Art Seeker Stories Emma Hill
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- Arts
Emma Hill: an artist voyage of discovery, documenting memory, finding truth, and expressing the hope of the journey. Here on this podcast, I’m seeking stories of art, sharing creativity, inspiration and hope, of cultural differences and diversity, welcoming inclusivity within art. In the millennium I travelled worldwide, 20 years on I'm re-visiting my journal: Art Culture Vulture, Travels of an Art Seeker. Art at the heart of everything become a universal language, communicating cultural diversity and differences without the barriers of speech and geographical borders. Art united people sharing new, rich perspectives, focusing on identity, community and place while sharing their truthToday I’m continuing these conversations, seeking artist interviews, finding new stories worldwide online, in the wake of the worldwide pandemic, Covid-19. Today art has never been so important, for expression, education and our own mental health and well being.
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EP 37: Johannesburg, South Africa: Hug a Cub, Art & Conservation: 22:09:2000
Art Seeker Stories: A postcard from Johannesburg, South Africa :
My artist journey and travels as an art seeker, a culture vulture, a 20 something trolly dolly. My diary edit, nostalgically looking back, 22 years to the day - today.
Today, I don’t seek art, instead I seek Johannesburg’s wild animals. I hug a cub and seek South Africa’s finest wild animals at The Pilenesberg National Park. So many years later realise how art engages with us, shouting it’s plight to save our endangered animals.
Art Mentioned :
Andy Warhol's Endangered Animals
Artworks For Change: Ethics, Excess, Extinction
The Endangered Species Mural Project by The Wildlife Federation , USA
Recommended Listen:
EP 20: Art 2 HeArt : Skye Holland, Creatively Paving New Ways in Art, Passionately Making a Difference in Wildlife Conservation.
EP 10 Cat Coulter : Eco Trash Artist - Beach Trash Blueprint for Cyanotype Photograms. -
EP 36: London UK : APOCALYPSE Beauty & Horror - Is this the End? : 18:09:2000
Art Seeker Stories: A postcard from London UK :
My artist journey and travels as an art seeker, a culture vulture, a 20 something trolly dolly. My diary edit, nostalgically looking back, 22 years to the day - today.
I take a trip to London to the Royal Acadamy and catch the crest of the wave as it begins to fall. This is Saatchi decade’s follow up show to ‘Sensation’, Apocolypse, Beauty and Horror in Contemporary Art, ironically before much of it disappears for good, up in smoke.
22 years later, Art in London still shocks, and doesn't. The messages are still the same. There is space for everyone to be included, no matter who you are or what you believe, it's all about expression, if you desire, you carve your path.
For now, London is in mourning for Our Queen Elizabeth II, tomorrow she'll be laid to rest.
Artists & Artworks mentioned.
'Cellar' Gregor Schneider
'Hell' by Jake and Dinos Chapman
'Dream Temple' by Mariko Mori
'The Undesireables' Tim Noble and Sue Webster
'The 9th Hour' Maurizio Cattelan -
EP 35: Hong Kong : High Risers, High Art? : 02/03 : 09: 2000
Art Seeker Stories: A postcard from Hong Kong, Day 2&3 :
My artist journey and travels as an art seeker, a culture vulture, a 20 something trolly dolly. My diary edit, nostalgically looking back, 22 years to the day - today.
I go on a walk about on Hong Kong Island, stepping into the view beyond my hotel room window, from Victoria Harbour to Victoria Peak. I find a Golden Conquest, art from Thailand and China and some prized pets in Kowloon.
22 years later, I'd love to revisit as Hong Kong Art, takes central stage - This last year sees The New M+ Museum and The Palace Museum open in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong. Although Art hasn’t come without its difficulties due to the impact of Hong Kong’s national security law imposed on Hong Kong by the Chinese government in 2020.
Names and Places, notes:
Victoria Harbour and Peak.
At Cental
Art Scene China showing work by Morgan (Xiao Guo Fu) and Du Xinjian
Galeria Asia : ‘Salute to Summer’ Painting 'Golden Conquest ' Thai Artist Niti Wattuya.
Kowloon
MongKok, Market place
Hong Lok Street, Bird Garden
Would Like to visit:
Hong Kong Art Basel , Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
M+ Museum
Hong Kong Palace Museum -
EP 34: Hong Kong : War Warriors, Little Venice and the Big Buddha : 01:09:2000
Art Seeker Stories: A postcard from Hong Kong, Day 1 :
My artist journey and travels as an art seeker, a culture vulture, a 20 something trolly dolly. My diary edit, nostalgically looking back, 22 years to the day - today.
Despite 4am tornado warnings I take a ferry to Lantau Island and visit Tai O, Asia’s little Venice and the Big Buddha at the Po Lin monastery, shrouded in fog.
22 years later, I reflect on the connection between art and religion, by expression, in the essence of spirit.
Names and Places, notes:
Tai O
Kwan Tai Temple
Kwan Tai, Warrior and God of War
Lantau
Po Lin Monastery
(The Big) Tian Tan Buddha
Three Trikaya Buddha
Hong Kong Island
China Jump -
EP 33: Art 2 HeArt: Heidi Shedlock, From Small 'Paintings in the Post' to Large Expressive Flowers and Founding The Creative Community Studio.
Today on the Art Seeker Stories podcast, I have an Art 2 HeArt with Heidi Shedlock, a South African, Durban based artist and educator who paints from her studio in Durban North. Heidi grew up in a creative family of crafters and makers, running her own shop called Shedlock Interiors with her mother and she also spent many years teaching art. Now Heidi paints full time and is founder of the Creative Community Studio.
In this episode, Heidi tells me how she started out, originally not believing she could make a career as a full-time artist but now knows otherwise. We are both colour- lovers and love creating art for Joy, Heidi is well known for her large expressive flower paintings but tells me of her delightful ‘Painting in the Post’ project that are autobiographical and kept her creating for an incredible 568 consecutive days. She tells us about her Creative Community Studio where she has created a hub for artists to thrive.
Heidi's book recommendations:
Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Your Inner Critic is an Inner Jerk, by Danielle Krysa
Art of Rivalry: Four Friendships, Betrayals, and Breakthroughs in Modern Art,
by Sebastian Smee
You can find out more about Heidi below.
Website: www.heidishedlock.com
Instagram: @heidishedlock
Creative Community Studio
Website: www.creative-community-studio.teachable.com
Instagram: @creative_community_studio -
EP 32: Art 2 HeArt: Becky Sheraidah, Founder & CEO of ARTHOUSE Unlimited, Celebrating The Artistic Talents of Adults Living With Complex Neuro-Diverse & Physical Support Needs.
Today on the Art Seeker Stories podcast, I have an Art 2 HeArt with Becky Sheraidah, Founder and CEO of ARTHOUSE Unlimited, a charity that represents a collective of artists living with complex neuro-diverse and physical support needs, including complex epilepsy. The artists' work alongside instructors to create artworks which are developed into designer products for sale. All artwork derives from the skills each artist brings and every contribution holds real value.
The charity provides a socially inclusive and safe environment for adults who are often susceptible to social exclusion. ARTHOUSE Unlimited believe that feeling a sense of social inclusion, feeling valued for individual skills and truly purposeful in daily life enhances emotional health and well-being.
Becky’s aim is for Arthouse Unlimited to be a platform for social change, as so many people living with similar conditions experience social isolation and are undervalued for skills in daily life. The artists have individual and expressive styles when creating artworks and have a unique way of seeing the world, offering an alternative view of society and enhancing other peoples’ lives with beautiful artistic offerings.
In this episode, Becky and I talk about our emotional connection to the sea and the wonder of nature. We dig deep into intuition and universal energy. We chat about Becky’s own artwork which echoes her own cycle of life. She paints portraits, feeling a deep connection with those she paints as they are invited to collaborate, although she hasn’t painted in a while, instead her true vision and focus is ARTHOUSE Unlimited. We chat about how ARTHOUSE Unlimited came to be and reminisce about the early days, and talk about the importance of value, purpose, and social inclusion for all.
You can find out more about ARTHOUSE Unlimited, below
Website : www.arthouseunlimited.org
Instagram: @arthouse_unlimited
You are always welcome to visit the ARTHOUSE Unlimited shop:
96 Highstreet, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1DW
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www.emmahill.co.uk
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@emma.hill_art