Paul Moss was an artist & curator, and co - founder of Workplace and Workplace Foundation. He died on 14th February 2019 due to complications arising from Wiskott - Aldrich syndrome.
Paul's funeral took place on 28th February in Saltwell Crematorium, Gateshead, and afterwards people were invited to return to Workplace for a Memorial. As part of this Miles Thurlow and Matt Stokes had curated an impromptu solo exhibition of Paul's work focussed around three of his 'Danger Paintings', shown at his solo exhibition 'Push Me, Pull Me' at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in 2004. Alongside this we served food and drinks and presented a slide show of Moss's life gleaned from friends and family. The funeral and memorial were both full to capacity and celebratory in nature, and many people remarked on how good it was to see Paul's work again and on the positive, funny and uplifting nature of his character. Paul was and remains a central figure to our community in the North of England and it felt entirely appropriate to present his work in the gallery for the first time for this event.
Following discussions with Paul's widow Cecilia Stenbom and with close friends of Paul, we have decided to reschedule our programme and continue to present Paul's work throughout our current exhibition slot. As part of the exhibition we have maintained a communal seating area, reading material and condolence book. We have moved the Workplace filter coffee machine and teapot downstairs and there will always be a plate of cakes to be enjoyed (as Paul would have done), replenished daily. We encourarage vistors to come along, spend some time in the gallery with a coffee or tea and some cake, look at his work, and if you knew Paul please feel welcome to write something fitting in the condolence book that will be given to his family afterwards.
We can't think of any Memorial wakes that have been turned into exhibitions, and think it entirely appropriate, for such an innovative and irrepressible character as Paul Moss, that he lead the way.
