Taking place from 5.15pm – 6.45pm in the Galvanising Shop Performance Space at the University of Kent’s campus on the Historic Dockyard Chatham, the next School of Music and Fine Art Visiting Artist talk in this prestigious series will be London based artist and author Samson Kambalu.  Born in Malawi in 1975, Dr Kambalu studied at the University of Malawi (BA Fine Art and Ethnomusicology, 1995-99); Nottingham Trent University (MA Fine Art, 2002-03) and Chelsea College of Art and Design (PhD, 2011-15).

Working in a variety of media, including site-specific installation, video, performance and literature, he has shown his work around the world, including Dakar Biennale (2014, 2016), Tokyo International Art Festival (2009) and the Liverpool Biennial (2004, 2016),  won research fellowships with Yale University and Smithsonian Institution, and is Associate Professor of Fine Art at Ruskin College and fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford University.

His recent solo exhibition is at the newly inaugurated Zeitz Mocaa, Cape Town (2017).

More info: https://samsonkambalu.com/

The talk will focus on Cinema and Praxis – the artist’s occupation with the problematic of the gift (non linear time) and how it animates various aspects of his art practice/praxis around film, with regard to his background growing up in Africa and current forays around the world from Europe.

The talk is FREE to attend – everyone welcome. Booking is via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/school-of-music-and-fine-art-visiting-artist-talk-samson-kambalu-tickets-38497857127

For more info on SMFA’s Visiting Artist Talks click https://www.kent.ac.uk/smfa/fineart/visitingartists2016.html

Tim Meacham, Lecturer in Fine Art and Partner College Liaison Officer in the School of Music and Fine Art, has his sound and light installation “It Was Dust” on the main stage of the Gulbenkian theatre, Canterbury on 11^th December.

Tim works across media to explore space within the triangulated world of experience between seeing, hearing and touching. He explains, “It was dust explores the huge explosions and resulting shock waves that occurred at Uplees near Faversham in Kent in April 1916. The resulting work is an impression in real time, of what would have been felt and heard in the town on Sunday the 2^nd April 1916 from 1.30 until around 2.30 pm. The work examines the notion of trauma remaining embedded in the landscape after violent events have occurred and the possibility of an “acoustic memory” allowing one to “hear the past” in the present through the sounds of surviving material and artefacts. 

The sound is constructed from field recordings gathered in the present at the Uplees site, both natural; grass, trees etc. and human through touching or “playing” the remains of surfaces and structures. These collected sound fragments were then digitally layered and mixed to reconstruct the sound of the 1916 explosions based on contemporary accounts including the reported shock wave and deep echoing rumble which followed the initial blasts, which were felt as far away as Norwich.  The movement of air (shock wave) created by large explosions and the point at which distant sound vibration, when no longer audible becomes felt rather than heard and its manifestation in physical form is referenced through a series of dust cascades electronically triggered as the sound of the blasts dips below human hearing.”

Liz Moran, the University’s Director of Arts and Culture said, “Gulbenkian is pleased to support Tim Meacham’s highly innovative and inspirational installation It was Dust, reflecting our commitment to working with original and ground breaking artists.”

Opening and viewing times will be on the SMFA Events page.

More info: https://www.timmeacham.space/duster

From 8^th December – 13^th December, BA (Hons) Fine Art 3^rd year students will again be holding their annual interim show in the historic Chatham house on Rochester high street. The building, a Georgian brewery in the process of being restored, offers a series of extraordinary spaces over 3 floors, some undisturbed for decades. They include an intact 18^th century wine cellar, a family chapel and grand formal staircase.

Working with the project manager, students apply their practice to propose, create and install work in response to the unique environment of the building, with work ranging from performance, sound and projection to installation and painting.

Last year’s show attracted over 200 visitors to the private view alone and grants 3^rd year students a valuable opportunity to take their work into the “real” world beyond their studios. Working as a group, students curate, manage the budget and publicise the show gaining experience of a public audience and of working together in preparation for their final exhibition and degree show in May.

This year’s show opens on Friday 8^th December running until Wednesday 13^th December open to the public 11am to 4pm.

Venue: Chatham House, High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1DA