Many artists don’t get paid for much of what they do, or get to see their work within people’s homes or working settings other than galleries. Little of the art-work that ends up on domestic or commercial walls is challenging, innovative or political.
Fear of The Surplus stage
5 actors performing a 4-hour non-stop reading of Non-Stop Inertia by Ivor Southworth.
A stage incorporating a seating area, covered in quotes taken from typographical theory and from philosophers, writers, economists, painted in sign writers paint.
Installed for the re-opening of The Tetley, Leeds - a former brewery headquarters - as an artist run art space, restaurant and bar.
The Fear of the Surplus stage hosted a series of talks, workshops and performances.
Mark Fischer, writer, philosopher, theorist, teacher, speaking on the Fear of The Surplus stage.
At The Tetley, Leeds, talks, workshops and performances took place on the stage on the subject of work and labour. In an installation of the stage in Ulverston, the Lake District a series of talks, music events and workshops focused on the theme ‘the good life’.
Die Kunst, art band, performing new material on The Fear of The Surplus stage, included as a free C.D in the publication The Good Life published by The Castlefield Gallery.
Flaghall
A reading / viewing / meeting / exhibition space, a tent like structure, constructed from hand-made fictitious national flags made from discarded fabrics.
Shown here in Edinburgh City Art Gallery as part of Where Do I End And You Begin for Edinburgh Festival and Commonwealth Games, containing a library and a film by writer and land activist Andy Whiteman.
Flaghall was exhibited in various spaces, each time with an artist or other invited to make work to exhibit within it.
Flaghall was exhibited in: Castlefield Gallery, Manchester, UK; Lokaal 01, Breda, The Netherlands; Konstakuten, Stockholm, Sweden; Unit 2, London, UK; Firstsite, Colchester, UK.
A Very Large Curtain
A Very Large Curtain is seen here installed at APT Gallery, Deptford, London, in the exhibition Sinister Island as part of The Wailing Project by Emma Rushton.
The Curtain provided the backdrop for members of the public invited to wail: publicly, collectively, loudly.
And for a wailing performance by singer Kirsty Ferguson Lewis (London).
A Very Large Curtain was also exhibited at Simultanhalle Art Space, Cologne, Germany, along with other works including; Scapegoat Scarecrow, above.
The Thoreau Cabin
Henry David Thoreau was an American 19th century writer, naturalist and philosopher - he lived in his cabin in the woods as an experiment in simplified living.
The Thoreau Cabin was a copy of one built and lived in by Henry David Thoreu. Installed in Eskdale Forest, The Lake District, as part of The Good Life a collaborative project by Emma Rushton and Derek Tyman.
The Thoreau Cabin was sited in Eskdale forest for 6 months, from April to September, during which time 26 artists, writers, curators and musicians visited to spend time contemplating ‘the good life’. Some produced new work included in an exhibition at Lanterhouse in Ulverston and in The Good Life publication, published by Castlefield Gallery / Cornerhouse books.
Interior of The Thoreau Cabin, image taken by Webb-Ellis during their period of residence.
Each resident was given basic food supplies and equipment to live as detailed in Henry David Thoreau’s book Walden written during the time he lived within his original cabin near Walden Pond, Massachusetts 1845 - 47.
Film still from Freaked by artist Steve Pool produced during his stay in The Thoreau Cabin in Eskdale Forest, The Lake District.