Fine arts students bring art to the city

Fine arts students and graduates from York St John University are working with internationally renowned artist John Newling, to create the first interactive public arts event ‘The Market of Hidden Labours’ at City of York Council’s new West Offices.

Focusing on the tradition of the market as a place of social and civic assembly and exchange, students have transformed market stalls into artworks that invite participation from members of the public.

Nine market stalls will be open on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 May from 10am to 4pm in the approach to West Offices’ new Customer Centre entrance off Toft Green. The market is a pilot project aimed at laying the foundations for similar events in the future, and complements the council’s citywide ideas internet platform GeniUS! which invites people to share ideas to improve life in York.

Roddy Hunter, head of programme for fine arts at York St John University, said: “We are absolutely delighted and privileged to have the opportunity to work with an artist of John Newling’s calibre and international standing. We are especially proud of our students’ and graduates’ confidence and ambition in participating so centrally in this major public collaboration between York City Council, The New Schoolhouse Gallery and the University. The project represents our standing as a civic university producing graduates who contribute so effectively and professionally to the cultural life of the city and region.”

Commenting on the installation, John Newling said: “The Market is an attempt to make transactions between people and emerging artists from the City of York; a kind of ‘capital’ of ideas and expressions as a valued currency of exchange.

“People visiting the Market will see traditional stalls laid out in the entrance grounds of the new council building. They will see, hear and, occasionally receive expressions, objects and thoughts that are part of a rising creative ecology from the city. It’s an opportunity for creative individuals to talk with people about their work and ideas and for people visiting the market a chance to experience, contribute to and hear ideas from a largely hidden creative community within the city of York. It is a market occupied by a generation of young and emerging creative people making work outside a civic space; a market that demarks, in part, a bringing of a creative community to the core of an evolving city.”

An exciting programme of events around the commission include an illustrated talk on public art ‘Common Values’ by John Newling at 11:45am on 2 May at West Offices, offering members of the public a rare opportunity to hear the artist talk about his work over a period of 30 years, his more recent research in York and the ideas behind the ‘Market of Hidden Labours’. An exclusive exhibition of his new work ‘Stall of the Gathered Things (No. 1)’ will be on display at The New School House Gallery between 1 and 10 May.

‘The Market of Hidden Labours’ and the exhibition ‘Stall of the Gathered Things (No.1.)’ is devised in collaboration between John Newling, The New School House Gallery, Fine Arts students from York St John University and Judit Bodor, independent curator and lecturer. Participating artists include Bonnie Powell, Charlotte Salt, Sophie Woolgar, Georgia Dearden, Jessannah Cooling, Lauren Mearchant, Charlotte Coulthard, Fiona Howe, Angela Connor, and Sarah Jewell.