Pictures and Words: 154 and Barnsley Uplift

A few weeks ago I delivered a two day workshop alongside fellow 154 Collective artist Dan Mallaghan at The Cooper Gallery in Barnsley, with members of the Barnsley Uplift group. The workshop was based on Pictures and Words and introduced the group to capturing creative images on digital cameras and mobile devices, processing their photographs through various apps on iPads, printing them out and then producing a piece of creative writing based on their images. 

The first day was focused around being creative with cameras and we explored Barnsley Town Centre, looking for interesting shots from all kinds of unusual angles.

The second day was focused around processing images using photography apps on the iPad and then producing a piece of creative writing based on a chosen image.

The two days were really great and I was very impressed by the images that the group produced. Everyone was great fun and worked really hard! Their images were so super that each person submitted two of their photographs into the Barnsley Photographic Society Photography Competition....so fingers crossed! Best of luck everyone!

Here are a few images that were produced during the workshop...

Thanks to everyone who took part in this workshop - we had a wonderful time!

Dancing With The Orange Dog

As part of the 154 Collective I am currently involved in the development of an eclectic theatre show which includes elements from a wide range of art practices, including photography, animation and film, through to the drawn line and dance. 

‘Dancing with the Orange Dog’ will tour three North of England venues in early 2013 and is being made under the umbrella of the ‘Routes North’ initiative. The venues are; Theatre in the Mill - Bradford, The Lowry - Salford and The Arc - Stockton. Keep up to date with developments via the 154 Website and Blog.

154 Pictures and Words Workshop

Last weekend myself and Dan Mallaghan, a fellow 154 Collective artist, delivered a Pictures and Words workshop as part of the 154 Exhibition at The Cooper Gallery in Barnsley. The workshop was based around our "Pictures and Words" collaboration and shared ways in which they could capture and process interesting images using mobile devices such as iPod Touchs, iPhones and iPads and use them as inspiration for creative writing. 

As a focus for the workshop we based all photography and creative writing around our next 154 Collective Show - Routes North and asked the group to work with us to capture images of Dan, in character, to be used as promotional and publicity material. The group were fantastic and produced some super images which contributed to the final publicity image, captured by Richard Hanson and further developed by Fabric Lenny.

More information on this workshop can be found on the 154 Collective Blog.

Spital Hill - A Common Thread

I am currently involved in a new project called "A Common Thread Project" working alongside fellow 154 Collective artists - Richard Hanson and Fabric Lenny. Through this project we will be engaging with the community in the creation of a commissioned piece of public art to be displayed for up to three years on the 90m long hoardings outside the new Tesco Store at Spital Hill, Sheffield. Initial workshops have begun, along with lots of consultation. Below are some images I captured during a workshop of drawing, photography and discussion with children at Pye Bank Primary School, Sheffield. More information and images can be found on the Project Blog.

Magic Monster Machine

I have spent the last 24 hours working on a wonderful project at Elsecar Heritage Centre with Fabric Lenny and James Brunt. We were commissioned to work with 20 children to design, construct and animate a life size machine that will appear as an installation at Elsecar Heritage Centre to celebrate the launch of the Newcomen Beam Engine Restoration Project. It was a real challenge to complete all this work in just one day, but the children from St Helen's Primary School were fantastic and produced some amazing work. We documented the making process through stills photography and timelapse animation and have just completed the edits of the film "Magic Monster Machine" and the 'Making Of'. Phew!! Well done everyone!!

154 Exhibition now open!

Over the last few weeks I have spent most of my time working on the installation of the 154 Exhibition at the Cooper Gallery in Barnsley with Fabric Lenny and Dan Mallaghan, along with the amazing support of lots of gallery staff, Jemma Conway and many many more!! The Launch event went amazingly well and it was wonderful to see so many people come to support us and engage in the exhibition. It was also fantastic to meet Jonathan Grauel (USA) and Benjamin Rabe (Germany) who delivered a workshop to kick start the Launch. The exhibition runs until the 1st September so feel free to visit....it will make you look up, get down on you knees, listen, watch and contribute to the exhibition through drawing and writing, if you wish. Below are some images I captured on the Launch Day, more can be found here, plus the latest 154 updates can be found here.

Mini King and Queen Canvasses for the 154 Exhibition

Whilst collating all the work I have created over the last four months for the upcoming 154 Exhibition I came across these lovely images from a recent workshop led by Fabric Lenny at Birdwell Primary School, Barnsley. These images are from of selection which I captured to document the children designing and creating their Canvas Kings and Queens which will be exhibited as part of the 154 Exhibition, launching on 2nd June at the Cooper Gallery, Barnsley.

Creating Initial Designs

Water washing

Canvas King Design In Progress

Drawing on the iPad

Mini Queen canvass alongside the original design

Mini Queen Canvas alongside the original design