Independent curator
Front Window of 42 New Briggate Gallery during the Summer 2007 (design by Luke Drozd)
Yvonne graduated from Leeds College of Art and Design in 2006 with a First Class BA (hons) degree in Art and Design Interdisciplinary. Since graduating
- Yvonne developed the resourceCITE mobile archive of site and context responsive work as part of a collective which has included Lucy Gibson, Lisa Boudreau, Eva Rowson and Victoria Lucas. The archive has provided a starting point for various events including artist’s talks and guided walks. The group were commissioned to make an audio documentary about the activity surrounding the British Art Show 6 by Sideshow festival in Nottingham.
- In 2006 Yvonne completed a joint residency with partner Andy Abbott at the Michaelangelo Pistoletto Foundation, Cittadellarte in Biella, Italy. The project, called “Your Arms!”, was initiated as a research based project and now aims to actively link different communities in Yorkshire and Italy through book-making workshops.
- Yvonne organised 'The Strawberry Tart Trail' event which took 30 participants around a range of venues in Leeds to taste and score strawberry tarts from Kirkgate Market and Morrisons to Harvey Nichols.
These projects demonstrate the fluid boundary between her artistic and curatorial practice. This has lead to an increasing interest in curation and as of October 2006 Yvonne has co-curated 42 New Briggate Gallery in Leeds with Lucy Gibson. Exhibitions in the gallery are linked with the themes of Opera North’s productions on in the neighbouring Grand Theatre. Exhibiting artists during Opera North’s seasons have included Gayle Chong Kwan, Dinu Li and Marcus Coates.
Over the summer of 2006 Yvonne curated a programme of independent activity in 42 New Briggate (see Cannonball and Miniature Art Show) with Vicky Lucas and Eva Rowson. This provided the opportunity to explore other curatorial and facilitatory interests with specific reference to the Leeds art environment.
The summer programme aimed to bring people with similar working methods and mentalities together and to expand audiences beyond the art world. Exhibitions included performance, Indian classical music, painting, photography, drawing, sculpture, DJing and breakdancing, craft, film, and community art. The summer programme included over 150 regional and emerging artists, it involved 20 volunteers and had an audience tally of over 1700 people.
Yvonne has also worked as a curator on the national initiative Gallery 37 plus. This is a young persons community based project run by Leeds City Council and Birmingham City Council with groups spanning eight different media in collaboration with established arts organisations across Leeds.
For up to date information about Yvonne's curatorial and artistic practice please visit
www.yvonnecarmichael.com
