Recent photographs for a commission between The Renewal Trust in Nottingham and Birmingham Royal Ballet. The BRB are in town as part of The Grand Tour in early May and will be working with groups of young people from the St Ann’s and Sneinton areas of Nottingham to introduce them to Ballet through a series of workshops culminating in their own performance. These portraits are initial images of some of the participants, the St. Ann’s Scouts group and students from the Nottingham Academy School.
John Newling with his Nigerian Lotto machine, at Nottingham Contemporary.
From a commission for Nottingham Contemporary.
Incredibly excited!
Scanned a few more negatives from last week and came across this lighter frame with more detail in Sarah’s tattoo. It was early morning, hence the blue light. I think this one wins out.
Photograph of my Great Grandparents in my Mother’s bedroom.
Tracey Mcmaster and I won the Rufford Gallery Prize at the Nottingham Castle Open in September 2012. Fittingly, I had shot a series of photographs earlier on that year in Wellow, a neighbouring village to the Rufford Abbey Estate in Nottinghamshire. Welcome Our Queen looks at the historic May Day celebrations in Wellow, pairing portraits of former May Queen’s with images of ceremony. There is a focus on the symbolism of Maypole Dancing. Bluebells, birds eggs, foliage and scythe denote fertility, the returning Summer and a connection with the land. Community and village life are also major themes throughout the work, in particular, the significance of traditional village events in contemporary Britain and the way in which folklore continues to shape our culture. This exhibition will be the debut show of this project and I’m excited for its opening.
Tracey is an exceptionally talented artist and filmmaker who will be exhibiting a new body of site specific work. She has taken a multidisciplinary approach, creating film, sculpture and painting inspired by the story of The Secret World of Polly Flint, by local author Helen Cresswell. The work, much like Cresswell’s protagonist Polly, plays between reality and fiction. I’m incredibly lucky to be exhibiting with Tracey, it’s been exciting to see her part of the show come together and I’m looking forward to seeing our work presented together.
For a map showing the location of Rufford Abbey, go here:http://goo.gl/maps/crWCH
To see the work online go to : www.davidsevern.com and follow the link to Welcome Our Queen.
Hope you can make it! Maybe I’ll even see you at the preview or artist talk!
All the best,
David x
© Martin Parr/Magnum Photos. JAPAN. Kyoto. The Golden Temple. 1993.
heremoreby Joel Sternfeld
Michael Shannon for Telegraph Magazine
My portrait of Michael Shannon is out in today’s Telegraph Magazine.
This.
