Notice Board

Over looking lake Windermere from Lakeland Arts new museum Windermere Jetty I used the statement “Acknowledged all our knowledges” as our discussion starting point – for the second curated conversation yesterday. Developing a co-produced project with a new group, who are also new to cultural democracy, has been fascinating and is leading to an ambition to co-produce the entire education program. This aswell as generating an organisational C change in how it connects, attracts and develops wider audiences and producers.

I was in Manchester last night for the launch of the Ruskin Prize exhibition. I was happy to have been selected and happy to see friends come together around artworks. As a Companion of the Guild of St George I feel proud to have brought my interest and understanding of Ruskin to the show and glad how the Guild supports us artists still.

I’m pleased to have been commissioned by Peterborough Presents for a project called My true intent is all for your delight. The project builds on the success of recent works I’ve produced alongside communities across the country which utilise imagery and concerns relevant to them. ‘My true intent’ aims to unearth the small stories, lay knowledges and local histories inherent in the area and generate a series of large scale flags that celebrate this diverse, tolerant, international community to a wider audience.

The show at Willoughby Hall Gallery opened today and as part of the exhibition I led a drawing workshop at for the Year 10’s from the village secondary school led by Alan Parker. Lots of good work was generated and an edit by them has been added to the show. I really liked their drawings of my drawings and how they all got into loving charcoal. The show is open from June 12th till July 10th from 12 to 5 Tuesday to Sundays. A beautiful building, space and garden and fantastic to have such a venue in a little Lincolnshire village.

I’m really happy to have 3 pieces in this upcoming show in Rotterdam. Curated by Pure Propoganda its sited at their great new space on the side of the Leuvehaven near the Maritime Museum. They’ve selected my large text piece – The eyes they never lie – made during my recent residency and 2 other small works.

Artists included are: ROBERT BITTENBENDER/ JAKE CALEB/ DARIO D’ARONCO/ MAT DO/ KATE GENEVER/ MARTA HRYNIUK/ JANIS DZIRNIEKS/ JAN HENDERIKSE/ LUCAS JARDIN/ LISA KUGLITSCH/ LEXI/ TOM LOWE/ MIKE MOONEN/ ALEXANDRA PHILLIPS/ ZSOMBOR SALI/ NICK THOMAS/ PETAR TUSKAN/ KAMIEL VERSCHUREN/ STIJN WYBOUW   

Commissioned by Abbott Hall/Lakeland Arts Kendal and in collaboration with Ian Read Head of Learning and Dr Harriet Rowley of MMU, I delivered a curated conversation event for their staff, partners, community leaders on the theme –Who Cares? We are all priceless. Held in one of the galleries our discussion posed questions about how we value our closet communities and neighbours and if an organisation can at a significant time of change embrace opportunities to listen, open itself to diverse voices and try new things?

I’m pleased to say my ACE funded project at Bromley House Library thas been written about in the Financial Times as part of an article about private libraries being important sites of refuge.

My efforts are part of the South Explorer this weekend in Rotterdam at B.a.d. Foundation. Working with Stijn Wibouw from Belgium, Tom Lowe and The Mak of all Trades from the UK and Alex Phillips from the US we created a collaborative piece – The Freezer. Here’s a link to a short film the local TV made.

I made a balloon piece in response to the window displays I’ve been noticing here in Rotterdam. Most people showcase something in their street facing windows – changing them with the season or celebrations. When I asked why several answers came: to appear conventional, to show personal taste, to demonstrate an interest – or just for the passerbys.