Profiles
Visual artist and film-maker, working extensively in the field of free improvised and experimental music and live art both in still photography and video. Currently making "Throw Them Up and Let Them Sing" an experimental film with music by Phil Minton and Roger Turner following Kurt Schwitters' journey from Nazi Germany to Norway and the Lake District. Commissioned by the Hatton Gallery Newcastle and the Cultural Olympiad. Recent projects include "Oikos" collaboration with Portuguese vocal artist Manuela Barile. "TAPS - Improvisations with Paul Burwell" - commissioned by Matts Gallery and Anne Bean to make 12 short film collaborations with musicians Steve Beresford, Max Eastley, Alan Tomlinson, Sylvia Hallett, Susanna Ferrar, Viv Corringham, Roger Turner and Phil Minton, z'ev and Lol Coxhill. Arts Council of England Awards for films "Poleaxed", with original music by Glynn Perrin, and "Man on Point" collaboration with choreographer Mark Baldwin. More personal art practice involves extremely solitary abstract/landscape based work mainly in video and sound. Also occasional painter with work in private collections. Awarded Arts Admin fellowship 2005. Co-promoter (with guitarist John Russell) of Mopomoso free improvised music night at the Vortex Jazz Club. www.mopomoso.com. Runs Youtube Channel "helentonic" devoted to free improvisation and associated visual experiments with musicians. www.youtube.com/helentonic. Former award winning TV producer/director of arts programmes such as BBC2's The Late Show and Channel 4's Without Walls. Contact helenpetts@clara.co.uk