Two digital artists have feautured Allan Smith Antique Clocks in ‘Working Beautifully’, their visual archive of twenty-first century workers at one hundred Swindon firms. The exhibition opens in Swindon on 20 May 2013 and is now online.
With a nod towards August Sander’s collection “People of The Twentieth Century” which has been in print for nearly a century, the artists – photographer Nigel Hudson and painter Timothy Cumming – collaborated for over a year to produce a portfolio of over seven hundred digital and mixed media paintings and composite photographs. The works visualise the activity, trades and people of 100 businesses in Swindon.
“We chose Allan Smith Antique Clocks because of its tenacious performance over the recession – they’ve adapted beautifully”, says Cumming.
“We’ve tried to convey the beauty of Allan Smith Antique Clocks, its people and showroom – the moonphase clock faces and their atmosphere of concentration. But we also observed the unique human approach they have there and a sense of their natural pride” says co-artist Hudson.
“To us, it seems that the full British workplace story needs a fuller telling” adds Cumming.
“Slowly, the country’s on the rise, so we wanted to immerse ourselves in the contemporary look of work, its effort and its spirit. And Allan Smith Antique Clocks demonstrates that admirably. Each of the 100 firms we’ve selected has shown the grit and guts necessary to thrive, even in a tricky economic climate. Worries about a triple-dip recession simply do not match the attitude or prosperity that we witness in these firms.”
Working Beautifully features over seven hundred original digital paintings and photographic composites created by Hudson and Cumming over the last twelve months. The images take a glimpse behind the scenes of the some of the South West’s largest and smallest firms. Subjects range from the small – The Sewing Shop, Hatch Engineering and the Magic Kebab House, through to the large – technicians, administrators, managers and support staff of BMW, Nokia Siemens, Intel and Nationwide for example. All images of Allan Smith Antique Clocks can all be found at www.Working-Beautifully.co.uk/gallery-firms-allan-smith-antique-clocks.
Local MP Justin Tomlinson says “The vitality of UK firms is championed by Swindon”. The town has the highest Gross Value Added (GVA) per head in the South West, and the fourth highest GVA per hour in the UK, proving an impressive level of workforce productivity*.
All one hundred firms are featured on a 25 metre ‘tapestry’ created especially for this landmark show. One painting by Cumming and one photographic composite by Hudson will represent each firm. The artists and representatives of the firms, including Allan Smith Antique Clocks, will present the tapestry to Swindon Borough Council after the show.
About the show
The show runs from Monday the 20th-26th of May inclusive at the Brunel Centre in Swindon.
Press event on 20 May 10-11am where Allan Smith Antique Clocks workers, and entrepreneurs and artists will be available for interview at the First Floor Plaza, Brunel Centre in Swindon
Private view on 20 May at 6.30pm-8.30pm
Tapestry donation press event is 28 May, 9.30am, where Allan Smith Antique Clocks will participate in the donation of the tapestry to Forward Swindon at the First Floor Plaza, Brunel Centre in Swindon
Allan Smith Antique Clocks spokesperson is available for interview – please email allansmithclocks@ntlworld.com to arrange
The artists are available for interview by booking with Hunter Williams on 01380 721 944 or Eleanor or Sue on 01793 608708.
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Good afternoon,
One of my most recent buys is a very good MONTH going and striking floral marquetry longcase clock by John Culliford of Bristol recorded – became a Burgess in 1692 and worked until 1716.
This example, dating by style, is 1695 – 1700.
John Culliford sometimes seen spelt Gulliford ( or the script mis read ) is a well respected early Bristol maker known also for very good lantern and bracket clocks.
His workshop was known to have been adjacent to the West Front of Christchurch in 1716 and from 1713 to 1716 he was paid a salary of £8-0-0 for looking after Christchurch clock, the premises being leased by the Church to a succession of clockmakers ( who also looked after the church clock ).
Filed under: Antique Marqeutry Longcase Clocks, Bristol Antique Longcase Clocks, Recent Purchases | Leave a Comment
Tags: antique clocks, bristol longcase clocks, floral marquetry longcase, John Culliford, longcase clocks, marquetry, Month going
- Allan Smith Antique Clocks & Barometers
Allan Smith Specialist Antique Moonphase Longcase Clocks,
Antique Bracket Clocks & Barometers For Sale
My Antique Clocks Background:
As a small child, still in short trousers, I can remember, quite vividly, standing in front of my Great Aunt’s Antique Grandfather Clock, after running an errand for her, sucking on a stripey “bullseye” boiled sweet and being SO impressed and overawed by the magnificent antique clock that dominated the whole room.
I distinctly remember saying to myself “when I’m grown up I’m having one of these”.
Little did I realise that many years later, after a 5 year engineering apprenticeship, qualification as a Precision Engineer and with various Engineering and Management exams under my belt I would leave the Aerospace Industry in 1988 and turn my passion for antique clocks into, not just a business, but also a way of life. I am extraordinarily fortunate that my engineering background has blended so well with my passion for antique clocks and has produced a livelihood and lasting friendships throughout Britain, and indeed, the whole world.
I like to feel that I treat my customers the way I would wish to be treated myself and remind them that they’re not just buying a clock they’re buying my expertise in selecting the finest proportioned, most original, examples available, which are then sympathetically restored to the highest standards under my personal supervision, using only the very best restorers and materials.
Many of my customers have become personal friends and that’s the way I like it. I do what I do because I love it. I’m VERY lucky. Great Aunt Dot’s Antique Longcase Clock had Moonphases, which is what I specialise in. I wonder how my life would be if Great Aunt Dot hadn’t had a longcase clock?
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