(P)Art Of The Community Set to open this September, Paisley Art Institute President Jean Cameron and artist John Walter give us a guided tour of the kaleidoscopic wonders that await us in the Piazza. semblance of recognition. However, 131 years into their existence, it's clear that the PAI’s story is an unsui part of our collective history that deserves a larger platform. In a rare moment of respite, PAI president Jean Cameron expanded on not only its storied past, but how it feels to be entrusted with its promising future. “es exciting as someone who grew up in the town and fostered their love of arts by seeing the amazing collections at Paisley Museum,” she beamed. “I would be 14 ML there every Saturday doing classes, and what most people don't know, isthatmany ofthe paintings in their collection were gifted to the town by PAI. Ata time where Paisley is telling its amazing story, oursis stil one of those untold tales. For Jean, the decision to repurpose disused shopfront in the Piazza Shopping Centre asa gallery space could unimposingly inerease local engagement. “It’s not everyone’s cup of tea to go over the threshold of a museum”, Cameron conceded, “put people have their own sense cof ownership of where they do their shopping. When Iwas a wee girl, remember it being Presto when it had the plastic bags with the wee nit! Hopefully people will be curious so ifan art gallery isnt for them, a bit oflife happening in a space that everyone's familiar with is great.” Primed to display “500 plus works of art injecting ahealthy dose of creativity into a commercial ‘monolith is more than justa clever way to bolster foot traffic. Infact, the exhibition will bing the PA's 131- year journey full circle: “In the 1800s, that site was the Paisley Government School of Art and Design”, she explained. “So, ina wizardway, the PAI came out of that and it’s 10d to go back to ous Foats in order roreimagine our futur A proponent of “maximalism”, the work of John Walter will serve asthe fulerum of the exhibition For this London-based artis, displaying his artin what he seesas a ‘theroughfare” forlocals isa method hat’ tailormade for inclusivity ‘Whether ornot they choose to encounter it, they will encounter it asthey'llsee it through the window,” Walter proffered. “ve done alot of projects in non-asts spaces sol hinkit’s a classic way of bringing wwork towards people. From what P've gathered, people use the museum really well. Seow that it’s shut, it’s ally important that you make the swork accessible. Not that you should jower the work," he affirmed, “but ‘hat you're hospitable about it.” Aftera chance encounter atthe Glasgow Intemational Festival —“I was wearing a Paisley Pins badge and John was wearing a Paisley pattern WHAT'S ON ‘Sul from John Walter’ ita realty piece The Fourth Wo! t-shirt!” —the duo conspired to bring his thought-provoking artistry to the town. Walter, wha isnot only bringing his VR piece The Fourth Wail but willleave a permanent mark on the Piazza with an array of vinyl murals is infatuated with the iconic design and hopes to contort it into new, radically shapes. “It’s been at the forefront of ay mind and I'm just completely obsessed with it, so it's great that this to Paisley,” he 'm trying to update what the pattern could be, becanse it had this really fertile life in Paisley during the Vietorian period. Now, it could be reactivated in new ways that we don’tknow about yet, ways that we caninvertt” For anyone that’s fretfulabout using VR for the firsttime, John assured us thatthe PAL have taken steps to make the dimensional transition as seamless as possible. “There's chaperones thathelp you with the VE piece and rake sure you're safe but they're also there to talk to about the work, ‘Those things make a real difference, especially when you're not used to going toa gallery where itcan be a bitintimidating.” ‘An integral cog in Paisley's 2021 bid, ploughing hey energy back into the town has been incredibly rewarding for Jean, but none of iewould be possible without the cumulative efforts of those striving tomake this unorthodox exhibition a success, “It's brilliant to work ith colleagues from the Arts Centre, Renfrewshire Leisure and Caroline (Gormley) from Made In Paisley,” Jean enthused. “It's cliché totalk about weaving the threads together, but it'sheartening to draw on the strengths of these ‘community groups.” The exhibition will run from 7 September = 20 October 2019. Opening Times: ‘Tuesday 0 Saturday’ 114m - spriy Sunday: 12n00n ~ 4pm. For more info, visit wiwn-paisleyartinsttute.com MILL 45