08/04/2024
Rescue of a mute swan (the pen) from Nottingham Canal...this swan made the news!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-68780504?at_link_id=D623405C-F993-11EE-AE35-8E37F3356DFE&at_medium=social&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_format=link&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_link_origin=BBC_East_Midlands&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_campaign_type=owned&at_link_type=web_link&fbclid=IwAR1r6f4fD_6AR2WC-rUcbPe00JiZ56Nw3Gfvfuxb6DLfLAmHKDW-mFUBD2w
Rescue of a mute swan (the pen) from Nottingham Canal...this swan made the news!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-68780504?at_link_id=D623405C-F993-11EE-AE35-8E37F3356DFE&at_medium=social&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_format=link&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_link_origin=BBC_East_Midlands&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_campaign_type=owned&at_link_type=web_link&fbclid=IwAR1r6f4fD_6AR2WC-rUcbPe00JiZ56Nw3Gfvfuxb6DLfLAmHKDW-mFUBD2w
Earthbound
Medium: Photographic Ink Jet prints (Photo Satin)
Size: A0 (1189 x 841mm)
Date: 2022
List of Works
1.Swan Portrait 1 (Face Right)
2.Swan Portrait 2 (Face backward)
3.Swan Portrait 3 (Face Left)
4.Cameo 1 (Preening)
5.Cameo 2 (Extended Wing)
6.Cameo 3 (Preen Gland)
7.Swan Feather 1 (Large Feather)
8.Swan Feather 2 (Small Feather)
9.Swimming
10.Dunking
Medium: Photographic Ink Jet prints (Photo Satin)
Size: A0 (1189 x 841mm)
Date: 2022
List of Works
1.Swan Portrait 1 (Face Right)
2.Swan Portrait 2 (Face backward)
3.Swan Portrait 3 (Face Left)
4.Cameo 1 (Preening)
5.Cameo 2 (Extended Wing)
6.Cameo 3 (Preen Gland)
7.Swan Feather 1 (Large Feather)
8.Swan Feather 2 (Small Feather)
9.Swimming
10.Dunking
Earthbound
Wallner Gallery
University of Nottingham
Saturday 25 June - Sunday 31 July
Open Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm
Saturday & Sunday, 10am-5pm
Admission Free
https://www.lakesidearts.org.uk/exhibitions/event/5627/simon-withers-earthbound.html
Wallner Gallery
University of Nottingham
Saturday 25 June - Sunday 31 July
Open Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm
Saturday & Sunday, 10am-5pm
Admission Free
https://www.lakesidearts.org.uk/exhibitions/event/5627/simon-withers-earthbound.html
Swan Life - A conversation
City Arts
Nottingham
11th May 2022
6-7pm
Join us to hear artist Simon Withers in conversation with LeftLion Magazine Nottingham and Green Hustle's Adam Pickering exploring the connections between creativity, nature and mental health. Simon will talk about his evolving relationship with mute swans on Nottingham’s River Trent, and how photographing them has informed his work and life, and become central to his wellbeing.
“I believe that it is vital for us to reconnect with nature for our mental health and wellbeing. I consider this a two way contract, wildlife and nature need to benefit equally. The connections between these two positions are complex and are still to be understood and fully appreciated; I wish to become part of the dialogue.”
Arts Council England
https://bit.ly/3LkMwuk
Swan Life
City Arts
Window on the World
Oct 21st - Nov 19th 2021
city-arts.org.uk/event/19088/swan-life/
A series of compatible photographs of mute swans projected from the two street-facing windows of the City Arts building.
The images present the duality of behaviour, nature’s aggression in tooth and claw and composure and serenity.
‘I believe that it is vital for us to re-connect with nature for our mental health and wellbeing. I consider this is a two-way contract, wildlife and nature need to benefit equally. The connections between these two positions are complex and are still to be understood and fully appreciated; I wish to become part of the dialogue. I have certainly found that being among Mute swans, observing and interacting with them helps me connect with nature, I like to think that I have an innate sense of empathy with them. The process for me to understand more about the mute swan is not a passive one and I am aware that my own contact with nature leaves a trace’.
Swan Life
City Arts
21.10.2021
In 2009 I was living in Compton Acre’s, a conurbation of Greater West Bridgford. The shopping precinct, which serves the community, has several takeaways, a Tesco’s express, a hair salon, several charity shops, pharmacy and a general store, which also serves as the post office. In the window of the general store were an array of posters and advertisements; Garden shed for sale, a concert by the Compton Acres Community Singers, Missing Cat with reward offered, hedge trimmer for sale and I was drawn to one advertisement in particular…it read
Want a New Challenge? Retrain as a Swan. 2-Day courses with no experience necessary, full tuition offered in Honking, Gliding serenely, eating bits of bread and breaking a man’s arm. Upon qualifying I would have the potential of earning up to £40 a day working on one of Britain’s illustrious waterways. I wrote down the particulars and went home to complete the on-line application form, supplied my statement of intent and CV. I waited three weeks and heard nothing from CygnusJobs-4-u.net so I went to visit my local bank of swans and became a mute swan anyway!
I’d like to thank my hosts City Arts and to Alison, Joe and Suzannah and to the rest of the staff for making this event possible.
I would also like to thank, Rigo, Kelly and Olivia at the Toll Bridge Café…
To Pam, Simon, Margaret and Teresa and their family for showing such generosity and support to me.
A meditation on Venus
Contributing text on the work of Erika Verzutti at Nottingham Contemporary May-Oct 2021
https://www.nottinghamcontemporary.org/record/a-meditation-on-venus
Many thanks to Kiera and LJ for asking me to write something on Erick's work and for supporting and encouraging me during the process. XX
Contributing text on the work of Erika Verzutti at Nottingham Contemporary May-Oct 2021
https://www.nottinghamcontemporary.org/record/a-meditation-on-venus
Many thanks to Kiera and LJ for asking me to write something on Erick's work and for supporting and encouraging me during the process. XX
City Arts
Social Media Takeover
May 2021
city-arts.org.uk/simon-withers-on-his-year-photographing-swans
Social Media Takeover
May 2021
city-arts.org.uk/simon-withers-on-his-year-photographing-swans
Cameos
Photo book
21x21cm
Matte photo paper
Acrylic and leather cover.
Single copy
56 pgs
August 2020
The camera is held up to my eye, through the viewfinder swans come into focus then move rapidly out of shot. Every so often I will aim to capture an image of a swan whilst it is at the margin of the lens.
When swans enter shallow water or haul themselves onto dry land, it is possible to be in close company and to observe, this is usually whilst the swan becomes quiescent, either to preen or to rest.
I convene at the base of a concrete step at the edge of the River Trent the swan’s gather to feed. A handful will take from my hand whilst others remain at the peripheries. Some become familiar to me through behaviors and markings, the majority will remain unaccredited; In the 1920s, "cameo role or cameo appearance" meant "a small character part that stands out from the other minor parts". It is within this context that I began to refer to collections of related photographs as cameos.
Cameo is imbued with meaning, it has been said that a person’s eyes are the windows to their soul and to capture that within a photograph can steal it away. I want to believe that my photographs capture something of my personality and furthermore I capture some essence of the subject also. The belief in the soul of a thing is a double presence, whether the reflection in a mirror, in water or as a photograph. How one treats that otherness may leave a trace affect upon you. For me, this otherness is interlinked with my interest in obsidian mirrors and far from being a barrier or something that steals away part of a soul, the photographs enable me to pass between the two realms.
The Orientalist and philologist Sir Wallis Budge alleged that the noun "Cameo" apparently comes from Kame’o (Hebrew) from cammaeus (Latin), a word used in Kabbalistic slang to signify a "magical square", a kind of talisman whereupon magical spells was carved.
Black and white photography is highly effective for creating images of high contrast, subjects are revealed anew with dark shadows and bright highlights and in the absence of colour, forms become more pronounced. In my photographs the swan becomes an essence I would ask myself, what makes a swan a swan?
The book was created through Saal Digital (Ref:Professional Line products)
I took advantage of a generous voucher offer from Saal to include with my book both the acrylic and leather cover and premium gift box.This offer gave me an opportunity to try and produce a book that approximated a published book. I have in mind an idea to make a very specific book of photographs and this offer enabled me to turn the idea into a real item of print.
Photo book
21x21cm
Matte photo paper
Acrylic and leather cover.
Single copy
56 pgs
August 2020
The camera is held up to my eye, through the viewfinder swans come into focus then move rapidly out of shot. Every so often I will aim to capture an image of a swan whilst it is at the margin of the lens.
When swans enter shallow water or haul themselves onto dry land, it is possible to be in close company and to observe, this is usually whilst the swan becomes quiescent, either to preen or to rest.
I convene at the base of a concrete step at the edge of the River Trent the swan’s gather to feed. A handful will take from my hand whilst others remain at the peripheries. Some become familiar to me through behaviors and markings, the majority will remain unaccredited; In the 1920s, "cameo role or cameo appearance" meant "a small character part that stands out from the other minor parts". It is within this context that I began to refer to collections of related photographs as cameos.
Cameo is imbued with meaning, it has been said that a person’s eyes are the windows to their soul and to capture that within a photograph can steal it away. I want to believe that my photographs capture something of my personality and furthermore I capture some essence of the subject also. The belief in the soul of a thing is a double presence, whether the reflection in a mirror, in water or as a photograph. How one treats that otherness may leave a trace affect upon you. For me, this otherness is interlinked with my interest in obsidian mirrors and far from being a barrier or something that steals away part of a soul, the photographs enable me to pass between the two realms.
The Orientalist and philologist Sir Wallis Budge alleged that the noun "Cameo" apparently comes from Kame’o (Hebrew) from cammaeus (Latin), a word used in Kabbalistic slang to signify a "magical square", a kind of talisman whereupon magical spells was carved.
Black and white photography is highly effective for creating images of high contrast, subjects are revealed anew with dark shadows and bright highlights and in the absence of colour, forms become more pronounced. In my photographs the swan becomes an essence I would ask myself, what makes a swan a swan?
The book was created through Saal Digital (Ref:Professional Line products)
I took advantage of a generous voucher offer from Saal to include with my book both the acrylic and leather cover and premium gift box.This offer gave me an opportunity to try and produce a book that approximated a published book. I have in mind an idea to make a very specific book of photographs and this offer enabled me to turn the idea into a real item of print.
Swan Blog No. 4
July 2020
In-between the Silence
https://nottinghamcontemporary.org/record/in-between-the-silence-by-simon-withers/?fbclid=IwAR132hdR57VGyIUyBSiiy2A6E5GG9U1Wb1x_gVC5GEfrOKKg51fi3a3qmpU
Re-Visioning # 1: A conversation with Simon Withers
In May 2020 Ian Nesbitt and I held an online conversation talking swan photography, mutual aid, art and depression. This is the first of a roving and open-ended series of conversations in the context of the interruption of everything by COVID-19.
Link to the article as transcribed and presented by Ian
https://medium.com/@nezbitz/re-visioning-1-a-conversation-with-simon-withers-3534a4b4ccdc
In May 2020 Ian Nesbitt and I held an online conversation talking swan photography, mutual aid, art and depression. This is the first of a roving and open-ended series of conversations in the context of the interruption of everything by COVID-19.
Link to the article as transcribed and presented by Ian
https://medium.com/@nezbitz/re-visioning-1-a-conversation-with-simon-withers-3534a4b4ccdc
Swan Blog No. 3
June 2020
Ghost
https://www.nottinghamcontemporary.org/record/ghost-by-simon-withers/
June 2020
Ghost
https://www.nottinghamcontemporary.org/record/ghost-by-simon-withers/
Blog No.2
May 2020
The Useless Machine
https://www.nottinghamcontemporary.org/record/the-useless-machine-by-simon-withers/
May 2020
The Useless Machine
https://www.nottinghamcontemporary.org/record/the-useless-machine-by-simon-withers/
During the Covid 19 lock down I have been asked by my workplace Nottingham Contemporary to write a series of occasional blogs about my swan photography.
Thank you to Nottingham Contemporary for giving me the courage to write these.
Blog No.1
April 2020
Ovid in Exile
https://www.nottinghamcontemporary.org/record/ovid-in-exile-by-simon-withers/
Thank you to Nottingham Contemporary for giving me the courage to write these.
Blog No.1
April 2020
Ovid in Exile
https://www.nottinghamcontemporary.org/record/ovid-in-exile-by-simon-withers/
January 1st 2019
The Last Star
Film
See Previous Modes > lens > Films (The Last Star)
Grassman
An account of my journey to Hydes (the unseen one)
(August 2018)
November 2017
My recent film is available on youtube for link see > Previous modes > lens > Films (The White Angel’s House)
The White Angels House screening
Film Free & Easy
‘Up in the Air’
Friday 9th February 2018
PRIMARY
My recent film is available on youtube for link see > Previous modes > lens > Films (The White Angel’s House)
The White Angels House screening
Film Free & Easy
‘Up in the Air’
Friday 9th February 2018
PRIMARY
Dope Bird
Dope Bird performance took place over the weekend: Sat 6th & Sun 7th May 2017
Location: Newstead Abbey (Nottinghamshire)
Event Times: Sat & Sun 11am - 3pm
Dope Bird is a Nu-Urban Gardeners project
"The Dope Bird performances are a departure from our previous work. Much of it will be improvised…responding to the abbey, the house and the grounds. Dope Bird will take place regardless whether there are visitors present or not…there will be an element of slowness…visitors will happen upon us…or catch a glimpse of us…Dope Bird is an idea…an ideal state…tragic and romantic.
Dope Bird is ’the self reflected’…Dope Bird is Nature's indifference to humanity…so to, man’s indifference to man”…
(Simon Withers April 2017)
Dope Bird I feel was the most successful element in my time with the Nu-Urban Gardeners, I think it was the one project that is closer to my approach (my heart) than I thought was possible within the NUG structure…it arrived at the very end…
Whilst at Newstead Abbey I frequently came upon a single male peacock, I appointed him “Lonesome George” …I have been thinking about LG…sadly he was somewhat absent during the performance weekend. LG was certainly an inspiration and so too an image of Lord Byron. Whilst in my 20’s I so nearly purchased a small ‘original' print of Byron. The title of the work was, ‘Byron Contemplating the Ruins of Rome’. These two singular references accompanied me whilst I inhabited Dope Bird.
One day I may reflect further on this work...there will be material to draw upon as to how I first thought about this idea and where and how it developed...I would be interested in exploring the nature of ‘Alienation’...including the ‘Act of Suffering’...’Acedia’ (a state of torpor)…and at this juncture, ‘Ennui’…a certain spiritlessness in my thinking occupied my mind during Dope Bird…existential overtones perhaps?
‘Anomie’ prevails…as one withdraws from the self to become a Dope Bird so there is a breakdown of a social contract…the withdrawing process and the possibility of a return to a more natural state of survival…Dope Bird is more bird than man and less a man than man…and in this state…the absence of a survival instinct.
As I sat perched…there was a state of deep yearning for something or someone...a deep sense of longing that may never return...a future loss...a desire for something that is other than the present and for something that possibly cannot exist...a profound sense of melancholia and a longing for ideal experiences...life’s desires...a personal search for happiness...the ideal and the cruelty of the imagination.
Dope for behaviour profiling
I have an interest in psychological tests and I am not too sure when I first came upon the Dope Bird test (I have not taken the test myself). The Dope Bird test was created by Author, ‘infopreneur' and former NASA project engineer Richard N. Stephenson.
There are four main birds type for this self-assessment test:
- Dove – peaceful and friendly.
- Owl – wise and logical.
- Peacock – showy and optimistic.
- Eagle – bold and decisive.
The principle idea behind the test is that you (having undertaken the test) are in a position to understand your own personality better. The kind of avian you are suggests (through the test) how you handle life; and having taken the test it enables you to better build on your own strengths and avoid your weaknesses.
Dope Bird Hybrid…having looked over the behaviour profiles for the respective Dope Birds I think that, ‘Principally Dope Bird (the act) is manifest and presented with an outward appearance of a Peacock whilst acknowledging that the form inhabited is a hybrid…it is possible to suggest that whomever inhabits a Dope Bird brings something of themselves into the role…those in the role may be of a singular type or a multiple type…it is quite possible in this role to be self and other…thus bringing a further character or character’s into the inhabitation’.
Contemplating Dope Bird continues...
09/05/2017
Lonesome George
Newstead Abbey (2017)
Newstead Abbey (2017)
Byron Contemplating the Ruins of Rome
This romantic depiction of the poet Lord Byron shows him seated by the Roman Colosseum, gazing on the ruins with an opened book, presumably of poetry, by his side. Although it appears unlikely that this scene was drawn from life, Byron had visited the Colosseum in the early 19th century. It appears in his long poem Childe Harold (1812-18). It is thought to have been created by engraver James Tibbitts Willmore (born 1800) or his brother and pupil, Arthur Willmore (born 1814), after the original composition by William Westall.
Childe Harold's Pilgrimage
Canto the Fourth
LXXVIII
Oh Rome! my country! City of the soul!
The orphans of the heart must turn to thee,
Lone mother of dead empires! and control
In their shut breasts their petty misery.
What are our woes and sufferance? Come and see
The cypress, hear the owl, and plod your way
O'er steps of broken thrones and temples, Ye!
Whose agonies are evils of day --
A world is at our feet as fragile as our clay.
Byron
Field Trip
January 2017
Gardom’s Edge Enclosure
Whilst undertaking a supporting position (photographer) for my two friends Arianne & Chloe (who were undertaking research on the Gardom’s Edge standing stone) I had the opportunity (as part of the field trip investigations) to have 40 minutes to explore the site unaided before meeting back at the standing stone.
The white stone (image) is located several meters away from a ‘Mock Rock’, a polyester resin and fibreglass replica of a carved gritstone rock.
Arianne & Chloe…I had a lovely day thank you XX.
January 2017
Gardom’s Edge Enclosure
Whilst undertaking a supporting position (photographer) for my two friends Arianne & Chloe (who were undertaking research on the Gardom’s Edge standing stone) I had the opportunity (as part of the field trip investigations) to have 40 minutes to explore the site unaided before meeting back at the standing stone.
The white stone (image) is located several meters away from a ‘Mock Rock’, a polyester resin and fibreglass replica of a carved gritstone rock.
Arianne & Chloe…I had a lovely day thank you XX.
Field Trip / Notes
I enjoyed making & packing my lunch and my flask of coffee for a day out.
I did not know what to expect...my friends are to learn more about a standing stone...
A minimum of planning...it was good to be getting out into the countryside
My Gore Tex Walking jacket is no longer waterproof
I did not bring with me my matching Gortex over trousers
I no longer like my electric blue Gore Tex twin set
My old boots let in water...they have walked this place before
It was a beautiful morning...the mist in the dales was spectacular
The once familiar now not so...
I’d forgotten the ‘Three men’...I have a photograph somewhere of myself and two friends sitting upon them...time has gone by...I am forgetting my past...I am very much present today.
Naturally and unquestionably...we follow the pencil
I’m in good company
I enjoyed being temporary lost
The man coming out of the woods...we headed towards the right person...it was Dan
(I had never known Dan until this moment…given our time + place he could be no other)
An awareness of time
The history of place
You are seldom far from the noise of cars and airplanes
I spent a lot of time with my face up close to the camera.
Mild panic at thinking about undertaking acts of creativity
Should I really take that stone from out of the dry stonewall?
Without the prompt I would not have flung myself at a large white rock whilst the camera was on a 10 second delay
I enjoyed making & packing my lunch and my flask of coffee for a day out.
I did not know what to expect...my friends are to learn more about a standing stone...
A minimum of planning...it was good to be getting out into the countryside
My Gore Tex Walking jacket is no longer waterproof
I did not bring with me my matching Gortex over trousers
I no longer like my electric blue Gore Tex twin set
My old boots let in water...they have walked this place before
It was a beautiful morning...the mist in the dales was spectacular
The once familiar now not so...
I’d forgotten the ‘Three men’...I have a photograph somewhere of myself and two friends sitting upon them...time has gone by...I am forgetting my past...I am very much present today.
Naturally and unquestionably...we follow the pencil
I’m in good company
I enjoyed being temporary lost
The man coming out of the woods...we headed towards the right person...it was Dan
(I had never known Dan until this moment…given our time + place he could be no other)
An awareness of time
The history of place
You are seldom far from the noise of cars and airplanes
I spent a lot of time with my face up close to the camera.
Mild panic at thinking about undertaking acts of creativity
Should I really take that stone from out of the dry stonewall?
Without the prompt I would not have flung myself at a large white rock whilst the camera was on a 10 second delay
January 2017
Under > Lens > Films a new link to youtube has been added…a short film called ‘No Place’, this was made at Nottingham Contemporary during one of my GA Spot Talks
In Graphics a new slideshow reveals some of the new graphics work i have been producing for the Nu Urban Gardeners.
May 2017
To gaze into the dark mirror...who or what am I? Looking into those eyes, this wretched creature saddens me...is this who I am? Master of shadow and mask...you are my other self...I cannot hide or run away any longer...do I face you and try to guide you out of the hopelessness or would the kindest thing to do is put you to death...oh pitiful creature I am failing you...I’m sorry...I am tired...
Statement
I was born in the UK a mere 15 years after the Second World War and I hold account of ancestry. My Grandfather fought with the BEF in World War One and was shot in the face and left for dead on the battlefield. My father, a ‘Tail-end Charlie’ in a WW2 Liberator bomber was the crewmember most likely to be scooped out in a bucket at the completion of a sortie. These two men survived global conflicts...my perspective on these two World Wars is the diminutive (the personal) and epic (the wider context).
To gaze into the dark mirror...who or what am I? Looking into those eyes, this wretched creature saddens me...is this who I am? Master of shadow and mask...you are my other self...I cannot hide or run away any longer...do I face you and try to guide you out of the hopelessness or would the kindest thing to do is put you to death...oh pitiful creature I am failing you...I’m sorry...I am tired...
Statement
I was born in the UK a mere 15 years after the Second World War and I hold account of ancestry. My Grandfather fought with the BEF in World War One and was shot in the face and left for dead on the battlefield. My father, a ‘Tail-end Charlie’ in a WW2 Liberator bomber was the crewmember most likely to be scooped out in a bucket at the completion of a sortie. These two men survived global conflicts...my perspective on these two World Wars is the diminutive (the personal) and epic (the wider context).
The End of Art
…And when the decision came it was one of reason and calmness…the task was to use my thirty plus years of experience and thereafter exercise my thought processes wisely, the main object was to keep myself safe during the transformation.
What is it I am defining by stating the following words (and the deeds that inevitably follow), ‘I am no longer making Art, I am for all intent and purpose no longer an Artist’…and when I say those words or hear myself saying them…they are so simple, straightforward…they have grace and contentment…however that was short-lived…
I am still not sure if I will write about this experience in any detail. Perhaps that is part of the condition that I am removing myself from.
I had contemplated on many occasions weather or not I had evolved and had by perchance reached an end game (far sooner than I had anticipated). Can any individual change sufficiently to maintain further purpose? I am thinking only within the context of Art and Art production? Perhaps there is no better time to be making and producing art…was I/am I just another form of imitation and therefore a symptom of the condition? So perhaps the only way forward is to stop making the Art…and so to return to the heading, ‘The End of Art’…by no longer making Art is for me, the end of Art.
One further possibility is that my action may prove to be my most liberating and creative action. As Arthur Danto writes on this very subject ‘………………………..
9th November 2015
…And when the decision came it was one of reason and calmness…the task was to use my thirty plus years of experience and thereafter exercise my thought processes wisely, the main object was to keep myself safe during the transformation.
What is it I am defining by stating the following words (and the deeds that inevitably follow), ‘I am no longer making Art, I am for all intent and purpose no longer an Artist’…and when I say those words or hear myself saying them…they are so simple, straightforward…they have grace and contentment…however that was short-lived…
I am still not sure if I will write about this experience in any detail. Perhaps that is part of the condition that I am removing myself from.
I had contemplated on many occasions weather or not I had evolved and had by perchance reached an end game (far sooner than I had anticipated). Can any individual change sufficiently to maintain further purpose? I am thinking only within the context of Art and Art production? Perhaps there is no better time to be making and producing art…was I/am I just another form of imitation and therefore a symptom of the condition? So perhaps the only way forward is to stop making the Art…and so to return to the heading, ‘The End of Art’…by no longer making Art is for me, the end of Art.
One further possibility is that my action may prove to be my most liberating and creative action. As Arthur Danto writes on this very subject ‘………………………..
9th November 2015
It is about three years ago since I last held a sale of artwork. At the time I had just relocated to Primary. As I have written previously (see Clearance Sale 2012) my last retailing venture was a massive clear out of work and by the time I moved into my studio I had sold or destroyed some 70% of what I had. What has happened in the intermediate period is that I continued to make and investigate further lines of enquiry…my website is testimony to this ceaseless activity.
I find myself in May 2015 having to reduce the size of my studio to little more than a storage space with my hot desk space for one. This reduction means that I have supplementary work that need to find homes for…so for one day only…this is not entirely true…I am in fact going to sell work across two consecutive Saturday’s. Saturday 23rd May Primary is holding a Summer Fayre and I have taken a stall at that event…this is an opportunity to introduce some of the work I have for sale it will sit cheek by jowl with the brick-a-brac. The following Saturday I am taking over project Space One at Primary to continue the sale.
Expanded Studio Project
Collaborations between artists from Primary
and Wysing Arts Centre.
November 2014 - March/April 2015
On Sunday 2nd November a contingent from
Primary travelled down to Cambridge to meet
up with artists from Wysing. In turn names of
the artists involved were drawn out
of two hats.
The first artists drawn out of the
hats were Lisa Wilkens and
Simon Withers.
The Cookie Fields (The complete series)
(Please view link below)
https://vimeo.com/120034623
Premeditation
April 2015
ESP second part of the Withers Wilkens collaboration.
The action was carried out on Lisa's actual drawing on
25th April at Aid & Abet space, Cambridge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoSUufG5cKk&feature=em-upload_owner
Collaborations between artists from Primary
and Wysing Arts Centre.
November 2014 - March/April 2015
On Sunday 2nd November a contingent from
Primary travelled down to Cambridge to meet
up with artists from Wysing. In turn names of
the artists involved were drawn out
of two hats.
The first artists drawn out of the
hats were Lisa Wilkens and
Simon Withers.
The Cookie Fields (The complete series)
(Please view link below)
https://vimeo.com/120034623
Premeditation
April 2015
ESP second part of the Withers Wilkens collaboration.
The action was carried out on Lisa's actual drawing on
25th April at Aid & Abet space, Cambridge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoSUufG5cKk&feature=em-upload_owner
Nu Urban Gardeners
Saturday 25th October (Bohunk Institute)
Friday 31st October (Nottingham Contemporary)
Possibly our final event of the season,
the NUGS will be undertaking both an initiation
and a performance for the Monsters & Mischief
event in October.
Image (below): NUGS improvised performance
at Nottingham Contemporary 31.10.2014
...give them enough rope and they will hang you with it
Image Credit:
The Kneel Before Zod Video Club of Nottingham Club (TKBZVCONC)
Non-Pr
Saturday 25th October (Bohunk Institute)
Friday 31st October (Nottingham Contemporary)
Possibly our final event of the season,
the NUGS will be undertaking both an initiation
and a performance for the Monsters & Mischief
event in October.
Image (below): NUGS improvised performance
at Nottingham Contemporary 31.10.2014
...give them enough rope and they will hang you with it
Image Credit:
The Kneel Before Zod Video Club of Nottingham Club (TKBZVCONC)
Non-Pr
GHOST
26 JULY – 16 NOVEMBER
Nottingham Castle & Museum
Nottingham Castle
Off Friar Lane
Nottingham, NG1 6EL
For the 5th in our series of artist commissions for the
Castle Café tables, Nottingham-based artist Simon Withers presents his research in to the ceramic ‘crested ware’ tanks
made to commemorate the end of the Great War. Inspired
by these little ornaments that would have adorned tables and mantelpieces in homes across the country, Simon has re-imagined them for 2014.
Trent to Trenches
A major exhibition to mark one hundred years since the
outbreak of the Great War exploring the experiences of
the people of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire at home
and in the trenches.
Find material relating to 'Ghost'
> News > CRESTED CHINA TANK
26 JULY – 16 NOVEMBER
Nottingham Castle & Museum
Nottingham Castle
Off Friar Lane
Nottingham, NG1 6EL
For the 5th in our series of artist commissions for the
Castle Café tables, Nottingham-based artist Simon Withers presents his research in to the ceramic ‘crested ware’ tanks
made to commemorate the end of the Great War. Inspired
by these little ornaments that would have adorned tables and mantelpieces in homes across the country, Simon has re-imagined them for 2014.
Trent to Trenches
A major exhibition to mark one hundred years since the
outbreak of the Great War exploring the experiences of
the people of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire at home
and in the trenches.
Find material relating to 'Ghost'
> News > CRESTED CHINA TANK
Nu Urban Gardeners
Nu Urban Gardeners (NUGS) are enjoying a varied
season of activities this summer. We have
already been out and about in The Fens,
around Boston and South Holland, undertaking R&D
(and spontaneous interventions) as part of
our 2014 Transported commission:
‘Cabbages & Kings’. This will culminate in a
series of surreal panel games (on the theme
of local produce), which we shall facilitate
in market places, supermarkets, pubs, cafes,
parks, allotments and other venues across the region
during July and August.
See NUG website > Links page for further details.
Nu Urban Gardeners (NUGS) are enjoying a varied
season of activities this summer. We have
already been out and about in The Fens,
around Boston and South Holland, undertaking R&D
(and spontaneous interventions) as part of
our 2014 Transported commission:
‘Cabbages & Kings’. This will culminate in a
series of surreal panel games (on the theme
of local produce), which we shall facilitate
in market places, supermarkets, pubs, cafes,
parks, allotments and other venues across the region
during July and August.
See NUG website > Links page for further details.
12th June 2014
On this day I was pleased to have received a visit from members of the Arts Council acquisitions team, Sarah Reed (Arts Council East Midlands) and Alex Farquharson (Nottingham Contemporary) into my studio. I talked with them about a selection of work that I hoped would best illustrate my arts practice. I introduced to the team the following works: Folk Songs Considering Venus City Planning Evacuation drawings Multi-Fold (painting) |
OSB 10
Collaborations between Primary artists PV. Thursday 1st May 2014 See: OSB 10 > Projects section for images Short 4 minute film of the OSB 10 can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSioWuiuPQg Image: Simon Withers & Richard Wentworth OSB PV 01.05.2014 |
2013
PRIMARY IS OPEN
Saturday 30th November 2013 Sunday 1st December 2013 In my studio space I presented works from the Blue Print series and various models and moquettes. In addition I had a selection of artists books on display…in the old caretakers house PRIMARY presented 'SEVEN'. My installation occupied the former caretakers kitchen. The work 'Welcome' was installed just prior to opening night…made with a stencil and applied spray glue…over the weekend the text became increasingly prominent. SEVEN was open to the public 3rd to 7th December. For further information see Links page and click on the link for PRIMARY Below are some images from the Primary is Open weekend. The winter scene diorama was installed in Primary Salon hang in project space 1 during the open weekend. In addition I have included here an image called Scala Santa (this is an image of myself climbing a set of Primary stars on my hands and knees). On Saturday 30th November The Nu Urban Gardeners undertook a 30 minute performance in Project space 2 at PRIMARY (the image reflects one of the more sedate moments in proceedings). |
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2013
Display PRIMARY Speaking in Tongues Souvenir (Milan) / The cocktail Hour / Funny Ha Ha / Satsuma Ware (article 104) / Back Stamp (fragmentation) / Crested china (fragmentation) Display is a series of five cases dispersed among the public areas in Primary. Artists present work in all five cases for a period of time see section > artworks> sculpture |
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013
Foraged Book Project "Foraging:Food & Book-Making from the Wild" Turkey Tail mushrooms (for making paper) Elderberry Tree (26.09.13)...foraging for Elderberries > nr Bobbers Mill, Nottingham. In October 2013 FBP will be visiting PRIMARY to undertake a series of foraging workshops and an exhibition of proposals for a foraged artists book. The first part of the project (Volume One), 'briefs & proposals' will be exhibited from 11th-18th October. Development (Volume Two) will be the making of original works on paper (in my case on Turkey Tail paper). Artists interpretation of foraging as a means of making art (Volume Three) will display more finalised works. The project will develop over a period of two years. The Foraged Book project is conceived by James Wood and Fergus Drennan see www.theforagedbookproject.co.uk For further images see > News > Foraged Book project 2013 |
JULY 2013 - MARCH 2014
ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND China tank project R&D award. The Great War that began in August 1914 and concluded with the armistice of the autumn 1918 is one of the most edifying conflicts within memory. My project is to work towards the creation of some crested china tanks. The contemporary piece (proposed) is inspired by the china made popular by the factory Falcon Pottery founded by Henry Goss (Stoke-on-Trent) in the early 20th Century. See images in separate folder > News > CRESTED CHINA TANK |
PRIMARY
Fund raising event THURSDAY JULY 4TH 5:30pm-11pm Primary would like to invite you to a special evening auction on Thursday July 4th. The evening presents a perfect opportunity for you to purchase artworks and view special ‘one off’ arts events by established and emerging artists. The fundraising auction offers a range of works, from Primary resident artists and Nottingham Trent University graduates to international works specially flown in for the event at prices to suit all pockets. Proceeds from the auction will go towards supporting exciting new artistic talent in Nottinghamshire and the continued development of Primary – a ‘hidden gem’ described as ‘one of the best and most welcoming artist’s studios in England’. We hope you’ll be able to join us for what promises to be a hugely enjoyable night. If you are unable to attend you can still see the works that will be auctioned as Primary will be open daily from 12 noon–4pm on Saturday June 29th to Wednesday July 3rd. During this time we will be happy to accept sealed bids for works in the auction. I'm contributing two works for this auction including the mystery box (see right). |
PRIMARY
2nd May 2013 Old School Break (Spring 2013) For Nottingham's 'First Thursday' (a special late night opening of galleries and artist run spaces) members of Primary exhibited work throughout the Primary building. I exhibited two works, 'Speaking in Tongues' & 'Open Skies'. An additional work (hopefully a permanent fixture) will remain in situ in Primaries WC's. CACATOR CAVE MALUM It has been suggested that the majority of swearwords derive from either the sacred or the sexual-excretory...this work combines the two. This work has been grafted from graffiti at Pompeii. |
Where a place becomes a site: Values
|
Click on image for a link to take you to John Newling's website |
2012
August 2012
Featured as the axis artist of the month.
Written transcript > TEXTS
The Broadcaster
Call & Response June 21st - September 20th 2012 The Post Methodists have invited me to take part in the 'Call & Response' group exhibition held in the Wellingore & Waddington (lincs) Broadcaster Boards. I have been asked to create a response. This project has been organised by Beacon. |
NU-Urban Gardeners Activity 2012
TARPEY GALLERY
CONTRIVANCES
30th April - 28th May 2011
77, High Street,
Castle Donington
DE74 2PQ
Open Wed - Sat 11am to 6pm