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Forthcoming / Recent events
Forth Valley Residency
Here are some of my drawings Behind The Scenes at Forth Valley Hospital
In November/December 2013 I will be undertaking an art residency based at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Scotland and will be working across the Forth Valley. This residency is supported by Artlink Central and NHS Forth Valley. More information to follow. To find out more about the hospital and Artlink Central see the links below:
- Forth Valley Royal Hospital art exhibitions and events
- BBC News: Forth Valley Royal Hospital to use robot 'workers'
- Art link central
Edges and Extremes project, Cornwall
My collaborative art project with poet, Evlynn Sharp, is now in its second stage. Following our residency in Shetland and exhibitions in Scalloway, Edinburgh, Herts and London, we have been working at the opposite end of the British Isles this Autumn in Cornwall. Based at Pendeen on the North Atlantic Coast, we worked closely with the staff at Geevor tin mine museum, and have made drawings and writing inspired by the landscape, industry and people we have met there. This included being taken into a disused tin mine on the coast. We were guided a hundred and fifty feet below the surface and crawled through tunnels of dripping granite with colours of rust, iron oxide and the blackest, velvety black I have ever experienced.
Below are some of my A3 sketchbook drawings from our trip.
Into the mine at Bottalack 2013
Ink and mine slime. This picture shows the black entrance to the mine tunnel halfway down the cliff face. I used the clay-like red "slime" collected on our clothes during our visit and mixed it with water to make the wash for this picture.
Colin leading us into the mine 2013.
Colured inks, pencil crayon and watercolour on paper.
Colin used to work as a sampler at Geevor tin mine and knows all the shafts and tunnels of the whole area like the back of his hand. Inside the tunnels were pitch black with the only light coming from our helmets and torches.
Coming out of the dark 2013
Colin coming out the the mine. The rock when lit by torch or sunlight is stunning in colour, streaked with rich rust red and sometimes pinks and greenish blues from copper deposits.
Eddiie's hands Geevor 2013
Eddie is an ex miner from Geevor and continues to work at the museum as a guide.
He worked as a "Grizzly Man" breaking down rocks in the stopes.
I drew his hands as he and Evlynn talked about his work at the mine.
Evlynn is currently in the process of recording her Geevor poems with the help of BBC Radio Cornwall. The recording will include local voices from Geevor and local musicians.
To see more information about our Scottish Parliament event earlier this year scroll down this page, and to see more of our Shetland images visit Edges and Extremes on my residency page.
More information to follow about our next exhibitions.
Library of Lost Books, Birmingham
Celebrating the beauty and magic of books through art
6-24 November
The Pavilion
Library of Birmingham
I have had an artist book on display at this exhibition. The original poems by Evlynn Sharp and the pen drawings by me were a collaboration inspired by two late Victorian literary year books we were sent by Susan Kruse as part of the Library of Lost Books project. Inside the flyleaf of these books were Victorian adverts and addresses of publishing houses and printers around the Charing Cross Road and Holborn area of the time. I went to these sites to see what remains today, and found that many of the addresses are now part of the huge Cross Rail development under construction. The drawings from these locations as they are now and Evlynn's poems on transparent paper refer to traces of this history, and changing times. Our drawings and text were hand-bound into an artist book by Catherine Scriven for display at this exhibition. www.libraryofbirmingham.com/event/Events/libraryoflostbooks
Big Draw Nine Elms: "Drawing Tomorrow"
Sunday October 20th, 11am to 4pm FREE
I will be facilitating collaborative drawing based activities from the 20th Floor of Market Towers near Vauxhall Bridge.
This picture shows Market Towers at Vauxhall, where I shall be facilitating a workshop on the 20th Floor with spectacular views of Battersea Power Station and the River Thames.
Address: 20th Floor, Market Towers, 1 Nine Elms Lane, Vauxhall, London SW8 5NQ (location link to Google maps)
Nine Elms on the Southbank joins with Big Draw 2013 to offer a free drawing workshop for ALL AGES to enjoy this October. The 'Biggest Drawing Festival in the World' comes to the heart of Nine Elms on the South Bank which includes the iconic Battersea Power Station, new Covent Garden Market and Vauxhall. See the area's on going transformation from on high with breath taking views, as this stretch of the River Thames is unlocked, through collaborative drawing based activities led by artist Sally Booth. No drawing experience required - stay for a little or as long as you choose. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Register your interest at info@nineelmsonthesouthbank.com leaving your email address and mobile phone number.
- More useful links below:
- www.nineelmslondon.com
- www.familyartsfestival.com
Residency at the Six Foot Gallery, Glasgow, July 2013
I've been selected to undertake a month long artist residency at the Six Foot Gallery, located in the centre of Glasgow. I will be making work inspired by the city and working in the gallery's studio space.
Man on the Clockwork Orange, Glasgow subway.
Six Foot Gallery provides a platform for contemporary art practitioners, nationally and internationally. It is based in Glasgow and supports emerging and established artists through workshops, exhibitions and residencies. They implement a continuous exhibitions program which changes approximately every six weeks.
The gallery was first set up by the late Cathy Richmond, a lecturer at Glasgow School of Art and they dedicate the Six Foot Gallery Artist Residency to Cathy who was a much loved artist. The Artist Residency programme is supported by the Menzies Hotel.
www.sixfootgallery.com/residency.html
Shetland - Davie filleting plaice - colour - 29 x 42cm - pen, acrylic and watercolour on paper
Shetland - Emptying a sack of scallops - 18 x 24cm - pen and acrylic on card
Interview with RNIB Insight Radio
As part of our stay in Scotland we were interviewed for this Glasgow based radio station to talk about our project, our collaboration and our exhbition at the Scottish Parliament.
This piece was broadcast on 101 FM, Sky Channel 0188 in April 2013, and includes an example of a poem, music and description of a painting. www.insightradio.co.uk
- Interview with RNIB Insight Radio
Artistsmeet exhibition
Invitation to my latest exhibition of Edges and Extremes - Shetland: people, place, industry work. A collaborative arts project by me and poet Evlynn Sharp.
Following our reception at the Scottish Parliament this is our first show in England as part of the Edges and Extremes project. Please contact me if you can come.
Wednesday 29 May 2013, 6.30pm - 8pm at Artistsmeet, Watersmeet, High Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1EH
with a talk and BSL interpreted performance by the artists commencing at 7pm.
The exhibition will run from 21 May - 14 July 2013.
Open Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm and box office hours.
This venue has level access.
Nearest station: Rickmansworth - Metropolitan line and Overground.
Edges and Extremes Opening at Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament Private View.
Sally gives her opening speech at the Scottish Parliament Private View.
Evlynn Sharp, Margaret Scollay and MSP Tavish Scott.
Margaret Scollay, playing her fiddle.
Photos by Kevin Harrison, Artlink Central.
Edges and Extremes booklet released
As part of the residency we have produced a limited edition booklet. B5, soft back, 12 pages including cover, in 14pt text. It features extracts of Evlynn Sharp's poems and samples of Sally's artworks. Also included is a CD which has a slideshow and a recording of Evlynn's poetry featuring Shetland voices and the renowned Shetland fiddler, Margaret Scollay.
Limited copies of this publication are available from Sally, contact her here about getting hold of one. Or you can download a PDF of this booklet (845Kb).Edges and Extremes - Sally Booth and Evlynn Sharp
Box of haddock, pen and watercolour
This year-long project is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and Creative Scotland. The artists are also grateful for support from Tate, Scottish Parliament, Loganair, BBC Radio Shetland, Juliet Gomperts Trust, Shetland Arts, Artlink Central, Pen to Paper (Brighton), K and K Stationers (London).
Davie's haddock, pen and watercolour
Sally Booth and Evlynn Sharp gratefully acknowledge the kind contribution of the Scalloway community and people of Shetland to the Edges and Extremes project, and they extend their gratitude to all other supporters of the project.
See examples and information about events relating to our project below.
Click in centre above to see artwork by Sally Booth from her collaborative residency with poet Evlynn Sharp in the Shetlands during October 2012. Duration 4.30 min. This film is silent. photos taken by Billy Fox.
Exhibition at the Scottish Parliament - Members Lobby - 16th-19th April 2013
We stayed at The Booth in Scalloway for a one month artist residency in October, culminating in an open studio exhibition attended by over 60 visitors. The works we made there were all inspired by Shetland people, place and industry and were often made on the spot. We immersed ourselves in local life and our exhibition at the Scottish Parliament includes poems and pictures of knitters, the local fishing industry and historical events, such as the Shetland bus.
Special Reception
Tuesday 16th April 2013
In the Garden Lobby 6.00pm-7.30pm
Opened by Tavish Scott MSP
This is an invitation only event. Please contact the artist for an invitation. Guests are requested to arrive at the Scottish Parliament's Public Entrance opposite the Palace of Holyrood by 5.30pm for security and registration.
The Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament where our reception will be held.
Image © Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body - 2012. Licensed under the Open Scottish Parliament Licence v1.0.
The picture above shows the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament and the roof space above it.
How to find the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament building is located in the Holyrood area of central Edinburgh at the foot of the Royal Mile near to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
A map showing the location:
Travelling to the Parliament
Train
The Parliament building is a 15-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley train station, which is a main line station. Information about train services to and from Edinburgh is available from National Rail or Scotrail.
Website: www.nationalrail.co.uk Website: www.scotrail.co.uk Tel: 08456 01 59 29 Tel: 08457 48 49 50
Bus
Visitors can use the Lothian Buses service numbers 35 and 36. For timetable enquiries contact Lothian Buses: www.lothianbuses.com / Tel: 0131 555 6363.
Traveline Scotland
Details of all public transport within Scotland can be obtained from Traveline: www.travelinescotland.com / Tel: 0871 200 22 33.
Car Parking
There is no public parking available at the Parliament. The nearest 24-hour car parking facilities are at Our Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road or at the NCP, St John's Hill, off Holyrood Road.
Accessible parking for disabled guests
A number of public parking spaces are reserved for disabled people on Horse Wynd.
Cycle Racks
Racks for cycles are located in the Landscaped Gardens.
Forthcoming events related to Edges and Extremes
Exhibition at Watersmeet, High Street, Rickmansworth. Runs from 20th May - 15th July 2013, with a private view on Wednesday 29th May 6.30pm - 8.00pm.
Partnership with Tate
In May, Evlynn and I have been invited to facilitate an art workshop with a group of visually impaired adults at Tate Britain in conjunction with Tate's current Landscape exhibition "Looking at the View".
Exhibition continues at Gracechurch Street As seen on the BBC
Shape in the City presents work from the UK's leading arts organisations such as Photovoice, and Action Space with over 30 artists at; 40 Gracechurch Street, City of London, EC3V 0BT.
Until May 2013 Monday to Thursday 10 AM - 2 PM, other times by appointment. Shape present an exciting new Pop Up Gallery space with five floors of artwork showing in the heart of the City of London. My installation is on the 4th Floor and posters on a lower floor.
How to book:
For appointments or any other info email popupgallery@shapearts.org.uk, for general info visit www.shapearts.org.uk
See a film of my installation with commentary and subtitles vimeo.com/54238511
This picture is a screenshot from a recent BBC programme covering the exhibition. It shows my installation in situ at Gracechurch Street with somebody sitting inside the structure.
My drawing installation from the Liberty Festival was featured on the BBC programme "See Hear" (Series 32; Episode 34).
Have a look at previous years news from 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007.