ARTISTS TALKING

# 57 [9 May 2012]

After an initial three months of research (taking to people, blue chair walking, hanging out) I am proceeding towards more tangible forms of making work.  On 19th May I am inviting residents of Parson Cross and anyone interested in visiting Knutton Road Studios to come to an open and free event: PX Story, Spring: Location.

This event is the first in a series of four. Spring one is all about Parson Cross LOCATION, during Summer we will look for PX HERO, in the Autumn we will search for PX PLOT and we will finish during Winter concentrating on PX DIALOGUE. All events are leading to the creation of the PX Story, a book about Parson Cross which will be compiled with direct input from residents and visitors to Parson Cross.  

The Open Day event is an opportunity to contribute to the PX Story and also offers guided tours of the building, workshops, an exhibition of my artistic tools, a chance to meet other artists and enjoy a free cup of tea.

I have invited four artists from Parson Cross and further afield to join her - Paula Kirby, Paul Allender, Abi Goodman and Sarah Smizz who are going to present their work.

Artists Abi Goodman and Sarah Smizz's site specific Re:Advertise project is all about re-ordering the words of advertisers to say what YOU really want.

Paul Allender will show and talk about his film.

Paula Kirby will be showing film clips. Currently she has a film in Bath Fringe Festival. Check it out! 

This is a free event and everyone is welcome at SOAR Works/Knutton Road Studios, 14 Knutton Road, Parson Cross, Sheffield S5 9NU  click here for a google map  

# 56 [9 May 2012]

We are blogged about on a-n Artist Talking:

http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/article/21836...

# 55 [18 April 2012]

Last weekend saw the installation of my commission for Red Nile Projects as a one day giant floral intervention in the Garden Festival Park in Stoke-on-Trent. 

The day was a great sucess, drawing in passersby to see what was going on and learn more about the park.

The intervention was complimented by a one day workshop the day before at Airspace Gallery and a drop in activity on the day where participants were invited to make mini woollen flower interventions to be displayed alongside my giant blooms.

You can see documentation here by Glen Stoker: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.416688365008366&type=1

You can learn more about Red Nile Project here: http://www.rednile.org/

And you can read a write up of the project on my blog from next week: http://ruthiefordrednile.blogspot.co.uk/

# 54 [22 March 2012]

On the Edgware Road at Serpentine Gallery and in off site venue Centre for Possible Studies presents last 3 years of research.

Visit before 28th March! And check out the catalogue! You can find there a great conversation between Sally Tallant, Julia Peyton-Jones and Hans Ulrich Obrist that explores this project's starting points and mechanics.

***

The Edgware Road Project links artists with people living and working in this London neighbourhood. The diversity of the local people and their interests are reflected by the varying practices and geographies of the artists invited to take up residency at the Centre for Possible Studies. Their responses have been political, reflexive and revealing. An accompanying publication will mark this moment in the Project's development with descriptions and propositions for the future, answering the question 'What is a possible study?'. 

***

More info:

http://www.serpentinegallery.org/2012/02/on_the_ed...

# 53 [22 March 2012]

Gallery as Community - symposium at Whitechapel Gallery

Great list of speakers and great topic.

>>>

How should we define Community? What are the politics of working beyond the Gallery? This symposium confronts critical debates dealing with community in the context of art practice, education and institutional activity.  With contributions from curators working in galleries across the UK today, as well as international artists and theorists. Speakers include Pascal Gielen, Professor of Sociology of the Arts and Director of the research centre Arts in Society at Groningen University, Janna Graham, Education Project Curator, Serpentine Gallery, Kate Gray, Director, Collective Gallery, Paul O'Neill, curator, artist and writer, Dean Kenning, artist and writer, Annette Krauss, artist, Emily Pethick, Director, The Showroom, Matt Stokes, artist, Adam Sutherland, Director, Grizedale Arts, Sofia Victorino, Daskalopoulos Head of Education and Public Programmes, Whitechapel Gallery, and Frances Williams, Head of Education, South London Gallery. 

>>>

More info and to book

http://www.whitechapelgallery.org/shop/product/cat...

# 52 [15 March 2012]

Because we're worth it! - A national summit on partcipatory arts in ICA London on 22nd March.

The even will be exploring and celebrating the value of participatory arts.

Participatory arts have the power to change people's lives for the better; provide connections, experiences and rich stories.

The UK's participatory arts scene is constantly changing, innovating, developing, celebrating, exploring and recording fantastic and ground breaking work.

# 51 [25 February 2012]

The research report New Model Visual Arts Institutions and Social Engagement is now on-line! You can read it/ download it from here:

http://www.uclan.ac.uk/schools/school_of_social_work/research/pru/files/wzw_nmi_report.pdf

This study  asks how  socially engaged visual arts practice can change individuals and communities - or put it another way:  what are the ingredients of  transformation through the arts.  

Four intensive organisational case studies characterise and compare distinctive approaches to socially engaged practice. Artangel (London), CCA (Glasgow), FACT (Liverpool) and Grizedale (Cumbria) were chosen because of their significance in this emergent field and the ways in which they combine local embeddness with international resonance. Particularly striking are the ways these institutions are re-imagining civic action and forging partnerships with communities and other sectors, showing that the arts  can be a key connector, point of provocation or tool of  individual and community  self-development. Each of them offers particular insights into the  opportunities and  pitfalls of  socially engaged practice from  episodic events to  open-ended  and immersive  processes.

# 50 [23 February 2012]

Perfect mix! This looks like a great event!

Sunday Soup and Other Ways to Feed Culture /  Friday 24th February

An introduction to alternative economic models and collaborative practices in times of decreasing mainstream funding.

More info here:

http://www.publicartonline.org.uk/whatsnew/trainin...

# 49 [20 February 2012]

This is going to be a blogful year! I have started my residency in Parson Cross (Sheffield) and I will be blogging about it on Yorskhire Artspace website. Check it out:

http://artspace.org.uk/residency-journal/src/resid...

And if you live nearby and wish to join me for a walk around the estate or to contribute to the thinking and making of the focus group get in touch with me! aniabas{at}gmail{dot}com

# 48 [20 February 2012]

We were silent because we were both busy! Ruthie and myself took part in A time and a place project at SITE gallery in Sheffield. Details of this 2 week long exploration of patcipatory waters can be found here:

http://blog.sitegallery.org/atimeandaplace/