Fermynwoods Podcast 26 – David John Scarborough

Fermynwoods Podcast 26 – David John Scarborough

Author: Fermynwoods Contemporary Art August 2, 2024 Duration: 1:09:41

This episode of the Fermynwoods Contemporary Art Podcast with David John Scarborough presents a new work, Dead Wood Burning - a musical tapestry grounded in the idea of Ubi Sunt - a rhetorical question asking where are those that have gone before us.

Deftly weaving together samples of music from Pete Seeger's anti-war song 'Where have all the flowers gone?' to moments of David's own music - this is a poetic exploration of ecological breakdown, the long lasting effects of folk tradition, and personal experiences of community, family, and fatherhood.

The episode concludes with an insightful discussion with the artist.

With thanks to Dean Howard and Tilly Robinson.

More at: https://fermynwoods.org/fermynwoods-podcast-26-david-john-scarborough

The accompanying visual is a video response to the episode, by artist Sapphire Goss.


Tucked away in the rural landscapes of Northamptonshire, an arts charity quietly cultivates some of the most intriguing conversations and sonic experiments you can hear. The Fermynwoods Contemporary Art Podcast extends that work directly into your headphones, transforming the medium itself into a gallery without walls. This isn't about recording traditional talks; it's an active, experimental space where contemporary art is both displayed and created specifically for audio. You might find yourself immersed in a newly commissioned piece of sound art one week, then dropped into an intimate discussion between artists the next, followed by a thoughtful audio essay that challenges how we perceive public space. By focusing on accessibility, this podcast ensures that innovative art isn't confined to a physical location, but lives and breathes from people's homes. Each episode is a curated experience, reflecting Fermynwoods' core mission of supporting life through art by commissioning meaningful engagements. It’s for anyone curious about the processes behind visual art and the potential of sound to frame new ideas. Listen and discover how a charity's remote commissions can resonate so personally, turning a private listen into a public encounter with the forefront of artistic practice.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 33

Fermynwoods Contemporary Art Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Fermynwoods Podcast 22 - Tosca Terán [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:12
This episode of the Fermynwoods Contemporary Art Podcast with artist Tosca Terán draws from fungal mycelial communication research to create a soundscape which the artist herself describes as ‘perhaps a bit ominous with…
Fermynwoods Podcast 21 - A Ton of Worms [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:30
This episode of the Fermynwoods Contemporary Art Podcast features a rich and profound work by A Ton of Worms - a multidisciplinary artist and writer whose primary focus is an immersive communing with Taxus Baccata (the E…
Fermynwoods Podcast 19 – Maja Zećo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:19
This episode of the Fermynwoods Contemporary Art Podcast features the work of Maja Zećo. In September 2022, Maja negotiated Hazel and Thoroughsale Woods from Corby town centre, Northamptonshire, as Silencer. Silencer is…
Fermynwoods Podcast 18 - Danny Treacy & Johannes Zits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:56
For this episode of the Fermynwoods Contemporary Art Podcast artists Danny Treacy and Johannes Zits from our Treewilder exhibition at Barnwell Country Park, share a drink and conversation with Marie-Chantal Hamrock, one…
Fermynwoods Podcast 17 – Hanna Tuulikki [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:31
This episode of the Fermynwoods Contemporary Art Podcast features a new audio essay, The forest will answer in the way you call to it, by Hanna Tuulikki, encouraging a conversation with the woods, exploring her Finnish h…
Fermynwoods Podcast 16 Bonus Content - Sapphire Goss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:59
A new video by Sapphire Goss in response to episode 16 of the Fermynwoods Contemporary Art Podcast by Maya Livio. Episode 16 features an original sonic essay by Maya Livio and JP Merz, followed by a discussion with Maya…
Fermynwoods Podcast 16 - Maya Livio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:03
This episode of the Fermynwoods Contemporary Art Podcast features Salvaging Birds, an original sonic essay by Maya Livio and JP Merz, followed by a discussion with Maya Livio. Through the use of what Maya calls expanded…
Fermynwoods Podcast 15 - Samm Anga [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:41
The first episode of the new season of the Fermynwoods Contemporary Art Podcast features an original audio work by Samm Anga and a discussion with Veronica Petukhov, who is part of the collaborative audio-visual duo Muto…
Fermynwoods Podcast 14 - Rebecca Lee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:17
Musician and artist Rebecca Lee returns with a new sound work and discussion in the last podcast of our 2021 season. This is the second work Rebecca has made in response to and collaboration with the students from The CE…
Fermynwoods Podcast 13 - Simon Faithfull [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:12
In this episode, artist Simon Faithfull is in discussion with curator Yasmin Canvin about his influences, his work, and the dark humour of Sisyphus. Simon's work Going Nowhere 1.5 is part of the group exhibition Where to…