Biography
He has produced and exhibited artworks works since the early 1970’s exhibiting nationally and internationally with one person exhibitions in London and elsewhere since 1975. As a member of LAND2, a national and international university-based network of artist/lecturers and researchers concerned with the complex space of contemporary landscape he was invited to exhibit in the inaugural exhibition “Beyond Landscape – Contemporary Art and the Nature of Place at the associated conference at Dean Clough, Halifax in November 2004, entitled “Art after Landscape – Memory, Place and Identity” presenting a paper – “Realities and Histories” at the conference. An extended and illustrated version of this paper was accepted for publication in the Journal of Visual Art Practice in late 2005. Subsequently he carried out a research project supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council in collaboration with Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum between October 2005 and May 2006 involving the creation of artworks relating to the North Pennine Landscape and its extensive hard rock mining history. These were displayed in the museum throughout the Summer and Autumn of 2006.
His most recent project involves phase three of the Yorkshire Quarry Arts project, an interdisciplinary initiative involving collaborations between artists, scientists, industrial organisations and educational institutions. Involvement in the Yorkshire Quarry Arts Project, (Funded by the Mineral Industries Sustainable Technology and Leeds University in partnership with PSQT) began in October 2003 when he was invited to oversee the academic leadership of the visual arts component of the project and act as co-investigator to landscape related initiatives. Phase three “Changing Public Perception”, involves the publication of a book and an exhibition of art works and related material from the project.
Teaching
| Level |
Subject |
| Level 1 |
Teaching into DESN 1440 and 1441, Studio Practice |
| Level 3 |
Module Leader DESN 3440 Studio Practice |
| |
Teaching into DESN 3441 Studio Practice |
| |
Module Leader DESN 3442 Professional Skills |
| |
Supervision DESN 3660 Dissertation |
| |
Supervision PhD |
Research Interests
Art Practice, painting, painted constructions, drawings, artists books. Landscape-environment, historical sequences, geology, mineralogy, palaeontology. Post industrial landscapes, Northern Pennines, metalliferous mining history.
David Walker-Barker’s artwork and associated research is concerned with diverse aspects of landscape environments and has developed through fieldwork carried out at a variety of locations since 1970. Interest in aspects of geology and landscape evolution developed whilst at the Royal College of Art continuing as a significant preoccupation in relation to the artworks he makes and the investigations that inform those artworks. The central focus relates to the intersection of geological and human histories.
Landscapes and geological contexts have provided reference points for a range of visual works including paintings, drawings and painted constructions, inaugurating a mode of thought translated through a variety of images that propose respect for preciously different insights, finding the equivalent to an experience that is sensational, intellectual, conceptual and culturally referential. In accessing and interpreting landscape there is a requirement to re-evaluate what that landscape is, how ideas of it are validated by both experience and knowledge. This identifies a fascination for land surface, the complexity of environments, for a sense of place, the human condition and for what he terms "deep nature." A convergence arises from the relationship of independent affirmations that find form in the visual images and the processes of thinking that produce them.
His research interests have led to the formation of a substantial archive of crystallised mineral specimens, fossils and artefacts. He also researches the history of glass vessels from Roman times and specifically English and European vessels from the 16th to the 18th century possessing an extensive and significant collection of them.
He is a member of several societies concerned with the history and preservation of mining heritage including, The Friends of Killhope, The North Pennine Heritage Trust and the Peak District Mine Historical Society.
Selected Exhibitions, 2006 to 2000
| Date |
Title |
| 2006 May to October |
Solo Exhibition: “In Search of a Hidden Landscape”
Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum, Weardale, County Durham.
Exhibition resulting from the research sabbatical co-sponsored by AHRC and University of Leeds and in collaboration with Killhope museum.
(Publication ISBN 1 902721 14 4) |
| 2005 June to July |
Solo Exhibition: “Contained Histories” The Hart Gallery, Islington, London (Catalogue: ISBN 1 902721 10 1) |
| 2005 June – July |
LAN2D Exhibition: “Beyond Landscape” Royal West of England Academy, Bristol |
| 2004 October – January |
LAN2D Inaugural Exhibition: “Beyond Landscape – Contemporary Art and the Nature of Place” Dean Clough Galleries, Halifax (Catalogue: ISBN 1 900999 20 X) |
| 2004 |
Conference paper: “Realities and Histories” (LAN2D) - Art After “Landscape”- Memory, Place and Identity, Dean Clough, Halifax November 2004 |
| 2003 |
Solo Exhibition, Oriel Plas Glyn-Y-Weddw, Gwynedd. |
| 2003 |
“Connections” Group Exhibition, S10 Gallery, Sheffield
[subsequently touring to:
Black Sheep Gallery, Flintshire (2004),
Beldam Gallery, Brunel University (2004),
Oriel Plas Glyn-Y-Weddw, Gwynedd (2005)
Lillie Gallery, Glasgow (2005) |
| 2003 |
"Bridges” LAN2D Group ExhibitionUniversity of the West of England, Bristol (subsequently touring to Leeds University and Falmouth College of Art) |
| 2002 |
SOFA ChicagoExposition of Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art Navy Pier, Chicago |
| 2002 |
The Secret World of Spar Boxes (invited contributor) Killhope Lead Mining Museum, County Durham |
| 2002 |
Group show in “The Gallery on Cork Street”, London |
| 2002 |
Hybrida Group exhibition of images utilising experimental printmaking processes.
- Cartwright Hall and Yorkshire Design Centre, Bradford
- Galerie Mladych, Brno, Czech Republic
- Manchester University Gallery
- University of the West of England, Bristol (in 2003)
|
| 2001 |
Chronologues. Solo Exhibition, The Hart Gallery, London Catalogue ISBN 1-902721-03-9) |
Publications
Book-Catalogue
- 2007: Social Impact of Artist Exhibitions: Two Case Studies
(Translations by Jim Pattison and In Search of a Hidden Landscape by David Walker Barker)
A case study investigating the impact of arts and humanities research specifically concentrating on visitor responses and reactions. (Annabel Jackson Associates for AHRC.) AHRC publication www.ahrc.ac.uk
- 2006: In Search of a Hidden LandscapeBook with essays by David Walker Barker, Dr Christopher Rawson- Tetley and Professor Peter Davidson.ISBN 1 902721 14 4
- 2006: Realities and Histories: In Search of a Hidden Landscape Journal of Visual Art Practice.Vol.5, No’s 1 &2 October 2006
- 2005: Contained Histories Catalogue with essays by I.Biggs and D Walker Barker, and DR Christopher Rawson-Tetley ISBN 1 902721 10 1
- 2004: LAN2D - Beyond Landscape? Catalogue with essays by Judith Tucker and Iain Biggs, Griselda Pollock, David Hill and Keith Patrick, ISBN 1 900999 20 X
- 2004: LAN2D “Bridges” Wild Conversations Press Catalogue ISBN 1 902595 0
- 2001: Chronologues, Catalogue with an essay by Dr. David Hill ISBN 1 902721 03 9
Publication-Exhibition
Selected Exhibitions, Pre 2000.
- 1999 Art Miami (Catalogue: Migrations Through Time ISBN 1-902721-01-2)
- 1999 Works exhibited in Peter Bartlow Gallery, Chicago
- 1997 Northern Light – The 9th Provident Financial Triennial Exhibition, The Banqueting House, Whitehall, London.
(Exhibition of invited artists) (Catalogue: ISBN 1 900123 10 X)
- 1997 Solo Exhibition, The Hart Gallery, London
- 1996 The Hart Gallery, Linby, Nottingham. Art 96, Business Design Centre, London
- 1995 The Hart Gallery, Linby, Nottingham Geneva Art Fair, London Contemporary Art Fair
- 1994 Solo Exhibition, The Hart Gallery, London
- 1993 Solo Exhibition, The Hart Gallery, Linby, Nottingham Group exhibitions: Chicago Art Fair, Bath Contemporary Art Fair, Manchester Art Fair, London Contemporary Art Fair.
- 1992 Solo Exhibition, ”The Restructured Landscape”, Lawrence Batley Centre, Bretton Hall.
- Group exhibition: Edinburgh Art Fair
- Group exhibition: A Century of Yorkshire Landscape, Manor House,Ilkley
- 1991 Solo Exhibition, Yorkshire Television, Leeds.
- Group touring exhibition, Images of the Yorkshire Landscape –Touring Exhibition (Yorkshire Wildlife Trust) (Catalogue: ISBN 0 9509460 1 X)
- 1990 From the North – Gallery North, Cumbria
- 1988 Solo Exhibition, Gallery North, Cumbria
- 1987 Solo Exhibition, The Ruskin Gallery, Sheffield
- 1986 Solo Exhibition, Quinton Green Fine Art, Cork Street, London
Laing Art Competition, Mall Galleries, London
The Bronze Age Moor Explored, Cartwright Hall, Bradford
- 1984 TSWA National Open Art Exhibition – Penzance, St Ives and touring
- 1983 Recent Work, Marlborough Fine Art, London
- 1982 The Hayward Annual, Hayward Gallery, London
- The Garden Exhibition, (prizewinner), Ellingham Mill, Suffolk
- Sainsbury’s Images for Today – Touring Exhibition
- 1981 Thirteen British Artists, Marlborough Fine Art, London(Catalogue No.377) Fragments Against Ruin, Arts Council Touring Exhibition (Catalogue ISBN 0 7287 0278 9)
- 1980 Artist in Industry Exhibition, Arts Council Touring Exhibition
- 1979 Solo Exhibition, University of Bradford The British Art Show – touring Sheffield, Newcastle, Bristol Arts Council Summer Exhibition 2 Selected Artists, Serpentine Gallery, London
- 1976 Solo Exhibition, Sheffield Polytechnic School of Art & Design Gallery
- 1975 Solo Exhibition, Mappin Art Gallery, Sheffield
Publications: Pre-2000
- 1999: Migrations Through Time Catalogue with an introduction by Dr. U. Szulakowska ISBN 1 902721 01 2
- 1997: Northern Light: The Ninth Provident Financial Triennial Art Exhibition ISBN 1 900123 10 X
- 1995: Provident Financial Art Collection ISBN 1 900123 00 4
- 1993: A Poetic Dialogue: Seven Painters Dr. John Hart ISBN 0 9520759 0 3
- 1991: “Images of the Yorkshire Landscape” John Sheeran Yorkshire Wildlife Trust ISBN 0 9509460 1 X 1987: “Fragments of Time” – the landscape paintings of David Walker Barker, Philip Barnes “Making Lines”: the Ruskin Gallery (with Dr Terry Gifford)
- 1986: The Bronze Age Moor Explored (including poetry) Cartwright Hall, Bradford
- 1984: T.S.W.A. National Open Art Exhibition ISBN 0 9506991
- 1983: “New Art” Rochdale Art Gallery
- 1982: Hayward Annual Arts Council publication ISBN 0 7287 03246 The Garden Exhibition, catalogue
- 1981: Thirteen British Artists Marlborough Fine Art (Catalogue No. 377) Group exhibition, “Fragments Against Ruin” – a journey through Modern Art Arts Council publication ISBN 0 7287 0278 9 1979: The British Art Show Arts Council publication
- 1976: “From Hagar Qim to the Ring of Brogar” Edinburgh Arts publication
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