CAS Memories and Stories [videos]

Now in it’s 10th year, CAS has been supporting artists and growing community partnerships for almost a decade! In a Zoom conference call on 7th February 2019 we talked with David Dixon about his vision for CAS and the early years; to Lydia Heath, gallery manager at ONCA who was an Associate Artist for two years; to Susan Francis, CAS Curator about why she chose to join CAS as an Associate Artist in 2013, and to Suzanna Raymond, an illustrator from Milton Keynes who took place in CAS Post It Exchange, a 2017 collaborative experiment.

You can follow our countdown to CASfest on Facebook and Twitter where we will be counting down the days with stories and milestones from the last #CAS10years.

David Dixon, cas director

David talks about the early years at CAS, with a special shout out to artist Tom Mortimer. 5min in he responds to Lydia’s question about how CAS’ original vision has evolved over the last 10 years.

Lydia Health, onca gallery manager

Lydia remembers her time as a CAS Associate Artist 2013 – 2015, during which time she established the CAS Dissent program with Laboratory of Dissent 2015 and the CAS Bureau of Exchange pop-up shop. Watch this video to find out what two things had the biggest impact on Lydia during her time at CAS.

“My favourite memory of CAS is being given space and time to just play with artists. I think that’s really precious, amazing and nourishing. I remember that period being really great in terms of experimenting and figuring out ways of collaborating with artists that I really enjoyed.”

Susan Francis, cas curator

Susan talks about how she came to join the CAS Associate group in 2013, and value CAS’ ethos and approach. (Includes photographs!)

“I was quite private in my work, apart from exhibiting, I didn’t work collaboratively really although I ran lots of participatory projects, I didn’t collaborate with artists in the making sense. But then we did 1.a.m. at CAS and I found that really liberating. It really taught me the benefit of having physical, playful time with other artists.”

Suzanna Raymond, illustrator

Will be published on Thurs 14th Feb

Suzanna on how she came to take part in our CAS Post It Exchange project and how it impacted her. To kick-start their collaboration Maija sent Suzanna a box of eggshells and her response was a drawing of Baba Yaga’s House posted on Instagram.

“My interest is in the urban landscape, and your interest seems to be in the natural landscape, so I think The Baba Yaga house was a way of meeting landscape and environment.

By taking part, I felt less isolated. It’s difficult to find people on the right wave length … I do get into trouble stumbling into politics… but I didn’t have that experience at all. With CAS Post It Exchange and CAS the whole exchange felt really open, so I really enjoyed that.”

__________________