Artist statement
Lucy Stevens is an artist whose environmental soundscape art investigates the relationship between humanity and nature.
Working with field recordings to produce aural portraits of wildlife in her surroundings, to share as headphone recordings or as art installations. Collecting data from bird watching to produce complex digital visuals to share the fascinating habits of wildlife. Stevens enjoys the creative process of listening, observing, responding, recording, and the idea of being able to expand access to the non-human world to reveal the density of sound.
Since 2007 she has created site-specific soundwalks for the public, using binaural audio recordings via headphones, based on themes relating to locality and pschogeography.
Stevens' current soundscapes reflect her passion for wildlife and her interest to document moments when she feels most connected to nature. To produce bite sized and sometimes durational recordings, using a variety of sound recording techniques including; contact microphones, hydrophones and a parabolic dish to amplify and capture underwater sounds and vibrations that are usually inaudible. The most important thing is the exploration in listening, the act remembering and sharing these experiences of sound with others, to open new kinds of participation.
Qualifications and training
- 2007 MA Fine Art, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham
- 2005 BA Fine Art, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham
- 2001 Foundation Art & Design, De Montfort University, Leicester
- 1998 GNVQ Art & Design and A Level Psychology, Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I College, University Road, Leicester
Employment
- 2010 Marketing Communications Assistant, Embrace Arts, University of Leicester, Leicester
- 2010 Participation Project Manager for Artist Taking the Lead: The Lion heart project, Artists taking the lead is one of the major projects of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad and is being developed by Arts Council England in partnership with London 2012, East Midlands
- 2008 Assistant Officer Visual Arts & Literature, Arts Council East Midlands Office, Nottingham
- 2007 Project Manager for BEAT-S-KOOL, 27a Access Artspace, Leicester based charity, Leicester
- 2006 Video & digital photography tutor, Various educational establishments, young people's services, mental health services, Creative Partnerships and galleries, East Midlands
- 2005 Event Co-ordinator and Marketing Assistant, 27A Access Art Space, Leicester
- 2003 Education leader and administrative assistant, The City Gallery, Leicester
Solo exhibitions
- 2009 Walk With Me, Nottingham Museum and Art Gallery, Nottingham
- 2007 Conscious Void (Collaboration), The City Gallery, Leicester
- 2004 What Are You Afraid Of?, The City Gallery: The Upstairs Gallery, Leicester
Group exhibitions
- 2013 'Pigeon feather pie chart', (visuals for project pigeon watch), Open 24 exhibition, New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, Leicester
- 2012 'Pigeon Clock Graph' and 'Half eaten bread and seed' (visuals for project pigeon watch), Annual Open exhibition 2012, Nottingham Castle, Nottingham
- 2012 A selection of cross-processed photographs showing locations where Ive taken sound recordings in Leicester, People’s Photography Gallery, Leicester
- 2012 Egg 1-4, silver gelatin prints, Vesch ‘Objects with a soul’, As part of Lo-fi photography group at Gallery 12, QE College, Leicester
- 2011 Open Studio, CAMAC, Marnay-Sur-Seine, France
- 2009 Humberstone Gate ICA, Stench as part of Oxjam Leicester, Independent Art Centre
- 2008 Gold Soundz, Southwell Artspace, Nottinghamshire
- 2007 MA zing, The Arts Organisation, Nottingham
- 2007 Offstage, Nottingham Playhouse Theatre, Nottingham (more info)
- 2007 Transition Exhibition, Surface Gallery, Nottingham (more info)
- 2006 Sofa So Good Exhibition, Scotland, Aberdeen, Scotland
- 2006 Projektor: Max 5 Projection Showreel, The Cafe Gallery, London (more info)
- 2006 Bang! Short Film Festival, Short Animation: Clown VS Doll, Broadway Cinema, Nottingham
- 2006 The Barton Hill Animation Festival, Short Animation: Clown VS Doll, Bristol
- 2006 The Couch Trip, International Video Art Festival 2006, Short Animation: Clown VS Doll, Cardiff, Wales
- 2006 700IS Reindeerland Experimental Film & Video Festival 2006, East Iceland, Iceland (more info)
- 2006 Plugged Film Festival, Tucson, Arizona
- 2006 DOT Arena 2 (part of Sideshow) Video Installation: Confessions of the Paranormal, Belvoir Street, Leicester
- 2005 16th Annual Open Exhibition, Blue Doll prints exhibited for the duration of the whole show, The City Gallery, Leicester
- 2005 Trampoline, Broadway Cinema, Nottingham
- 2005 Sefton Open Exhibition 2005, Southport, Meryside, Liverpool
- 2005 Open Exhibition, Diesel House Studios, London
- 2005 Routerbam: art, music and performance festival, The Arboretum Park, Nottingham
- 2004 15th Annual Open Exhibition, The City Gallery, Leicester
- 2004 Nottingham Open Art Exhibition 2004, Nottingham Castle, Nottingham
Degree shows
- 2007 MA Exposition 'Feast', Nottingham Trent University
- 2005 Under Construction - Fine Art Degree Show 2005, The Bonington Building
Curated projects
- 2007 Transition, Surface Gallery, Nottingham (more info)
Artist talks
- 2011 A talk about my current practice using pigeons as inspiration for 'Project Pigeon', New Art Gallery, Walsall, Birmingham
- 2006 Being an Art Practitioner Lecture, Rawlins Community College, Quorn
Residencies
- 2011 Project space- A Pound Of Pigeon, The Great Central Gallery, Leicester
- 2011 Pigeon Post into Paris, CAMAC, Marnay-Sur-Seine, France
- 2008 Annual, The Collection studio as part of The Collection Gallery, Lincoln
Public commissions
- 2010 Flock, origami bird and sound installation at Wirksworth teaching pool, Wirksworth Festival 2010, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
- 2010 Stain, AV installation at Wirksworth teaching pool, Wirksworth Festival 2010, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
Corporate commissions
- 2007 Bloom, Royal Crown Hotel, Brussels
Competitions, prizes and awards
- 2012 First prize winner for £200 sponsorship from John E Wright for ‘Pigeon Clock graph’, Nottingham Castle Annual open exhibition, Nottingham
Educational experience - early years
- 2008 Video and Photography tutor, John T Rice Infant & Nursery School and Creative Partnerships (BAM), Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
- 2006 Photo, Film, Fun!, Leeds City Art Gallery and Shepherds Lane Early Years Centre, Leeds (more info)
Educational experience - primary
- 2006 Im Famous!, Creative Partnerships and New Rose Primary & Nursery School, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire (more info)
- 2005 Arts Tutor, Cobden and Rendell School (Charnwood Arts), Loughborough
Educational experience - secondary
- 2008 Video and Photography tutor, Kibworth High School and Creative Partnerships Leicestershire, Kibworth, Market Harborough
- 2007 Digi Art, Riverside Business & Enterprise College, Leicester
- 2007 Video and Photography tutor, Winstanley School and Creative Partnerships Leicestershire, Leicester
Educational experience - special needs
- 2008 Video and Photography tutor, PRU- Pupil Referral Unit with Creative Partnerships Leicestershire, Blaby
- 2005 Arts Tutor, Fosse Arts Neighbourhood Centre, Mantle Road, Leicester
Site specific
- 2010 Don't Shoot the Messenger (Wirksworth), Wirksworth Festival 2010, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
Publications
- 2009 Lucy Stevens Walk With Me catalogue, Nottingham Castle Museum & Art Gallery, featuring ‘Listening in and looking out’ essay by Joanne Lee
- 2007 Feast Fine Art MA Exposition catalogue, Nottingham Trent University
- 2005 Under Construction Fine Art Degree show catalogue, Nottingham Trent University
Web links - article/press
Personal website
