Projects – Jon Eland

Sources – Templars of Newsam

As an inquisitive artist, my goal is not to present a definitive historical account, but to use the threads I find to piece together a believable narrative and reflect on contemporary change. There are no first-hand contemporary documents about the Newsam preceptory, the documentation we do have is limited to legal documents as the Templars…… Continue reading Sources – Templars of Newsam

Pondering… the impact of change

The author’s reflections on the recent Trump win prompt a contemplation of historical changes in Leeds during the late 11th century. The author notes how distant events, like the Norman conquest, affected local communities.

Pondering… a new project

Entirely fictitious image of a would-be templar layperson in somewhere that could vaguely be Temple Newsam (Leeds, Yorkshire) - AI image created in midjourney

So, I’m at that point where long term project/s need work (both Along the Calls and a new project of Gen-X Queer portraits) so, what do I do, but take on a ‘small’ side project. This came about because I’ve started attending meetings of the Leeds Stitch and Textile Group (relating to the Embroiderers Guild);…… Continue reading Pondering… a new project

Pondering late 11th century life in Leeds

AI generated sketch of a man looking wistfully at an unseen subject. He is in woodland or an orchard and wears a woollen top. Historical accuracy has not been verified. Source: Midjourney (prompt author’s own).

My long term project considers life over time in the location of Leeds’ original settlement. This post focuses specifically on the aftermath of the Norman Conquest.

Me, my poncho and my safe place

When the Arts & MInds exhibition came around again I wasn’t sure how to contribute – I wanted to include something I had made – but I also wanted the piece to reflect my own mental health journey. In the past this had been textile objects I’d created which helped settle my mind. I had…… Continue reading Me, my poncho and my safe place

‘Reconstructed’ project

This image examines how the museum removes things from context to create a subjective view of history, using the battle reconstruction (or re-enactment) as inspiration. Incorporating re-enactment photographs taken by the Shire oak photography collective alongside a gallery attendant who is a member of the collective, the work explores the nature of the photographic and performative reconstruction in relation to the historical truth of the museum.

My take on the concept of the ‘Imaginary Museum’ project looks at how images of a battle reconstruction, re-touched into a museum context subverts the concept of the museum.

one per cent of one year

Back in 2006 I selected photography as a hobby. This book highlights some of the images shot in this first year.

Kirkstall Festival

A series of images, captured on a 1930's Voigtlander Brilliant at the 30th Anniversary of Kirkstall Festival (Leeds, UK)

For the 30th Anniversary of Kirkstall Festival (Leeds, UK) photographers were invited to come along and capture as many images as possible – these were later combined into an exhibition and book project managed by East Street Arts. In addition to my usual digital imagery I also took along my Voigtlander Brilliant and captured some…… Continue reading Kirkstall Festival

Nightwalkin’

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The commute

The road-trip is a classic subject for documentary photography; in this project we take the mundane journey – the daily commute and use this as the basis for this series of images.