Spacex (art gallery)

Contemporary art gallery in Devon, England

Spacex

Spacex, Exeter

Established| 1974
Dissolved| 2017
Type| Contemporary art organisation
Curator| Tom Trevor, Nicola Hood, Kathy Norris, Hannah Reeves
Website| spacex.org.uk

Spacex was a contemporary art organisation, located in Exeter, between 1974 and 2017.[1] It was founded in 1974 by John Butler as an artists' co-operative.[2] Its programme encompassed installations, performance, photography, sculpture, painting, film and video. Its learning programme focused on helping visitors of all generations to explore and engage with contemporary art.

Spacex ceased activity at the end of 2017 with the formal closure of the charity.[3]

## Origin and aims

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Spacex was located in a converted 19th-century warehouse,[4] midway between Exeter Cathedral and Exeter quayside. The original purpose was to offer affordable studio and exhibition space to local artists. In the early 1990s, Spacex became a registered charity[5] and a publicly funded space showing contemporary art free of charge.[6]

Collaboration was at the heart of Spacex. The gallery's role in working with innovative local, national and international artists has been recognised by the Arts Council. Spacex had typically put on 5-6 exhibitions a year, but in the 2010s began to adopt a more diverse approach including more events and more flexible use of the space by artists.[7]

## Learning programme and events

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Spacex's programme encouraged engagement with the latest developments in contemporary art through commissions, projects and activities.[8][9] Work also took place away from 45 Preston St through artist-led projects, events and research.[10][11] Spacex also had a significant learning programme, working with students from local schools and further-/higher-education institutions.[12]

## Selected artists

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* Sean Lynch: The Weight of the World 14 May-2 July 2016.
* Mathew Sawyer: White Male, 36 Years Old, Average Height, No Pets, Out of Shape and Anxious, 17 May–12 July 2014.
* Scott King: De-Regeneration, 4 October–22 November 2014.
* Anne Eggebert, Matthias Einhoff, David Ferrando Giraut, Polly Gould, Marja Helander, Uta Kogelsberger, Abigail Reynolds, Almut Rink, Emily Speed and Louise K Wilson - Topophobia (2012) [13]
* Blast Theory (2011). Bless Practice.[14][15]
* Salvatore Arancio (2011). An Arrangement of the Materials Ejected.[16]
* Paul Rooney (artist) – Bellevue (2009) [17][18]
* Random Acts of Art (2010).[19]
* Theo Jansen (2010). Ventosa Siamesis.[20][21]
* Emily Wardill (2009). Game Keepers Without Game.[22][23][24]
* Simon Pope (2009). Carved From Memory.[25]
* Laura Kikauka (2009). Celebration of Failure.[26]
* Andre Stitt (2008). Substance [27]
* Christiane Baumgartner (2008). Solaris [28]
* Geoffrey Farmer – The Last 2 Million Years (2008) [29]
* Dawn Mellor (2006). Vile Affections.[30]
* Mika Taanila (2005). Hotel Futuro [31]
* Phyllida Barlow (2005). Scape.[32]

## References

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1. ^ Jemima Laing. "BBC - Small is beautiful for two Devon art galleries". BBC News. London: BBC. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
2. ^ "Spacex Gallery". www.artbiogs.co.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
3. ^ "SPACEX LIMITED - Overview (Free company information from Companies House)".
4. ^ "Spacex, Exeter : Nick Gilbert Scott - Architect / Designer, Exeter, Devon". nickgilbertscott.com. 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
5. ^ Source: [1] Spacex charity framework and trustees
6. ^ Source:[2] Art places directory
7. ^ Source: [3] Working with contemporary art - Nicola Hood
8. ^ Project report: [4] Public Art Online, Autumn 2000 - Homing: Projects for Kosovo
9. ^ Case study: [5] Drawing in Action
10. ^ Review: [6] Interface, June 2011 - The Recipe Exchange project by Dr Stephen Riley
11. ^ Website: [7] The Recipe Exchange & Gallery as Community - Helen Pritchard
12. ^ Website: [8] Art on your doorstep - Spacex educational programme
13. ^ Topophobia Review: [9] Frieze 17/06/2012
14. ^ Blast Theory Review: [10] Interface, December 2011
15. ^ Blast Theory Review: [11] Country calling, December 2011
16. ^ Salvatore Arancio Review: [12] The Guardian, November 2011
17. ^ Paul Rooney Review: [13] Culture24, 19/10/2010
18. ^ Paul Rooney Review: [14] Art rabbit, October 2010
19. ^ Random Acts of Art Review: [15] BBC Devon, 15/4/2010
20. ^ Theo Jansen Review: [16] Culture24, May 2010
21. ^ Theo Jansen Review: [17] BBC Devon, 24/6/2010
22. ^ Emily Wardill Review: [18] Frieze, January 2010
23. ^ Emily Wardill Review: [19] Interface, January 2010
24. ^ Emily Wardill Review: [20] ArtsCulture, December 2009
25. ^ Simon Pope Review: [21] BBC Devon, May 2009
26. ^ Laura Kikauka Preview: [22] The Guardian, 7/3/2009
27. ^ Andre Stitt Review: [23] The Guardian, 23/10/2008
28. ^ Christiane Baumgartner Preview: [24] The Guardian, December 2008
29. ^ Geoffrey Farmer Review: "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2010.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Frieze, January 2008
30. ^ Dawn Mellor Review: [25] Artcornwall, March 2006
31. ^ Mika Taanila Review: [26] Art daily, June 2005
32. ^ Phyllida Barlow Review: [27] Art daily, May 2005

## External links

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* Culture24 entry
* Bing attractions entry
* List of exhibitions, projects and events at Spacex since 2002

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* 2

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Australia

Other|

* IdRef
* Yale LUX

50°43′12″N 3°32′01″W﻿ / ﻿50.7201°N 3.5335°W﻿ / 50.7201; -3.5335