Art Licks

In 2016 I worked with a group of artists to make editions of household objects to fundraise for Art Licks. Pio Abad (@pioabad ) designed this tea towel and I recently found that we have a small amount left… Seems like a perfect Christmas gift?! Price is £15 + P&P. If you would like one please send a DM to make an order. Any amount raised will go towards Art Licks projects in 2025. Thank you ✨

An image from artist Jade de Montserrat’s 2023 residency at our project space on the North York Moors. The focus of this time was in the development of a new work: ‘Black (re) turn’, which was performed by the artist in private in one of our barns at Cow Syke, with technical and editing support from the filmmakers Webb-Ellis (@webbellisart ). The charcoal installation itself remains at Cow Syke, living alongside the weather that rushes through the barn, the visiting nesting swallows, and the lapses of time between past custodians and new. ‘Black (re) turn’ is part of a Trilogy of films that explore the connection between theory and practice, particularly thinking through de Montserrat’s drawing and performance work with charcoal as a vehicle for considering intersections of race, climate change, landscapes, and history. Image courtesy of the artist.

This spring, I invited the artist Charlotte Salt (@charlotte_salt_ ) to work with me on a project with the local primary school. The school had requested a rather ambitious project for which every child (aged 5-11 years) would make a ceramic tile that contributed to seven larger plaques that would be displayed for the public on the school walls. Each plaque depicted a scene from the village that the children had collectively chosen as a point of interest. We ran a series of workshops in the village hall over two days which was really fun - the kids were full of energy and enthusiasm. Charlotte then glazed and fired everything and @cowsikeworkshop mounted them to panels. It was all quite tight for time (isn't it always!) and we were nervous how the tiles would come out of the firing but the result is pretty wonderful. The kids were super excited to see the project come together and we are chuffed to think that every child in the school got the chance to take part. The project was supported by @aceagrams and @northyorksc . Disclaimer: The bunting was not our choice, it was already there!

Just published on our website - ‘Surveying Bransdale: The Home as a Curatorial Method’ is a new text by writer & curator George Vasey (@georgevasey ) that presents Art Licks’ most recent project from its home on the North York Moors, and in doing so, considers the role of curator & artist in exploring archives and the Home. “This project offers an expanded archive. A home imbibes the memories of generations of families and forms the most intimate of archives. Ultimately, ‘Surveying Bransdale’ elides many differing archival strategies. It incorporates testimonies and fairy tales, history and hearsay. It surfaces inconvenient truths, narrates the minor and mythologizes the overlooked.” - George Vasey Curated by Holly Willats, ‘Surveying Bransdale’ (2021-23) brought together artists: Holly Graham @hollycagraham Anna Hughes & Adam Shield @_anna_hughes_ @adam_shield_ Jade de Montserrat #JadedeMontserrat Emily Hesse @emhesse & AHH Collective @ahhstudiocollective (Charlotte Salt @charlotte_salt_ , Sally Taylor @_sallytaylor__ , Sue Mann @suejmannartist , Lyn Wait @lynwaitartist , Janet White). Please follow the link in our Bio for a read 👀

This is the Art Licks Trilogy - the most recent three issues of the magazine that were each produced from different cities across the country, in partnership with several artist-led projects and co-editors. We worked on Issue 26 from Newcastle with @newbridgeproject and co-editors @rebeccahuggan (NB Director) and Holly Willats (Art Licks) who chose the title 'Radical Gestures'. Through this title, Art Licks presents a range of practices that help to challenge the status quo and shift perceptions; practices that support different communities, that are outward-facing, or that are unafraid to try to explore complex issues. From very small gentle gestures, to people who are campaigning: the magazine offers an uplifting insight into how contemporary art supports and brings people together. Issue 27 was based in Bristol with a group of co-editors: Jess Bunyan & Euella Jackson (@risingartsagency ), Mary Roberts-Holmes & Jack Friswell (@caraboo_projects ), Jack Lewdjaw (@eastbristolcontemporary ), and Holly Willats, who collectively chose the title: 'SCHEDULE: ways of making it work'. The magazine explores the ways in which creators in Bristol are keeping it all going. From considering people's routines, juggling jobs, parenting and caring; how do we all manage, when it's hard to plan ahead? We all have different ways of working. How does this manifest itself in our practices? Issue 28 came from Birmingham with @recentactivity and co-editors @awgillespie and Holly Willats. The Editors chose to focus on the title: 'The Idea of a City', to think about how our relationship with the city has, or might have, shifted over the last few years. What are the opportunities for a city in 2022? How can a city be reimagined through an art practice, and how can a city’s communities be integral to new ideas? Link in our Bio to find out more or to purchase a copy. With support from @aceagrams

Having got the 7 month baby to sleep, I finally have a chance to do a quick looking-back at the year. Always rushing at the moment so it’s not quite as thorough as I had meant it to be. Huge thank yous to everyone who has been involved in Art Licks projects this year - from the magazine to residencies, including Harriet Bowman, Holly Graham, Andrew Gillespie, Anna Hart, Emily Hesse, Lily Frances, Jack Friswell, Jack Lewdjaw, Sue Mann, Sammy Paloma, Mary Roberts-Holmes, Charlotte Salt, Adam Shield, Sally Taylor, George Vasey, Lyn Wait, Janet White, and many others in the magazine 💫 Looking forward to developing on projects in 2023 & welcoming Jade Montserrat, Webb-Ellis and Frances Scott at our residency site on the North York Moors. Finishing with thoughts of our friend, the artist Emily Hesse, who passed away in November and we miss dearly. I recently contributed to a Tribute that MIMA published, written by Emily’s husband Martyn Hudson. I’ve included a link in the bio, but also wanted to share a quote from Martyn’s beautiful text: “Her work and her children live on, the world turns on its axis, but its axis has shifted and the cosmos has transformed with her passing.” @martynhudsonwatts @emhesse Photos: 1. Sally Taylor installation as part of our residency Work In Progress show @_sallytaylor__ 2. Lyn Wait exploring the Three Howes during her residency above Bransdale @lynwaitartist 3. Art Licks issue 27, produced in Bristol with co-editors @risingartsagency @lewdjaw_jack @maryrobertsholmes @frizzolini 4. Issue 27 launch in Bristol on a boat! 5. Sammy Paloma reading a text as part of Issue 27 launch on said boat @sammypaloma_ 6. Art Licks Issue 28 produced in Birmingham with co-editor @awgillespie 7. Launch of issue 28 @recentactivity (with artwork by @roodhissou outside!) 8. Sound recordings by @_anna_hughes_ & @adam_shield_ during their research residency 9. Sue Mann in the residency studio during the heatwave @suejmannartist

Getting ready for our event on Saturday… Please, please, please may it be sunny ☀️🙌🏻 We’ll be showing Work In Progress from some of our summer residencies, including @suejmannartist @charlotte_salt_ @_sallytaylor__ @lynwaitartist & Janet White. With thanks to Ryedale District Council Small Arts Grants & @aceagrams for the support. #northyorkmoors #ryedale #artistresidency #artistresidencies #weathergods

We recently had @_anna_hughes_ & @adam_shield_ here for a joint Research Residency ☀️ They focused on gathering material to create new sonic and sculptural works. Drawing on their shared interest in ancient sites and concepts of time and landscape, they took field recordings as well as composed instrumental and vocal layers, with Art Licks as a base for their impomptu recording studio. We’re looking forward to having them back next year to develop this work further! #artistresidency #residency #northyorkmoors #fieldrecordings #moorland #heather

Thank you @awgillespie for putting on a show yesterday @recentactivity for the launch of Art Licks 28. It was really special to see the magazine develop into an exhibition, and to bring all the contributors together. Thank you to all the artists and everyone that came by 💫 💛🌙 #birmingham #recentactivity #independentpublishing #printedmatter #projectspace

We can’t wait for this on Friday - Birmingham residents come join us! * * * Recent Activity will celebrate the launch of Art Licks Issue 28 with a new exhibition of work from the magazine’s contributors. “The Idea of a City” opens for one night only on Friday 2nd September 6-8pm as part of Digbeth First Friday. @recentactivity @simonbloor_ @tombloor_ @roodhissou #sahjankooner @faishussainism @granduniongallery @rynkrny @sofia_niazi @alisoldfield @elvinsanders @cathy__wade @eprjcts

Just back from the printers - Art Licks #28 ‘The Idea of a City' has been produced with a group of artists & writers from Birmingham. We wanted to think about how our relationship with the city has, or might have, shifted over the last few years. What are the opportunities for a city in 2022? How can a city be reimagined through an art practice, and how can a city’s communities be integral to new ideas? With work & texts from: @simonbloor_ @tombloor_ @roodhissou @seanelderw @faishussainism @ikonyouthprogramme @cheryl_mjones @jaskirtboora @rynkrny Sahjan Kooner @emmamckin @sofia_niazi @alisoldfield @elvinsanders @eemilyscarrottt @cathy__wade @gavin_wade_ with design by Margherita Huntley Edited by Holly Willats and guest co-editor, @awgillespie . Copy editor @maxalletz This marks the third and final stage in Art Licks’ recent Trilogy project, for which we have worked on three issues of the magazine from different cities. Please follow the link in our Bio for more details & to purchase a copy if you'd like to 💫

It was so much fun having @ahhstudiocollective here for their studio residency last week, all exploring the dale with Herbert Read’s ‘The Green Child’ in mind. Really looking forward to having them back in September! Here’s a pic of @_sallytaylor__ taking it all in 🌱🌤 #artistresidency #northyorkmoors #sallytaylor #ahhstudiocollective #artlicks #bransdale