The annual bursary, set up by Shape in memory of sculptor Adam Reynolds supports disabled artists working in visual art. The bursary, one of the most significant commissioning opportunities for disabled artists in the UK, offers an opportunity to engage in a three month residency at a high profile gallery. This year Simon Raven who makes concept-led performances, films and installations is at the Camden Arts Centre, London.

Artist Update

3 October 2012

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The weather has changed. In addition to working in my room at Camden every day, with the doors and windows open, last week I made a performance for the opening of the two new shows by Eric Bainbridge and Simon Martin (in the main galleries). Feeling like a change, and wanting to continue my practice of mirroring or responding to what is going on in the rest of the building, I decided to clear my room and do a bit of light maintenance (during the new exhibition changeover). I mopped the floors,...

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Long time no blog!

21 September 2012

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I was thrilled that the 'Ship of Crips' event on the 12th had a good turn out, and that I wasn't canned-off stage following each screening and a short q&a. Our only hitch on the night was that the gallery lifts had stopped working a couple of days before, and despite two engineers being in all day working really hard to try to fix them, they were still broken on the evening of the 12th. as such, I hastily moved some of my stuff from my studio - all spookily lit, with spinning...

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Back to the Jobcentre

2 September 2012

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I've now settled into a routine of being resident at Camden Arts Centre, with an open studio (the doors wedged open, people free to come in for a chat) every day the gallery is open. I keep waking up early, and I like getting into work amidst the working - 9-5, and sometimes later, through the weekend too. Maybe it's a bit of a literal approach to being 'resident', but I am planning to make some performances and films out about around Camden soon, including a visit to all the...

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The Ship of Crips, 2012

22 August 2012

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Last Saturday I chartered a fully accessible barge from the wonderful 'Pirate Castle', in Camden Town, for a group performance/trip down The Regents Canal. Having researched the Renaissance practice of setting disabled people adrift on boats, and the famous 15th Century allegory based on that image ('The Ship of Fools', Das Narrenschiff, by Sebastian Brant) it occurred to me that our current government's practice of withdrawing financial support from up to 40% of disabled...

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Flat Soufflee at Supernormal Festival

15 August 2012

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I've been away from Camden for a week but return today to dig in for the rest of the residency, until November. Last weekend I performed with my band, Flat Soufflee, at Supernormal Festival (Braziers Park, south of Oxford) a very small, independent music festival. We applied to set ourselves up as a cult, wearing all-white clothes. It was great fun, not least because Aaron Williamson joined us as Grand Master for the first two days. Aaron led us in call and response versions of Stones...

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One Word Poetry

7 August 2012

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I'm in London! Staying in an enormous and very beautiful flat for a few weeks, near the Ally Pally. On arrival I went to a nearby pub, the Salisbury, where I'm pretty sure I saw the guy who plays Dr Watson in the new version of Sherlock Holmes, which was exciting. I've been at CAC three days. The show by Bruce Lacey is super and I recommend a visit - if you like robots, shamanic robes, and a wonderful family history... I've been in the 'Artist in Residence' studio,...

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SLOWER, LESSER, WEAKER

6 August 2012

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During the Olympics I've been wearing a plastic gold medal that I bought from a joke shop ages ago, when it was first announced that Britain, or 'Team GB', had 'won' the games. It has a star on one side, with the word 'CHINA' in raised lettering, where the medal was made, and the word 'WINNER' on the flip, amidst an explosion of smaller stars. When tied around my neck, the cheap circular sun hangs right up to my throat, so it looks as much like a doggy...

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