Author: sr-admin

Well it was a long process to say the least but we got there and the ONE CHAIR PROJECT finally saw the light of day on our press and preview night on 11th Feb 2016, over a year after the project began. Safe to say we rode that buzz!

When I started the project in 2014 the aim was always to have an exhibition in a space that the public could drop into or see from the street, not a traditional art gallery setting that can be off-putting. To put the faces of the people pushing the city forward culturally directly in front of the residents as if to say OI LOOK!! check out what’s going on, and who’s doing it!

I was doing it for free and asking for no payment except the project to be given a space.

I told my friend Tobi Kaerst about it and he immediately introduced me to Tom Whitley of the Natural Vegmen –  a guy who believes that we have a duty to affect our city and had been making connections all over the shop. After our initial meeting he jumped on board as Co-pilot and immediately began to open doors to start the process of getting the exhibition out!

Tom is now a great friend and fellow Scotch Whisky appreciator and I could not have done this without him. There’ll be a bottle at the end buddy!

Skip a YEAR of banging our heads agains the walls and we’d FINALLY got past the non-decision makers and people that were offering ridiculous things that could never work – that seemed to be rife here. We’d been offered not only funding through CWaC (Alice sorted this! thank you!!) but a shop unit as well.

The aim of the project was always to highlight talent, create a network amongst the one chair people and put them forward as points of contact and reference to connect people.

We really wanted to use the project as a vehicle to:

Strengthen and highlight our creative industry by pulling our creatives into a supportive network

Put said industry in front of our business community to encourage them to start looking to Chester and use creatives in the city therefore improving our creative economy.

Educate people that by saying YES to projects like this – your city gets BETTER

 

Co Working

Through an event that was set up by Andy Foster about improving the future of Chester I met Andrew Davey and Rhys Harry from design firm Reasonably Good who’d been looking into co-working spaces and how they can help freelancers.

So after we were offered the shop unit, it seemed obvious to ask them if they would like to run a co-working space alongside the exhibition. It would increase traffic and also be really healthy for our creative industry. We’d do an opening night and then convert the space to accommodate both projects.

This project is now alive and kicking and called INDUSTRY

The event

The Chester Chronicle ran an article pre launch which was amazing. Read it here and I was lucky to have Andy Tabberer come on board with social media expertise also.

I was overwhelmed with the turnout (over 150 people) and diversity of the guests on the opening night but was also very nervous as I knew I had to speak to everyone at some point. To relieve this I got my film camera out (an old pentax honeywell 1964 that my mate Gus had given me) and hid behind it. It was just like working an event after that and I re-entered my comfort zone.

The night went off really well and I was really pleased to see not only members of our creative community but members of Chester Business Club, the council and also Chester Growth Partnership there as well as friends and of course all of the ONE CHAIR people. We were ticking the right boxes in my head. Mixing people up together!

I was so excited to see everyone who I’d photographed be there at the unveiling and see their own portrait and reading their bios written by Adam Kirkup. for the first time. Reactions from Alice Elliott, Matt Baker and Nez Kendall in particular were absolutely priceless – lots of selfies!!! Also extremely relieved that Nez liked his pic as he’s national vintage photographer of the year 2015! See his work here

Music was provided by ME&Deboe and Mark Henderson and Thor Brown (who was originally supposed to be in the CHAIR but was a bit too nervous).

We also had lovely wine which we bought from Chester Beer and Wine on the recommendation of Sam the owner. Our team to look after everyone were on it! Kirsten, Shanie (who never stops grinning) and Rachael, thanks youse!

We also had John Holt magician come and support us for FREE on the night. I must have heard the phrase ‘That guy blew my mind!” around 10 times!

SO WE DID IT finally! Watch a little vid of the event below.

I had a great night and lots of support since! The exhibition and INDUSTRY co-working is now OPEN for 2 months and going strong and we’re also putting on workshops and talks in the space. feel free to drop in at:

61 Watergate Row South

Chester.

CHAIR IS HAPPY

Mum are you proud of me yet?

I went to visit 3d sculptor, artist and long time friend SPHERE 3 at his studio near York.
Sphere is an impressive artist with a formidable output of work. His studio literally piled high with ongoing and finished pieces in resin, ceramic, paper and canvas. I asked him a few questions over a brew.

When did you realise that you wanted to be an artist?

I always drew a lot when I was younger and since as far back as I can remember it has been something that has come naturally to me. So I guess I have always known I would be involved in the arts in one way or another.

What or who influences you the most?

I have many influences such as constructivism, cubism, futurism, and graffiti, but the person who has influenced me the most throughout my life is my Dad – The late, great – Jeff Nuttall, who is best known for his literary work: ‘Bomb Culture’ although this is only a small part of what he did as a artist, poet, musician, novelist, critic, social commentator, theatrical innovator and teacher. He believed in bringing all the arts together, This is something I also believe in and would like to do more collaborative work that involves other disciplines.

What is your favourite material to work with right now?

I don’t really have a favourite material to work with, as all materials have their limitations and I don’t like to be limited, which is why I work with so many.My work is very experimental and I like to be able to call on as many materials as I can so that I can create my visions in the best ways possible. I’m trying to build as wide a skill base as I can so I can achieve this.

What are you working on right now? 

I tend to work on several things simultaneously, but one thing I’m currently trying to do is narrow the divide between my 2D and the 3D works, creating architectural sculptural painted installations with high optical elements.

How is your work going to develop in the future? 

I would like to think I will continue trying to push the boundaries, working with more like minded people, and hopefully achieving some larger scale works, exploring the possibility of new media and theatrical architectural design.

What’s your favourite work time drink when you’re creating art?

Depends what I’ve got on the go but Green tea, massive amounts of it!

Check out more of Sphere3’s work here www.flickr.com/photos/sphere3 and also find or contact him on Facebook

 

 

 

 

Hi Everyone,

First of all I would like to say thanks for getting involved in this, and to everyone who nominated, supported and got in touch throughout the whole project. me and CHAIR are very grateful for your input.

Also all of the people who have been nominated but not chosen… DO NOT BE DISAPPOINTED – You are all doing amazing things and there is a bloody good reason why you were nominated in the first place!  The brief was to do with culture specifically so some people’s reasons fell just outside of this.

Judges Tom Whitley and Mike Devoy helped me decide on the people to photograph for the next stage. It was an extremely long and hard fought process to create the list and I think we’ve been as fair as we can be as three people. BUT… We were all really disappointed we could think of so many more people who SHOULD have been nominated – but weren’t!

Anyway here are the choices of Chester’s finest in terms of moving us forward culturally and making the city a more interesting and contemporary place.

THANKS

Sam & CHAIR

THE LIST AS FOLLOWS

Shitchester	Support of a huge range of people, humour, Journalism and highlighting great things about the city daily.
Neil Nez Kendal	Performance and arts, bringing in artists and “cabaret visionary” (in a big way)
David Redpath-Smith, Helen Pickin-Jones, Warren Allmark	PRIDE it had to be in here without a doubt… an amazing event!
Martin Ellis	Having courage to open different and important venues over the years for Chester’s subculture to flourish
Katie Lyttle	Chester food assembly, An extremely forward thinking endeavour!
Alice Eliott	Good for nothing Chester, encouraging people to give time JUST to help the cultural scene and others
Gary Usher (sticky Walnut)	Being independent. Pushing the quality of food in the city higher and being incredibly amusing about it
Tom Hughes (Chef’s Table)	Having extremely high standards and forward thinking business and foodwise and truly supporting local producers
Jez Horril (Telfords Warehouse)	20 years plus of service to Chester’s music scence through his venue
Graffitti Dave	An important character behind the scenes. Dave has done great things and been a great mentor for a good many of Chesters’ Youth
Matt Baker	An amazing character that the city could not do without, bringing theatre to new places
Russel Kirk	Summer and winter watch parades frontman and organiser
Kristine Szulick	For Chester Giants, a unique and continuing tradition
Andy Foster	architect and behind the scenes forward thinker in constant support of Chester’s culture
Thor Brown	for being an extremely active and treasured member of Chester’s music scene
Mark Jones and Stuart Stevenson	Brook Street festival organisers, their event is inspirational and triggers a huge amount of creative thought citywide
Adam Walton	DJ and huge supporter of local talent within the music scene.
Steven Bowness	An important character and forward thinker running MLTC tattoos with real drive to create and add to the city’s alternative culture
Jono Robertson	Frontman of The Suns and extremely well known and loved character around the city.
Mark Williams	Supporting many causes citywide and Fringe festival

 

 

NOMINATED in no order … sorry if we missed anyone

Kate Northcott	Charity campaign work
Simon Wood	working with the homeless
Mr Ansonia	Christleton football Club
Gordon Vickers	Entrepreneur, mill hotel
Peter Lewis	Ch1 Bid
Izzy Cheshire	Support of Business
Jo Talbot	Tattoo artist
Hannah Wehbeh	Artist
David Woods	Cheshire West Voluntary Arts
Helen Ellis	All saints hoole community work
WhatsupChester Lucien And Lady Agnes	Social media services to community
Matt Bryan	Frackfree upton
Sue Mason	Hoole Christmas Lights
Paula Norris	Hoole Community work
Chris Sutton	Lache FM
Vicky Shearn	Anti Fracking and critical mass bike ride organiser
Jayne (Ashton Hayes)	Community work with elderly
Bex Raven	Funky aardvarks, Support of emerging artists
Dan Schott	Music journalism and supporting local music
Dave Cunningham	Chester Ukelele Orchestra
Me and Deboe	Very-hard-working and talented local musicians
Dave ‘Maestro’ Gardener	Karumba Samba and Deesign Choir
Andy Hignett	Vegan videos and open mic regular
Ashley Faith	another very-hard-working talented local Musician
Steph Brocken	Minerva arts youth theatre and forward thinker
Rebecca Sowray	Creative writing and Chester Microplays
Ed White (Jaunty Goat)	independent business pushing quality above image
Kev Brackenbury	Edens Greengrocer in Handbridge, great character and lovely bloke
Niki Davies	Chester Health
Nikki Pinder	Talented Chester artist and Illustrator