Nelson Reimagined
As lead artist for the This Is Nelson is the cultural strand of the £25million Nelson Town Deal led by In-Situ and Building Bridges in Pendle, East Lancashire. Andy has curated the Nelson Reimagined strand – a programme of artist commissions, interdisciplinary conversations, and action research exploring the transformative potential of the investment, and sustainable futures for postindustrial towns like Nelson. In parallel Andy is developing a long-term project working with young people, employers and educational institutions about the Future of Work in the area.
Dreamwork: Pendle
As part of his research as Lead Artist for In-Situ, Andy is creating 'Dreamwork: Pendle' a 'verbatim video game' in which the player explores the Future of Work in Pendle. The content is generated through conversations, workshops and research with employers, young people and organisations in the area. You can watch the trailer, play a text-based demo version of the game, and contribute a character to the game through an online workshop here:
https://tinyurl.com/dreamwork-pendle.
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UNIDEE Residency 2020 - 2022: Aspects of Embedded Arts Practice
As Visiting Research Curator for the UNIDEE Residency Programmes at Cittadellarte Fondazione-Pistoletto in Biella, Italy Andy programmed and delivered a two year programme of residencies and labs exploring aspects of embedded arts practice.
You can read about the programme and link to the resulting publications via Alessandra Saviotti's article for Corridor8: UNIDEE 2020-2022: Reflections on Embedded Arts Practice in (post)pandemic times
Reet Maff'l in Oaxaca
As part of a residency at Convivio in Oaxaca Reet Maff'l (Andy's spoken word and sound collage duo with Luke Drozd) created a performance for the Dias de los Mertos festivities called Calavera Literaria. They shared a version of it as a live performance and also structured a VR virtual tour of Oaxaca around it. The trip was supported by a bursary from a-n The Artists Information Company.
Lutopia
Ongoing project commissioned as the finale for Luton Borough Council's 'People Power Passion' pilot city of culture programme in Oct 2019. Lutopia is a new video game drawing on real life content. All the characters, places and situations in the game have been developed through workshops and public contributions. Visit http://lutopia.co.uk/ to contribute your ideas, and play the text-based demo version of the game.
What Makes Gipton?
Interactive sculpture commissioned by East Leeds Project, funded by Leeds Inspired in 2019. The work uses oversize modular parts which slot together like a house of cards to create a huge interactive sculptural installation. Each card carries images of work by Makers from east Leeds, covering everything from graphic design and illustration to printmaking, screenwriting, puppetry, painting, drawing, sculpture, felting, embroidery, artist’s publications, theatre and radio production. The installation is brought to life through the use of Augmented Reality technology that embeds digital content including video interviews with the makers, 3D scans and images into the sculpture.
Bradford Common Space
Andy has helped to design the 'participatory space' for the National Science and Media Museum's Above The Noise exhibition 2019. It is based around mapping and signposting 'common spaces' in Bradford: those being meeting and socialising spaces in Bradford past and present. This is achieved through an audience-generated map, a 'Design a Common Space' board game, and a series of events that aim to discuss what future common spaces in Bradford should exist.
What Makes Thornton
What Makes Thornton?
Play and explore Thornton’s creative side.
In 2018 artist Andy Abbott asked residents of Thornton about what makes the village special and unique. A call out was made for ‘makers’ of all sorts to map the constructive and creative activity in Thornton.
It revealed makers of art, objects, furniture, food and drink, music and dance, as well as people and groups that are making people in Thornton healthier and happier, and who are working to make Thornton a better place to be. Andy also asked questions about what would make Thornton an even better place to be, and talked to residents and visitors about their ideas for improvements and future activity.
‘What Makes Thornton?’ continues the conversation in the gallery space at South Square Centre through a bespoke board and video game. In the game you play as Kevin The Peacock who must gather evidence of Thornton’s creativity before time runs out. At the exhibition you can play the game, browse the materials and research that has gone into it, and add your own ideas and opinions about What Makes Thornton?
Print and design by Ben Holden – Blue Bear Press . Supported by Arts Council England. Curated by Alice Withers.loped through conversations and public contributions with people in Thornton
http://whatmakesthornton.co.uk/
Urban Oxford: What The Walls Say
Project as part of Digital Artist Residence for Museum of Oxford.
In 50 Years..
360 Video Animation co-produced with Young People from Thornton, Bradford.
Nesfield Magic Garden
360 Video Animation co-produced with Pupils from Sharp Lane Primary School and residents of Nesfield Lodge Dementia Care Home