Honourable mention in the Annual Award, Image of ‘The Hoad’ in Ulverston
Monochrome Architecture Award
Northern Soul
Northern Soul – We talk to the people who work, rest and play in the North of England and scour the region for interesting stories, histories, ambitions and events.
The Awesome Foundation
The Awesome Foundation is a global community advancing the interest of awesome in the universe, £500 at a time.
Each fully autonomous chapter supports awesome projects through micro-grants, usually given out monthly. These micro-grants, £500 or the local equivalent, come out of pockets of the chapter’s “trustees” and are given on a no-strings-attached basis to people and groups working on awesome projects.
Liverpool Echo
The Liverpool Echo advertises the show at Open Eye Gallery
Double Negative
Laura writes a splendid article about the Tell it Like it is show.
E Architect Magazine
Preston Harris exhibition promotionAn Exhibition curated by Charles Quick, the Preston Bus Station is 50 years old, I was allowed in to shoot the PR images before the main opening. What a splendid show it is, integrated on all floors of the Harris Museum.
The Unseen
The way we hide our faults is exemplified in the home
The home is of course a different meaning – feel for each individual. When a stranger enters with the all showing tool, the camera, when pointed in the right direction it picks the teeth of the question what is home?
Yes we do all know our homes but when challenged by some event needing to display them then the outward view, the face is different we clean polish and tidy. The detail on show is buffed and preened but the hidden is more often than not left to its own devices.
There is a conflict of materialism and worth in my images the real meaning of the Estate agents image is to show off, to exaggerate the home (the homeliness) to such an extreme that the viewer almost expects to be deceived.
My aim is to say that the home is a unique place that is molded and personalised by the owner, it is these very faults and scars in the home that makes it their home. The next owner will no doubt add their own and erase the previous owners marks of distinction.
I see my camera as the Staff Sergeant’s white gloved hand running across the tops of the lockers looking for dust.
Unseen is unseen I move furniture fascinated by the impression of years of one position. The wall paper that doesn’t stretch behind the radiator, the squashed spider long since reduced to dry exoskeleton.
This is what is behind the façade of the estate agent’s photo it is the reality the truth. And not a little amusing that these spaces and crannies exist even in the most doted upon home.
The Urban Moth
The study of a completely fictitious species of moths that can react to the Anthropocene and change their camouflage to suit.
The project is a collaboration with Angela Tait a ceramicist and artist.
The concept is a reimagined species which lives within the Manchester Museum and surrounding area. These creatures have evolved rapidly to survive in a contemporary arena. The fine porcelain moths, each one adorned with photographic macro details from the museum, live on and amongst the collection, architecture and environs. The habitats, feeding habits and other notable details are contained in ‘The Urban Moth’, an entomological field guide. The essential reference book contains records of sightings along with remarks made by the authors over a period of observation.
This idea was born of a residency that the artists undertook with the entomology department during 2016. During the development phase of the residency the artists spent time photographing, drawing and exploring the collection of moths and butterflies. During discussions with the lepidopterists they started to consider the politics of the Anthropocene. The resulting Urban Moth project explores the influence of the human upon the planet whilst anchoring the project firmly within the educational
agenda of a contemporary museum.
Ceramic review
Editorial discussing the production and use of the ceramic camera in the field. Article gives critical discussion and follows the creation of an exhibition at the Accademia de Belle Arti, Macerata, Italy.
Erinma – The peacemaker
Portrait Sculpture
I was asked by Karen to make an image of the clay model of the bust in the hope of gaining funding to use gunmetal for a final piece. It worked and she produced a beautiful cast. I photographed that too as you can see
Dr Erinma Bell MBE DL, Peace Campaigner and Founder of CARISMA
A Guns to Goods project
This sculpture has been created to highlight issues associated with gun crime, and to celebrate the achievements of CARISMA in reducing gun crime in inner urban South Manchester. The sculpture is a monument to a high achieving black woman; a gesture which contrasts with and highlights the gender and ethnic bias of the majority of existing monuments in Manchester and elsewhere.
The portrait is a 1.5 scale sculptural bust of Erinma produced in clay during a series of sittings. The sculpture is cast in metal from recycled guns.
www.carisma.me.uk
www.gunstogoods.org
Sculptured and created by Karen Lyons, Littleborough
Guns to goods
Guns into Goods is a Community Interest Company working in partnership with Greater Manchester Police Force and CARISMA (Community Alliance for Renewal Inner South Manchester Area) to recycle guns removed from the streets and turn the metal into new products. The works explore the potential to raise public awareness of the positive work that is being done with communities locally and internationally to disarm and destroy weapons.
The final piece
