Tony Appleby and Claire Wearn
Tony Appleby and Claire Wearn met in London, where they spent five years working for a television shopping channel. They left to travel extensively around the United States, collecting stories and folk art from across the continent. They now live in Birmingham and work variously as clothes designers, writers, furniture makers and artists. Aside from their piece in Radioactive they are currently producing art work in a variety of media including film, photography, sound and print.
Art Point
Donations welcome, please HELP.
Byron Bailey
Byron Bailey was born in Birmingham of Jamaican parents and developed an interest in art at an early age. It was at secondary school that Byron started to take the subject more seriously and he continued to draw and paint as a hobby for many years. In 2000, Byron graduated in Foundation Studies in Art & Design at Bournville School of Art. Since then he has been working on a project called 'Birmingham Past and Present'. Radioactive is his first public exhibition.
Fred Barnfield
Fred Barnfield is an English artist, born and lived all his life in the Black Country. He is one of the art world's unsung true outsiders. Treading a lonely path, Barnfield's prolific bulk of work reveal his self taught capabilities, his many influences and his own experiences and relationships in subject matter in ever developing paintings, sculpture and writings. A multi-stylist, his works include Cooling Towers (1973), Montages (1978), Blobs (1984 - 2001), Interiors (1989), Knets (1996), Phonebirds (1996), Barcodes (1998). Barnfield's most recent installation, Clouds (2003), consisted of toilet rolls strung out through 20 empty stalls in Wednesbury Market swaying with the breeze. See www.blobology.co.uk.
Wayne Bartlett
Wayne Bartlett was born in Iowa, a stone's throw away from the Mississippi River. He studied art at Luther College in his hometown of Decorah, and later at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He focused mainly on sculpture, feeling the essence of all 'art' could be expressed through this medium. In 1985, he moved to New York City, and got a job as a proprietor at the Museum of Natural History. His work there involved building metal armatures for articulating facials. This experience was just the beginning of a long involvement with art installation, as he has worked with several high profile artists, in many museums and galleries over the past 18 years. He feels this type of work has allowed him to stay connected to the art world while pursuing his own career as a sculptor and painter. He currently maintains a working studio in Manhattan where he resides, but he is constantly inspired by travelling, and exploring new ideas in art and culture.
Ian Basford
Abstract work founded on people and nature is the core of Ian's work to date. A graduate of Central St Martin's and a graphic designer, the work for Radioactive represents a change in direction - fusing industrial with nature, heavily influenced by nature's progressive return to the X-Rays factory and the subsequent reclamation by art, artists, voyeurs and purveyors of artistic expression.
Bobby Bird
Handsworth born digital musician, producer and sound artist, performing live electronic music, releasing experimental electronic music albums under the name Higher Intelligence Agency and creating site specific multi speaker sound and light installations using found sound and modern processing techniques. Previous commissions have included sound works and installations for Museum Lilim in the South of France, Metapod's Immerse at Moseley Road Pools, 7/8ths of a Second in Cannon Hill Park, the Museum of Contemporary Art Helsinki, Gallery of the Future, Loughborough, the Polar Music Festival Norway, Modulate at the Birmingham Chuck Works, and Birmingham Frequencies - a live event on the 11th floor of Birmingham's Rotunda building, using sounds and images sourced from around the city.
Alice Branston
Alice Branston has been hiding in the depths of normality for some time now, but cannot deny her need to express. Express what, she is not entirely sure, all she does know is that she has to keep making art. As close an explanation she can give, is that she is trying to express something which flits through dreams and the subconscious, spilling out into physical reality through the work she produces. Her work is always a response. A response to a time, a response to a place, a response to an idea, a response to a word, a song, a chance encounter. Perhaps she is expressing something that she cannot admit she feels, who knows? The upshot is that by creating her art she fulfils a need which she can't even describe, but which is there as plain as the nose on her face!
Geoff Broadway
Geoff Broadway is currently artist in residence at The Public in West Bromwich. His practice is based around working with people through recording and representing conversations in order to explore diverse aspects of everyday life. Most recent projects include: Elders, a dramatic sound and light installation based upon conversations with local elders about wisdom and life, and Where do I go from here? (2000/1, produced while artist in residence at Durham Cathedral), which is a complex water-based sound and video installation which weaves together spoken testimonies of ten refugees and asylum-seekers currently living in the north-east of England. He has taught and lectured widely, including the University of Sunderland, University of Derby and The University of Auckland, New Zealand. www.intentional.co.uk
Brown
Brown has been a university lecturer, a teacher in a girl's convent school, a fitted kitchen installer and a tea boy in a commode factory before finding his niche in the 're-location' project. He lists his hobbies as collecting medical antiques and sharpening pencils. His books about communication in medicine and the philosophy of science neatly complement his interest in esoteria and scatalogia through the ages. He breathes fire, and subsists on a carefully planned C-Plan diet of coffee, curries, crisps, cream cakes, chips and chocolate.
Julian Bull
Julian works in a variety of digital media including video installation, print and photography and is often concerned with the theme of identity. The hardware and software which powers his video installations are extensively researched and self built - a fact recognised by the award of a hausguest bursary by the digital media lab, Vivid, early in 2003. Previous exhibitions include: 'Intervention' Handsworth, Birmingham, Feb 2002 - several works including video installation The Intervenetron; Birmingham Artsfest, Sept 2002 - short film 40 Winks; Vertical Hold, Sept 2002 - Video Installations Shedding Skin, Flag of Convenience and Eyelets; Birmingham Artsfest, Sept 2003 - film Experiments with 9 screens. Julian is secretary of the SOZO Collective and may be contacted on
Naomi Bull
Whilst only aged 9, this is the third show that Naomi has exhibited in. Previous shows were 'Intervention' at Handsworth, Birmingham in February 2002 with decorative tilework and 'Vertical Hold', also in Handsworth, September 2002 with an installation piece Sunbathers encouraging racial harmony. We await the future with interest�
Louis Campbell
Presently working on some films for the 'Re:location' project. Recent self-funded projects include 'Vertical Hold', an exhibition in Handsworth that featured his poetry in conjunction with the work of illustrators. Louis was involved in the community project 'Intervention' that took place in Westminster Road, Handsworth in his role as performance poet. He is also involved with an arts collective known as Lexicon (Da Da muton noir). Last year they exhibited poetry speaking automata at Birmingham Central Library. Louis also contributed to Birmingham Artsfest each year since 1995. As a poet, singer and lyricist with the nutmeg club: also as lyricist and guest vocals with the band called the 'Dubrokaz' - a multicultural Birmingham based band. He has made films from home with limited technology and no funding.
David Checkley
David's background is that of theatre lighting, sound and technical management. He has been involved in countless projects in the last 15 years, the most recent including 'Intervention' (2002) and 're-location' (2003).
Alan Cheeseman
Alan was trained as a diamond-mounter at the School of Jewellery in Hockley, Birmingham. He then worked in Bermuda for a year, but came back to work as a fashion jewellery model maker again in the Jewellery Quarter. He's been self-employed since 1988. �Sculpture is my love now, stone carving in particular, with a natural flowing style apparent. However mixing natural forms with electrical equipment and other mixed media I find challenging and it incorporates relevant emotional and political responses to today's world.� He also runs a pewter giftware manufacturing company in Walsall.
Deep Dhudwar
Deep has been noodling with music and playing with paint for quite some time.
Avril Elward
Avril Elward is studying for a degree in Fine Art at the UCE, Birmingham. Her interests are centred on the theme of building decay, interpreted through photography, painting and sculpture with reference to their line, shape form and texture. Throughout her practice, Avril has been experimenting with various materials, including sugar and lard which to her represent the temporariness of life as seen through the decay of old buildings.
Helen Grundy
Helen Grundy is about to enter the final year of her degree in Fine Art at The University of Central England. Helen created an installation for the 'Intervention' exhibition last year, where, influenced by the theme of the domestic arena she built a sofa-like piece that represented the female body and maternal comfort. This piece took on a greater significance as Helen's mother sadly died during the exhibition. For Radioactive Helen continues to thrive on the challenge of making sculptural works in unusual settings and relishes creating pieces that reflect an industrial theme. Helen is also a published poet and will be displaying new poems around the factory.
Peter Hadfield
Building consultant: Ha! How about creative demolitionist? Or qualified idiot? More like professional donkey. Anyway we have arrested the decay and have produced (within certain constraints) we hope, a memorable venue. I've also done the frontage plus a few other bits. Now I can't knock a nail in straight so how did we get this far?
Thanks to:
He that trusted me.
Those that paid me.
The diverse skills (what a relief!) personalities and food brought by the committed volunteers and staff. Especially those who shared the hard yards early on.
CV: Yes. Finally, I'm out of work 0121 5653942.
John Hammersley
Recent shows: A Plea to Somewhere Else, Bury Art Gallery and Museum, May-July 2003 - group show exploring themes of migration, identity and belonging. Artist's talk with the Gallery and museum curator. Back Again and Run, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Sept 2002 - exhibition at work exploring the complexities of relatedness and belonging in identity (www.biad.uce.ac.uk/news_event/spa.html). Three Choirs Fringe Festival, Worcester, August 2002 - two pieces exploring metaphor and perception. Malvern Sculpture Festival, June 2002 - three pieces exploring the metaphor of 'the grass is greener on the other side' (www.malvern-hills.co.uk/sculpture). Intervention, Birmingham, February 2002 - group show as part of the Sozo Arts Collective. Text based work exploring the context and process of the project. 'No offence intended', AN magazine, April 2002. (www.sozocollective.org.uk)
James Hepburn
After a career as an advertising photographer, James has recently completed an MA in Fine Art at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design. During the last two years he has had a one-man show at the Steele Gallery Falmouth, and exhibited as part of 'Forward' at St Paul's Gallery Birmingham.
Rob Horrocks
I live two streets away from the site of 'Intervention' so I have really enjoyed being involved with this.
Ernie Hudson
Birmingham born artist started as a poster maker and planographic printmaker at the Birmingham Arts Lab in the early '70s. Involved in a wide variety of roles as an artist/maker in the graphic and decorative arts until 1982 when he attended Margaret Street annexe of the University of Aston studying Fine Art. He has worked part-time as a tutor in Further Education since 1986. Ernie has exhibited widely in group and solo shows; his work is in public and private collections in Europe and America.
Martin Humphries
Martin grew up in Shepherd's Bush in the '60s and completed a traditional painting course in 1974, exhibiting mainly landscapes during the '70s. He alternated between Cardiff and Asia during the '80s with a year and a half leading a mural team in the Rhondda. Martin lived in Istanbul for four years from 1989, moving to Birmingham, to settle seven years ago. He recently undertook an MA Fine Art course at Margaret Street UCE �to give the tree a shake before I got to 50�. He is at present producing work that is its own story as opposed to a statement about something else.
Rob Irving
From 'ghost' photographs to crop circles, Rob Irving's work reflects his interest in our response to visual ambiguity. During the '80s, he was a regular contributor to Andy Warhol's Interview magazine. His work has been exhibited widely, notably at the National Museum of Photography, the Photographer's Gallery and the Museum Of. As one of the Circlemakers (.org), he was recently commissioned by Channel 4 TV's Big Brother to recreate the famous radial eye pattern at numerous locations throughout the UK. Irving is frequently asked to write and speak about his creative pursuits at the threshold of perception.
It's About Time Productions (Sabine Gollner & Nigel Amson)
It's About Time Productions, Birmingham are an artists-led organisation, committed to using their creative skills to support positive community development. As an independent multi-media production company, they specialise in Social Documentary and Social Art Projects. Recently they have produced artists' documentaries for Alisha Miller, Transit Art 2, and Craftspace Touring, Sense of Occasion. Dominic Day is a freelance camera operator and editor, specialising in lo-fi techniques, with a passion for the aesthetics of film and structuralist art. One of his productions was Anthony Gormley's Field documentary.
Dick Jones
I draw therefore I'm an Artist. That's it.
Mohsen Keiany
Mohsen Keiany was born in Shiraz in 1970. Having shown a talent for art, he completed his secondary education, became a teacher and gained a scholarship to study art at Esfahan University. He secured a Master's degree and then lectured at Shiraz University. An award-winning artist, Keiany has exhibited over 35 times internationally. He has exhibited 18 times in the UK, recently at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and his work has been reviewed by the BBC and many other newspapers. He now lives in Birmingham and is researching for his PhD thesis at the University of Central England.
KLLB Band
The band was formed in 2001 - springing from discussions between percussionist and composer Lekan Babalola and a clarinettist and composer Kate Luxmoore. Along with founder members Lekan and Kate, the band includes: producer and keyboard player Marcus Byrne; Ray Prince, a drummer in the R&B music scene, bass player Colin Peters; and jazz/funk/world music-type singer Helen McDonald. Occasionally the band feature guest appearances from legendary South African jazz guitarist Lucky Ranku. All of these people come from different musical backgrounds to celebrate the contemporary dance music scene - that is the ambition of KLLB. �Our sound is a fusion of African musical sensibility and Western classical tradition. Finding the right producer to work with has been a key factor in this and Marcus Byrne's experience in the dance music scene has made him an ideal partner to hone the KLLB sound.� The band tour around the country regularly and are currently working on a new album. Regular gigs in Birmingham include The Drum and The Irish Centre.
Matthew Krishanu
Since graduating from art college two years ago, Matthew has worked on mixed-media art for the play Tao of Exile by Patrice Naiambana, exhibited paintings at Birmingham Central Library and in the shows Ancient Gods: Modern Images and It's a Wonderful World as part of 2003's Collide season of arts. He has also run art workshops in several schools, youth groups and for Gallery 37. Matthew hopes to live and work as an artist in India in the future.
Julie Marsh
Julie is a visual artist working in the area of new media installation. Her active research at present is surrounding synesthesia in visual perception and haptic visuality, which promotes a physical response through the use of vision.
Leanne Martin
Born in Aston Birmingham and educated in a comprehensive school, Leanne realised at an early age her passion for art. Her work has progressed over the years, from drawing and painting as a hobby, to creating murals and large-scale sculptures. In 1998, Leanne studied public art and design at Chelsea College. To date she has designed quirky riverside furniture for Wandsworth in London, a large hanging mobile using reflective perspex in Camberwell and interconnecting transparent tubing incorporating fibre optics and riverside water in Hammersmith. For several years Leanne has been exploring the qualities of glass as a medium. She is fascinated with glass in its rawest sense, it is strong, brutal yet durable and it responds to light and colour in a unique way.
Fukiko Matsushita
Fukiko Matsushita is a Japanese artist now based in Birmingham. Her work is concerned with boundaries and barriers and the way that human beings cross or journey through them. She combines this subject matter with her formal training in the Japanese art of 'ikebana'.
Susan McClure
Susan McClure is English with a multicultural background. She is an artist, folk musician and landscape architect who now concentrates on painting and has exhibited widely.
Pumpkin McKay
Jain McKay is a Walsall based artist whose work is primarily biographical, using text and image to interact with the viewer in a personal, sometimes intimate way. She is currently working on monoprints as this gives a quick immediate response, a beautiful line that can not lie and an element of chance. She exhibits frequently in Wolverhampton and Dudley and her recent success at Fresh Art as part of 'Eagle Works Studios' is due to be followed up with a visit to the 'Affordable Art Fair' in October.
Graziano Milano
Currently working at The Public in West Bromwich as Graphic Project Artist. Responsible of the overall publicity design for the Radioactive exhibition including this catalogue. Because of that Graziano has been too bloody busy to write his artist's profile properly. See also Anon and Art Point.
David Papadopoulos
I and my work are proponents of wasteland theory: looking at and responding to relationships of people, place and nature, particularly with regard to waste land. This practice extends to making models with drawn, written, built and lived forms. Built models include simple structures made from waste material; structures that reflect the social conditions of their production and use. My background includes landscape architecture, engineering, postgraduate study and tutoring in human geography, engaging in public discourse, participation in voluntary and collective projects, collaborations with creatives and institutions and, not least, walking the land.
Dave Pollard
In July 2001, Dave Pollard started to practice as an artist using buildings as his medium. Finding it hard to gain access to potential sites he decided to use his own house as a starting point. This resulted in an exhibition entitled Alchemy, where he transformed the structure of his home. The space was then opened up to other artists who wanted to exhibit their own work. Six months later the process was repeated with five larger houses donated by a housing association. This project involved nearly 100 artists. The scale and ambition of the project demonstrated an enormous demand for this kind of artistic experiment. This latest project, 'Re:location' and the resulting exhibition phase Radioactive, now involves 50,000 square feet of factory space, using the same formula as before - building an artistic community as transforming the building. Dave now works full-time as a curator and artist builder and intend to take this concept overseas as soon as possible.
Chris Poole
Chris Poole has no formal art training but has been interested in the creative process from an early age. His background is in engineering and construction management. In the mid '90s, Chris formed 'Perpetual Lighting' and worked as a lighting engineer in the clubs of Birmingham. Currently Chris is the technical lead for an award winning team of Educational Technologists based at South Birmingham College. Chris has long turned his talents to helping other artists realise there ideas but this is the first time he has collaborated in the artistic as well as the practical process of making art.
The Public
Helen Annetts - PR Officer for getting us so many good press opportunities,
Carol White - Marketing Co-ordinator for organising stewards,
Caroline Manders - Marketing Adminstrator for administrative support and invaluable advice on the shop,
Jackie Francis - Receptionist for fielding so many calls and franking so many envelopes,
Ian Fellows - Fundraising Manager
Ruth Bonney - Fundraising Researcher for advice on future funding opportunities,
the Finance team - in particular Andrea Mason and Cilla Jinks -
Project Finance Assistants for being so efficient, flexible and helpful and keeping the money coming,
Roz Hall - Creative Evaluation for capturing the important things,
Phil Hall - Facilities and Technology Manager for helping us to source equipment,
Chris Whittingslow - Clerical Assisstant for meeting all our stationery needs well ahead of time,
Orit Azaz - Project Development Director (Live Arts) for advice and support regarding performance,
Graham Peet - Design and Graphics Manager for those wonderful mugs,
Graziano Milano - Graphic Project Artist for chasing people up to get the right images and designing such professional publicity, posters, banners and of course, the catalogue,
Emma Chetcuti - Manager, Public Art Projects for pulling it all together and relating it to bigger picture opportunities,
Angela Foy - Co-ordinator, Public Art Projects for keeping track of all the 'things to do',
Claire Mills - Co-ordinator, Creative Industries for making sense of SICE,
Zac Fox - PA to the Directorate for making time for this project,
Caron Wright - Directorate and Legal Services Manager for help and support regarding contracts and briefs,
Trish Cashmore - POD Manager for being so brave,
Sylvia King - Chief Executive for the lovely foreword and evangelical response to this project and everyone who visited and volunteered to steward at the factory - this project would not have been the same without all of your help. Thank you.
John Rogers
Forthcoming Exhibitions: Stare, D.A.C., New York City, 18-20 October 2003; Science Fiction Double Feature, Custard Factory, Birmingham, 21st October 2003; Past Exhibitions: Stare, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham; House Lights Up (with aas), Ikon Gallery, Birmingham; Protest, 2003 Fierce Festival, Lighthouse Media Centre, Wolverhampton; Lux Open 2003, Royal College of Art, London; aas magazine, (email to buy a copy, or available from Ikon Gallery shop); �...my friend closed the lift doors and pressed the button for the third floor�, Solo Show, York College; Gobbledegook, The Centre of Attention, London.
Andy Scholes
Born 1965, studied Central St Martins, Newcastle Poly and University of York, Toronto. Since graduation and exhibiting with artists groups in Newcastle and London, Andy has worked as a commercial mural artist producing interior and exterior pieces in the commercial and leisure sectors. His work has recently evolved into the development of creative and play environments.
Martin de Sey
A videographer and film maker, who has worked in the fields of corporate, pop, and fine art. Within the video medium he is also a performer/presenter of his own work. Winner of 'Best Music Video' for Vivarama's Let's Talk About Love at the 1992 Birmingham International Film and Television Festival. A musician, composer and performer, most notably with glam pop band 'Vivarama' (1991-96). A painter, inspired principally by the Futurist and Pop Art movements. His 'Intervention' piece was entitled My First Minor Reprospective, and featured large scale reproductions of my paintings from the period 1985-1995.
Anita Soni
Anita was born and raised in Smethwick and still resides there. In 1998, she qualified as a makeup artist, progressing as a nail and airbrush technician, involving all aspects of nail work from sculpting to technical nail art. In 2001, she further advanced her qualification and skills in airbrushing mobile phone covers and T-shirts. Her current credentials are working for a new Asian magazine as a face model and photographic makeup artist. She specialises in the arts consisting of all aspects of community fun day events. Her services are very original and unique.
Sozo Collective
Anyone who has helped transforming a derelict building in a fantastic exhibitiion venue. You know who you are. A big thank you to P. S. Talafair, the landlord. Without his support all this would not have been possible.
Diane Taylor
Diane was born and educated in Birmingham where she gained a BA(Hons) Art and Design. In 1990 she was given a unique opportunity to assist in the complete renovation of the Victorian terraced house that is now her home. In 2001, she worked on the 'Intervention' project and produced a site specific installation inspired by one of the houses that had been devastated by fire. The theme of working with buildings continues with her participation in 'Re:location'. Diane has always been interested in exploring the relationship between textiles and text. Her work has included textiles for the body and text inspired banners in public spaces.
Keiko Tilly
Keiko is a jewellery designer. Born in Osaka, Japan, she took an Art and Design course at UCE, Birmingham in 1999. Her jewellery is now sold in the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter and at various other designer's shops and galleries throughout the West Midlands.
Pamela Wells
Pamela Wells utilises the lure of nice-ness to sweeten underlying themes in her work that challenge everyday assumptions about how society ought to operate. Her method of production is socially engaged, embracing process as a visible and performative element of object making. She invites people into her practice in slightly strange and unusual ways. She has worked in diverse locations from allotments in Handsworth and parks in Walsall to libraries in Sunderland and galleries in California and Glasgow. Her work can be accessed online through a website for a project in Richmond, London at www.hillwithaview.co.uk
Kirstin Wood
Kirstin was born in the rural Midlands, between the Black Country and the Potteries. She studied art full-time from the age of sixteen, graduating from Wimbledon School of Art in 1988, where she studied sculpture. In the mid '90s she retrained as a teacher at Birmingham UCE. Kirstin moved to Birmingham in 1998 with the idea of starting her career as a freelance artist, having become disillusioned with the state of art education in this country and the knowledge that one small voice could not change the system from within or without. Since living in Birmingham, she has taught on a voluntary basis for the charity NCH. She have been associated with the Sozo Collective since February 2002, exhibiting work at 'Intervention' and 'Re-Invention' exhibitions.
and finally .... Ed - Project Manager and Chief Ratter
"The rodent problem was sorted by mid-July, however, I daily make a fuss somewhere on site to keep the humans engaged. I've managed this project with my usual aplomb, but am very unhappy at being omitted from curatorial discussions, not to mention the complete absence of a contract or fee! However, I'll see it though." "On a serious note: Parents, I know I'm lovely, but please don't feed me or allow your kids to pull me about. Thank you. Ed." CV: Our House 2000 - Intervention 2002 - Evening Mail 2002.