sea state_

Presented by shopwork

sea state______ brings together four artworks by Frome-based artist Andy Parker:

The Seventh Wave, 
1min 40 (repeating) 

Jetsam, 
Four colour hand-cut lino print, edition of 12 

Beacons (beta), 
Artificial plant base, electronic components, 9v battery 

Maritime distress flag (with sleeves), 
Appliqué and flag parts on found shirt 

Although far from the smells and sounds of the sea, Parker is insistent that even on a rural high street, we understand our lives as dependent on, and affected by the sea.

Parker’s practice, shaped by an ethos of fixing, adapting, and making do, favours simplicity and directness. His work engages with the overlooked and the discarded: what’s dumped, broken, or left behind, as a way of thinking through self imposed peril and how we might live otherwise.

Andy Parker studied painting at Wimbledon School of Art (2001) and graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2007, receiving the Deutsche Bank Award for Fine Art the same year. His work is held in collections including the V&A, the British Museum, and Deutsche Bank.

Jetsam, 
Four colour hand-cut lino print, edition of 12 

Beacons (beta), 
Artificial plant base, electronic components, 9v battery 

shopwork uses empty buildings in and around Frome as a site for sharing ambitious, high quality contemporary visual art with the diverse communities of the town and beyond. Its founders are Susie Clark and Andy Parker, a creative partnership based in Frome. 

By activating the empty spaces in the town we aim to create a sense of excitement with short term exhibitions in unexpected places. The exhibitions act as a catalyst for outreach events, talks, and multi-disciplinary critical discussion. 

In January 2024, shopwork’s pilot exhibition ‘Uncertain Objects, part 1’ took place across a weekend in an empty shop on Cheap Street and showcased the work of 18 nationally acclaimed artists with connections to the South West. Although it was not publicly advertised, it attracted over 750 visitors. The response was incredibly positive and visitors were genuinely engaged with both the art and the history of the building. 

If you have an empty space, or would like to join the mailing list, please get in touch by emailing: dearshopwork@gmail.com