Sam Metz
Sam is an interdisciplinary inspired by movement. Sam’s work researches, creates and reflects on the concept of what they refer to as ‘choreographic objects.
A ‘choreographic object’ is any work Sam creates that has, through the process of making or in the way it looks, a relationship to the body and movement. These works have included animation, analogue and digital film, paintings and crafted objects, such as 3D printed forms. These objects are created through movement and rhythm, whether in the form of still images lifted from film footage of Sam’s live art or in the dynamic, repetitive gestures of their mark making.
Referencing space, time, rhythm, repetition and direction, the sculptural objects then go on to inform choreography, as well as to document it. The 3D forms will act as both a description of movement that has happened and as a trigger for future movement. The forms act as a proxy for the performing body that is absent – hopefully, having a closer relationship to that body than those generated by more traditional paper based script, in that the 3D forms stimulates a viewer’s visual empathy by occupying 3D space like the body of the original mover – expanding and extruding into space, much like the body in movement.
As a neurodivergent artist with sensory processing differences, the objects allow Sam to work in non-verbal ways, which is a key part of their practice. As an artist with an unpredictable body (due to both Tourette’s and the disability EDS, a connective tissue disorder) the creation of visual, sculptural objects for choreography and alternative forms of notation have allowed the artist alternative methods of communication with artists.
It is important to say here that Sam is a visual artist working across performance, platforming work that is both non-verbal and not reliant on having a normative description of a reliable body for performance. Collaborative work has included working with artists to create their own choreographic object as well as directing others with choreography. Sam operates in a social model of disability.
Sam studied Architecture and Critical Theory (philosophy) at University of Nottingham and had previously trained in physical theatre, they currently work out of the Makerspace in Hull.
PROFILE
Interdisciplinary artist, developing choreographic objects for performance and ‘draw to perform’ drawing in the expanded field.
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT
Ferens Art Gallery, Heritage Learning, Hull November 2018-March 2020
Learning Producer
Managing the design, development and delivery of a strong and accessible visual and contemporary arts offer across Ferens Art Gallery and wider Hull Museum venues, aimed at target audiences from across Hull, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT
LEVEL centre, Derbyshire 2017 - 2018
Programme Manager
Nottingham Museums and Galleries, Nottingham 2016 – 2017(maternity)
Community Programmer
Bishop Grossetetste University, Lincoln 2015 - 2016
Sandford Cascade Learning Officer
Tate, Circuit Project, Nottingham 2014 - 2016
Project Artist
Collaborating with people with young people with learning difficulties and autism to create engagement opportunities with gallery exhibitions – looking at non-verbal approaches to interpreting art.
Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery, Nottingham 2013 - 2016
Associate Artist
Engaging audiences with Nottingham Contemporary's program of contemporary art exhibitions. Devising and delivering a range of workshops (performance, film, installation and animation).
Nottingham City Museums and Galleries 2015 - 2016
Researcher for Nottingham City Museums and Galleries
Freelance Project Engagement and freelance artist
Nottingham Trent University International College, Nottingham 2015 - 2016
Sessional Lecturer
Art and Design Foundation Certificate
QUAD, Derby 2012 - 2016
Artist Educator and Researcher for a number of short and long term projects;
WEA, Nottingham 2014 - 2015
Tutor
1623 Theatre Company with ERDF funding
Research Project 2012
City Arts, Nottingham
Workshop Facilitator and Artist 2005 - 2016
Artist for many events happening around Nottingham. I worked with a diverse range of people including children, and adults with mental health issues.
Surface Gallery, Nottingham
Gallery Assistant 2005 - 2008
Event organisation and coordination with external agents for an online live media event for Radar festival. Gallery curation duties, exhibition set up for 20-30 exhibitions
EDUCATION
University of Warwick
Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector 2014
Training in education alongside my current role within a gallery based learning team, including action research.
University of Nottingham
MA Architecture and Critical Theory 2012
Research, body in space and body and technology
SELECTED COMMISSIONS AND PROJECTS
Tate Exchange featured artist for Shape Arts March 2020, delivery of charcoal drawing workshop
Exchange 62, Artist for Hull 2020, developing drawing and mark making for a residency in Hull March 2020 as well as upcoming residencies in Leeds and Manchester collaborating with artists
Jerwood Bursary 2019/20, development funding for Choreographic Objects, research and development of drawing at the Musgrave Kinley Outsider Art Collective
YVAN Micro/Bursary, 2019, development funding for Choreographic Objects, working with a dancer to create new objects
NTU CVTR Lab funding 2019, ERDF funding within the digital labs at Nottingham Trent University to develop 3D porcelain prints for choreographic objects, supported by artist Dana Church
Primary, Nottingham, 2018 Freelance Artist for ‘Making Place’, Primary, Nottingham – co-production of a film and drawing connected to the theme of city spaces and imagining working with young people with additional needs
Online Collaboration, 2018, with dancer Katherine Hall, Morning Inside Dances, A series of animations responding to drawing, notation and mark making
Film Free and Easy, Primary, Nottingham 2018, screening of Sketchup Residency Film, Linearity and Predictability, The City Fragment
Guerilla Art Lab,
Residency, Attenborough Art Centre 2017, Takeover event, working with live drawing, body-based performance, analogue projection and programmed sound installation
Short residency Performing Alchemy Lace Market Gallery, Nottingham 2017, working with draw to perform, live drawing for film, body-based performance, analogue projection and programmed sound installation
Tetrad Screening, Attenborough Arts Centre 2017, Linear Distortion and the Body (2minute performance film)
Movement, Group Exhibition, Left Bank Leeds, 2017 submission of gestural mark-making paintings
Draw the Line, Surface Gallery, Nottingham, 2017, submission of charcoal drawings on wax and hand drawn cine film
National Centre of Craft and Design, Sleaford September 2016, Performance commission (choreography) for Cause and Effect exhibition preview
In Dialogue 2016, Selected Performance (choreographed) Conversation, A durational performance for 4 performers in the interstitial spaces at Nottingham Contemporary
York St John Bursary 2017, development of drawing notation and scores for reimagining the city project with artist and lecturer Matthew Hawthorn
Workshops to create engagement opportunities for young people with learning difficulties at Nottingham Contemporary. 2014 to 2016 See
https://circuit.tate.org.uk/2016/10/different-kind-of-questioning/
Artist Digital Show and Tell, Tate Britain 2015, sharing movement work where participants are invited to engage and create sequences through a mix of sound recording and technical apps.
