Photographs by Leila Houston

Loved this visit to the museum- i highly recommend people visit.

''The Musical Museum tells the changing story of how people have captured and listened to music over the last four centuries. From tiny music boxes to the Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ in our concert hall, the collection includes an impressive array of instruments and inventions, including reproducing pianos, orchestrions, self-playing violins, pipe organs, gramophones & synthesizers. Find out how music was recorded and reproduced, see and hear them in action.'' (website) 

i went there for music boxes and i got more from the visit than i ever thought imaginable. Loved the talk and demos. Loved seeing the detail and the makings of these machines in person. Especially loved the performance with the Wurlitzer by Chris Barber. Seeing this and hearing the talk/s i couldnt help thinking how my interactive (digital), immersive works relate to the magical, immersive experiences these instruments create.    
Lots more to think about and write about at a later stage.
Im looking at building a physical music box inspired by old and new creations and designs as well as conversations. 

The project is called 'Encrypted sounds of wellbeing'' kindly supported by Arts council England.    

Website here 
Follow here ​

This research will be fed in to workshops with groupd across Leicester and the completion of a walk through music box.

 Diane Simpson: Sculpture, Drawing, Prints 1976–2014
​Nottingham contemporary 

 Light the night. Nottingham, 2020 

​I saw this work at Venice Biannual 2019.   

My studio practise has been taking place over the last two months - gathering ideas and designs for my structures, concepts and careful planning within my budget. I am about to purchase a scafolding podium as my base for building out from. But im looking at my budget before purchase as i want to hire other equipment and the designs in the sound experiance im not final on. It will get there. 

Colaberations will develop the work futher with other artists i will be speaking to this month and  i working with 4 local community groups in Leicester offering workshops and their own insite and visiting at Attenborough Arts Centre ''Art space'' with Tim Sayers ,  the Peepul Centre ''Lalu'' with Lydia Towsey and Two groups from Charnwood Arts ''Open Media'' and Arts Programme with James Chantry.

This is my 4th arts council project and 7 year working with a team from Silver Vine Arts/ Summer Art Trail. i am still working with the brilliant reliable and talented Melissa Fletcher - who is assisting with my web design, budget support and general one to one support major decions .
James Chantry i have worked with also for many years - exhibting together at Queen of Bragate Points of Departure (2016) and running workshops around Leicstershire. There are many cross overs with our work and practise. Earlie March we are on a work trip for his PHD-  filming and recording in Knorfok in The Fens, a place we both know as children and feel we can discuss and explore the same thinking there. We will also be dropping in on the Music Box museum for future projects.

James Chantry, Silver Vine Arts at LCB Depot- Crass Event (2016)
'Post Cards from Europe' (pre- referendum)