Photos: "Summer is Coming"

Last week I put Summer is Coming up in the window of an Empty Shop in Maiden Place shopping centre, Lower Earley, Reading. It will be there till about the beginning of January and while we were putting the work up we already got some good comments. Hopefully the shoppers will appreciate a little reminder of summer in these dark winter days.

Here is a selection of photographs from the install.

If you would like to visit this link should get you close: Link

Exhibition Update: While Things Were Good

Another exhibition update!

I've been keeping this one a little quiet but now the brochure and other publications are out I am revealing all. Although sharp eyed readers might already know about it.

In February I will be showing a selection of my larger works at my local arts centre South Hill Park in Bracknell, in a solo exhibition entitled While Things Were Good. The exact selection of works is yet to be decided but I have been feverishly painting to try to complete 2 new, large scale, 80 x 120 cm paintings.

I am really excited as the works will be in the Atrium, the exhibition space/bar/restaurant, so should have a lot of people seeing them.

I have wanted to exhibit at South Hill Park since about 2003 when I was mired enough in the art world to realise that South Hill Park actually had exhibition spaces. Before then I'd only known its as a child seeing Shakespeare performances with my secondary school or as a place to get messy with clay one summer holiday when I was about 7. It was in fact while wandering around the Mirror Gallery, looking at the 2003 Wrexham Print International, on the verge of going away to University to study Fine Art and trying to explain contemporary art to my mother, that the thought that maybe one day I could exhibit there popped up. At that point it seemed an impossible dream, heck until about 3 months ago it still seemed improbable.

No photos of the new works, they are secret until the 10^th of February, but here is a little publicity.

By the way I'd love to see you on the 10^th 7 – 8:30 pm for the private view, as well as my own show there will be three other exhibitions opening that evening, including South Hill Park's Jeweller in Residence Bev Bartlett, winning photographs from the local councils annual amateur photography competition and some amazing prints and sculptural paper works by Jeannie Driver and Chris Lundie.

More info 

There might even be free wine. 

Extract from current South Hill Park Brochure

Extract from upcoming exhibitions leaflet

 

Welcome to Simons Wood Reflected

So it's that time again where I try to reflect on the years photographic project.

So if you missed it, some background. I was attempting to work on a follow up to the previous years project Perambulation, looking at the reality of a place and trying to recreate it through photography. Using a strict set of rules, I tried to capture a specific view throughout the year with an aim that while it might not be possible to create a truly objectively real and complete view of a place it was possible to be more objective than the Perambulation project.

Week 1 - 20th November 2010

Rules
 1. As from the previous project, there will be no post production editing of the photographs. With the exception of cropping and resizing for the internet.  
2. The camera will be set to scenery mode, and the only setting on it I can change will be the white balance to the appropriate weather conditions (either cloudy or sunny)  
3. I will go out when I should, no matter the weather at the time.  
4. I will go to the same place and take a photo of the same view  
5. I will go out weekly, Saturday at 12pm.  
6. I may change the day (but not the time) if life conspires to make Saturday impossible. The day should be as close to Saturday as I can make it and I should make every effort to do it on a Saturday.  
7. I will attempt to do this for a year.

Week 5 - 18th December 2010

It's been an interesting year. When I started I thought the lack of creative input would damage the project. It was very strict, almost verging on the scientific, and while that lent focus to what I was trying to achieve, it became routine and required little thought.

Routine tasks are part of life, and while my photography may have suffered from a lack of constant creative input, it did become familiar and comforting in a strange way. I would look forward to my weekly walks with intrigue as to how I would find the pond and take interest in all the smallest changes. 

 

Week 20 - Saturday 2nd April 2011

Practically it was easier to deal with than the Perambulation project, which was good as I have been far more busy this year than last. I didn't cheat once, although I did have to change my day far more often than I would have liked.

As a realistic view of the place? Certainly it is a realistic view of that years worth of Saturdays. Any years worth of Saturdays? Maybe. As a realistic view of that place throughout the year? Probably not. I seemed to get a high proportion of grey days which, I promise you it is not indicative of where I am. The rules I set in place certainly helped to make it a more realistic view of the place it did not create an utterly realistic view. But I went into this knowing the restrictions.

Week 21 - Saturday 9th April 2011

So what to do now with the project?

This is something I will have to think on, but much like the Perambulation project I think film or a book would be the best way to show them. Obviously 53 images are easier to deal with in a gallery setting but I like better the idea of a more fluid image progression either through an AV (which you can already get through Flickr slideshow) or a book. Of course a book is still planned for the Perambulation project so hopefully I will get around to it. I'm not entirely sure who would want to buy it though, but as a record and exercise it's a good idea.

Week 32 - Sunday 26th June 2011

I'm looking potentially at two photographic based projects next year now. One will be short term if it is accepted, but I will talk more on that at a later date if it is to be realised.

As to a year long project, I feel a more creative approach is needed, to explore my photographic skills more if nothing else. So this one will probably reflect Perambulation more than this one. I might also lift all geographical restrictions, but keep a date/time one. All in all, I'm still too deeply thinking about this current one and all the other artwork I have going on to have found time to focus my thoughts, but over Christmas I will be.

Week 50 - Saturday 29th October 2011

Photos: A selection of images from Welcome to Simons Wood

Exhibition Update: Summer is Coming.

I was asked just over a month ago if I would like to exhibit in an empty shop in a local shopping centre. I'm always keen to exhibit locally as I am a strong advocate of community engagement and the ethos of the empty shop movement in this time of economic downturn. The shop is in the Maiden Place shopping centre, a pedestrianised area in Lower Earley, Reading on a road called Maiden Place. It will be a shop window display of some recent works for the whole of December.

Press release below.

 

Back from the East - part 3

After leaving the fens region I had another stop on my holiday to make.

Travelling from flat Fenland to the Suffolk/Essex borders was an interesting experience. First of all I really enjoyed the drive, even though I was constantly getting lost or being redirected due to road closures. It almost felt like the fens weren't going to let me go for a while there. Secondly I chose to drive via Theford Forest and after days of huge skies, it was a revelation to be amongst trees again.

Dedham Vale nr East Bergholt

 

It was really nice to see trees and hills again, apparently I had been unknowingly missing them. Though I would soon enough change my mind. After quite an extensive drive I arrived at my second home away from home, which would be mine for two nights. A Travellodge on the A12.

I had initially decided to stay in a Travellodge for this part of my trip for two reasons:
1. It was really, really near where I was going to the next day.
2. Having never stayed in a B&B before and yet knowing how many horror stories there are out there I wanted somewhere where experience told me I could be sure of a clean room, clean sheets and a decent shower.

Public footpaths East Bergholt

It was very convenient, only 5 miles from my location for the next day. However, it was also on the A12, which I had somehow forgotten was a busy road. All in all it wasn't nearly as nice as the other Travellodges I had stayed in and not as nice as where I had just come from. But enough of a grump, back to the real story.

After a passable night's sleep I went down to start my Constable adventure. I had grand plans for the day, wanting to try to spy out as many of Constable's views that became paintings as I could, hopefully with an intention to paint them myself. I certainly wanted to get a photograph of the Haywain location as well as take in one of the walks on the map. 

Row boats on the River Stour, Dedham

Deciding to start in East Bergholt I had a mooch around the town and started on one of the walks from my map, one that covered as many of the painting views that I could. It was a pleasant walk, but far longer and intense than I was expecting. I got mildly lost a few times, which is often fun but by about the halfway point I was very tired and quite footsore. Unfortunately it was a circular all or nothing type of walk so I had to keep going. Right at the end of the walk, apparently within spitting distance of the end, I seemed to get very lost, which was quite scary as I'd been going for about 4 hours at this point and really needed food and a sit down. I'd almost gone very wrong a few times before then, but somehow had made the right call, this time I didn't and ended up on footpaths my map didn't know existed. Happily after a lot of reading and a lot of guessing I ended up back at the car.

Many of the painting views were possible to work out where they were but impossible to get to, due to land having become private over the intervening years or time encouraging the growth of trees and bushes. But I found and photographed a few views on my walk and saw many great modern views.

After the immense walk (which I had never expected to take that long) and fuelled by a jam doughnut I still had the main focus of the day to do. Slightly regretting that I had not done it in the morning as the sunshine of the morning had become a cloudy and cold afternoon, I headed to Flatford mill.

Footpath through grounds of Langham Hall

It was really pretty around there, it was just a shame that I was too tired and grumpy not to appreciate it more. I did get some good images, especially as this place seems to have changed little since Constable's day. Boat-building near Flatford Mill was easy to spot, even if the dock was no longer dry.

On one hand it was a good job that I was so grumpy, to top everything off the spot where Constable painted the Haywain is behind a big “Private” sign. The buildings belong to the National Trust and the Field Studies Council and are used for residential scientific study. Indeed while I was there there were many students doing research by the pond. Needless to say I ignored the sign and took the photo anyway, which I hope most people do as it seems ridiculous to have the the most famous landmark in that area behind a private sign.

Flatford Mill

My day complete I went back to the Travellodge and then headed home the next day.

A Picture Postcard World

I was directed earlier this week by the always wonderful Katie Smith to the Time Shift programme on BBC 4 about postcards. Titled “The Picture Postcard world of Nigel Walmsley” it's a nice little jaunt though the history and uses of the postcard. Do forgive it's beginning and apparent grumpy old man character, it soon warms up and is filled with all sorts of nuggets of information, including some I didn't know.

Running the history of the postcard from it's heyday in 1902 to 1919 (ish), delving into the variety of cards available, talking about collecting, the resurgence of card usage in the 1960's to 1980's as well as a fair sprinkling of information about postcards as art, which is always something I enjoy (though I'll take mail art over Gilbert and George any day), it covers the social issues and changes throughout this century.

Also worth a look is the postcard blog from Daniel Weir which can only be described as a celebration of John Hinde and a huge nostalgia trip. Not only do I adore the aesthetic qualities in a John Hinde postcard but the subjects covered are hugely reminiscent and often downright exact to how I remember my summer holidays growing up and never stepping foot outside the UK.

http://wishingiwashere.wordpress.com/

It also finally forced me to start the process of archiving my own collection. But I'm not sure any of those will end up online for all to see. After a day of work I've scanned 60 and am currently trying to put those first 60 in a database.

Beats from the Jungle Drums

Exciting times!
I woke up this morning and checked the Jungle City website to see if my Orangutan Welcome to Jungle City Edinburgh had been moved from the Botanics to it's new home in the city. Expecting that they were being moved as predicted on the 6^th and having heard the day before that many of the sculptures were packing up and being relocated I was eager to reveal where he was now located.

I knew he had been getting a good response from the photographs that were appearing around the interwebs, as well as reports coming in from friends who went up for the Fringe. From what else I've seen, the project in general has been garnering a really good response. The Botanics apparently seeing a 77% increase in visitors from this time last year. Impressive considering the weather.

Well I do wish I was up there as his new location is confusing me a little. According to the map (which can be downloaded here) Welcome to Jungle City Edinburgh is no. 64 and is located at The Meadows which is a park to the south of the City Centre. However no.64 on the visual map seems to be located somewhere on George Street near the Assembly Rooms right in the shopping centre of Edinburgh. When I know where he actually is I will be tweeting about it, so if you don't already follow me on Twitter (or Facebook if you prefer) you should. ;)

Now my Orang has moved I can reveal a few more details. He has been sponsored by Eco Movers/Matt Purdie and Sons and apparently is on the Audio Guide! So if you have an iphone you can download this app which will lead you on a tour of the 50 or so animals out of the 130 that celebrities have leant their voices to. I don't have an iphone so I've yet to hear it.

Finally if he is on George Street he is really near to Harvey Nichols, which is where you can go to find the Jungle City pop up shop. If you want a mini version of the sculptures you can order one from there as well as The Art Book with a front cover with the lovely Loz Atkinson's hornbill One for the Rock, One for the Crow, One to Die, One to Grow on it (I thought mine was a long title). Mine is on page 67. The Art Book, T-Shirts and some plain coloured mini sculptures are currently available on their online shop.

Finally you should check out the Jungle City website, it's had a redesign with all this new information including pages for all their artists.

Welcome to Jungle City Edinburgh 2011