Lilley's Blog

Amy Lilley - Photographer / Co-Producer @Artplacewf1 / Artwalk / Westgate Studios / Wakefield This is what i'm up to...

[weare-projects]

The Flash Residency Project

Well its done!! So pleased with how to project turned out and how much the public in The Ridings engaged with the artists that featured in the space. For more photos please visit - www.flashresidency.tumblr.com 

What is it?

The Flash Residency Project is a re-imagining of the artist residency, through short time frames (1 hour). Local artists of varying disciplines have been invited to inhabit our pop - up studio in Wakefield’s Ridings shopping centre.Each will also bring their own playlist, a kind of soundtrack for their residency, played through the small speakers attached the structure.

The space is an open transparent cube, enabling passerby to see into the structure as the artist works. Though the disciplines of the artists chosen are primarily visual, our feeling is that the presentation of the artist in the process of creating, has an inherently performative quality. It also makes their practices more accessible to the public. Finally, we hope this will help to build links between local artists and the local community.

[weare-projects]

Our £10 Fundraising A5 Art Sale at Westgate Studios on the Wakefield Artwalk

[weare-projects]

July Artwalk

Our first Artwalk with our Ambassadors - Wakefield College photography students.

As part of the work we do for the Wakefield Artwalk, we’ve decided to start an ambassador scheme to help support and grow the Artwalk. We’ve recruited 4 enthusiastic college students from Wakefield who will learn about marketing, exhibition installing and documenting events through the ambassador scheme. For the July Artwalk we decided to go round EVERY venue and photograph which has never been done before, to photograph all of the venues and work so that after the 4 hour artwalk was over we had a documentation of it. The ambassadors also interviewed some of the artists and filmed the talks and exhibition which they will use to create a promo video. Here are some of the photos from the night. We will continue doing this and working with the ambassador over the next few months, and will photograph with them again on the September Artwalk.

[lilleysblog]

SHORT FILM NIGHT - ORGANISED BY ARTPLACE AT UNITY WORKS

26th March 2014

As part of the March Wakefield Artwalk myself and Lucy Norton as ArtPlace brought Wakefield it's first Short Film Night where we featured Local to international filmmakers, emerging to established artists and showcasing a range of genres including stop motion, documentaries and award winning films. The event was completely unfunded and organised by ourselves out of our own money. We didn't charge anything for tickets as we wanted to give everybody the opportunity to view short films. We hope from this event we are able to go forward and receive funding to make more things like this possible in the future.  We had 110 through the doors which was absolutely incredible, and had so much support including Radio 6 DJ Stuart Maconie loving it and suggesting we take it to Manchester or Birmingham! We hope to organise another short film night in the future. Until then keep posted for other news :)

[lilleysblog]

SHORT FILM NIGHT @ UNITY WORKS 

The event is all over and done with now but here are a few photographs of the preparation!  We took on a completely empty space in Unity Works which we then transformed into a pop-up cinema. As it was our first ever event I think we did pretty well :)

[lilleysblog]

Unity Works

I was lucky enough to have a tour around Unity Works, opening in September this year.  Unity Works is to be a new creative hub in the heart of Wakefield. The building is absolutely stunning. They're currently restoring it to its original state, uncovering beautiful details like the original wooden fireplace and painted wall murals.

Myself and Lucy Norton as ArtPlace are also lucky enough to be getting involved with Unity_Arts, where we will be organising and curating the arts that will be in the gallery space in Unity Works. 

[lilleysblog]

STUDIO

Finally got myself a studio with my lovely friend and creative partner Lucy Norton!

We are based in Westgate Studios in Wakefield. 

Let the productive times begin!

[lilleysblog]

[lilleysblog]

Short film night - Hosted by Artplace

26th March as part of the Wakefield ArtWalk

2014 has brought big changes to Artplace. Originally set up by local artists Bea Henson and Mike Ball, Artplace has now been taken over by myself and Lucy Norton. As well as continuing to put up exhibitions by local artist in Harry's Bar in Wakefield, we will also be putting on many more exhibitions and events as part of the Artwalk.

On the 26th March we will be putting on a short film night in Wakefield's upcoming creative Hub.

Unity Works lies at the heart of Wakefield, close to the refurbished train station and opposite the Theatre Royal. A grade II listed gem, it has been used and loved by the community since it was established as the Wakefield Co-operative headquarters in 1867.

Unity House (Wakefield) Limited was established as a community benefit co-operative in 2011 to turn the building into a major music venue, conference centre and location for creative businesses.

Artplace will be taking over the large corner unit for the March Artwalk putting on a series of short films created by local artists, graduates and emerging artists. To find out more about the project please visit Artplace on twitter https://twitter.com/artplacewf1 or email us at [email protected] 

[lilleysblog]

Duncan Pearson - Some you win, Some you lose

Art House Residency

Duncan was selected as 'Best Newcomer' at the recent MAKE Art and Design Fair 2013. As part of his award he has been undertaking a residency at the Art House, providing time and support for him to make new work for his current exhibition. SOME YOU WIN, SOME YOU LOSE- an exhibition of Duncan's work opened on the 29th January at The Art House. The work Duncan created while on his residency will be on display until March. 

Find out more about Duncan's residency at - http://thearthouseuk.tumblr.com/

Photographs taken by myself

[lilleysblog]

Rachel Hunter

29th January - 25th March

Rachel Hunter Studied Illustration in Bristol and discovered a passion for printmaking. She has just been awarded the ‘Emerging Printmaker of the Year 2013’ from the Flourish excellence in printmaking awards. Rachel uses the Yorkshire’s natural landscape to inform and inspire her work. Working in a variety of printmaking techniques including Linoprint and screenprint and using vintage or recycled paper, Rachel creates work that is intuitive and superb.

www.rachelhunterart.co.uk www.facebook.com/rachelhunterart twitter @artist_rachelh  For this months Artwalk I am working with Artist Rachel Hunter to put on an exhibition at Artplace @ Harry's Bar. 

[lilleysblog]

2014!!

So it's finally 2014, which means the first whole year out of education! Lots of exciting things ahead :)

Been a bit quiet recently, I apologise! 

I finished my marketing internship at The Art House in December which i'm rather sad about, what a fantastic 3 months I had! In December I also helped decorate the Christmas Wood Street Market as well as having my own stall, so it was a bit of a mad month up until Christmas.  

So what are my plans for this year? Well...

January: Organize the next the Artplace exhibition at Harry's Bar which opens on the 29th January. This months artist is print maker Rachel Hunter. (photos of her work to come) I have a few of my own projects I need to work on, one of which is helping curate a commissioned piece for the March Artwalk organised by The Art House. I shall be working with an artist and the Wakefield Historic society to great a site specific piece of work on King Street in Wakefield. As part of this project I will be photographing all of the buildings on King Street and creating a panorama... think David Hockney style :) February: Since returning from university I have taken control of Artplace which I have lots of plans for to expand and push it forward. I will be creating a website in which I will post about exhibitions, events going on in Wakefield as well as having a Local artists section... watch this space! Artplace also has a new volunteer, Lucy Norton, and we will be hopefully hosting a few events/exhibitions in a fantastic corner unit of Unity Hall which is being refurbished to open this summer. In February we hope to host a film night... but more to come about that soon.  I also have a few projects of my own to undertake in Feb, including photographing King Street, Photographing Laura Slater's screen printing collection and hopefully photographing the Drury Lane Library.  March: The 2nd Artwalk of the year will bring a new exhibition to Harry's Bar which I will be curating, as well as curating the site specific commission for The Art House. I also plan to do a series of empty shop window exhibitions throughout Wakefield as Artplace, curating around different themes and bringing together a variety of different medias.  I will also be exhibiting the Panorama of King Street I am creating for The Art House.  For the rest of the year plans include - Photographing the Library, curating another event in Unity Hall (think pop up pub, public art, silhouettes, photography and much more!), Street photography project, more exhibitions at Harry's Bar, developing Artplace and having an all round beautiful and productive year.  I will be posting a lot more regularly, so keep watching this space :)

Happy New Year!

[lilleysblog]

Drury Lane Library - 2nd December 2013

A project I am hoping to take on over the next year is to document the transformation of the former Wakefield Drury Lane Library as The Art House convert it into Artist Studios and an Exhibition space. 

These are a few of the photos I took on the first day in the building. 

More information coming soon ...

[lilleysblog]

The Tetley - 18th November

On Monday I was lucky enough to have an exclusive look at The Tetley - a new cultural venue in Leeds as a super tweeter :) Before the building had opened its doors to the public, myself and a small group were lucky enough to have a tour around with the founders of Project Space Leeds who made this fantastic vision a reality. The former Tetley Brewery head quarters has been renovated and brought back to life by Project Space Leeds. As a beautiful new arts venue, it promises to help upcoming artists, engage the public with art and maintain Leeds' heritage.  The Tetley launches next weekend, and has a fantastic opening programme. Visit - http://thetetley.org/ to find out what will be on. Watch this space!!

[lilleysblog]

Experience Wakefield's alternative night out! Venues come alive with a variety of visual arts and crafts, live music, and performances

Can't wait for next week's Artwalk in Wakefield! Been doing lots in preparation for it, updating the website, making my own work for the MAKE Art&design fair and planning the 'Seasonal Variety Show' at Artplace/Harry's Bar. Check out the website to see what the venues have to offer on this months Artwalk! Some fantastic exhibitions not to be missed. 

[lilleysblog]

Evening of Enlightenment - 15th November 

Fantastic event at The Orangery in Wakefield last weekend organised by Beam.  A night of fire, performance and general wintery good times. Some fantastic acts performed including Band Middle Man from Leeds.  Wakefield is home to some fantastic artistic organisations, and I hope more events like this happen in the future! Visit Beams website - www.beam.uk.net

[lilleysblog]

I've been doing a spot of designing recently! 

At The Art House as part of my marketing internship I decided the leaflet for the next Pecha Kucha Wakefield Event and designed a general flyer for The Art House.  Today I've created a new logo for Artplace which is a non-profit making community arts project I help run. Visit on twitter @artplacewf1.  I've also been working on a collaborative project with my good friend Emma Barrett recently. We're having a stall at the MAKE Art and Design fair next week, and i've been working on a logo for us.