History of Podgy

Bart Programme What's in the Paper Bag ... ? History of Shows at Egg Space Novas Stage 2 Liverpool Biennial 04

Podgy is a hybrid of earlier projects and initiative founded by the creative and cultural activities of Tony Knox, who primarily started as an artist. In 2000, Tony had already established himself as an accomplished photographer, exhibiting in the Liverpool Biennial 1999 and other venues through out the country. He had received acclaim with awards, such as the Jessops National Photography Competition, Photographer of the Year in Degrees North, and others. He has been commissioned by several magazines as a Photo Journalist in publication as Grass Roots, World Student Environmental Charter and many more. Further commissions have included the music industry and the front covers for groups, as Back to the Planet Album, Neverland, Trinket Man, etc..

Through his associations, both as a student and then as a professional photographer, Tony had made some close friends. Sadly in March 2000, one his closest friends took his own life.
As a tribute to Richie Fisher, Tony organised a retrospective of his art in the Egg Space Gallery, Liverpool. This was supported by family and friends who contributed examples of Richie's art for the exhibition, including James Burke who helped with this event. The Bluecoat Art Centre kindly loaned frames to present the art. The loss of his friend, Richie, had an impact on Tony's position and ideologies as an artist, and from this onset he wished to support and assist others into the professional arena of the art world. The retrospective exhibition for Richie Fisher was titled 'Unquiet Slumbers' (a quotation 'Wuthering Heights'). The art of Richie in this exhibition portrays himself in cadaverous states. A precursor to what would be.

After this exhibition Tony was compelled to continue with promoting the contemporary arts of local and international artists. Over the past five years he has curatored more than fifty exhibitions, including enabling and providing opportunities to about four hundred artists, community and support groups.

Through the curatorial support, Tony has worked with other affialiates, such as artists Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney and George Lund, and with institutional bodies, such as the A Foundation, who support the Liverpool Biennial events and the Liverpool Culture Company relative to the European City of Culture 2008. These have included not only the many exhibitions at the Egg Space, but also external and large scale exhibitions in temporary spaces. Some of which have had associations to not only Liverpool and British based cultural interest, but have extended to Europe and US.

Tony is a passionate and visionary in his art and curatorial involvements, believing to share his experiences and opportunities with others. After a long duration as curator, Tony knox left the eggspace to concentrate on his own practice, but who knows what the future will exactly hold ...

No images to be copyed or used without permission:

Tony Knox

For further information you can telephone Tony Knox on Mobile: 0790 857 5211