Nest (2011)

Date:3rd December 2015

Category:Art

← Writing – Rednile, Factory Nights (2010)

Collage (2012-13) →

In 2011 I curated Nest. It was my last major project as Lead Artist for Gateshead Council.

Nest was a project designed to turn property into art. It was community-based and focused on a single empty property in Bensham, Gateshead. The property was destined for demolition. The process began with community consultation via meetings with street reps.

Six artists were identified and each was given a room to create a site-specific installation (see below). The artists were: – Jo Scandrett, Corinne Lewis, Terri Miles, Ashley Bowes, Dean Crawford and Araminta Swan. Themes embraced by the artists were: -memories; rejuvenation; time and scale; change; fragility and tea parties! Circumstances meant that, as well as curating, I also exhibited a piece of work entitled ‘Time and Tide’.

The ultimate intention was to curate a collection of accessible site- specific installations that transformed a single property in a positive and inspiring way. Michael Yule filmed the development of the project and this documentary footage became part of the exhibition (see above).