Interview: David Lisser - 'The Future 2, 3 & 4'

The Midgecatcher's House detail, 2012.

David Lisser is an artist working and living in Newcastle where he graduated from Newcastle University in Fine Art in 2009. He is based at the Newbridge Studios in the city centre where he was recently involved in ‘Response: A Rural Urban Conversation’ with Visual Arts in Rural Communities (VARC). Since June 2011, he has been artist in residence for Allenheads Contemporary Arts in Northumberland, working under the theme of ‘The Future’. His final show, ‘The Future 2, 3 & 4,’ with Alan Smith and Liam Murray, opens this Saturday 28^th January.

How would you describe your current work?

Sculpture is the simplest thing to describe it.  I generally work with wood primarily, but anything I can find – interesting bits of bike, copper. I tend to make things that look like they have a use – technologies or devices. I guess what drives that is technology and human relationship to technology, how it changes society, how we change as individuals what it promises to do to our lives.

Consider the Light

James Turrell from THE VIEWMAKERS' STUDIO on Vimeo.

Without light there would be darkness. Light allows the eye to see and the mind to perceive, color, value, texture and shape. James Turrell's exploration of light as an end unto itself, causes the viewers of his work to consider its power, and to experience its spiritual qualities.

Turrell comes from a Quaker background, spending hours in meetinghouses with his grandmother, learning to "wait upon" and to "greet" the light, in quiet meditation.

Consider Genesis 1, as you listen to Turrell talk about his work.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. (ESV)

Interview: Julia Tryon

THB recently did a studio visit and interview with Newcastle-based artist, JULIA TRYON and talked about her upcoming site-specific installation at Open Shop's Stairwell Gallery, opening this Friday, January 12, at 6pm.

Julia Tryon's work often blurs the distinction between photography, sculpture and painting, through the deconstruction and reconstruction of photographs of the natural world, and of fabricated models she creates in her studio. She investigates the human experience of architectural spaces and explores the interplay between two and three dimensions as well as the real versus the imaginary.

Finding an affinity for painting during her years as a fine art student at Newcastle University (where she earned her degree in 2008), she was encouraged to experiment in sculpture and installation, which led her to the work she does today. Tryon's installation at Empty Shop shows the traces and fragments of an old Hebridean house encountered on a walk on the Isle of Benbecula.

Recreation: A Conference & Exhibition - 30th-31st March 2012

We are pleased to announce that our annual conference title will be 'ReCreation, where we hope to explore the dynamics of art, faith and practice through lectures, discussions and a complementary exhibition. As The Holy Biscuit Community continues to grow to incorporate a wide range of artists from a variety of ages, backgrounds and training, this will be an important weekend to continue to develop a community of people, better equipped and inspired, to transform the North East (and the rest of Britain for that matter) into the new creation that Christ calls us into. Although the conference is primarily aimed at those who are wrestling with what it means to be a Christian and an artist, this is also a space for anyone in the creative arts to further reflect on their making and have the opportunity to ask questions about our responsibility as artists.

We are excited to be co-hosting it this year with Morphe Arts - a national network of Christian artists and designers who are passionate about seeing emerging artists (especially recent graduates) making good work, collaborating and pushing the boundaries of professional practice.

Save the date. We hope to see you there!

New Year, Art & Fear

Ten days into 2012 and I've finally laid out my creative resolutions for the year. I recently picked up my copy of Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking, by David Bayles and Ted Orland, in an attempt to jump start things. This book was mandatory reading back in uni-days. Although I don't think it says much, overall, I've found this book to be the single most important book for me in my artistic development.

Here's an excerpt from Art and Fear, on failure, process and community:

"You learn how to make your work by making your work, and a great many of the pieces you make along the way will never stand out as finished art. The best you can do is make art you care about--and lots of it. 

The rest is a matter of perseverance. Of course, once your famous [everyone] will circle back in droves to claim credit for spotting evidence of genius…But until your ship comes in, the only people who will really care about your work are those who care about you personally. Those close to you know that making the work is essential to your well being. They will always care about your work if not because it is great, then because it is yours--and this is something to be genuinely thankful for. Yet how ever much they love you, it still remains as true for them as for the rest of the world: learning to make your work is not their problem."

What are your fears in artmaking? Where is your work going this year? What is stopping it from getting there? Answer these questions to yourself and share them with your community.

The year ahead will hold challenges, successes and inevitably, failures. And thank God for the failures, which are essential in development.