Nantwich Museum – Interactive Collection Box Expression of interest. Contents: Expression of interest Work images Cv and references. Richard Dawson. 07932 050926 rdawson101@hotmail.com. www.arbarus.co.uk
Interactive Collection Box for Nantwich Museum Expression of interest Interest I am interested in the commission as it appeals in many ways and is an exciting and rewarding project to be involved in. My interest in creating work linked to history and heritage as a way of exploring our place in the world has developed from my taking a studio in a former 18th C cotton mill. This interest led me to manage ACE funded event ‘Cotton On’ a creative exploration of the industrial heritage of Mossley creating work in response to the mill, it’s past usage and inhabitants. I see the Nantwich Museum commission as a fantastic opportunity to develop my work in this area further and through collaboration with the staff and volunteers of the museum believe there are strong links between the history of Nantwich and the Lancashire cotton industry. The creation of works related to history and heritage that provoke a new or further undertaking and investigation by the audience has been extremely rewarding and exciting. Technically I enjoy the challenge of ‘animating’ everyday objects to instill them with magical life that provides entertainment and amazement to viewers young and old. I would relish the opportunity to collaborate with museum staff to create a piece that is relevant to the museum, Nantwich community and that would provide a striking entrance piece for the museum – creating opportunities for publicity and promotion of the museum. Experience I have experience creating museum display work and my practice in creating moving and interactive kinetic sculptures developed from my career as designer and maker of effects props for TV and work prototyping mechanisms for toys and for use in animation. I have wide experience working successfully to creative briefs, deadlines and budget in collaboration with Approach My initial approach to the commission would be to choose specific pieces within the museums collection to respond to and currently I am interested in creating a piece linked to Nantwich’s history in the textile industry. My aim would be to create a piece that is eye‐catching, entertaining and reflects part the museums collection in a new way inviting further investigation and inspiring viewers to undertake further investigation within the museum. Initial Idea I have considered responding to the clocks in the museum but having felt this idea was perhaps too mechanical and not ‘human’ enough. After further exploration my conception is to create piece in the style of a museum display cabinet that contains a number of miniature dresses based styles created in local factories, along side these would be clogs and shoes of the era. When money is placed into the slot the clogs would start to tap and shuffle creating a rhythm to which the dresses would spin and dance creating a beautiful scene of magic and wonder. The effect would suggest the dreams of the textiles girls as they created the clothes ‐ in this way the piece would respond to the artifacts and suggests investigation into the inner lives, dreams and desires of Nantwiches past inhabitants. Aesthetically the piece would be created in the style of a Victorian cabinets of curiosities or automata and would be become a modern interpretation of such antique entertainments. These ideas are completely open and I welcome any feedback or suggestions for development to suit the museum and I look forward to your response. Please see attached images and cv for full details of experience and referees.
Richard Dawson. 07932 050926 rdawson101@hotmail.com. www.arbarus.co.uk
Richard Dawson Artist Designer Maker. Contact: Postal: 60 Stamford Road, Mossley, Lancs, OL5 0BG.
Studio: W2/429 Woodend Mill, Manchester Road, Mossley, Lancs, OL5 9AY.
Mob: 07932 050926 Email: rdawson101@hotmail.com Web: www.arbarus.co.uk
Art forms: 3D, sculpture, craft, interactive, kinetic. Skills and experience: I trained in 3D design and communicative media and have worked in industry as freelance designer/maker in architecture, product and toy design as well as TV, film, theatre and animation. My practice stems from the reconciliation of my technical design background with an interest in craft and traditional materials. I create moving sculptures in response to my surroundings, the environment and in order to explore my pace in the world. I have a strong skills in budget and time mamagment and relish working in collaboration and sharing skills and experiences with individuals and groups from other specialisms. Inspirations: The surrounding environment, local heritage, maps, technology, recycling, sustainability, literature, traditional crafts, myth, poetry, music. Interests: Rock climbing, art, the environment, writing, cycling, music, theatre, photography. CRB: Enhanced. Public Liability Insurance: 5 million BBC Design Risk Management Parts 1&2 trained. References: Katherine McClung‐Oakes Exhibitions & Collections Assistant Ann Gilligan ‐ Green Monster Arts Bury Art Gallery, Museum+Archives 1 Rockbank Cottages, Moss Street, Bury, Micklehurst Road, Lancs Mossley BL9 0DR OL5 9NN 0161 253 6497 07989 529964 K.McClung‐Oakes@bury.gov.uk ann@greenmonsterarts.co.uk
Recent Exhibitions and Commissions: “Spike Island – flood awareness project”. 3 interactive kinetic works developed from creative workshops with young people focusing on awareness of flood risks to Spike Island estate in Salford. – Collaboration with Green Monster Arts. “Tactile Panels”. 3 interactive/ tactile panels for Leicester Arts Tactile Table artwork for dementia patients and young people. “Handy Weigh Green Machine”: interactive kinetic sculpture for recycling education centre, Preston. “High Barn Bench”. Reclaimed joist bench for school. ‘Music for the Imagination’: collaboration with The Sterling Trio chosen for and performed at UK Young Artists October, 2010 ‘Paperworks 3’: 2 kinetic sculptures for Bury Art Gallery exhibition including new commission ‘migration 2’ and mechagami community workshops ‘Chew The Float’: installation of ‘Lumen Memoria’ for a group show at Victoria Baths, Manchester ‘Like Swift Mercury Beneath Our Feet’: Commissioned sculpture for Illumini 2010, London. ‘trees dream of water they see as insects hear’: commissioned soundscape for Soundfjord Gallery Exquisite Corpse project, cd release November 2010 ‘Runcorn Hub Life’: Kinetic cculpture collaboration with ArtMikanic. ‘Origami Carousel’: Kinetic sculpture Commission for Birmingham Childrens Hospital. Recent Community Projects: Creative Practitioner. Spike Island Flood Awarness. Interactive educational artwork in collaboration with Ann Gilligan for Groundwork. Creative Practitioner. Colshaw Estate 3D ‘street art’ project for Lime Arts in collaboration with Jacqui Symons.. Lead Artist. 5 Ways to Well Being sculpture project for MCC and JHU Lead Artists. Mossley Environmental Art Project for local schools in collaboration with Tamside Ranger Service. Creative Practitioner. Origami Workshops, Birmignham Childrens Hospital. Creative Practitioner. Kinetic art and animation workshops, The Hub, Runcorn. Creative Practitioner. Recycled wood mosaic workshops, High Barn School, Royton. Organiser. Cotton On, A.C.E. funded community art event Workshop Facilitator. Moorfield School Community Week. Workshop Facilitator. Creative workshops at Woodend Mill for New Charter Academy. Workshop Leader. ‘Origami Box Sculpture’ Workshop Leader. ‘The Big Draw’, St Chads, Uppermill. Design and Making Work: Production Designer for BBC TV Drama Specialist Props Maker for Granada TV Sculptor for BBC Tv Drama. Associate Senior Lecturer in Design and Art Direction form Moving Image Production, Leeds Met University.