Video

During summer 2023 I’ve worked with Dave Bixter and Rebecca Ainsworth to deliver a project with Buzzhub St Helens. This is a collaboration where art, history, and innovation converge, in the creation of a mesmerising film that celebrates the legacy of the pioneering Hollywood sound engineer, George Groves who was born in St. Helens.

A table has artworks and sculptures laid out on a black cloth.

The creative workshops have offered Buzz Hub’s film club participants the chance to delve into experimental music-making, sound recording and editing, musical and visual collages, etching into wax disks, and the captivating world of film-making. The result? An enthralling 6-minute film that weaves together ambient and abstract sounds and visuals, all born from the very heart of these workshops. Alex, a member of Buzz Hub’s film club said, ‘I really enjoyed working with Dave, making music and putting together different sounds, it was just amazing!’

Artwork is laid out on a table, viewed from above. The artworks are circular discs with gold engravings, vinyl records and record sleeves with collaged images over them.

The project pays homage to George Groves in a way that not only honours his contributions but also ignites a spark of inspiration and creativity in the hearts of our community,” The film was unveiled during a Heritage Open Day event at St Helens Town Hall in September 2023 and can also be viewed below. Soon, some of the artefacts created during the workshops will also be on public display at Lucem House Community Cinema alongside their existing mural that marks Groves’ achievements.

This project was made possible by National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of ‘Creative Underground’, a two-year heritage project coordinated by St Helens Libraries & Archive Service.

Chester Contemporary is a new visual arts event curated by artist Ryan Gander. For the Contemporary, international and Chester-based artists, emerging talent, and the city’s people have been invited to make and show work for Chester’s unique places and spaces, inspired by the theme ‘Centred on the Periphery’.

The base of a glass cabinet has small books made from paper that are printed with colourful architectural shapes and feature words including "quote, stage, performance, feel good"

I’ve been working on the schools programme as part of this new festival with Mickle Trafford Village Primary School creating ‘The City Unfolds’

Chester’s city centre is characterised by its secret passageways, hidden staircases, buildings on multiple levels and interesting places to be discovered. Year 5 pupils from Mickle Trafford Village School have shared some of their favourite places and studied the architecture of the city with artist Claire Weetman to create artist-book sculptures combining paper folding techniques, printing and poetry.

A black wood framed glass cabinet is painted deep purple inside. Suspended inside are snaking shapes made from coloured paper.

Two sculptures made from coloured paper - one is arch shaped, the other like a wheel laying flat on a shelf. Reflections of the city can be seen in the glass of the cabinet that they are in.

Inspired by both Claire’s artist-book practice and Unfurled, a University of Chester exhibition at the Grosvenor Museum (which ran until 2 July), the class have explored how to use the text, images and storytelling that can be found in books. They’ve combined these book-making elements to create their own sculptural artwork that reminds us of places in the city, including Chester Cathedral, the Rows, the Walls, dance and musical performances, the sound of food being served at the new market, and their top tips for the best pancakes in Chester! Their work can be seen in the display case outside Waterstones on Eastgate Row.

Thanks to the staff and pupils of Mickle Trafford Village School, Mickle Trafford, Cheshire.

Find out more about Chester Contemporary here

Claire Weetman

Artist

George Groves Sound Heritage project

Chester Contemporary Schools Programme