“making space in time: an art school without a building”
This was a commission to make a pilot, alternative form of art school, something for the dispersed art community of rural Somerset, Somerset Art Works. The project brought together artists and explored how a cohort is formed over time, how allegiances develop, collaborations evolve as well as how individual practices are strengthened by peer support. In the rural context we created a resource of audio materials (listening/learning) to share and absorb collectively, whilst apart, and also whilst travelling by car. We wanted to set something up where artists could exchange teaching skills for use of facilities in regional art schools, to put on enriching, educational lectures, workshops etc local to us, and have an online presence to share info together. I was commissioned as lead artist on this project, working with Natalie Parsley, Fiona Hingston, Sue Palmer, Jenny Graham, Jon England, Isobel Adderley and Zoe Li.
During the art school project, our conversation had revolved around the splintered and separated nature of being a dispersed cohort, as well as current austerity and its affects, the influence of the internet on material practice and face to face gatherings. The video loop was a literal metaphor of dissassembly, in this case the skilled butchering of a lamb’s carcass. The Cuts (15″ Loop) and Paper Cuts a series of notes and sketches from collective conversations were exhibitied in University Centre, Taunton, as part of SAW Open Studios 2017
The drawings and text were gleaned from meetings and conversations, and whilst reading material around the subjects that arose, as a group. They were created with photographs, ink, watercolour, drawing and collage, using a smartphone camera and a desktop printer. Subjective as a document, they aim to reflect the fragmentary voices in a collective process and the scattering of how ideas, words or images travel and flourish in another person’s mind.
They are assembled as a set of 3 Ordinance Survey map sized prints in an edition of 50. View here – Map 1 pdf, Map 2 pdf, Map 3 pdf.
The art school – occupying an existing institution…
Combining our knowledge and connections, we invited artists and professionals from around the UK to create a dynamic programme that reflects our interests in current ideas and approaches in contemporary arts practices.
Artist Talk: Florian Roithmayr, SAT 30 September, 6 – 7.45pm / Artist Talk: The Art School and the Culture Shed by Matthew Cornford, THUR 12 October, 6 – 8pm / Artist talk and workshop: Louise K Wilson & Stephen Felmingham, SAT 28 October, 10:30am – 4:30pm
Public Lecture: Journeys of Lactic Abstraction by Melanie Jackson, THUR 9 November, 6 – 7.30pm / Public Lecture: The Neurobiology of Beauty and Its Implications by Professor Semir Zeki, THUR 23 November, 6 – 7.30pm / Public Lecture: Mary Evans artist, THUR Dec 7th 6 – 7.30pm
Credits
The Prospectus 2017 artists, visitors and organisers. Further thanks: David Coldman (butcher), Clive Sage (lamb), James Price (camera and audio), Carol Carey + Somerset Art Works, Mary Caddick, Neil Chapman + FOMO Falmouth Art Publishing Fair 2017, Force 8 Bridport, Alexa de Ferranti, Eastville Project Space, Huish Episcopi Academy, Stephen Ives, Delphine Jones Design, Emily Joy, The Osbornes, Helen & Naoise Sargeant, Rona Lee, Molly Rooke + University Centre Somerset, Martin Wooster.
Funded by Arts Council England, through Somerset Art Works.
Archive
Project Website Prospectus.
Paper Cuts, 2017 – inkjet prints, 3 prints in a set, print size 99 x 85 cm, Edition of 50, Presented in falmouth art publishing fair 2017 – FOMO.