Tuesday 5 July '11
(from Farmyard Radio)

Can Art be Useful?

During the recent ‘Terminal Convention’ Symposium in Cork, our erstwhile Ruskinite-Reformer and keen Big J R blogger Alistair Hudson began his own presentation by showing David Shrigley’s animation ‘An Important Message About the Arts’. Intended as a useful propaganda tool for yet another UK institution threatened by massive government cuts – in this case the Arts Council UK – Shrigley’s animation used the characters of a farmer and his son to make a case for Art’s economic viability (as a key driver in both the Creative and Tourism/Leisure Industries) and, perhaps more predictably, for Art’s assumed cultural and civilising values. As Alistair pointed out though, the twin towers of economy and truth tend to overlook the question of art’s use-value.

In the light of this, Alistair went on to pose a series of key questions which tend to loosely underpin the Grizedale way - what kind of thing would artist’s do if they decided to make themselves useful? What can artists begin to do as citizens? What would art look like if it wasn’t reduced to monetary imperatives on one hand or the need to ‘inform’ the masses from the dizzying heights of culture on the other? What would happen if artists didn’t necessarily commit to producing luxury consumer goods for London centric art market? In other words, what happens if we began to re-look at the possible use-value of art?

As it turns out, these are also questions that big J R had begun to ask in the latter part of his career – the bit where he moved to asking questions about the morality of aesthetics (and also the bit where people began to think he was barking mad started to ignore him). It seems these questions also drove some of big J R’s thinking behind his support for Mechanics Institutes: as educational centers for the working class, as places where art, science, theatre and music would all combine to provide a rounded education.

These questions of art’s use value, and the role they can play in education, are perhaps more pertinent today than they were in Ruskin’s time. As Universities are now asking students to take up 9K loans per year to cover their Higher Education fees, and as the UK government is proposing ‘employability’ league tables for every HE course in the country (to help prospective students and their parents chose the courses of study most likely to get them a job), it’s maybe time to give this all a little more thought? Being involved in Higher Education myself (running the both the Fine Art and History of Art Degree Programmes at Liverpool School of Art and Design – part of Liverpool John Moores University which, incidentally, can trace its roots back to an Arts and Mechanics Institute that was set up in Liverpool in 1823) I’m really interested in continuing a critical Ruskinian re-invention by beginning to pose two key post-Ruskinian questions myself – Just what kind of job is to be done by artists in today’s increasingly instrumentalised and economically driven society? And, in the light of this, what kind of work does making art become?

So, over the next months I’m proposing to ask these questions, Flip camera in hand, of anybody who is willing to attempt an answer (admittedly this may not be many). I’ll also try to link this to some of the goings on down Coniston Institute way and, of course, attempt to seek some help and guidance from the legacy of Big J R as I go. I also have a feeling that cheese, vegetables and soup may figure prominently in this analysis.

Posted by John Byrne on 05/07/11 at 11:16 0 Comments

Friday 28 November '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Guestroom library proposal - CANCELLED due to unforeseen circumstances

somthing like this

Guestroom present their proposals for the Lawson Park and Coniston libraries - live. This really is them presenting their plans and ideas so may not be very radio orientated, more of a fly on the wall broadcast. 

Sad to say this weeks broadcast has been cancelled, could say it was due to heavy snow, but sadly rather more mundane reasons keep us from you - the train is late. 

Posted by Adam Sutherland on 28/11/08 at 07:09 0 Comments

Topics: 'guestroom' 'library'

Wednesday 19 November '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Peter Hodgson in the Yard - 21st November

Village Kiosk films featuring Peter Hodgson

Farmyard radio is delighted to be welcoming Peter Hodgson talking about his life and works. Peter is a leather worker and artist based in Ambleside, his work has been the cornerstone of the Honesty stall and is currently represented at the myvillages village kiosk at the GSK season at the Royal Academy   

http://www.hidehornambleside.co.uk

Posted by Adam Sutherland on 19/11/08 at 14:31 0 Comments

Topics: 'GSK' 'Honesty Stall' 'Peter Hodgson' 'Royal Academy' 'Village Kiosk'

Friday 14 November '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Madam Alone

It's my shack

Adam on his own in the office, in a week of increasing building problems. It promises a lengthy blues moan over a disco soundtrack about buildings - actually that sounds fine

Posted by Adam Sutherland on 14/11/08 at 14:39 0 Comments

Topics: 'disco' 'moan' 'records' 'soul'

Friday 7 November '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Back to bark

The usual team back in the yard for a change, plenty to talk about even if most of it is off record so to speak, just between the 2 of us - web radio - where that can really be true.

Appropro (spelling debate in the office) of nothing, well i ve just been looking at it, check this blog for farmyard chic http://greenhousevt.blogspot.com

Posted by Adam Sutherland on 07/11/08 at 15:53 0 Comments

Friday 3 October '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Dans le cour de la ferme

Farmyard radio goes French with a visit from La Drome and a group redeveloping a 1930's utopian community in the France profond.

Posted by Adam Sutherland on 03/10/08 at 14:06 0 Comments

Friday 5 September '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Back from summer

Alistair and Adam reminisce about the 'summer' including Alistair's adventures at Creamfields....

Posted by Karen Guthrie on 05/09/08 at 16:09 0 Comments

Topics: 'Creamfields'

Friday 29 August '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Summer break apologies

We'll be back in the yard next week Friday 5th September, welcoming autumn....

Posted by Dorian Moore on 29/08/08 at 11:51 0 Comments

Thursday 19 June '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

The rains came

Friday 20th June in the Yard, visits from artists Nina Pope, Stuart Bastik of Artgene, discussion likely to cover 'Song For a Circus' and Stuart's shack project in Barrow.

Posted by Adam Sutherland on 19/06/08 at 13:55 0 Comments

Topics: 'arnold circus' 'Nina Pope' 'shack' 'song for a circus' 'Stuart Bastik'

Friday 13 June '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Power back on in the nick of time

Improve my view for £15,000

Friday 13th, the heatwave continues, the power comes back just in time and Alistair flys in from Egremont in the very nick. Reports on Guestroom at the ICA, What Michaela RSA Crimon said, and Adam's holiday and the Folkstone Tirennale,

Posted by Adam Sutherland on 13/06/08 at 15:39 0 Comments

Friday 13 June '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Radio from a PC Friday 6th June

On the beach

this proved too much of a strain on the Grizedale tec, hope to be back next week when the mac returns from its holiday in France

Posted by Adam Sutherland on 13/06/08 at 15:32 0 Comments

Friday 23 May '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

China on my Mind

Our studio guest rocks out in the 90's, check the trousers

Alistair returns with a fullish report on our Happy Stacking project's success in China, call in and win a dried mushroom.
Also in the yard Mark Guthrie ex of Britpopsters the Supernaturals DJ's the sounds of the farm...

Posted by Adam Sutherland on 23/05/08 at 08:54 0 Comments

Topics: 'China' 'the Supernaturals'

Friday 16 May '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Merz FM

Direct from the Langdale Hotel, it's a Kurt Schwitters special with Ian Hunter of Littoral and the Slade MA students from UCL currently working on the Cylinders site in the Langdale Valley (where the London bombers allegedly trained), once home to Schwitters' famous Merz Barn which Littoral et al saving from ruin.
Also updates on why we couldn't broadcast the last two weeks and reports on China and Grand Designs exhibitions...
And new microphones, so you can actually hear us.

Posted by Adam Sutherland on 16/05/08 at 12:24 0 Comments

Topics: 'July bombers' 'Kurt Schwitters' 'Langdale' 'Littoral' 'Merz Barn' 'Slade School of Art' 'UCL'

Saturday 3 May '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Friday May 9th: Designs on You

Adam, Karen and Lisa tried and failed to bring you a surprise outside broadcast from a glamourous mystery location in London town. They're there trying to choose nice things to style and furnish Lawson Park with, so will be addressing burning issues such as
"Swags - too 2006, or worthy of reinvention?"
and
"The return of the coloured bathroom suite - should we start the trend?"

Posted by Karen Guthrie on 03/05/08 at 12:38 4 Comments

Topics: 'London' 'outside broadcast'

Friday 2 May '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

From China With Love

Backdoor bees

Farmyard Radio sadly failed to transmit from a distant yard this week - the beautiful farms of Nanlin, Gwandong province of southern China where director Adam is shepherding artists for the 'Happy Stacking' project.
The great Fire Wall of China got in the way Dorian suspects...

See the Happy Stacking project website to see what we're up to uncensored.

Posted by Adam Sutherland on 02/05/08 at 08:31 0 Comments

Topics: 'censorship' 'China' 'residencies'

Friday 25 April '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Sssssshhhhhh

We'll be taking a break from the mike today as everyone's at a GA Board meeting and you wouldn't want us to broadcast that.
On the plus side the arrival of a new mixer and mikes means you'll notice a massive audio quality upswing next week though of course the content will remain just as bad.
A bientot!

Posted by Karen Guthrie on 25/04/08 at 14:37 0 Comments

Friday 18 April '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Controversy, bring it on

Adam, Alistair and Lisa talk about the unseasonably cold weather, how the pick up lost its wheel and what it is like to hitch hike in the Lake District. Other hot topics will include the progress of the drilling crew and other building works. Delicate issues like why the A Foundation wont pay up and why the Chinese Embassy has declined Adam's visa application will be skirted round.

Adam has a hissy EMO fit at the beginning, so just run it forward a couple of minutes.....

Posted by Adam Sutherland on 18/04/08 at 15:40 1 Comment

Topics: 'China' 'ground source heat pump' 'Liverpool' 'money' 'weather'

Friday 11 April '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Fungi will save the world

Adam, Alistair and US visitor Cory Kromm (he's an architect) and Craig Sturrock (he's a soil specialist) talk about Architecture, Golf and Fungi as the saviour of the world - thats fungi not golf or architecture.

Posted by Karen Guthrie on 11/04/08 at 10:19 0 Comments

Topics: 'architecture' 'fungi' 'golf' 'Mycology' 'soil' 'USA'

Friday 4 April '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Double act

Adam and Alistair just talking for an hour, no guests, jeez.

Local gossip, what's in the Westmoreland Gazette, Cumbrian racism, Coniston and Grayson Perry, shut local Post Offices,

Posted by Karen Guthrie on 04/04/08 at 16:00 0 Comments

Topics: 'two guys'

Friday 28 March '08
(from Farmyard Radio)

Friday 29th March

Adam and Lisa talking about the Collection, the building and stuff

Posted by Karen Guthrie on 28/03/08 at 16:00 0 Comments

Topics: 'building' 'construction' 'Lawson Park Collection'