Nick James Design pop up shop at Cheeseburn

Whilst working at Cheeseburn last weekend I got to meet Nick James who was showing his work in the pop-up shop (he will be this weekend too). I really admire his ethos and way of working. The products he makes are outstanding.



"He’s an advocate of traditional woodworking techniques that are rare in contemporary practice. Every piece is made by Nick and his team of skilled craftsmen in his workshop at Mushroom Works in Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK. Along with his team of expert makers, he uses the best time-tested methods of connecting pieces of wood by unbreakable joints and precise construction methods to create furniture that will last lifetimes."

I was pleased to see so many people buying work from him. Although his main passion is for developing new products and making the bespoke items of furniture, Nick also makes a range of small more affordable products such as wooden lamps and shades, chopping boards and clocks, some of which can be personalised and are available to purchase online. 

Nick spoke to me about how he has adapted his product range in order to cater for the online shopping market, but he is always happy to work with clients who would like to commission him to make products that meet their specific requirements.


I'm hoping that at some point in the future I will be able to be the proud owner of a Nick James product!

For more delights please visit

https://www.jamesdesign.co.uk/

Plato's Lair by Peter Hanmer at Cheeseburn

Plato's Lair by Peter Hanmer is one of the delights currently being exhibited at Cheeseburn, Northumberland. Peter won the Gillian Dickinson North East Young Sculptor of The Year award 2017 with his proposal for Plato's Lair. Housed in the potting shed in the beautiful grounds of Cheeseburn Grange House and Gardens. The work is heavily influenced by Plato’s story The Allegory of the Cave featured in Plato’s seminal work The Republic.

"Plato asks us to imagine prisoners inside a cave, their legs and necks shackled. They can only look at the wall in front of them where projected images are made by puppets and the objects behind them; they can't see these because they cannot turn around, the shadows on the wall are the prisoners only reality.

A prisoner who manages to escape from his chains discovers that it is the puppets and fire that are casting the shadows and that their reality is an illusion. Once out of the cave the prisoners eyes adjust to the sunlight and see reality for what it really is, including plants, animals, the sky and most importantly the sun, which for Plato represents enlightenment. The now free prisoner returns to the Cave to tell his fellow prisoners what he has sees."




There are similarities when viewing the work at Cheeseburn. One passes through the fabric barrier into a dark space. Steps down lead to the grotto-like cavern populated with 30-40 little figures. As your eyes slowly begin to adapt to the lighting conditions, more details are revealed; non-human characters with beaks are engaged in a multitude of activities.




Peter has incorporated some of the objects found within the shed into the narrative that he constructs. For example, an ancient lawnmower is used to project images onto a screen.



The figures belong in the potting shed, it is their world, and we are invited into it.

The installation is open to the public at the August Bank holiday weekend (25th, 26th, 27th August) and the first weekend in September (1st and 2nd September). Opening times are 11am-4pm. For more information visit

http://cheeseburn.com/

https://www.peterhanmer.com/

All images courtesy of Paul Stephenson

Cheeseburn Open Weekend

This Bank Holiday weekend I will be working at Cheeseburn for their open weekend. 

Visiting times are 11am-4pm on 25th, 26th and 27th August

For more information visit http://cheeseburn.com/

Here is a quick overview of what is to be seen in addition to the many permanent sculptures that are situated within the grounds of Cheeseburn Grange.

Joseph Hillier

PAUSE/PLAY

Stables Gallery

The Gillain Dickinson North East Young Sculptor of the Year 2017
Peter Hanmer
‘Plato’s Lair’
Potting shed in the Walled Garden at Cheeseburn

Qi Yafeng

Video and Sound work in the chapel

Sculptures in the grounds of Cheeseburn Grange

Boom + Bust by Bex Ilsley at GOLDTAPPED

It’s one of those days. I feel wobbly. I fill up the kettle in preparation for an uninterrupted stint in the studio and notice the pale pink silt that lines the sink. It is the remnants of the paint being used to transform the walls of the GOLDTAPPED gallery space and create a new environment for the next exhibition. This is something that I am beginning to associate with the gallery. The walls are chameleon-like, changing hue with each new exhibition. I enjoy the way that colour is used to unite different elements and creates a context for the work. This is effective for the type of installation-based work that is often presented by GOLDTAPPED.



There is something about the dimensions of the space and the colour of the walls that reminds me of the bedroom of a young girl. The wavy dark pink horizontal line that wraps around the walls somehow reminds me of my mental state. It fluctuates; up and down.



Over the course of the next few days of install I am gradually introduced to the different elements that form the whole. Mood Swing (2018) is a large pendulum constructed from aluminium and steel. Positioned in the centre of the space, there’s no avoiding it. The reflective ball hangs, a weight on the end of a line. In my mind, the gentle ebb and flow of it swinging back and forth relates to the fluctuating line on the wall. Both elements suggest time, movement, set a pace, a rhythm.



There is a catchy rhythm and tune to BEX ILSLEY Finger Family Song Daddy Mommy Nursery Rhyme Kids Sing along! FUN SUNGS and MORE (2018). This short video references the highly popular “finger family” songs that are in abundance on YouTube. In keeping with this format, Ilsley’s video features a costumed persona against an animated background. The ‘dolled-up’ character waves her hand, showing the miniscule versions of the character’s head on each fingertip. The song takes us through each of the members that make up the ‘happy family’; Daddy, Mommy, Brother, Sister and Baby finger. It is all so artificial and exaggerated. It is hardly a realistic representation of the average family unit. The far-from youthful character is sexualised and ‘adultified’.



I cannot help but reflect on the effect that technological developments are having on childhood and familial structures and relationships. I feel uncomfortable and disappointed that childhood innocence and freedom is being threatened. Similar thoughts, and a concern for her sister prompted Ilsley to create 44 loci, two light boxes leaning against the wall opposite the video screen. One light box features the character from the video, and the other is a younger version of this character, as played by Ilsley’s 10 year old sister. I recall the difficulties that I faced as I was growing up and think about the whole range of new issues that the youth of today have to deal with.



On a brighter note, I am thankful that galleries such as GOLDTAPPED are programming work that explores mental health and encourages discussions around issues raised in the exhibitions to take place across cities. Given the content of the work in the exhibition, it seems fitting that the Coventry based artist used technological platforms such as facebook and skype to work closely with the Liverpool based curator, Mia Cathcart.



The exhibition is open by appointment only until Saturday 18th August, so there is not much time left before the sink gets its next wash of GOLDTAPPED paint!

https://www.goldtapped.com/

Photos: Amelia Read

Land Sand Strand by Suki Seokyeong Kang at Bluecoat as part of Liverpool Biennial

'Conceived as a visual translation of the Korean musical notation ‘Jeongganbo’, Land Sand Strand is a new multi-part installation by Suki Seokyeong Kang. The work transforms the exhibition space into a grid. 

Building on the concept of the hwamunseok – a traditional Korean woven mat, interpreted as the minimum space provided for each individual in society – it is activated by performers and the audience. 

The choreography, inspired by the Spring Oriole Dance and traditionally performed on the hwamunseok, is shared with visitors. 

The movements on the mat serve as the blueprint for the wider installation consisting of painting, sculpture and video.'

I found Suki Seokyeong Kang's installation at Bluecoat a visual delight. 

I took pleasure from the formal qualities in the work; the subtle use of colours and the combination of traditional Korean materials along with painting, sculpture and video. 

I appreciated the way that the video transformed my understanding of the work presented in the gallery space; static elements are activated through movement and sound.

'Suki Seokyeong Kang (b. 1977, Seoul, South Korea) lives and works in Seoul. Kang deploys various media including installation and video to seek a synesthetic expansion of painting. 





Through movement and rhythm, she creates an environment that guides the direction of her painting, which she uses like a visual musical score. 

Her practice is situated between the abstract and figurative, the organic and geometric, creating a visual language of balance and harmony.'

SAVE THE DATE - Saturday 18th August 2018 - Drone Ensemble gig at Boiler House, Newcastle University

Drone Ensemble have been invited to perform in the newly refurbished Boiler House at Newcastle University on Saturday 18th August.

We are planning an ambitious durational performance between 12-7pm during which a number of selected artists / musicians will contribute to the score. Details of the special guests will be released in due course.

Back in the workshop, Joe has been experimenting with creating instruments that produce sounds through mechanical means (motors, gravitational pull and self destructing / re-creating organic elements).

On Monday night we had a play with these latest creations, and discussed our plans for Summer. We've got some exciting stuff in the pipeline so stay tuned (excuse the puns!)