Ben Jones

Huntly Art Reader

Ben Jones — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:03:14 +0000

I am current curator of the Huntly Art Reader, that ‘aims to regularly discuss art theory and curatorial texts to contextualise the contemporary art practice offered in Huntly, Aberdeenshire. The town’s vibrant arts scene provides the starting point for focused discussion and collaborative learning to enhance the quality and quantity of discursive and multidisciplinary thinking in the rural setting.’

I am in week three of eight and the topic I have chosen is Self-organisation. Texts so far have been

‘There is no alternative: THE FUTURE IS SELF-ORGANISED’ by Stephan Dillemuth Anthony Davies and Jakob Jakobsen

‘Anti-hierarchical artifices for groups to use’ by Elena Jordan & David Vercauteren

‘Representation, Contestation and Power: The Artist as Public Intellectual’ by Simon Sheikh

Five more texts to come over the next few weeks

Filed under: Uncategorized

PhD

Ben Jones — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:34:54 +0000

I have posted on here for a while as after coming back from Aberdeenshire and working with Deveron Arts over the Summer of 2010, I jumped straight into my PhD at Culture Lab, Newcastle University. My research aims to look into the possibilities of ‘collective action’ within a community through the use of digital media. Working in my own neighbourhood I will investigate the idea of locality and place and the relationships and social interactions that take place between myself, as an artist/curator as well as a neighbour, and the “local community”, and how digital media could act as a catalyst for collective action. For updates please visit my Culture Lab blog.

Filed under: Collaboration, Deveron Arts, Digital Media, Social engagement

The Art of Social Change

Ben Jones — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 09:42:16 +0000

For Axis Rant 49, I asked the question ‘What is ‘participatory art’ and does it really bring about social change? Has ‘participation’ become an over-used, under-critiqued word in art practice today?’ The text can be read and comments made here. The Art of Social Change

Filed under: Collaboration, Digital Media, Social engagement

Red Herring

Ben Jones — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:14:02 +0000

Deveron Arts are hosting a live web stream of the conference ‘International Networking, Mobility, Art and the Environment’ on the 1st October from 6.30pm as part of Red Herring. If you wish to watch and take part in the discussion online, a weblink will be available from the Deveron Arts home page and a opportunity to ask questions of the speakers.

1+2+3 Oct 2010: Red Herring - click Red Herring for the full programme of all the celebration

Filed under: Uncategorized

The Art of Desire

Ben Jones — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:36:37 +0000

I have been invited to write a short text for Corinne Lewis’ exhibition The Art of Desire at the Gallery of Wonder, Newcastle University. The exhibition is on from the 7 September to the 1 October 2010 and can be found at the Fine Art Department at the university.

Filed under: Photographs