Category: Projects

Slow Magic

I am currently working on a small bookwork, a collaboration of sorts with Nathan Jones, who has been Poet-in-residence at the Bluecoat in Liverpool over the past year. The piece contains his poem, Slow Magic, written about the experience of looking around an exhibition (one of the same name held at the Bluecoat).

Based on a Turkish map fold, the multiple has a screen-printed grey board cover and unfolds, revealing the poem slowly, the creases of the paper acting as illustrations. It’s still very much under-construction (printing tomorrow) but will be available in a limited editon.

The work will be part of

Mistranslations

An exhibition of artworks drawn from Nathan Jones’ period as Poet in Residence at the Bluecoat
16th – 26th June, 2010
Lost Soul and Stranger Service Station, the Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool
featuring print, video and illustrative work by
Scott Spencer
Emily Speed
Philip Marsden
Markus Soukup
Sarah Nicolls
Neil Keeting
and Andre Guedes

Cardboard City

I spent last week and today working with school groups up in Blackpool for Collaborate and Make. I was commissioned by the Grundy Art Gallery there to create this exhibition and it will be on show until January 30th.

The children have made some great work, plus some of the buildings are big enough to go inside like dens! Grab a torch and go exploring, but be warned – some of the connecting tunnels are quite small so don’t get stuck. There is more cardboard available in the gallery, so visitors can make their own building to add to the city, or an item for the cardboard museum’s collection (it currently only has one cardboard dinosaur).

Happy Christmas

I will mainly be letting my hair down at the studio Christmas party tonight before having a bit of time off (maybe) over the hols.

In January I will be doing a week long project at the Grundy Gallery in Blackpool called ‘Cardboard Cities’. This will involve a lot of school children, cardboard, parcel tape and should end up with some fantastic structures, which will then be exhibited for a week.

ChristmasFollowing that it’s straight back to Yorkshire to get back on with the project there…

Linz, European Capital of Culture 2009

Found out last week that Liverpool Biennial put me forward for a residency over the summer with Linz Kutur at the Atelierhaus; a newly renovated artists studio centre and exhibition space in the centre of Linz, Austria.

So, I leave on Tuesday – loads of time to plan and everything. But, this last-minute-ness may be a blessing in disguise so I am ready to get there and just see what happens…. Linz seems to be a bit of a rebel as far as Austria is concerned, with loads of contemporary art and architecture, not to mention the Ars Electronica Centre and festival, can’t wait!

I may even come back all digital!

new blog on a-n to document the process coming soon and I shall be having an online conversation throughout with Fiona Flynn, an artist from London, who will be in Vilnius (the other Capital of Culture this year) at the same time..

Bye for now.

Links for

Linz, Capital of Culture, Vilnius Capital of Culture and the place I’ll be living/working in: Salzamt Atelierhaus Linz

Atelierhaus, Linz

Summer

The book fair went really well and great to meet some new faces, especially Simon Goode (and his beautiful letterpressed book) as well as Unrealised Projects and their really interesting work.

Now I am waiting on some decisions to decide my summer months for me, generally planning plenty of studio time and preparation for the Yorkshire Sculpture Park project, which starts in September.

Some atrocious phtoos of the book fair from my mobile phone attached.

Art Land is launched

BABE was great, sold lots and even one book to the Tate Collection. Very nice. Also saw some wonderful work, although managed not to buy too much. Thursday was a day of driving up and down the M62/A1 to Bishop Auckland for the launch of Art Land. A lovely evening with a good crowd. We all went on a little walking tour to take in all of the work and then settled in a bar for a performance from the DLO (Domestic Light Orchestra). The hairdryer part was my favourite. Some pictures of the evening and works below.

It’s still on for two weeks so go and have a look if you can: http://artlandne.com/

Art Land

I have just spent two sunny days oop north as well as a lovely night in a place called Hamsterley Forest in order to do a site visit for Art Land, which takes place in April in Bishop Auckland. I am making a limited edition zine to be placed around the town, presenting an outsider’s view of the place as a town newsletter. I’m excited about getting stuck in, and as the project is funded it means I can spend plenty of time thinking it through/drawing etc.

Art Land info here

I also have to plug the b and b we stayed in as it was just sublime, in the middle of the forest, with a hot tub (cossie will be packed next time!) and we were fed like we were being fattened up for winter hibernation, plus it was all such good value. Anyway, if you need a random trip away, go here I tell you: http://www.hamsterleyforestbandb.com/