11/14th November 2024
Chandra Shukla
7/8th November 2024
Gavin Repton, Independent film maker
My residency at The Summer House was really beneficial for a documentary about the history of ghosts. It allowed me to film how Mike works with short wave radio to create sound pieces and talk about how short wave radio relates to changing technologies in ghost hunting. It also allowed me to get a better sense of who he is as well as the work he makes.
I also really benefited from talking to his partner Lizzie about her work as a screenwriter, something which I am hoping to develop in the future. [Gavin Repton, December 2024]
22/26th July 2024
strom | morts
Nous avons eu l’honneur d’être invités par Mike Harding à passer une semaine de résidence artistique à la Summerhouse. L’idée principale était de pouvoir avant tout échanger autour de notre projet et de nos visions respectives mais aussi, bien entendu, de bénéficier des précieux conseils de Mike en matière de direction artistique et de techniques d’enregistrement.
Les premières impressions que nous avons pu recueillir furent avant tout l’immensité des plages qui bordent la Manche qui, à marée basse, semblaient s’étendre presque à l’infini, telles des ondes puissantes qui parcourraient des milliers de kilomètres avant de complètement disparaître. Nous avons ensuite pu enfin rencontrer Mike et son épouse Lizzie dans un lieu plutôt insolite qui allait bien refléter l’ambiance qui nous inspirerait durant ce voyage : le pub où William Blake avait été arrêté en 1803. L’accueil chaleureux et la bienveillance de Mike et Lizzie nous ont rapidement mis à l’aise. Nous nous sommes tout de suite sentis accueillis comme des membres d’une seule et même famille.
Lorsque nous longions les plages de Felpham à la nuit tombée, nous avons évoqué avec Mike la possibilité de faire du field recording au milieu de rochers quasiment noirs, au bord de la mer. Cette session, ainsi que toutes celles qui ont suivi, se sont avérées extrêmement riches. En effet, nous avons pu constater que des éléments de field recording ou encore de captage de fréquences radio peuvent avoir un impact considérablement positif sur notre musique. De plus, au travers de nos nombreuses conversations avec Mike et Lizzie, nous avons réalisés la nécessité de pousser notre art plus loin afin d’y ajouter une dimension narrative supplémentaire.
En résumé, durant ce séjour et en particulier durant nos sessions dans la Summerhouse, sorte de laboratoire de pensée et de création sonore, nous avons vécu ce que nous pourrions aisément qualifier de voyage initiatique. Nous avons en effet eu le sentiment de passer par diverses phases, ou étapes, qui nous ont mené vers une compréhension plus globale de notre musique et de la façon dont nous pouvons penser notre art comme faisant partie d’un tout cohérent. Nous avons également constaté, grâce aux précieux apports de Mike, que nous pouvons utiliser de nombreux d’éléments du monde matériel qui nous entoure et les incorporer à notre musique car la nature est, somme toute, notre instrument. [strom|morts, September 2024]
6/7th February 2024
Iklectik Art Lab
A Tranquil Haven for Creativity: IKLECTIK’s Mini Residency Experience in the Summerhouse Artists Residency.
Nestled in the charming village of Felpham, our mini creative residency at the Summerhouse proved to be an inspiring retreat in West Sussex.
Steeped in literary history as the former residence of William Blake, the village exudes a peculiar ambiance, amplified by treasures like Rolly’s Records, a second-hand vinyl shop, the 1790’s Fox Inn Pub and the precious Post-Office.
The Summerhouse itself is a cozy haven, enveloped by 2 peaceful and inspiring gardens. From the moment we arrived, Mike and Lizzie, our gracious hosts, showered us with care and attention, ensuring our every need was met. Their warmth and hospitality made us feel not just welcomed, but truly cherished throughout our stay.
One of the highlights of our experience was the opportunity to connect in depth with Mike, whose knowledge, visionary outlook, and wealth of experience left an indelible mark on us. Sharing our plans about IKLECTIK with him was not only enlightening but also empowering. His insights and encouragement provided us with the confidence and direction to forge the future of our organisation.
In essence, the Summerhouse serves as the perfect amalgamation of serenity and inspiration, fostering an environment conducive to nurturing the next chapter of one’s artistic journey. Whether seeking solace for reflection or guidance, this idyllic retreat offers the perfect backdrop for creative exploration and growth. [Eduard & Isa, February 2024]
3rd July 2023
Julia Dempsey (Art Assembly)
The summerhouse residency is the first art residency I have participated in since becoming a mum 6 years ago. The room I stayed and the summerhouse itself are surrounded by Mike and Lizzie’s beautiful English cottage garden which provided a peaceful retreat from London and the mental chaos that comes with parenting two small children.
Mike and Lizzie are interesting and lovely people to spend time with and aside from the more focused conversations I had on my work throughout the stay I found our interactions over dinner etc. and the evening very inspiring.
It was exciting to be talking about work and ideas again. Before travelling down I learned a little about the location. Mike and Lizzie’s garden sits adjacent to a beautiful allotment and that set me thinking about the legislation that formed many of the allotments in the UK in the early 20th Century. I also read about Felpham’s most famous resident William Blake who I learned was a reformer and radical. The residency allowed me the headspace to explore these ideas and begin to coalesce them into some plans for a new piece of work. This would have been impossible without the visit both due to the inspiration but also as a space to contemplate freely.
Over the course of our conversations throughout the stay Mike provided me with points for further reading, exploration and development. Mike is very experienced with tutoring artists and helping them bring out their ideas. We then hit Felpham to do some sound recording, Mike obviously has many years of expertise in the field of sound. I was also lucky to be able to lean on Lizzie’s skill as a screenwriter and actor, for example when I wanted to record an excerpt of poetry she was kind enough to do the reading for me.
All in all it was a valuable visit, I left feeling inspired, recharged and with a new energy for future work. [Julia, July 2023]
check back here for further residencies…