From The Photo Diaries of Mick Williamson
From The Photo-Diaries of Mick Williamson
The latest Silverhill Press event is the Hastings launch – at Electro Studios Project Space – of their new book – and first hardback, From the Photo-Diaries of Mick Williamson, a selection of beautiful work from the extraordinary archive of an extraordinary photographer, who is well-known and much-loved in the world of photography, but not nearly well enough known outside that world. Ian Land writes.
The show is also an opportunity to see the wonderful new film about Mick, The Wordless Diary, made by the award-winning film-maker Rod Morris, of Road Factory Films. There will be prints on the wall, slide projections, books to buy, and Q and A sessions with Mick and Rod. It will be a memorable event.
NOTE: The film will not be shown on the first Saturday of the show, 29 July, but will be shown on 30 July, 5 August and 6 August at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm. Seats are limited, so come early, soak up the atmosphere, and meet the artist and the film-maker.
Mick Williamson has spent most of his life helping others to realise their work, through teaching at universities in London, running the photography department at the former Cass School of Art for over 45 years, as well as teaching exchanges in California, Adelaide, and many workshops around the world. It is now time for us all to benefit from engaging with his work at this event dedicated to his photography.
Q & A with Mick Williamson
“A man of neat stature with a kind, bearded face is watching the world quietly. He carries a large black bag, which may get heavier as he collects the interesting things that he finds – a small token, a piece of sea glass, a damaged coin, maybe a shiny silver button or discarded plastic toy. He reaches into his bag or perhaps his jacket pocket and extracts a small camera. The jacket pocket is marked through use with the ring of the lens. He fires the shutter with what seems like little attention to composition, maybe once or maybe a few times in close succession, then returns it. Mick Williamson is collecting moments. He has been observing and collecting like this for fifty years, since soon after the birth of his first son Joby in 1972. He has over 2 million images in his archive, known as the Photo-Diaries of Mick Williamson, and his home is a living museum of discarded and retrieved objects.”
– Susan Andrews, from the Introduction
“Most British contemporary photographers know Mick – well, at least those who live south of Watford Gap Services do – and everyone loves him as he is such a generous, caring, selfless person. Although he is a fabulous photographer, he is maybe best known for supporting groups and individuals, and organising activities that benefit others rather than himself. As Rod Morris, who has made the documentary The Photo-Diaries of Mick Williamson says: ‘He has spent most of his life helping others to realise their work, through teaching. It is now time for us all to benefit from engaging with his work’.
– Paul Hill, from the Foreword
Book available to order from early August 2023.
Q & A with Rod Morris
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