Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution members will display their work at the ninth Members’ Art Exhibition at Highgate Gallery from 8th to 21st February 2019.
Previous exhibitions, starting in 1996, have been indicative of Highgate’s vibrant artistic life. Artists have shown oils, acrylics, watercolours and pastels as well as prints and drawings. In addition, photographs, wall hangings and embroideries have featured and we anticipate that the same high standard of work will be submitted for the forthcoming exhibition which will again demonstrate the many and varied talents of our members.
Throughout the exhibition, one of the artists will be on hand to welcome visitors to Highgate Gallery and will be pleased to discuss the pieces on view. All works will be offered for sale.
The HLSI Members’ Art Exhibition is held every three years and is greatly anticipated by the artists and visitors to the Gallery. The show is open to all HLSI members – talented amateurs and professionals alike – to submit pieces.
The final choice of works for display is decided by a selection panel. The panel includes Rose Aidin, Chief Executive of Art History Link Up which facilitates the teaching of Art History on Saturdays at the Wallace Collection and the National Gallery, and Theresa Pateman, artist-printmaker, tutor at Hampstead School of Art and member of Southbank Printmakers Gallery, Printmakers Council, and Printmakers Inc.
Exhibition continues until 21 February. Highgate Gallery open Tuesday-Friday 1-5pm, Saturday 11am-4pm, Sunday 11am-5pm; closed Mondays.
Part-Iranian, part-Welsh, part-who cares, part-everybody cares: Home Sweet Home is the story of a Londoner who just doesn’t fit in. Or, at least, that’s how he feels. Using acrobatic physicality, juggling and stand-up, this one-man exploration of belonging takes in and reimagines the BNP in the ’80s, broken eggs, class struggles, water fights, Brexit, biting and juggling in the rain.
Duration: 1h
Age guidance: 14+
We are now taking bookings for the Spring 2019 term of Portraiture & Figure Drawing!
Working from a live model, this class is aimed at artists of all levels, including beginners and advanced students, who wish to expand their skills in portraiture and figure drawing. Taught by our experienced art tutor, Zoe Hirson, this course looks at anatomy and spends some time focusing on drawing a single pose.
Materials will be provided.
The cost for the entire term is £225 (concessions £205).
Rucksack music at Jacksons Lane.
Email: admin@jacksonslane.org.uk
Wednesdays and Fridays 10.15-11.15am.
Come and enjoy a relaxed, interactive guided musical session for children & their adults (parents/carers). Expect nursery rhymes, popular songs & movement, with small percussion instruments to play and live guitar accompaniment. Lots of singing, stomping, clapping, wriggling, just having a good time. Learning through enjoyment. Classes are 1 hour with a break. Tutor is jazz musician Faye Patton.
Suitable for children 0 – 4 years old.
NO NEED TO BOOK – JUST DROP IN!
£5.00 per child/£3.50 siblings
For more information – www.rucksackmusic.co.uk
We are now taking bookings for the Spring 2019 term of Still Life – Introductory Art.
This weekly class offers both beginners and developing students the chance to explore their creative potential in drawing, focusing mainly on Still Life. During the term the class will explore essential drawing techniques – observation, perspective, negative spaces, mark-making and composition.
Taught by art tutor, Zoe Hirson, this is a general art course suitable for anyone looking to expand and practice their skill set. An informal, friendly and loosely structured class, Introductory Art allows participants to explore the areas and techniques that they find most useful.
The cost for the entire term is £225 (concessions £205).
We are now taking bookings for the spring term of our Painting with Watercolours and Acrylics art course.
This class is the perfect opportunity to learn the basics of two wonderful paint mediums; how to mix, blend and layer watercolour and how to apply acrylic. Explore how to make dynamic compositions that produce interesting paintings using still Life, photographs and sketches as inspiration.
On warm days in the Spring and Summer, this class is sometimes taught outside, taking advantage of the stunning scenery of Waterlow Park.
Our art tutor, Sharon Finmark, lives in North London and studied at Central St. Martins School of Art. She has had several books published on painting and drawing.
The cost for the entire term is £225 (concessions £205).
Wed 20 – Sun 24 Feb
Wed 5pm, Thu – Sat: 11am & 3pm, Sun 3pm
Meet Madame and the charming staff of the quirkily shambolic Hotel Paradiso – and their arch enemy the Banker, scheming to take over the hotel. Watch as the hotel’s tenants do battle with their dastardly nemesis to keep their hotel running. Hilarious physical comedy mixes with spectacular circus, compelling storytelling and side-splitting slapstick in this vibrant, loud and incredibly funny show from Lost in Translation Circus, the UK’s most highly acclaimed family circus company. Lost in Translation return after touring The Hogwallops (co-produced by Jacksons Lane) to sell-out audiences across the UK and internationally.
A co-production with Jacksons Lane.
Age guidance: 3–103
Weekly drop-in Hatha yoga classes suitable for all levels, beginners welcome. Come and practice some lovely postures in a safe environment that will leave you feeling uplifted and refreshed. I am certified by the British Wheel of Yoga (BWY) and classes include a mixture of pranayama, postures and relaxation with focus on correct alignment. The steady flow of postures will improve your strength and flexibility. Mats, blocks and bricks provided or you are welcome to bring your own.
*Email me to book your place and receive your first class FREE*
Wed 20 – Sun 24 Feb
Wed 5pm, Thu – Sat: 11am & 3pm, Sun 3pm
Meet Madame and the charming staff of the quirkily shambolic Hotel Paradiso – and their arch enemy the Banker, scheming to take over the hotel. Watch as the hotel’s tenants do battle with their dastardly nemesis to keep their hotel running. Hilarious physical comedy mixes with spectacular circus, compelling storytelling and side-splitting slapstick in this vibrant, loud and incredibly funny show from Lost in Translation Circus, the UK’s most highly acclaimed family circus company. Lost in Translation return after touring The Hogwallops (co-produced by Jacksons Lane) to sell-out audiences across the UK and internationally.
A co-production with Jacksons Lane.
Age guidance: 3–103
Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution members will display their work at the ninth Members’ Art Exhibition at Highgate Gallery from 8th to 21st February 2019.
Previous exhibitions, starting in 1996, have been indicative of Highgate’s vibrant artistic life. Artists have shown oils, acrylics, watercolours and pastels as well as prints and drawings. In addition, photographs, wall hangings and embroideries have featured and we anticipate that the same high standard of work will be submitted for the forthcoming exhibition which will again demonstrate the many and varied talents of our members.
Throughout the exhibition, one of the artists will be on hand to welcome visitors to Highgate Gallery and will be pleased to discuss the pieces on view. All works will be offered for sale.
The HLSI Members’ Art Exhibition is held every three years and is greatly anticipated by the artists and visitors to the Gallery. The show is open to all HLSI members – talented amateurs and professionals alike – to submit pieces.
The final choice of works for display is decided by a selection panel. The panel includes Rose Aidin, Chief Executive of Art History Link Up which facilitates the teaching of Art History on Saturdays at the Wallace Collection and the National Gallery, and Theresa Pateman, artist-printmaker, tutor at Hampstead School of Art and member of Southbank Printmakers Gallery, Printmakers Council, and Printmakers Inc.
Exhibition continues until 21 February. Highgate Gallery open Tuesday-Friday 1-5pm, Saturday 11am-4pm, Sunday 11am-5pm; closed Mondays.
Rucksack music at Jacksons Lane.
Email: admin@jacksonslane.org.uk
Fridays and Wednesdays 10.15-11.15am.
Come and enjoy a relaxed, interactive guided musical session for children & their adults (parents/carers). Expect nursery rhymes, popular songs & movement, with small percussion instruments to play and live guitar accompaniment. Lots of singing, stomping, clapping, wriggling, just having a good time. Learning through enjoyment. Classes are 1 hour with a break. Tutor is jazz musician Faye Patton.
Suitable for children 0 – 4 years old.
NO NEED TO BOOK – JUST DROP IN!
£5.00 per child/£3.50 siblings
For more information – www.rucksackmusic.co.uk
Wed 20 – Sun 24 Feb
Wed 5pm, Thu – Sat: 11am & 3pm, Sun 3pm
Meet Madame and the charming staff of the quirkily shambolic Hotel Paradiso – and their arch enemy the Banker, scheming to take over the hotel. Watch as the hotel’s tenants do battle with their dastardly nemesis to keep their hotel running. Hilarious physical comedy mixes with spectacular circus, compelling storytelling and side-splitting slapstick in this vibrant, loud and incredibly funny show from Lost in Translation Circus, the UK’s most highly acclaimed family circus company. Lost in Translation return after touring The Hogwallops (co-produced by Jacksons Lane) to sell-out audiences across the UK and internationally.
A co-production with Jacksons Lane.
Age guidance: 3–103
Wed 20 – Sun 24 Feb
Wed 5pm, Thu – Sat: 11am & 3pm, Sun 3pm
Meet Madame and the charming staff of the quirkily shambolic Hotel Paradiso – and their arch enemy the Banker, scheming to take over the hotel. Watch as the hotel’s tenants do battle with their dastardly nemesis to keep their hotel running. Hilarious physical comedy mixes with spectacular circus, compelling storytelling and side-splitting slapstick in this vibrant, loud and incredibly funny show from Lost in Translation Circus, the UK’s most highly acclaimed family circus company. Lost in Translation return after touring The Hogwallops (co-produced by Jacksons Lane) to sell-out audiences across the UK and internationally.
A co-production with Jacksons Lane.
Age guidance: 3–103
Take a step back in time at Lauderdale House’s annual Heritage Weekend – the perfect opportunity to discover the fascinating history of Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park and the Highgate area.
On Saturday 23 February, we celebrate local history with our Local Heritage Fair, plus tours of the house and special talks. All events at the Heritage Weekend are free to attend – however spaces for our tours are limited and will need to be booked in advance.
Events on Saturday 23 February
Heritage fair – 11.30am to 4.30pm
Discover fascinating stories from Highgate’s past, learn about North London heritage and hear about other local curiosities such as the Roman Kilns at Highgate Woods. Come and chat to the people who are interested in and knowledgeable about the history of our local area, including representatives from local museums, historic houses and local history societies.
Confirmed attendees for this year’s Heritage fair include Highagte School`s Museum and Archives, Lady Gould’s Charity and Friends of Kenwood House.
Lauderdale House Tours – Midday and 2pm
Join an expert tour guide to explore Lauderdale House and discover a surprising blend of the old and the new. This modern arts centre dates back to 1582 and has original Tudor beams, hidden artwork, and many stories to tell. Tours are free to join but there are limited spaces so please do book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Talks and Sessions:
- Latest Discoveries at Lauderdale House (1.30pm to 2pm) – a free Q&A session about the latest discoveries made by the team at Lauderdale House.
- Highgate’s Historic Women (3pm tp 4pm) – a free talk about some of the most famous and influential women from Highgate’s past.
- Talk TBC (5pm) – speaker and topic to be confirmed.
And on Sunday 24 February, we invite children and their families to explore the house and discover its secrets at our Heritage Family Fun Day! Find out more here.
Wed 20 – Sun 24 Feb
Wed 5pm, Thu – Sat: 11am & 3pm, Sun 3pm
Meet Madame and the charming staff of the quirkily shambolic Hotel Paradiso – and their arch enemy the Banker, scheming to take over the hotel. Watch as the hotel’s tenants do battle with their dastardly nemesis to keep their hotel running. Hilarious physical comedy mixes with spectacular circus, compelling storytelling and side-splitting slapstick in this vibrant, loud and incredibly funny show from Lost in Translation Circus, the UK’s most highly acclaimed family circus company. Lost in Translation return after touring The Hogwallops (co-produced by Jacksons Lane) to sell-out audiences across the UK and internationally.
A co-production with Jacksons Lane.
Age guidance: 3–103
Take a step back in time at Lauderdale House’s annual Heritage Weekend – the perfect opportunity to discover the fascinating history of Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park and the Highgate area.
On Saturday 23 February, we celebrate local history with our Local Heritage Fair, plus tours of the house and special talks. All events at the Heritage Weekend are free to attend – however spaces for our tours are limited and will need to be booked in advance.
Events on Saturday 23 February
Heritage fair – 11.30am to 4.30pm
Discover fascinating stories from Highgate’s past, learn about North London heritage and hear about other local curiosities such as the Roman Kilns at Highgate Woods. Come and chat to the people who are interested in and knowledgeable about the history of our local area, including representatives from local museums, historic houses and local history societies.
Confirmed attendees for this year’s Heritage fair include Highagte School`s Museum and Archives, Lady Gould’s Charity and Friends of Kenwood House.
Lauderdale House Tours – Midday and 2pm
Join an expert tour guide to explore Lauderdale House and discover a surprising blend of the old and the new. This modern arts centre dates back to 1582 and has original Tudor beams, hidden artwork, and many stories to tell. Tours are free to join but there are limited spaces so please do book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Talks and Sessions:
- Latest Discoveries at Lauderdale House (1.30pm to 2pm) – a free Q&A session about the latest discoveries made by the team at Lauderdale House.
- Highgate’s Historic Women (3pm tp 4pm) – a free talk about some of the most famous and influential women from Highgate’s past.
- Talk TBC (5pm) – speaker and topic to be confirmed.
And on Sunday 24 February, we invite children and their families to explore the house and discover its secrets at our Heritage Family Fun Day! Find out more here.
We are now taking bookings for the Spring 2019 term of Portraiture & Figure Drawing!
Working from a live model, this class is aimed at artists of all levels, including beginners and advanced students, who wish to expand their skills in portraiture and figure drawing. Taught by our experienced art tutor, Zoe Hirson, this course looks at anatomy and spends some time focusing on drawing a single pose.
Materials will be provided.
The cost for the entire term is £225 (concessions £205).
Rucksack music at Jacksons Lane.
Email: admin@jacksonslane.org.uk
Wednesdays and Fridays 10.15-11.15am.
Come and enjoy a relaxed, interactive guided musical session for children & their adults (parents/carers). Expect nursery rhymes, popular songs & movement, with small percussion instruments to play and live guitar accompaniment. Lots of singing, stomping, clapping, wriggling, just having a good time. Learning through enjoyment. Classes are 1 hour with a break. Tutor is jazz musician Faye Patton.
Suitable for children 0 – 4 years old.
NO NEED TO BOOK – JUST DROP IN!
£5.00 per child/£3.50 siblings
For more information – www.rucksackmusic.co.uk
At Lauderdale House, we are now taking bookings for the Spring 2019 term of Introductory Art – Still Life.
This weekly class offers both beginners and developing students the chance to explore their creative potential in drawing, focusing mainly on Still Life. During the term the class will explore essential drawing techniques – observation, perspective, negative spaces, mark-making and composition.
The cost for the entire term is £225.
Concession tickets for senior citizens (60+), students, people who are registered as unemployed, disabled people, and carers: £205
Introductory Art – Still Life takes place on Wednesdays from 10.30am to 1pm
The Spring Term runs from Wednesday 16 January until Wednesday 10 April
Half term: Wednesday 20 February
We are now taking bookings for the Spring 2019 term of Still Life – Introductory Art.
This weekly class offers both beginners and developing students the chance to explore their creative potential in drawing, focusing mainly on Still Life. During the term the class will explore essential drawing techniques – observation, perspective, negative spaces, mark-making and composition.
Taught by art tutor, Zoe Hirson, this is a general art course suitable for anyone looking to expand and practice their skill set. An informal, friendly and loosely structured class, Introductory Art allows participants to explore the areas and techniques that they find most useful.
The cost for the entire term is £225 (concessions £205).
We are now taking bookings for the spring term of our Painting with Watercolours and Acrylics art course.
This class is the perfect opportunity to learn the basics of two wonderful paint mediums; how to mix, blend and layer watercolour and how to apply acrylic. Explore how to make dynamic compositions that produce interesting paintings using still Life, photographs and sketches as inspiration.
On warm days in the Spring and Summer, this class is sometimes taught outside, taking advantage of the stunning scenery of Waterlow Park.
Our art tutor, Sharon Finmark, lives in North London and studied at Central St. Martins School of Art. She has had several books published on painting and drawing.
The cost for the entire term is £225 (concessions £205).
Weekly drop-in Hatha yoga classes suitable for all levels, beginners welcome. Come and practice some lovely postures in a safe environment that will leave you feeling uplifted and refreshed. I am certified by the British Wheel of Yoga (BWY) and classes include a mixture of pranayama, postures and relaxation with focus on correct alignment. The steady flow of postures will improve your strength and flexibility. Mats, blocks and bricks provided or you are welcome to bring your own.
*Email me to book your place and receive your first class FREE*
Rucksack music at Jacksons Lane.
Email: admin@jacksonslane.org.uk
Fridays and Wednesdays 10.15-11.15am.
Come and enjoy a relaxed, interactive guided musical session for children & their adults (parents/carers). Expect nursery rhymes, popular songs & movement, with small percussion instruments to play and live guitar accompaniment. Lots of singing, stomping, clapping, wriggling, just having a good time. Learning through enjoyment. Classes are 1 hour with a break. Tutor is jazz musician Faye Patton.
Suitable for children 0 – 4 years old.
NO NEED TO BOOK – JUST DROP IN!
£5.00 per child/£3.50 siblings
For more information – www.rucksackmusic.co.uk
Circus, experimental technology and Icelandic folklore come together in this work-in-progress piece which pushes the boundaries of performance. Imagine footprints appearing where nobody is walking, crossing an ever-changing landscape – and two figures entwined, one in the flesh, the other just an image. Aerial circus collective Hikapee join forces with immersive Icelandic performance group Huldufugl to present this bold, unique work in its first sharing after an initial research and development period.
Duration: 45m
Age guidance: 12+
Death. A bit grim, isn’t it? Morbid, macabre, unmentionable. But does it have to be that way? Drawn together by their shared fear of death, thanatophobes Lucy Nicholls and Antonia Beck invite you to embark on a journey of discovery, contemplation and courage. Take time to celebrate your own mortality, laugh, cry, stick two fingers up at the grim reaper and discover why talking about death is ultimately life-affirming. This provocative and unashamedly honest commentary tries to help us understand our relationship with death and dying – and why we struggle to accept our own mortality.
Duration: 1h
Age guidance: 14+
Sun 3 Mar, 12pm & 3pm
Time-travelling magicians Morgan & West present a jaw-dropping, heart-stopping, brain-busting, death-defying, mind-frying, spirit-lifting, paradigm-shifting, outlook-changing, furniture-rearranging magic extravaganza. Mixing brain boggling illusion and good old-fashioned tom-foolery, magic and silliness abound in this show for all the family.
Duration: 1h
Age guidance: 5+
We are now taking bookings for the Spring 2019 term of Portraiture & Figure Drawing!
Working from a live model, this class is aimed at artists of all levels, including beginners and advanced students, who wish to expand their skills in portraiture and figure drawing. Taught by our experienced art tutor, Zoe Hirson, this course looks at anatomy and spends some time focusing on drawing a single pose.
Materials will be provided.
The cost for the entire term is £225 (concessions £205).
A bold, brand new company of 12 dancers perform a double bill created especially for them by Phoenix Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Sharon Watson and company Artistic Director Joss Arnott. Taking the idea of empowerment as a starting point, both choreographers have created pieces that play to the incredible strengths of the dancers. Watson’s And still I walk… takes inspiration from the women’s suffrage movement and the struggles that we as humans still face today. Joss Arnott’s When Worlds Collide is an exhilarating, technical masterclass, rooted in classical and contemporary dance styles, which features an original, cinematic score and a stunning lighting design.
Rucksack music at Jacksons Lane.
Email: admin@jacksonslane.org.uk
Wednesdays and Fridays 10.15-11.15am.
Come and enjoy a relaxed, interactive guided musical session for children & their adults (parents/carers). Expect nursery rhymes, popular songs & movement, with small percussion instruments to play and live guitar accompaniment. Lots of singing, stomping, clapping, wriggling, just having a good time. Learning through enjoyment. Classes are 1 hour with a break. Tutor is jazz musician Faye Patton.
Suitable for children 0 – 4 years old.
NO NEED TO BOOK – JUST DROP IN!
£5.00 per child/£3.50 siblings
For more information – www.rucksackmusic.co.uk
At Lauderdale House, we are now taking bookings for the Spring 2019 term of Introductory Art – Still Life.
This weekly class offers both beginners and developing students the chance to explore their creative potential in drawing, focusing mainly on Still Life. During the term the class will explore essential drawing techniques – observation, perspective, negative spaces, mark-making and composition.
The cost for the entire term is £225.
Concession tickets for senior citizens (60+), students, people who are registered as unemployed, disabled people, and carers: £205
Introductory Art – Still Life takes place on Wednesdays from 10.30am to 1pm
The Spring Term runs from Wednesday 16 January until Wednesday 10 April
Half term: Wednesday 20 February
We are now taking bookings for the Spring 2019 term of Still Life – Introductory Art.
This weekly class offers both beginners and developing students the chance to explore their creative potential in drawing, focusing mainly on Still Life. During the term the class will explore essential drawing techniques – observation, perspective, negative spaces, mark-making and composition.
Taught by art tutor, Zoe Hirson, this is a general art course suitable for anyone looking to expand and practice their skill set. An informal, friendly and loosely structured class, Introductory Art allows participants to explore the areas and techniques that they find most useful.
The cost for the entire term is £225 (concessions £205).
We are now taking bookings for the spring term of our Painting with Watercolours and Acrylics art course.
This class is the perfect opportunity to learn the basics of two wonderful paint mediums; how to mix, blend and layer watercolour and how to apply acrylic. Explore how to make dynamic compositions that produce interesting paintings using still Life, photographs and sketches as inspiration.
On warm days in the Spring and Summer, this class is sometimes taught outside, taking advantage of the stunning scenery of Waterlow Park.
Our art tutor, Sharon Finmark, lives in North London and studied at Central St. Martins School of Art. She has had several books published on painting and drawing.
The cost for the entire term is £225 (concessions £205).
A bold, brand new company of 12 dancers perform a double bill created especially for them by Phoenix Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Sharon Watson and company Artistic Director Joss Arnott. Taking the idea of empowerment as a starting point, both choreographers have created pieces that play to the incredible strengths of the dancers. Watson’s And still I walk… takes inspiration from the women’s suffrage movement and the struggles that we as humans still face today. Joss Arnott’s When Worlds Collide is an exhilarating, technical masterclass, rooted in classical and contemporary dance styles, which features an original, cinematic score and a stunning lighting design.
Weekly drop-in Hatha yoga classes suitable for all levels, beginners welcome. Come and practice some lovely postures in a safe environment that will leave you feeling uplifted and refreshed. I am certified by the British Wheel of Yoga (BWY) and classes include a mixture of pranayama, postures and relaxation with focus on correct alignment. The steady flow of postures will improve your strength and flexibility. Mats, blocks and bricks provided or you are welcome to bring your own.
*Email me to book your place and receive your first class FREE*
Cabaret meets intergalactic space exploration in this zesty taste of underground Berlin, interweaving outrageous characters, super-skilful acts, off-the-wall stunts and riotous comedy. Captain Nat Cat (renowned handstand artist and Jacksons Lane regular Natalie Reckert) leads an ensemble of five Berlin-based circus outcasts brought together by a shared obsession with all things circular. Expect aerial magnificence, virtuoso handstands (on eggs), juggling dexterity, mesmerising flashing hula hoops and all manner of antics inspired by the sordid underbelly of Berlin’s cabaret scene.
Supported by Jacksons Lane.
Age guidance: 12+
Rucksack music at Jacksons Lane.
Email: admin@jacksonslane.org.uk
Fridays and Wednesdays 10.15-11.15am.
Come and enjoy a relaxed, interactive guided musical session for children & their adults (parents/carers). Expect nursery rhymes, popular songs & movement, with small percussion instruments to play and live guitar accompaniment. Lots of singing, stomping, clapping, wriggling, just having a good time. Learning through enjoyment. Classes are 1 hour with a break. Tutor is jazz musician Faye Patton.
Suitable for children 0 – 4 years old.
NO NEED TO BOOK – JUST DROP IN!
£5.00 per child/£3.50 siblings
For more information – www.rucksackmusic.co.uk
Image: Graffiti Theft No2 – spray paint transfer on cotton- 110x196cm. (c) SimonWilliams/Jakbox2018. All rights reserved
Archway-based artist Simon Williams’ work questions the relationship that we have with the world, inviting us to rediscover and appreciate beauty in our environment that might otherwise be overlooked. The viewer is encouraged to explore and reappraise objects, textures and surfaces that Simon believes are powerful, “full of history and memories”. He has a deep appreciation for the “accidental aesthetics” created by the city, the marks that industry, commerce and everyday life leave behind.
Whether their origins are in the local streets like the ‘Pavement’ series or in a domestic setting such as the ‘Marking Time’ series, Simon is fascinated with the impact of time on the objects around us. He uses of a wide range of materials and media – including silicone, wood, metal and paper – which reveal the different forms that beauty can take, depending on the relationship the viewer shares with, or the feelings they project onto, those objects. The materials can be industrial, like metal, then subjected to chemical erosion, or created by inks or graphite on paper, recreating natural marks made by time. These works are shown alongside the “ready-mades” or found objects, and demand a response from the viewer.
Engaging with the viewer has always been an important element in Simon’s work. Whilst studying architecture at Liverpool University Simon worked as a pavement artist, and was voted Time Out’s ‘Street Artist of the Year’ in 1987. He also started designing theatre posters for the Liverpool Playhouse, which was the beginning of a successful career in the field, as he subsequently established his own studio which was rebranded as ‘Feast’ in 2005 and is based in Camden. In 2018 the poster image for ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ was given the ‘Best Theatre Poster Award’ of all time by ‘What’s on Stage’.
During this time Simon has always had other artistic work going on, whether sculptures, photographic documentary work, a conceptual project called ‘Under the Hammer’ – a project of 17 weekly art auctions inspired by different famous artists – or collaborative work with the JakBox creative team in his Camden studio. He created the ‘Points of View’ concept in 2009 which directs the public’s gaze from the pavement to unusual viewpoints or juxtapositions, turning the urban landscape itself into a work of art. In 2015 JakBox was commissioned by Camden Council to create a ‘Points of View’ in Cobden Junction near Mornington Crescent. Finding interest or beauty in what might otherwise be ignored or considered mundane is also a preoccupation in this highly original show at Highgate Gallery.
See also the website: JakBox.co.uk. Simon has had two short pieces on London Live:
http://www.jakbox.co.uk/news/london-live-feature
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqcEMWNeeao
Exhibition continues until 21 March.