Excited to have the opportunity to make and show some new work and some of my Granny’s work for ‘Condition Report’ @spikeisland Open Studios this coming weekend 2nd-4th May.
I will be showing alongside a handful of wonderful artists & makers who also happen to do art tech work for Spike Island.
Image 1 : The Condition Report acid green poster showing the names of the artists in the show over a flattened black disposable glove.
Image 2 : A cropped version of my Granny’s incredible Ammonite embroidery (made in the 1980’s) with mother-of-pearl inlay, which was the springboard for the new work and will feature prominently in the space.
Image 3: A close up of the top of my Granny’s found fossil and polished pebble in resin side table, which will also feature in the space.
Image 4 : A gif of my boy wearing a rocket motif bike helmet tangled and suspended in a portable swing in a perpetual spiralling motion.
Image 5: A picture of my studio work bench with many collected broken fossiliferous limestone fragments in the foreground and a two part plaster mold and a takeaway Costa coffee cup filled with sand. Some of this will hopefully also feature.
Image 6: The Spike Island 2025 Open Studio’s poster
I’d like to highlight the brilliant new work ‘Greensound - A Listening Film’ by @_liberty_smith_ and also her subsequent writing/ layout for the new Welsh literary periodical ‘Folding Rock - New Writing from Wales and Beyond’ @foldingrockmag
Glorious first issue of ‘Folding Rock’ filled with (from what I’ve read so far) incredible writing. The bad photos here reveal the beautiful layouts and words by Liberty, but really do not do the publication justice.
Head to Liberty’s instagram for more info about the film.
Big shout out also to Dr Philip Reader @philipmreeder and Dr Alice Goodenough whose ‘immersive listening research project ‘Greensounds’ was at the heart of the film. Phil collaborated with Liberty to record/ mix sound for this ‘listening film’. The ‘Greensound’ article in ‘Folding Rock’ has a QR code to scan that links to a selection of original recordings made by Phil ‘which offer a glimpse into the restorative soundscapes that inspired the project, and the participants’.
A early passage from the text Liberty wrote that quotes Phil from a presentation he gave about his research reads:
‘They could hear the birds’ beaks in the sand, water droplets amplified, leaves moving at the very top of a tree. It felt like they had a super power. You’re able to know nature in a new way.
It quickly leads to introspection; we weren’t necessarily expecting that.’
It’s difficult to summarise this film that splices together the scenic ramblings of some of the individuals of a mens mutual support group based in Port Talbot, but this quote goes some way to reveal its timely importance and it’s magic.
#porttalbot
#mensmentalhealth
#introspection
#tatasteel
#lastblast
#listentothedisquiet
#powerincommunity
#listeningfilm
These are some of the stereographs that will be on display in the exhibition ‘Mother Father’ curated by my dear friend @barerootroses at @asylumstudiosuk
The exhibition is running from Saturday 23rd (tomorrow) until 7th December. 10-2pm
See posts by @barerootroses for further info.
Stereoscopic images don’t translate well on a screen. Come to the show ;)
The images show broken toys that I’ve collected since becoming a dad. Many of which have been played with and broken by my son. Most are from charity shops, some have been gifts, some are from my childhood and some I have found that had been abandoned.
Image one shows a simply made wooden helicopter hanging from a wooden peg by white string I have used to ‘fix’ it.
Image two shows a small plastic green army man with a broken off leg that’s lying beside him, holding a white fan like it’s a bazooka leaning up against and under a frondy houseplant in a dark green pot.
Image three shows and old and very simply painted light blue stream train with broken off and bent red plastic wheels overhanging a white window sill.
Image four shows the the previous image through a stereoscopic viewer from the early 20th century.
Image 5 shows my boy leaning up against a warming cast iron radiator with a slanted bowl of cereal in his lap at the place we’re currently staying at in Suffolk.
#motherfather #collectionof #brokentoys #stereoscopy #stereos means #firm #solid #skopeō means #tosee #look
Very excited to be part of this upcoming show ‘Mother Father’ at @asylumstudiosuk curated by the wonderful @barerootroses . The exhibition will be running from 23rd November to 7th December, Saturday-Tuesday 10am-2pm.
Featuring amongst other new works will be this 10x8” transparency of my dad from a few years ago, showing a ritual he does every morning soon after waking up.
In his dressing gown, he places seed strategically-ish around their back garden to encourage the ‘wildlife’ that predictably-ish follow.
He makes a cup of tea, walks back upstairs, sits up in bed next to mum who is usually still asleep, and is able to watch the happenings below if it catches his eye. It usually does.
#father #mother #wildlife #dressinggown #seeds #rituals #arethetellersofus
I’m not usually one for plugging television, but I’ll certainly make an exception here.
On the same day Rishi Sunak announced a major U-turn on the government’s climate commitments, Channel 4 aired a brilliant documentary ‘Chris Packham: Is It Time to Break the Law?’
Feels important.
#chrispackham
#channel4
#guardianreview
Treated myself to a day trip yesterday. Haven’t had one of these in a long while, it was replenishing. It went a little like this:
Pic 1: Very early Megabus to London, to catch a 9.15 screening of Oppenheimer 🤯 at BFI IMAX projected on 70mm film 🤤
Pic 2 : After Oppenheimer I joined Chris Packham, scientists and other campaigners in Parliament Square to protest against the 100 new North Sea oil and gas licenses granted by the government. It was the first day of the new parliamentary session and many of the scientists greeted MPs as they arrived, invited them in conversation and share their grievances.
Pic 3 : There was plenty of the usual suspect placards, but in haste I scribbled a kinda one-step removed placard reflecting on a longterm-ism perspective which I felt needed reemphasising. It drew a few strange looks which were a way in for a conversation starter.
Pic 4 : there was a lot of standing around chatting whilst waiting for the MPs to arrive. Many scientists were already standing outside parliament at this point.
Pic 5 : As you’d expect the police presence was very evident. What surprised me was being approached, interrupted and questionably questioned by a policeman with a body-cam, whilst sat down eating lunch on the parliament square grass, chatting with a woman in her 50s for over an hour about many things including her experiences protesting since 2019 and how/why I found myself there. I’m pretty certain my face will be on a database now, hers already will be as she’s been arrested several times.
Pic 6 : I had noticed this lovely woman standing purposefully still for 2.5 hours in the scorching sun holding this sign towards Parliament- a placard I found out when I left the square was about cleaning up Fukushima. She told me she planned to stay a few more hours, had enough water and was grateful to have my support. It brought back in sharp clarity the film I had just seen, those decisions that were made, and the very very long term consequences of dealing with all things nuclear.
Pic 7-10 : Had just enough time to check out Evelyn Hofer at The Photographer’s Gallery, return home to my family before bed and an allotment water and pick.
Trip to London to catch Richard Mosse’s ‘Broken Spectre’ @180.studios 🙌
An importantly uncomfortable blend of baffling beauty and gut wrenching sadness.
Finishes 4th December. Go see it if you can.
Also dropped in to see the epic Chris Killip retrospective at The Photographer’s Gallery. 🫠
Book ending the trip by reading on the coach more of William Macaskill’s amazing ‘What We Owe The Future- A Million Year View’. Seemed an apt book for this trip…and for this time. Only a few chapters in, but I’d definitely recommend it.
#richardmosse
#chriskillip
#williammacaskill
I have three works for sale in @newlynartschool fundraising auction which is taking place throughout November. Follow the link in bio.
The auction includes over 290 works by artists associated with Newlyn School of Art, with works starting from £60. Fifty percent of the funds raised go to the artist and 50% towards supporting the future of the not-for-profit art school.
Pic 1: Newspaper roll down at Dollar Cove, 2006
Hand printed C-type (printed 2018),
print size 305mm x 254mm
Pic 2: GHY 3 with spiral waveform, 2018
Hand printed C-type,
print size 305mm x 254mm
Pic 3: The Bomb, 2019
Toned silver gelatin print,
Edition 1/1
Painted oak frame with museum glass, 475mm x 305mm x 25mm
It was an honour to be a part of @unstable.monuments.bristol at the old Magistrates Courts over the weekend. What an amazing show. See @unstable.monuments.bristol for documentation and in the pipeline a film by @alban_roinard
The crowdfunded and @creativeyouthnetwork supported show curated by @jesseleroy66 and @matthewbenington culminated in showing fantastic and site specific works by over 50 early career and established international artists.
During the limited time I spent at the residency, I was taken aback by the almost countless messages scribbled and scribed across areas in the holding cells below. I wanted to invite visitors to sit on the surprisingly beautiful, original benches and take a bit of time to think about some of the people who spent time sitting on the same bench. I made a simple A5 kettle stitch book with 36 pages, featuring many of the messages found in the cells.
#unstablemonuments #unstablemonumentsbristol #firstbook #time #redacted
Very happy to be invited by @jesseleroy66 to experiment with new work for ‘Unstable Monuments’, a show where ‘International and local artists work together to bring an exciting new art experience to Bristol’s iconic Magistrates Court and Jail cells’
‘Unstable Monuments' will be set within the historic, soon to be renovated former Magistrates Court in Bristol. It will be a celebration of the changing role of this landmark building from a place of sometimes rough justice to a venue offering hope and empowerment to Bristol's youth, as it takes on a new and important role as a creative enterprise hub where creative businesses and young people can connect, create and develop alongside each other.
To cover production costs and to support young Bristol artists please consider clicking the crowdfunding link in bio and follow @unstable.monuments.bristol for more information.
During the residency in the iconic building, I was humbled by the holding cells beneath the court rooms. A transitory and no doubt reflective space for those held pre or post sentence. I spent most of the (limited) time writing down/surveying the short notes scribbled or scratched, jotted or drawn, often on top of one-another on the dividing panels between the sitting area, and toilet behind.
These notes, not easily photographable, often took on a similar format. By formalising and unifying them, the flippant and humorous notes sit next to the provocative and sad. The form of this outcome this is yet to be finalised, but I will hope to reveal it during the @unstable.monuments.bristol show from 8-10 April.
Another interest were the beautifully crafted, ergonomically considered benches, propped within a couple of these cells. I’m currently looking at preservation options for future and further contemplative/reflective use in the building by @creativeyouthnetwork
#wip
#unstablemonuments
#rethinkjusticesystem
#restoratitvejustice
This show. We recommend it.
Very happy to help install ‘Thanks For The Apples’ at @falmouthartgallery curated by the wonderful @naomifrears and @sanderson_ben
Some amazing artists and their responses to pieces from the museum collection. 🤩
Open until late-ish January
