Drawing in the Dark with Stephanie Smith
On this edition of ArtyParti, Stephanie Smith & I chatted about our then upcoming BBC Radio 4 documentary, "The Art of Living: Drawing in the Dark".
An artist based in Sunderland, Stephanie has spent the past eight years developing a new artistic process, which she’s called 'skin-mapping'.
We talk about the journey behind producing the programme, what it means to Steph in terms of her creative development, and share some exclusive clips...
In the programme, you'll hear her participants close their eyes and put charcoal to canvas, to really feel the tactile sensations in their faces & bodies. Stephanie guides artists and beginners alike through her practice.
The documentary features the voices of Sunderland singer/songwriter Olivia Glover, journalism student Mariam Khattab, former ship-builder Stephen Banks, music producer & DJ Rafal Marzec, care worker Anna Debska, mindfulness coach Laura Hind, and visual artist Barrie West.
Recorded Live: 26th November 2018
Contributors: Stephanie Smith
Atlas Theatre Company
On this ArtyParti, meet four members of the Atlas Theatre Company. Founded in 2015 in conjunction with the University of Sunderland, Atlas aim to programme a variety of theatre and performance in venues across the North East.
Founder and Artistic Director Holly Rose Kneller, as well as three performers Alex Tkaczyk, James Trenholme & Joel Carter, joined us a couple weeks ahead of their adaptation of Treasure Island - to discuss the play, the benefits of participatory theatre, and the future of Atlas as a company.
Recorded Live: 19th November 2018
Contributors: Holly James, Alex Tkaczyk, James Trenholme, Joel Carte
Beccy Owen's Pop-Up Choirs
This episode of ArtyParti features a spontaneous live beatbox performance, conversations about arts and mental health, the power of the human voice and collective singing, and what's ahead of Beccy Owen's solo career in working with an all-female team on her new album.
Recorded Live: 5th November 2018
Contributor: Beccy Owen
Visual Arts, Sunderland INDIE, & the Kids Draw Project
Discussions about how people access arts, the barriers in place, and the groups that exist to make art accessible.
Kath Price runs "Fun with Fabrics" workshops through the Cultural Spring, and talks about the challenges of being an older artist. Both Kath and Denise Dowdeswell, Visual Artist, are collaborators with the Sunderland INDIE project, a group which bring arts to non-traditional venues in Sunderland.
Also, two guests form the Spectrum Cultural Hub - Pip Cottam, the newly appointed Project Director, and Phil Barker, who's leading their "Kids Draw Project". We discussed the benefits of arts, and the importance of including art within education for young people.
Recorded Live: 5th November 2018
Contributors: Kath Price, Denise Dowdeswell, Pip Cottam, Phil Barker
Arts & Creative Industries, University of Sunderland
Graeme Thompson, Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of Sunderland, and currently chairs the Royal Television Society’s Education Committee, the arts body “Cultural Spring” here in Sunderland & South Tyneside, and is the chair of “Sunderland Culture”.
Chantal Herbert is the creator of the “Sister Shack” in Newcastle - a regular festival which brings together all female creatives, artists, stall holders and music DJs - and is studying an MA in Radio at UoS.
Noura Zizi Karam Petridi is a photographer, aspiring filmmaker, and graduated from a BA in photography, Video and Digital Imaging here at UoS.
Sophie May Victoria Gray began her business "Clay by Sophie Gray" at 14, and is now a first year Art and Design Extended student here at UoS.
Recorded Live: 22nd October 2018
Contributors: Graeme Thompson, Chantal Herbert, Noura Zizi Karam Petridi, Sophie Mae Victoria Gray
We Make Culture
Laura Brewis shares about the Young Musicians Project and the pop choirs held around the area, as the Project Director of We Make Culture.
Half-way through his UK-wide tour, singer / songwriter Marty Longstaff a.k.a. "The Lake Poets" shares his experiences working on the Young Musicians project.
Helen Green returns with a new hat - Regional Producer of the Danny Boyle WW2 commemoration project 'Pages of the Sea', and discusses with Laura about the various benefits of participatory arts and events.
Recorded Live: 8th October 2018
Contributors: Laura Brewis, Helen Green, Marty Longstaff
You're Just Little
Steph Robson is a blogger and a creative activist, who is using her experience as a person with Drawfism to challenge society and the spaces around her to promote Dwarf voices. Her upcoming photographic exhibition, "You're Just Little", reveals the challenges, obstacles and societal assumptions that people with Dwarfism face on a daily basis.
Kathryn Barnett is the Studio Manager of the Spectrum Cultural Hub in Dawdon, where the exhibition “You’re Just Little” is taking place from this Thursday. She’s a visual artist herself, having just spent 2 years on the MA Fine Art at Teeside University, and has collaborated with Steph on the curation of "You're Just Little".
Recorded Live: 8th October 2018
Contributors: Laura Brewis, Helen Green, Marty Longstaff
