Our Silver City at the Nottingham Contemporary - a-n The Artists Information Company

Venue: Nottingham Contemporary
Location: East Midlands

Went to this opening last night. What seems initially like an overblown Primary School project given too much money develops as you go through the Galleries reading the chronology into an interesting story peppered with Relics as Art. Creating modern day Relics is part of my own marcusclarkeart arts practice as are textiles. And I create a new Men’s Jacket for each of my own art exhibition which, with the Silver City in question being hometown Nottingham, meant there was lots to engage me at least. The New Religion ideas combined with Craft revival avoided being Dan Brown and deserve further exploration as do the many films on display but as an initial visit it was interesting and the Gallery Attendant and Bar Staff friendly and informing. I’ll gradually go back and dig deeper. A luxury a local resident can afford. I don’t know yet if this is great international art or if many local artists got any work, commissions, cash out of it, which would be nice but the focus on our City told in Story fashion could be very engaging if the explanation is pitched and disseminated well with perhaps a Primary School project interlinked. #nottingham #contemporary #art #review #relic #silvercity #silver #city #exhibition #artist #local #mountain #man #mountainman

marcus clarke

Marcus was born in the East End of London. Grew up in Canada and Nottingham where he now lives. On the way he was Care Experienced for 4 yrs. Including in two National Children's Homes. See Observer Newspaper Article, Marcus Clarke, in 'the Review' right. Marcus says: "I use Puppets, Puppet Making materials, tools and glues from my world of work as a Professional Puppet Maker. Puppetry Performance Objectives, skills and talents from my work as a Professional Puppeteer. Observations from my varied work as a West End Theatre Stage Manager and Regional Stage Technician. I combine all these with my Fine Art skills and knowledge. Continually added to since my teenage years as an art student at Mansfield College of Art. Materials: I use canvases, paints and drawing materials. I include found objects, puppets, toys, photo's, antiquities. Jewelry and junk to create imaginative, expressive, sometimes unsettling but always engaging art. Sometimes I create artworks as Paintings, Collages, Assemblages, Films and Installations. My artwork is self expression combined with a passion to engage and entertain others. It directly draws on my own life’s experiences but is informed by those of my audiences. I also try to Educate, Inform and Inspire people and of all ages to be creative, to make art about what they know or don't. Drawing on their own lives, dreams. Centrally their world of work. I'm trying to advocate for the Arts, Puppetry and Theatre. To be relevant and to make a difference. See Marcus and Ron on YouTube! Marcus and Ron is a new development. It's about addressing to some extent the above's over thinking. As Sir Ken Robinson warns, you can educate yourself out of being creative. Risk, to be an artist you need to be able to be wrong. Puppet Ron is the side of me as an Artist that lacks inhibitions. Takes Risks. Picasso says "all children are born Artists. The challenge is to remain one". Marcus says, "Marcus and Ron is a Man with Puppet Creative Partnership Arts Practice that challenges contemporary art norms and conventions with childish thinking, childishness". "Puppet Ron is a skilled Painter, genius Colourist and expert Landscape Artist”. Says Ron..