Claire Weetman - News

Peel

2012-02-17T15:13:00.002Z

The past 2 fridays I've been attending a workshop at Salfor Uni on Stop Frame media. Led by the most helpful technicians Craig and Steve, I've been picking up tips on setting up, lighting, image sizes and this week have had my first foray into editing with Final Cut Pro and DVD studio pro.

I spent a couple of hours last week with limited materials and equipment producing and photographing the work, and here's a rough edit of what I've produced

Graphite drawing workshop at the Brindley

2011-12-15T10:00:00.000Z

At the end of November I led a workshop for adults at the Brindley exploring graphite powder and animation. It was a successful day, with lots of interesting drawings produced which were made into animations on the day:

Participants experimented with hand cut stencils, graphite powder, mark making and using masking tape to create these drawings.

The Portal, work with HMP Wymott and the Harris Museum & Art Gallery

2011-12-14T15:18:00.008Z

During November 2011 I've been working with 10 men and their tutors in the art class at HMP Wymott for the Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston. The starting point for our work has been a painting of 'Puck' by the artist Richard Dadd.

"Puck”, a central character from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, sits on a toadstool while smaller fairy figures dance around him in moonlight. Dadd's painting evokes the play in an abstract way featuring superb draughtsmanship, a powerful poetic imagination, an intense love of nature, and a mastery of dramatic lighting. For approximately 100 years the painting was in Preston, having been purchased during the early 1850s by Thomas Birchall of Ribbleton Hall, Preston and held by his descendents until the 1960s. In 2011 the painting was purchased for the Harris Museum & Art Gallery with the support of The Art Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Friends of the Harris Museum & Art Gallery and a bequest from Mrs Dorothy Wade, administered by Arts Council England."

Like the men who took part in this project, Dadd was an incarcerated man, and it is this situation that has inspired the Portal. The men produced collages which were compiled into a book seen here. Inspired by Puck's ability to change situations in A Midsummer Night's Dream, the collages consider what their creators would change in their own lives if they had the magical juice of the love-in-idleness flower that causes such confusion in Shakespeare's play.

Themes of time passing and a desire for luxuries are to be expected from those who have too much of the former and not enough of the latter, but from those basic responses flourish fundamental desires for love, health, family, nature and change, resulting in this appealing collection of collages.

The collages were an important step along the way to completing drawings, which we animated using series of still photographs. The book and animation, plus a drawing on perspex were exhibited as part of the 2011 Harris Open. Together they form a narrative about time passing and transformation providing a window to the lives of the men who created the works.

Made by:
Craig, Joe, John N, John S, Mark, Melvin, Michael, Mike, Rob, and Shane.

Harris Museum & Art Gallery Access and Inclusion Officer: Kyra Milnes

Tutors:
Lindsey Hill, Paul Sanderson and Suzanne Snape

Education Department:
Sue Blackledge and Suzie Doyle

Project volunteer: Sue Seabridge

HMP Wymott
Manchester College
Harris Museum & Art Gallery

Tearing Space Apart at Salford School of Art and Design

2011-11-15T12:28:00.003Z

I've been working at Salford University as part of AA2A for the past 4 weeks, going in on regular Tuesdays to realise a piece of work that I've wanted to make on a larger scale. And it's been useful. I'm not sure its entirely successful, but it has brought me to a new idea about how to use the process and a link to some of my more theoretical research. I've taken a break this week to reflect on the work done so far and to plan more work to come.

So here is the process I followed to create 'Tearing Space Apart (Salford I)'

A wall is covered in newspaper
The newspaper is torn off the wall and methodically numbered
The wall has co-ordinates marked along its edges
Fragments of newspaper are placed on the wall at randomly allocated co-ordinates
Each piece of paper is drawn around a number of times with pencil according to its catalogue number
Lines do not cross
The fragments of paper are used again, this time they are outlined using powdered graphite according to randomly allocated co-ordinates
Ends

And some images.

And some video documentation:

St Helens Open 2011

2011-11-14T12:00:00.001Z

The St Helens Open exhibition has come around again. I've submitted two works - one has been selected to be shown at the Godfrey Pilkington Gallery and the other is off to (what I term) the Salon des Refuses at MASH art cafe.

Tearing Space Apart. Pencil & Paper. 2011. 23x23cm, £100 framed

Private view takes place Tuesday 15th November 6-8pm and the exhibition continues until 17 December 2011.

Signpost, Schiedam. Stencilled graphite powder on Kraft paper. 50x70cm, £100 framed

St Helens Open
Godfrey Pilkington Gallery, 1st floor, Central Library, Victoria Square, St Helens
and
MASH art cafe, Haydock Street, St Helens.

Wednesday 16 November - Saturday 17 December 2011

Website update

2011-11-13T15:14:00.002Z

My website has been updated with some recent works, including Motus:Immotus, Digi Dot-to-dot and Tearing Space Apart. New sections include a videos page, where I'll be posting digital works, animation and films documenting process-based work and a books page where you will find a couple of my new forays into artist book making.

An exciting discovery has been Issuu, where i've been able to upload a pdf of my book and embed it into my website, giving a better feel than posting individual images. Thanks to artist Kate Smith who mentioned it on her blog for putting me on to it.

Big Draw at Crmz, Widnes

2011-10-30T15:52:00.016Z

Halton-based artist collective Markmakers have been in residence at the Crmz, a new youth centre in Widnes as part of the borough's Big Draw activities.

Artists Carys Anne Hughes, Jennifer Kenworthy, Sharon Lelonek and Claire Weetman spent the half term week working with young people at Crmz on a variety of drawing activities.

Carys Anne Hughes took her embroidery practice to the youth centre, creating a curtain with the young people that used continuous line drawing and pattern.

Jennifer Kenworthy, whose work features drawing, embroidery and landscapes, created images on a glass wall with the participants. Using sticky vinyl, they built up images in small pieces.

Right: Curtain with embroidered drawings made by young people with artist Carys Anne Hughes

Vinyl drawings made by young people with Jennifer Kenworthy

Sharon Lelonek is a printmaker who uses pattern and repetition in her work, often using marker pen to draw directly onto metal etching plates. As part of this programme of work, Sharon exhibited one of her prints in a new exhibition facility at the Crmz, sharing real artworks with the young people in the centre. For this big draw activity, Sharon used her technique of marker pen doodles, this time making them onto paper lined pillars that form part of the architecture of the building.

Also working with the architecture of the newly refurbished building was Claire Weetman. In one of her works 'Dicing with Drawing' participants were asked to generate random numbers by rolling dice. They were then able to connect two numbers on the glazed wall of the building using black tape. Young people also created versions of this on paper, using a variety of drawing materials, the results of which were exhibited in the new exhibition frames for their peers to see.

Drawings by young people using chance, dice, and a variety of drawing media

Claire also likes to use Graphite powder to create drawings and has started working with animation in her practice. Working with a small group of young people she helped them to create a short animation called 'Blink'. Using stop motion animation techniques, graphite powder and erasing, they created the following film:

The idea to make drawings of eyes came from the work that Markmakers member Sue Archer had created with a local primary school. The work pictured here is a hanging made from felt that features eyes, noses and mouths, creating abstract faces as it is viewed.

Right: Felt hanging produced by Sue Archer with a local primary school.
Photographer: Luke.

The Big Draw in Congleton

2011-10-30T14:32:00.008Z

Claire Weetman worked with Cheshire East Council, Congelton Leisure Centre and it's visitors on Saturday 22 October 2011 to create a Big Draw sporting spectacular. Digi Dot-to-dot featured a numbered course, laid out like a dot-to-dot, with flags and fun.

Children, mums and dads all joined in to select a sporting way of navigating the course, which was laid out in the outline of the London 2012 logo for Track Cycling. Space hoppers abounded, hula hoops rotated and families teamed up for wheelbarrow races around the circuit. Skipping dads, crawling mums and crabbing kids competed for top spot on the power lap board, where, unlike Top Gear, points were awarded for a creative method of travel rather than speed.

All of this exhausting activity was filmed from above where the cyclist image could be seen to greatest effect and edited into the following video where the traces of the people can be seen to trace the outline of the figure.

Those who needed a breather from all this activity could release their creative juices on paper, completing dot-to-dots and making their own. Flowers, a combine harvester, sailing boats and a surfing cat were all drawn through the medium of dot-to-dot.

Artist in Residence, Salford University

2011-10-12T09:00:00.000+01:00

I've been selected for the AA2A (Artists Access to Art Colleges) residency at Salford University. The AA2A project provides placements for visual artists and designer makers in Higher and Further Education institutions across England. In 2011/2012, AA2A schemes will run in 32 institutions, providing 128 placements nationally. In the last 12 years, over 1,200 participants have had the opportunity to undertake a period of research or realise a project, using workshops and supporting facilities in participating fine art and design departments.

I've proposed to develop Motus:Immotus and Tearing Space apart - two works that have been initiated over the past 6 months, but now need public installation space to develop them further. Salford University has installation spaces at it's studios but also exhibition and installation opportunities at the Lowry Outlet Mall and possibly also Media City.

More news about the residency will be posted here as things happen.

Drawing Showdown - Saatchi Online

2011-10-11T10:44:00.003+01:00

I've entered a drawing from 2008 into this competition by Saatchi Online. There are currently 2000 entries open for public vote in an art face-off. You pick your favourite from a choice of 2 drawings and they are all ranked according to how folks vote. The top 300 go through to a judges panel.

My entry is 'One minute: Kyoto Station' a drawing from 2008, but part of a series that i'm revisiting with plans for drawings from my recent travels in Portugal, Holland and Ireland. One minute of digital video is taken from a high balcony, or at the top of a flight of stairs. The video is then projected, and a drawing made that traces the movement of the people in the image.

The drawing is currently hovering between 140th and 220th place, so hopefully it will go through to round 2, but you can vote for the work here: http://www.saatchionline.com/showdown/match/showdown/8/artist/301963
You either need to register or connect with Facebook to vote - Thanks for taking the trouble.

Invisible City in the news

2011-09-26T13:59:00.005+01:00

The light at the zebra crossing in the Broersvest, Schiedam 
turns green. Six men and women walk across the street, but 
suddenly they begin to dance. They stand still, turn around and 
make a jump. The people in traffic look surprised.

This "Green Light" performance, by choreographer Mateja Bucar 
from Slovenia is one of the components during the festival 
Invisible City, which took place last weekend in Schiedam. This 
festival combines visual arts and dance. "We want to create a 
kind of city in motion," said Ans Kanen, who created this project 
together with Liat Magnezy and FionaWeir.

They invited 23 artists from around the world to Schiedam. Most 
of them displayed their work in the building Ruimte in Beweging, 
at Boterstraat. "This area is hidden. This is the idea of an 
invisible city", says Kanen. 'People who walk in and become 
part of it. They become part of that city'. This also happens 
at the Wennekerpand and on the street, as in Green Light. 
"Because we want art in the city, but not everyone from 
Schiedam will bother to come."

The six dancers create amazing scenes. A woman who is on her 
bike turns her head, a car stops in the middle of the Broersvest 
to watch. "We perform this dance in different cities in Europe. 
Usually we get nice comments, but sometimes aggressive reactions 
too", said Bucar. If someone comes at Ruimte in Beweging they 
will see more of these amazing performances. It starts with the 
entrance, where Daan Houter has filled a whole floor with 1 cent 
coin. 

Inside you can find the work by Ozlem Uzun, from Istanbul. Last 
week she transformed a tram stop in Schiedam into a living room. 
She placed herself on the other side of the street to watch the 
reactions of the people and recorded it. She has now moved the 
living room to Ruimte in Beweging and her recordings can be seen 
on a television.

Uzun enjoys being in Schiedam. 'This city is much calmer than 
Istanbul'. Also Claire Weetman, an artist from Liverpool enjoys 
it too, though she knew no one. "It is inspiring to have contact 
with people from another discipline'.

Invisible City

2011-08-31T16:09:00.002+01:00

2, 3 en 4 september 2011, Ruimte in Beweging, Schiedam

Opening op vrijdag 2 september, 19:00-23:00

Festival op 3 en 4 september 2011, 12:00-18:00

NL — INVISIBLE CITY is een kunstfestival dat draait om de beleving van de stad. 23 kunstenaars van over de hele wereld buigen zich over het fenomeen stad. Hieruit ontstaat een installatie, een integraal werk opgebouwd uit hun persoonlijke visies. Zoals een stad ontdekt wordt, zo ontdekt de bezoeker van Invisible City de schaduwstad die verrijst. Niemand neemt hetzelfde verhaal mee naar huis. Kom naar Schiedam en ontdek de onzichtbare stad.

EN — INVISIBLE CITY is an art festival that revolves around the experience of the city. 23 artists from all over the world examine the notion of the city. Their works form an installation, an integral piece built from their personal visions. The way a city dweller moves through a city, is the way a visitor of Invisible City discovers the shadow city that arises. Nobody will take the same story home. Come to Schiedam and discover the invisible city.

MEER INFORMATIE/ MORE INFORMATION

www.shadowingcities.com

BEREIKBAARHEID

INVISIBLE CITY vindt plaats in en rondom Ruimte in Beweging en is gemakkelijk per fiets, met de auto of met het openbaar vervoer bereikbaar.

Ruimte in Beweging
Boterstraat 81
3111NB Schiedam

Trein/Metro
Schiedam CS is slechts 10 minuten lopen verwijderd van het festival. Vanuit het station ga je direct rechts en volg je de Horvathweg tot aan het water. Dan sla je linksaf de Overschiesestraat in. Je loopt alsmaar rechtdoor langs het water, over de Broersvest, tot in de Boterstraat.

Tram/Bus
Met tram 21/23 van Rotterdam CS en bus 54/57, uitstappen bij halte Broersvest.

Fiets/Lopend
Met de fiets is het festival vanuit Rotterdam Centrum te bereiken binnen 23 minuten, lopend doe je er ongeveer 1 uur en 15 minuten over.

Auto
Vanaf de A20 volg je de borden richting Schiedam Centrum. Ruimte in Beweging is gelegen naast een parkeergarage op de hoek Herenstraat/Kreupelstraat.

Mede mogelijk gemaakt door: Albert Heijn, CBK Schiedam, Fonds Schiedam Vlaardingen, GAGARIN.NU, Gemeente Schiedam, Prins Bernhard Cultuur Fonds, Ruimte in Beweging, Satisfaire, Stichting DanceMotionPicture, VSB Fonds, Wennekerpand en vele anderen.

Opening op vrijdag 2 september, 19:00-23:00

Festival op 3 en 4 september 2011, 12:00-18:00

MEER INFORMATIE/ MORE INFORMATION

www.shadowingcities.com

BEREIKBAARHEID

INVISIBLE CITY vindt plaats in en rondom Ruimte in Beweging en is gemakkelijk per fiets, met de auto of met het openbaar vervoer bereikbaar.

Ruimte in Beweging
Boterstraat 81
3111NB Schiedam

Tram/Bus
Met tram 21/23 van Rotterdam CS en bus 54/57, uitstappen bij halte Broersvest.

Fiets/Lopend
Met de fiets is het festival vanuit Rotterdam Centrum te bereiken binnen 23 minuten, lopend doe je er ongeveer 1 uur en 15 minuten over.

Auto
Vanaf de A20 volg je de borden richting Schiedam Centrum. Ruimte in Beweging is gelegen naast een parkeergarage op de hoek Herenstraat/Kreupelstraat.

Rarities. An exhibition of miniature magnetic art in Hastings and St Leonards

2011-08-26T09:30:00.000+01:00

Two drawings, Tearing Space Apart 4:3 and Tearing Space Apart 4:3, Black have been transformed into magnetic artworks which will be exhibited on the gates of Hastings Pier this Saturday 27 August as part of Alban Low's latest magnet exhibition, Rarities

From 4pm onwards, these miniature artworks will be placed on the gates of Hastings Pier, available for the visiting public to collect, take home, and create an art gallery on their fridge.

From the online gallery, the following works have caught my eye - if you are in the area, go and collect your favourites;

Scribble Drawing I, Xanthus Andrews
Joining Memories, Sharon Read
Derek Jarman's House - Flo Snook
The Hastings Moth Project
Rays - Juliet Guiness

Invisible City, Schiedam, 2-4 September 2011

2011-08-25T14:13:00.004+01:00

Claire Weetman has been selected to participate in Invisible City, an event currently in production in Schiedam, NL. Artists, builders, architects, actors, dancers, players and thinkers are invited to react to the notion of the moving, invisible city culminating in a public event at Ruimte in Beweging, Schiedam between 2-4 September 2011.

"Invisible City is the first project of Shadowing Cities, a cooperation of Liat Magenzy, Fiona Weir and Ans Kanen. Its goal is to put the spotlight on Schiedam by means of art and culture. For the first time the city will be flooded with artists from all over the world. Invisible City aims to free Schiedam from the shadow of Big Brother Rotterdam.

Ruimte in Beweging on Boterstraat is the central point of Invisible City. Several entrances give access to the building. It has a large, open main space and some separated smaller spaces. Each has its own atmosphere and peculiarities. For Invisible City, the building will be transformed to a city in itself, a shadow city.

The individual visions of the artists form a city installation, an integral work built up from personal views of the city. The way the city dweller moves around in a city, the way a city is discovered, is the way a visitor of Invisible City discovers the town that springs from the artist’s imagination. Nobody will take the same story home."

During the next week, Claire will be producing new works that are a development from her Passing, Watching, Waiting, Following interventions, previously produced in Liverpool and Linz. Working with live projection, drawing and public spaces, Claire will produce a series of new works under the title Motus:Immotus.

Visit a-n's Artists Talking site to read more about Claire's preparation and activity as part of Invisible City.

Invisible City, New Work by Claire Weetman in Schiedam is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and by Shadowing Cities.

New work - inspired by John Cage

2011-08-12T10:32:00.005+01:00

'Every day is a good day' opens at the Southbank Centre today and is a chance to see this touring exhibition of John Cage's work. I saw it at Baltic back in September and in the past few months have been producing drawings inspired by Cage's process and his use of stones.

John Cage (1912-1992), Where R = Ryoanji (3R/17), 1992, Pencils on handmade Japanese paper, 25.4 x 48.3 cm, The John Cage Trust, Red Hook, New York, Photo: David Heald/SRGF, New York, © The John Cage Trust at Bard College. via arttattler.com

John Cage, Where R=Ryoanji: R3, 1983. Courtesy Henning Lohner. © The John Cage Trust. via www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk

Here is a selection of the recent drawings I have been working on:

Tabloid (Square Root 4), pencil on paper, 420x590mm

Tearing Space Apart 4:3, pencil on paper, 66x50mm

Tearing Space Apart 4:3 (black), correction fluid on tempera, 66x50mm

Cracks 1: Watersoluble Graphite and pencil on paper, 170x120mm

White postcard on black: Collage, black tempera and paper, 170x120mm

Contentores, pencil on paper

Net: 7 sided cobble, pencil on paper, 590x420mm

7 sided cobble, net x 7. Pencil on paper, 590x420mm

7 sided cobble, net squared. Pencil on paper, 590x420mm

Contentores, Lisboa, Portugal

2011-07-26T12:30:00.000+01:00

I came across this project by P28 at the Belem Cultural Centre in Lisbon through an article in the guardian and decided to visit and respond to it on my trip to Portugal this month. A series of exhibitions are taking place in the containers, and the ones that I caught were by Inês Amado + Sonia Boyce, curated by Paul Goodwin (Tate Britain).

Boyce's dance of Belem includes a section, which appealed to me, where she follows and mimics members of the public within the gardens opposite the cultural centre.

Contentores - a response
As this project is due to come to Liverpool as part of Biennial 2012, I decided to create my own response to the use of the shipping container. Taking the format, I've created a net of the container and created a drawing onto it's surface.

I've taken this model to Lisbon and photographed it in situ with the containers there. If realised I'd like to have the drawn lines cut into the metal, with the box being lit from the inside creating a 3 dimensional drawing referencing the space and volume of the box.

Ersilia - A project about connections

2011-07-25T16:05:00.004+01:00

I'm taking part in an event called Invisible City in Schiedam, NL in August, and coincidentally came across Italo Calvino's book Invisible Cities. Connections abound, as several of the chapters are titled 'Trading Cities', a similar title to the next project (Trading Station) to be undertaken by POST.

As connections have recently been appearing to me from all directions, the chapter in Calvino's book about the city of Ersilia struck a chord; also it's visual description of the connections between people felt like a description of a drawing.

Here is the text in full:

Trading Cities 4

In Ersilia, to establish the relationships that sustain the city's life, the inhabitants stretch strings from the corners of the houses, white or black or gray or black-and-white according to whether they mark a relationship of blood, of trade, authority, agency. When the strings become so numerous that you can no longer pass among them, the inhabitants leave: the houses are dismantled; only the strings and their supports remain.

From a mountainside, camping with their household goods, Ersilia's refugees look at the labyrinth of taut strings and poles that rise in the plain. That is the city of Ersilia still, and they are nothing.

They rebuild Ersilia elsewhere. They weave a similar pattern of strings which they would like to be more complex and at the same time more regular than the other. Then they abandon it and take themselves and their houses still farther away.

Thus, when travelling in the territory of Ersilia, you come upon the ruins of abandoned cities, without the walls which do not last, without the bones of the dead which the wind rolls away: spiderwebs of intricate relationships seeking a form.

In response to this I've decided to set up my own international postal exhibition project that highlights my links to places that I visit and the artists, curators and galleries that I have worked with in the past, or would like to work with in the future, creating my own Ersilia. I'm not going to write where and who I send them to, you'll have to wait until air mail comes through your letterbox, however, I do plan to create a map of where I send them to and from as a record of my travels and activity.

I've started this project off during my recent trip to Portugal, where I have continued to play with the concept of 'tearing space apart', but was also distracted by the fabulous patterned pavements using black and white cobbles. Here are the 5 works I produced, three of which are in transit right now (2 were too large for an envelope and I wasn't as fond of them)

Cracks 1: Watersoluble Graphite and pencil on paper

Portuguese Pavement I: Graphite and black tempera on paper

Portuguese Pavement II: Collage, black tempera on paper

White postcard on black: Collage, black tempera and paper

Portuguese Pavement III: Pencil on paper

Commendation: West Lancs Open

2011-07-23T22:19:00.002+01:00

Tearing Space Apart 4:3 has been awarded a commendation in the 2011 West Lancs Open at Chapel Gallery.

16 July – 14 September 2011 at Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk. West Lancashire OPEN Exhibition 2011
The annual West Lancashire Open Exhibition brings together professional, semi-professional and accomplished amateur artists in this hugely engaging show at the Chapel Gallery.

We aim to produce a diverse exhibition that, like any true open, is open to all and brings together a compelling array of disciplines, ideas and approaches. Exploration of the space should result in fascinating discoveries and a rich, and often unexpected, encounter with art.

Winners
1st Prize: Sarah Redfern, Green/Ochre, Egg Tempera on Panel
2nd Prize: Nathan Pendlebury, Tree #2, Polaroid Photograph
3rd Prize: Carole Traynor, Allyway, Metal Plate Etching, Aquatint and Mixed Media.

Highly Commended
Gerry Halpin, Meandering River, Acrylic
Michael Lowey, Perception, Analogue Photograph

Commended
Michael John Ashcroft, Deep, Oil on Board
Shirley Blackhurst, Sea Mist, Collograph
Mary Campbell, Golden Road, Collograph
Robert Cousins, Lotus from the Mind, Acrylic
David Green, Lattice 14, Ink, Watercolour on Paper
Maggie Hargreaves, Slowly Creeping, Charcoal (fixed) on Paper
Barbara Jones, Cell Replication, Ink on Paper
Rachael Marsh, M20, Digital Print & Cornely
Jason Thompson, Hyperborean Woman (Daniel Paul Schreber), Enamel Paint & Varnish on Plywood
Heather Tomsett, Spume, Mixed Media
Cathy Turner, Autumn’s Fire, Handmade Nuno Felt (Pure Merino Wool)
Claire Weetman, Tearing Space Apart 4:3, Pencil, Paper, MDF and Acrylic
Penny Williams, Shunned, Mixed Media

Peoples’ Prize
All visitors to the Gallery are encouraged to vote for their favourite artwork.
Please complete a Voting Slip (one per person) and place it in the ballot box provided.
At the end of the exhibition, the artist with the most votes wins the opportunity to exhibit at the Chapel Gallery and receives an exhibiting fee of £150. All visitors who vote will also be included in a prize draw.

More new work: Chapel Gallery and Rarities

2011-07-14T12:22:00.004+01:00

I've been continuing with my drawings based on randomly tearing pages into pieces and then re-drawings their outlines onto another page. This time, i've gone with a page format of 4:3, due to my response to the latest magnet exhibition on Hastings & St Leonards Pier organised by Alban Low.

I've participated in these exhibitions before in Nottingham and Brighton, and they are an excellent way to get reproductions of artwork out to a wider audience, so i'm looking forward to the next one, which takes place at the end of August.

I have mounted one of the original drawings onto wood, and have had that accepted into the West Lancashire Open exhibition, which opens Friday 1 July until 14 September 2011. It's a tiny piece (5cm x 6.6cm) so you might have to hunt for it at the Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk.

West Lancashire Open Exhibition 2011
Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk
16 July - 14 September
Tues-Sun 10-4.30
www.chapelgallery.org.uk

Rarities 2011
Coastal Currents Festival
27th August 2011
Hastings & St Leonards

Tabloid - Square Root(4)

2011-07-08T10:00:00.000+01:00

Following on from my drawings in the Tearing Space Apart book, I have produced another drawing using a similar process.

Take a sheet of tabloid newspaper, tear it into 4 pieces
Tear each piece into 4 pieces
Tear each piece into 4 pieces
Lay the pieces out and number methodically
Mix pieces randomly into a pile
Take a fragment of paper and let it float onto a sheet of white tabloid-sized paper
Draw lines around the fragment of paper. The number of times the line is drawn should equate to the sum of the numbers on the fragment of paper.
Draw fragments of paper from the pile and repeat as above, the outlines should only be drawn onto blank space and not across existing lines.

By Way of Small Actions/Tearing Space Apart

2011-07-01T09:00:00.000+01:00

My first exploration in producing an artist's book will be on show and available for sale at Basket House Village Universe's residency programme which opens 1 July 2011

Tearing Space Apart #1-7 is a series of graphite drawings which explore the space of a piece of paper. More information on the drawings and the process used to create them can be seen in a separate posting.

Artists who entered By Way of Small Actions were asked to create a visual book of 'small actions' describing their working process and these will be on display and available to buy throughout the duration of the residency. Artists Gema Sainz, Joanna Peace, James Lowne & Andrew Stewart, Nicol Dourala and Victoria Adam have been invited into the gallery space to develop working ideas simultaneously in situ as a month long residency. Working across the disciplines of sculpture, video, performance, drawing and installation, the artists will have free reign over what direction their work might take over the course of the month. The gallery will be open to the public whilst the artists are at work, offering visitors a rare insight into artists working methods, and how the art works evolve and interact with the space and each other.

Tearing Space Apart #1-7

2011-06-29T18:54:00.006+01:00

I recently produced a series of graphite drawings as part of a submission process for a residency which has set me off on an interesting path. Here i'll show the process used and the final works.

Process:

3:1 format piece of paper
Tear random shapes out of page until just a border remains
Number shapes
Use a chance method to select a quantity of pieces and which pieces to use
From a height, allow the selected pieces to land on a new 3:1 piece of paper
Use a variety of drawing methods (graphite powder, outlines, erasing) to mark the spaces on the paper

These drawings are inspired by my 2008 visit to Ryoan-ji gardens, a series of my drawings which can be seen here and the recent John Cage Every day is a good day exhibition at BALTIC last September.

Cover - Space torn apart

#1 Graphite - flat

#2 Graphite - flow between

#3 Pencil Outlines

#4 Pencil Outlines until touching

#5 Eraser outline

#6 Erased graphite

#7 processes #1-6 combined

Future Collaboration with the Rat Pit

2011-06-03T09:17:00.002+01:00

A successful meeting with Carly Lindon Forrester from Liverpool-based experimental performance company the The Rat Pit, will lead to a collaboration during 2011.

The Rat Pit also plan to work with Wendy Williams, Simon Jones, John Bernard, Matt Smith and Lee Tisdall

See the Rat Pit announcements page for futher updates.

Tearing the Space apart

2011-06-02T20:35:00.004+01:00

A new graphite on paper drawing, currently exhibited at The Bureau gallery in Manchester as part of the exhibition We are all in this together.

Halton Open 28 May - 1July 2011

2011-05-27T11:02:00.002+01:00

Pick up a limited edition of Claire's 'Dot-to-dot 1' tonight 6-8pm at the Brindley, Runcorn during the private view for the 7th Halton Open exhibition.

Exhibition open Saturday 28th May - 1 July 2011

The Brindley Arts Centre
High Street
Runcorn
WA7 1BG

Creative Journeys - Harris Museum & Art Gallery

2011-05-21T13:40:00.002+01:00

This animation was produced by participants working with Chanje Kunda and myself.

Focusing on the architectural pillars of the Harris museum we matched the visual imagery of the columns with metaphorical poetry resulting in this short animation at the end of a packed three hours.

Thanks to all who took part.

New works - Application (dot-to-dot 1)

2011-05-19T09:00:00.000+01:00

An idea:
Can I get the public to complete a dot-to-dot, where the marks they make reflect the movement of a person completing a repetitive task?

This is an idea that I am currently mulling over, with questions over whose movements?, what are they doing? will this dot-to-dot idea work. So, with a deadline for the Halton Open exhibition looming I decided to experiment with the idea.

The subject matter? - Me filling out the application form for said Open exhibition.
The result, a hand -numbered series of 100 photocopies featuring a dot-to-dot exercise.

Download your own un-editioned copy here, or pick up a hand numbered limited edition version at the Brindley Gallery during the Halton Open 28th May - 2 July

Brighton Open 7 May 2011

2011-05-16T14:00:00.000+01:00

Following her participation in the Light Bite exhibition in Nottingham in Februrary, Claire has had 3 works included in the Brighton Open magnet exhibition. Organised by artist Alban Low, artworks are printed onto magnets, for the public to collect on specified dates.

The Brighton Open took place on 7th May 2011 and looks to have been a great success, with one collector commenting on the work of Claire Weetman;

"It's so interesting. Initially it drew mt attention because it reminded me of M C Escher, its curious - 1st thought it was dancers then rush hour people! Lots to grab attention."

New works - Ryoanji drawings

2011-05-15T13:12:00.003+01:00

Claire Weetman took part in Platform's pop-up studios on the weekend of 14th May, and has been tentatively developing some new drawings based on sketches created during her 2008 trip to Japan. These are initial works that will hopefully lead to further works in this series.

Work by Paula Weetman - LJMU Degree Show 26th May 2011

2011-05-12T08:54:00.000+01:00

'Well' an installation by Paula Weetman features in the Liverpool John Moores University Fine Art Degree Show, Curated by Lorenzo Fusi.

Thursday 26th May 2011, 5pm - late

LJMU Art & Design Academy
Duckinfield Street (Off Brownlow Hill)
Liverpool
L3 5YD
0151 904 1216

Exhibition continues 31st May - 3rd June 2011
Open 10am - 4pm, Free

Platform promotional film by Renaissance Film Productions

2011-05-09T09:34:00.003+01:00

Renaissance Film Productions, members of St Helens group Platform, have released this promotional film highlighting the work that Platform are doing in order to set up affordable studio space in St Helens.

Platform Pop-Up Studio Event from Renaissance Film Productions on Vimeo.

Liverpool Open 2011 - Editions Gallery

2011-04-05T09:00:00.003+01:00

Claire Weetman's graphite on paper drawing 'Passing, Watching, Waiting, Following' will be exhibited at the Liverpool Open Exhibition at Editions Gallery, Liverpool alongside a plethora of artists from the Merseyside area.
The Liverpool Open Exhibition '11
7th April - 7th May 2011
Editions Ltd, 16 Cook Street, Liverpool
www.editionsltd.net

Opening Hours are:
9.30 am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday
11.00am - 4.00pm Saturday

Four Corners 2011

2011-03-31T20:25:00.004+01:00

Claire Weetman has been working with Aspire Trust to project manage 'Perception:Deception', part of Four Corners 2011. Read on for more details...

How are young people in Alt Valley perceived?

What stories do they have to tell?

As part of Four Corners 2011, Aspire Trust have been working in the Alt Valley neighbourhood, using film and performance to uncover stories, challenge stereotypes and highlight the positive work carried out by detached youth groups in the area.

Four Corners is Culture Liverpool’s major community participation arts based project and in it's 6th year arts organisations are working across the six neighbourhoods of Liverpool to engage and explore Liverpool’s communities, challenging issues such as perception and acceptance of crime and low expectations. Aspire Trust have engaged with two detached youth teams in Alt Valley in the following projects, which will be showcased at the Four Corners Exhibition at Liverpool John Moores Art Academy in Liverpool city centre during April.

Is everything as it seems? Are the lives of young people always carefree? This ghost walk encounters stories written by members of Fazakerley 506 youth project - From a Victorian boy's story inspired by the haunted Fazakerley cottage homes to a modern young man who enjoys a night out with the lads, these tales tell of the trials and tribulations that young people have faced throughout history.

Walton Youth Project and tenants from St Luke's Court have been working together to challenge stereotypes. They have previously worked together on a gardening project and arts and crafts sessions which brought young and old together. They have reflected on these experiences and now use poetry, filmmaking and role reversal to ask you 'Are we all the same?'

Four Corners 2011 Exhibition

Private View: Tuesday 5th April 5pm-7pm All Welcome

Exhibition Continues:

Wednesday 6th - Tuesday 12th April 2011

LJUM Art & Design Academy

Duckinfield Street, Liverpool, L3 5RD

Monday-Friday: 10am-5pm Saturday: 12pm-5pm

St Helens Cultural Awards

2011-02-27T10:09:00.009Z

Proud winner of the St Helens Creative Arts Award (Professional Practice) is Claire Weetman, in recognition of her work locally and regionally in the past year, including exhibitions at home and abroad and commissions for clients including Liverpool Biennial. Claire received her award on a glittering evening at St Helens town hall from BAFTA winning screenwriter Danny Brocklehurst and performer Stephanie Davis from BBC's Over the Rainbow.

Commiserations go to fellow short-listed nominees Stephen Ball, whose upcoming Soapbox event in St Helens looks to be an exciting addition to his work with Don't Think Twice collective, and Tony Garner whose evocative industrial landscapes have won him awards at the annual St Helens Open art competition.

The complete list of award winners is as follows;

St Helens Creative Arts Award (Professional Practice)
Claire Weetman - Artist

St Helens Voluntary Arts Sector Award (Group/Organisation)
Dual Diagnosis - Drama Group

St Helens Voluntary Arts Sector Award (Individual)
Enid Pennington - Drama Practitioner

St Helens Arts Development Award
MASH Gallery - For the creation of new art space

St Helens Heritage Award
St Helens Townships Family History Society - For their work in local history

St Helens Sporting Volunteer Award
John Fairhurst - Junior Football

St Helens Sports Coach of the Year Award
Peter Blood - Judo

St Helens Sporting Hero Award
Harold Swift MBE - Rugby League

St Helens Sports Club of the Year Award
Seneley and Garswood Juniors Football Club

St Helens Cultural Event Award
UC Crew for 'International Break-Dancing competition the Northern Hordes'

St Helens Special Award for Services to Culture
Roy Jones - Sport

Posthumous Award
Peter Jackson

Light Bite Report

2011-02-25T10:36:00.003Z

Light Bite took place on the lamp posts of Nottingham last Friday. Here's some images of the event and an article featured in the Independent.

Sticking power: The art of the fridge magnet

By Charlotte Cripps

Friday, 25 February 2011

Fridge magnets of Red Sea fish or miniature whitewashed Greek villas are handy purchases when getting rid of foreign currency at airports. But fridge magnet art has never truly been recognised beyond the kitchen – until now.

The Brighton Open hopes to be "the biggest and most high profile" outdoor magnet show ever undertaken in the UK. Event organiser Alban Low will be sticking about 500 magnetic images by over 200 artists along Brighton's seafront as part of the Fringe Festival in May.

Members of the public can view the magnets stuck on bollards and railings near the pier, and even take one home for free.

"The fridge magnet is a vehicle for people to get their artwork seen," says Low. "And because of the low cost of actually producing it, ordinary people can start collecting art. Everyone's got a fridge. It goes right into the heart of people's homes. In this age of austerity, with hardly any public funding, it works because we rely purely on sponsorship."

Low's 'fridge magnet movement' started last year. By allowing the general public to submit up to two images to his exhibition website, he turns them into fridge magnets (5cm x 7cm) for free and exhibits them directly on the streets. The artist also receives a thank you magnet of their own work.

Low's first outdoor exhibition, in June 2010, saw magnet art mounted directly on the streets of Bath, as part of the Fringe Arts Bath Festival. The following month he put more magnets in Manchester's Arndale Centre, where shoppers picked them up. Then, last week, Low exhibited 250 magnets on the lampposts of Nottingham, as part of the Light Night festival.

"A lot of these artists have never had a chance to show their work in public before," says Low. "Artwork on a lamp post jumps out at you because it's so unexpected."

Images include erotic art, nature photographs and still lifes of grapes. Low's own series of magnets, entitled One-Sided Conversations, are titbits of information overheard on public transport, which he has turned into cartoons. "Councils think I'm flyposting or doing graffiti," he says, "but this is a great way to give people a voice without defacing anything."

The Brighton Open is at the entrance of Brighton Pier from 7-8 May. Deadline for entries is 1 April

openfridge@googlemail.com

Light Bite - this Friday 18 Feb 2011

2011-02-17T09:07:00.000Z

lightbite.blogspot.com

Come and find our magnetic masterpieces on the city centre streets of Nottingham as part of this years Light Night Festival. We're exhibiting 250 miniature artworks on lamp posts this February 18th, 2011 from 6pm onwards. Find them, pick them up and take them home. Discover Nottingham's finest talent and artists from around the world. Collect their work for FREE and start a gallery on your fridge. Find Claire's work Static:Moving on a lampost near you.

Threshold Festival - 11-13 February 2011

2011-02-11T15:00:00.002Z

Contemporary Urban Centre, 41 – 51 Greenland Street, Liverpool.

11-13 February 2011

thresholdfestival.co.uk

Spontaneous, innovative and independent, for three days in February Threshold will transform Liverpool's CUC into a hive of arty, musical goodies; bands, dancers, exhibitions, flashmobs, photography, galleries and games, by a feast of performers and artists who're the best of the North West. Watch, listen - learn. Get involved. Step over the Threshold...

Claire is presenting drawings from her series 'Passing, Watching, Waiting, Following, alongside two works from her time on the Urban Interventions residency in Linz 2010. You can find Claire's works on the 5th floor between the cinema and Mezzanine bar.

State of Perception - METAL Liverpool 4 - 26 Feb 2011

2011-02-10T08:19:00.003Z

www.metalculture.com

www.alongtheline.net

The exhibition is an experiment in artist’s exchange. The conceptual starting point for these collaborations is Edge Hill station itself, the World’s oldest passenger railway station and the home of Metal Liverpool. ‘State of Perception’ will detail upon the emotional resonance of journeys taken from the space - the potential romance, secrecy, joy or inspiration of travel.

During State of Perception, Claire is asking rail travellers to collaborate with her, documenting their journey from Edge Hill Station using the record function in their mobile phones. Combining audio, soundwaves and mapping, Claire will create an online artwork that traces daily journeys - see www.alongtheline.net for more information on how to take part.

Along the line - exhibited cards inviting the public to participate.
Commercial and handmade print onto card

Chatham Road (Eventually Everyone had moved) now showing at METAL
Hand drawn animation, 3:46

Along the Line - public display of invitation cards on trains and in railway stations

The Private View saw performances by musicians Greedy Jesus and Dogstar Rose and poets Jason Richardson & Garry Kelly Hartley

Contributing artists are: Charles Andersen (UK), Sarah Coventry (USA), Claudia Czimek (Austria), Lee Kendall (UK), Tifany Kendall (Canada), Jacqueline F Kerr (UK), Jet Pascua (Norway), Sue Meyerhoff Sharples (UK), Emma Sumner (UK), Wendy Williams (UK) and Claire Weetman (UK).

Fab Camp, Liverpool Art & Design Academy, 29-30 January 2011

2011-01-30T19:40:00.005Z

I've just attended Fab Camp this weekend - an excellent opportunity to play with the digital fabrication tools on offer at Liverpool John Moores Art & Design Academy. Here are some of my experiments from the past 2 days.

In order to understand the capabilities of the equipment I developed this model out of plywood - somewhat a return to subject matter I painted around 12 years ago. The scene is based on views in Keswick.

Day 2, and I wanted to develop some works with a relationship to my current practice. These images show layering of soundwaves - laser engraved onto 3 sheets of acrylic.

And just for fun, an example of how 3d modelling and 3d printing works with a lego representation of yours truly (with only one hand!):

Other events from the weekend included talks from Hayden Insley of Fab Lab Manchester, Q&As from Razorlab, talks and guidance from Ilsa Parry and Jason Nelson of Dundee University.

Inspired Responses 6

2011-01-30T18:54:00.002Z

The Brindley, Runcorn

29 January - 26 February 2011

www.thebrindley.org.uk

Halton Arts Development's unique programme of artists' residencies with Halton's high schools, special schools and FE College is now in its 6th year. Come and celebrate with us and enjoy painting, sculpture and photographs by talented young people from across the borough, alongside works by artists Karen Allerton, Beth Barlow, Rebecca Chesney, Laurence Payot, Angela Sidwell and Claire Weetman.

Claire worked with Cavendish High School exploring movement, sound and drawing, resulting in this exhibition of work by the young people and four experiments in animation by Claire.

Midas Touch on Creativity, Culture & Education

2011-01-17T16:24:00.003Z

Midas Touch was an early years creativity project, managed by Claire Weetman for Find Your Talent and the Aspire Trust in early 2010. Artist Michiko Fujii and Early Years Practitioner Laura Grindley delivered the project and their story of Aaron and Lewis' explorations has been published by Creativity, Culture and Education.

For more Early Years projects involving Claire Weetman, see the projects section of her website.

Four Experiments

2011-01-12T20:34:00.004Z

'Four experiments' was produced following workshops at Cavendish High School, Runcorn as part of the Inspired Responses 6 programme for exhibition at the Brindley Arts Centre during February 2011.

Platform pop-up studios

2010-12-19T12:47:00.011Z

Platform is a group of artists based in St Helens, UK, who are working together to share their practice and to address the lack of affordable, accessible, studio spaces in the town. On Wednesday 15th December 2010, the artists took to the streets of St Helens to produce artworks within the town in order to highlight this to a wider audience.

Claire Weetman produced 'Recording the Journey' a drawing intervention on the pavements of St Helens, which visually charted an audio recording of a journey through the town, and used snippets of overheard conversation.

Above: 'Recording the Journey', Intervention, Chalk on pavement, Claire Weetman
Photograph courtesy Tony Glover

Below left: Work in Progress, Joan Birkett
Photograph Courtesy Angela Wilkinson

Joan Birkett created a temporary exhibition of some works in progress and invited the passing audience to make marks on canvas which she could later develop. Photographers Jon Holden, Tony Glover and Angela Wilkinson exhibited some of their works, produced new work and documented the event, whilst Tony Maher from the organisation 'Art from a bag' invited the public to take photographs and email them back.

Michael and Adam from Renaissance Film Productions filmed the event, and Tina Culshaw from T5 magazine was present and will no doubt feature Platform's efforts in an upcoming issue.

Audience pulling events came from poet Raphael Hart, who performed his works to gathered students and shoppers, and the installation 'Restricted Movement' by Pauline Heyes brought humorous responses and engaged debate from those who saw it.

'Restricted Movement', Pauline Heyes, Installation
Photograph courtesy Angela Wilkinson

Raphael Hart performing his poetry outside St Helens College
Photograph courtesy Tony Glover

Platform plans to hold more events in 2011 in its efforts to work towards the establishment of affordable studios in the town of St Helens.

To keep up to date on Platform events see platformarts.blogspot.com

Light Bite 2011

2010-12-05T16:41:00.003Z

Static:Moving, a graphite drawing by Claire Weetman, has been selected for the Light Bite 2011 exhibition in Nottingham.
As part of the 2011 Light Night Festival, Claire's work will feature in this exhibition of magnetic masterpieces on the city centre streets of Nottingham. 250 miniature artworks will be displayed on lamp posts this February 18th, 2011 from 6pm onwards. Find them, pick them up and take them home. Discover Nottingham's finest talent and artists from around the world. Collect their work for FREE and start a gallery on your fridge.

Latitude - artist map making

2010-11-15T10:00:00.001Z

Claire Weetman's first animation 'Chatham Road (Eventually Everyone had Moved)' has been selected for this exhibition at Manchester Modernist Society.

Inspired by the organisation’s own collection of 20th Century maps, the exhibition is part of the Chapel Street Open Studios series of events which showcases the creative output of the Chapel Street area of Salford.

The exhibition includes a variety of work including a map of Manchester in the form of an angiogram (an x-ray of blood vessels); a map tracking every aeroplane to take off from Heathrow airport in 24hours; a map designed to promote Salford’s ‘Unconvention’ music festival and an intriguing take on motorway signage.

Artwork is available for sale and all proceeds will suppport the continued aims of the modernist society, a not for profit organisation.

Participating artists:

Angela Fox

Annie Harrison

Becca Smith

Charlotte Utting-Brown

Claire Weetman

Daksha Patel

David Davies

Mark Lomax

Michael Thorp

Noah Rose

Phil Turner

Spike Dennis

Ultimate Holding Company

Spike Dennis, Malformed Aura

Preview: Friday 19th November 2010, 6.00pm

Exhibition Continues: 20 – 28 November

11.00am – 5.30pm daily

manchester modernist society, 142 Chapel St. Salford, M3 6AF

Chapel Street Open, November 2010, Salford. UK

St Helens Open 2010

2010-11-14T12:49:00.002Z

Crossing: Nibelungen Bridge' and 'Space Between' will be exhibited for the first time at The St Helens Open 2010, which opens Tuesday 16 November 2010.

Both of these works were created as part of the Urban Interventions residency that Claire undertook at Atelierhaus Salzamt, Linz earlier in the year. 'Crossing: Nibelingen Bridge' is a graphite drawing and was developed using film footage of people crossing this major bridge in the city.

'Space Between' is the result of an intervention in the exhibition Linz <-> Liverpool: How much Exchange can you stand? Claire invited visitors to the exhibition to carry an MP3 recorder between the two venues - recording their journey along the way. The resulting audio was transformed into visual soundwaves, layered and displayed as a lightbox.

Art Merseywide

2010-10-30T18:12:00.003+01:00

Claire Weetman's drawing 'Passing, Watching, Waiting, Following II' was selected from the Halton Open 2010, for Art Merseywide at Liverpool Conservation Centre. This exhibition draws 9 of the best works from each of the open submission exhibitions across the Merseyside area.

'Passing, Watching, Waiting, Following II' was produced as part of the POST exchange with artists from the city of Linz. It is a drawing produced during an intervention in the main square, that tracks and traces movement using graphite marks.

Art Merseywide has been extended from its original closing date - please check The National Conservation Centre website for details.