Billington ~ Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth ~ Trafalgar Square ~ London

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist on Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, London

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist on Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, London

Chris Billington ~ Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth ~ Trafalgar Square ~ The View From Here

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist on Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square ~ Watching You Watching Me

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist ~ Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth ~ Trafalgar Square, London

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist ~ Fourth Plinth Fans from around the world ~ Trafalgar Square, London

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist ~ Fourth Plinth Control Centre ~ Trafalgar Square, London

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist on Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, The Fountain

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist on Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, The Fountain

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist on Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, Nelson’s Column

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist ~ Fourth Plinth Umbrellas, Trafalgar Square

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist ~ Fourth Plinth Umbrellas, Trafalgar Square

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist ~ Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth ~ Trafalgar Square, London

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist ~ The Spray Paint ~ Trafalgar Square, London

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist ~ St.Ives Sun, The Print ~ Trafalgar Square, London

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist ~ St.Ives Sun, The Print ~ Trafalgar Square, London

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist, painting in the rain, Fourth Pinth, Trafalgar Square, London

London taxi’s passing the plinth, Trafalgar Square, London

Fourth Plinth, the next participant arrives in the rain, Trafalgar Square, London

Chris Billington, Cornwall’s modern artist, the paints on Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square

Once again, thank you to Antony Gormley and the team at One and Other and Sky Arts for enabling me to participate in such an exciting project.

As with all other images uploaded to my news page these are a good resolution, simply click to enlarge.

I would also like to thank everyone who has “clicked” the LIKE THIS POST against my entries on my One & Other blog page http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/billingtonart/blog

It took me a few attempts at entering some info before I realised that there was a character limit on my posts, hence the abrupt ending of the first few, nonetheless I have had some good feedback from people who liked my “Anything Is Possible” motto, and the fact that I didn’t spend all of my time on my mobile phone.

Finally, if you missed me on the plinth, or want to view it again, here is a link to the stream, sometimes it can be slow to load, or stall depending on the demand on the servers I would presume.
http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/billingtonart

I am delighted that I have recently been selected to participate in Antony Gormley’s living sculpture, One & Other, which is taking place on The Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square.

I have been allocated a mid afternoon slot on the 21st July, 14.00-15.00 hrs which suits me perfectly.

Not too sure what I will be doing yet, perhaps I will simply stand there and take in the experience for an hour.

Today I had a call for help from my friend Heather Keir Cross, she was in need of some urgent help to hang an exhibition at the wonderful Trereife House in Newlyn.

We spent a long and enjoyable day sorting through some of her late husband John B Anderson’s paintings and set to work with the hanging.

I have to say that the paintings look superb in such a characterful setting and I am sure that the exhibition will be well received. It runs for a month from 6th June to 4th July.

Good luck Heather 🙂

One of my paintings, ‘Blue Sail, Strange Light, Falmouth’, painted for the Fal River Festival, which coincides with the Open Studios Cornwall – running from 22nd May – 31st May 2009.

Also thank you for some recent comments on my work from Europe and the USA. I am often compared to Terry Frost and Partrick Heron but to be told that some of my paintings compare with Ellsworth Kelly and Mark Rothko is high praise indeed, I am very flattered thank you.

From 23 – 31 May 2009 I will be opening up my studio to the public for the first time as part of Cornwall’s ever popular Open Studios scheme. Some of my work will be on display and for sale and I will be available to discuss my methods and inspirations etc.

There is plenty of parking and there will also be free ‘artist made’ tea and coffee available and there may possibly be some Saffron cake as well.

Opening times are 11.00 – 17.30 daily, or at other times by prior appointment, please telephone 07747 690639 for further information.

In response to those enquiries as to what’s going on in the studio, and what is on my easel at the moment, here is a photo of the current project, ‘Love etc.’ in progress.

Images of new work to be exhibited at the Cornwall Open Studios 2009 will be added to the gallery at, or near to, the 23rd May.