We like Toby, he’s a good guy, a very good artist and, as a former FreeBird, we have an irrational bond to him for life – whether he likes it or not.

When he left the studios last year to start his MFA we were like proud parents watching their 31 year old ‘accountant looking’ son leave home for brighter pastures… if only we’d known this is what he was going to go on to do then we would have kicked him out sooner! Praxis Public House is actually making us giddy; We have been excited by a lot recently but this might just take the top spot, at the very least it’s a contender!

Toby has spent the past few months transforming his studio space at Newcastle University into a fully functioning pub complete with jukebox, screen printed beermats and home brewed beer. He has built the bar and furniture, redecorated the whole room and is soon to reveal his sign in time for the grand opening this Friday the 19th August as part of the MFA Interim Exhibition. The work acts like a self portrait including aspects such as his own music collection on the jukebox and books which have previously inspired his practice and are currently feeding his research. It also draws on aspects of his life such as his family’s history of owning pubs when he was growing up and he aims to use it as a vehicle to draw together the different threads of his practice.

Praxis Public House will stay open for the duration of the show with Toby acting as landlord, welcoming guests who enter the installation. He will also host a number of events in the space including a talk by Brit Pop’s own Luke Haines (formerly of the Auteurs) and round table discussion on theory and practice in DIY culture by our very own Nick Malyan.

Keep your eyes on praxispublichouse.wordpress.com for details and we will also update soon with a full breakdown of the programme.