Photomonitor feature

Thank you to Christiane Monarchi, Editor, Photomonitor for the invitation to Stefanie Braun, co-Editor of NU and myself to talk about my series Last Summer. Stefanie invited me to be part of NU, a new pan-European journal, co-edited with Wouter De Broeck.  The first issue is framed around the theme of Habitat.
SB:What I like very much about your images is that the groups you photograph seem on the one hand very composed and directed, as if the rocks or the beach act like a theatre stage, the figures perfectly in harmony with their environment, folded into it nearly.’ 
In the interview I talk about the ‘heart-quickening self-consciousness’ of photographing strangers and the unexpected effect on me of building this body of work.
‘Continuing the series opens the potential for me to react in a more nuanced way to the idea of family I had been holding on to. Through photographing I become open to the generosity of strangers in the moment of encounter, I become part of the scene, if not part of the photograph.’ 
The feature includes three new works, not included in NU, as part of this ongoing series.
A double page spread in a journal.

NU Review Launches today!

NU review launches today! Thank you to editors Stefanie Braun and Wouter De Broeck for the invitation to be part of this new journal.
‘Whatever space and time mean, place and occasion mean more’, thus Aldo Van Eyck set out the programme for an ideal interaction between architecture and our world. NU wants to create and offer both – a place and an occasion. A place for slow reading and quiet reflection, a hub for fragile creations and brittle thoughts.’ Excerpt from Foreword
NU (meaning now in Dutch) is a new publication that aims to be a platform for connecting and reconnecting, where the ‘now’ offers a pause, a moment for unexpected encounters and a shelter for openness. Each issue will focus on a different subject matter that the editors feel is relevant now and explore it through the work and reflections of our diverse group of contributors. The first issue focuses on habitat. Contributions from Danny Treacy, Deborah Siebenhofer, Frank Willems, Igor Moritz, Irina De Herdt, James Bacchi-Andreoli, James Peake, Joanna Piotrowska, Kathrin Blum, Marjan Suffys, Melanie Stidolph, Roeland Peeters, Sylvie Marie and Wouter De Broeck. Available in print and downloadable pdf from www.nureview.org

Archives & Editions

Thank you for the invitation @archives_and_editions – especially Zoe Childerley and Sacha Lehrfreund for the In Conversation this past week. Great to share ideas of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ and remote image making with you. Image here from Zoe Childerley.

Still from 'Treyarnon' film

Screening: Cornish Slates

Delighted that the first film, (made with real film!), I made with Rachael Jones, has been selected for the next Cornish Slates screening. Treyarnon was due to be screened as part of the event on 25 March 2020, but this is now being rescheduled for later in the year. Film made with the support of Cultivator Cornwall.

Artists Supporting PPE

April 2020 – Artist Oliver Raymond-Barker set up Artists Supporting PPE to support Concept Shed run by Sam Lanyon and his non-profit team, who are mass producing face shields for the NHS, either at cost price or for free. To help support this endeavour a community of artists from across the South West have generously donated artworks for sale, with 100% of proceeds going directly to Sam’s CoVisor project. Thank you to the lovely supporter who brought my Windfall print, the initiative brought in over £1,500. www.crowdfunder.co.uk

Grant: Cultivator

THANK YOU Cultivator! I have been awarded an Individual Skills Development grant by Cultivator, Cornwall for online review sessions to support book in progress: Endless Reproduction. The work is from the years I was unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant. They merge the frustrations and increased medical interventions of trying to conceive, with the mechanical processes and failures of photography. The grant will enable me to connect directly with curators and publishers for advice on making the book a reality. www.cultivatorcornwall.org.uk

Screen shot, photograph of Melanie Stidolph

Conference: Agile Structures

Agile Structures by Sovay Berriman and Sara Bowler was a great online conference over 4 days from 24 to 27 June 2020. Talks and resources from Cinzia Mutigli, Holly Davey, Shama Khanna and Ceri Hand amongst others. Lovely check-ins over breakfast with curators, producers and artists across the region. I introduced book in progress Endless Reproduction in the Speed Show on Friday 26 June. Thanks for the opportunity Sara and Sovay, great to share book for the first time with other presenters; Katy Richardson, Delpha Hudson, Helen Trevaskis and Kitty Hillier. Thank you everyone for the feedback. www.agilestructures.persona.co #agilestructures2020

Exhibition: Scenes

Thank you to Naomi Frears for the invitation to exhibit as part of Scenes at Newlyn Art Gallery 19 October 2019 to 4 January 2020. Great to be part of the show with works by; Rachael Jones, Lauren Keeley, Alice Mahoney, Ben Sanderson, Soraya Smithson and Joe Townshend. ‘New work by artists and filmmakers, including film stills, ceramics, prints, and paintings of remembered, imagined and actual scenes from films by seven artists and filmmakers.’ www.newlynartgallery.co.uk

Flyer for exhibition

Exhibition: Equinoxy

Thanks Sam Bassett and all who organised Equinoxy! A one night only exhibition in Sam’s studio in St Ives – ‘up top’ of the town, on Friday 20th September 2019. Fundraiser for Extinction Rebellion. Artists; Simon Bayliss, Lucy Stein, Ben Sanderson, Abigail Robertson, Sam Bassett Finlay Abbott Ellwood, Ali, Ilker Cinarel, Andy Harper and Michael Eddy.

Video still of two legs apart in the sea

Exhibition: From A to B, via C

 

Cultivator Cornwall Celebration event – Exhibition ‘From A to B, via C’. An opportunity to see work by artists who have been supported to expand their media and process of making. I received support from Cultivator to work with Kelly Taylor and Rachael Jones – mentoring and film editing skills development.

Work in progress film ‘Night Sounds’ shown as part of the exhibition at Back Lane West gallery in Redruth. Thanks to the team for including the work in the exhibition and to audience for coming to the talks on Saturday.