Dave Pearson (1937 – 2008) was born in London. In his thirties he began teaching on the Foundation Arts Course at Manchester College of Art (later MMU). Dave became one of my tutors, and he had a big influence on me, both as an artist and in his approach to his work. When Dave died he left close to 20,000 pieces of work in his studio. This works out at something like one piece per day for the whole of his working life; much of it complex and large-scale. It was his obsessive and dedicated commitment to this work that particularly influenced me, as well as his lack of concern for formal and overtly prestigious settings. There was also a strong storytelling element in his work, and he was fascinated by folk art and culture, both of which struck a chord.
I became an executor of his will. Eventually I bought his old studio as a way of managing and protecting his legacy. After 14 years as a store for Dave’s work, we’re now transforming it, at 54 Manchester Road Haslingden, into our home. Between 2017 and 2020 Apna Rossendale had its base in the studio, and we will continue to maintain part of it as a gallery of Dave Pearson’s work.
I’m currently working with the Chinese puppet-maker and animator, Kain Leo, on a short film about Dave Pearson’s Calendar Customs work.
Shop
In 2022 work started on reshaping the old studio, converting it into a living space. The cellar is being converted into a Dave Pearson Gallery space. Further information about Dave Pearson go to www.dspearson.org, or visit the on-line gallery/shop at www.dspearsonshop.co.uk
Was this the Dave Pearson art teacher at Sheephatch school and latterly FarnhammArt College?
I’m pretty certain this wasn’t this Dave Pearson. Dave moved to the north-west in 1963 and then continued working in the area until his death in 2008.
Dave was my teacher at MMU in the 90s. One of the best experiences of my life.
I am part of an MA student exhibition at the Merl and am using Pearson’s 7 woods as a starting point for my own piece of work and the theme of time. Do you have any more information about the 7 woods that would be helpful? I know that it was based on the Abbots Bromley Dance and have some information on that but little else. Any information on intentions the type of person Pearson was would be helpful.
Hi Chantal.
Good to hear from you. I don’t know which sources you have – but there’s a section in the catalogue of the ‘Byzantium and Beyond’ exhibition (London, 2012) in which Edward Lucie Smith writes about the 1983 exhibition at the Bede Gallery in Jarrow called In the Seven Woods. He quotes Dave writing about this and saying that it was inspired by the Abbott’s Bromley Horn Dance…”I have freely interpreted and improvised from descriptions of the event”…and he goes on to tell us about the 6 dancers and the other participants, like the Hobby Horse and the man carrying a skull on a short staff. If you haven’t got a copy, it would be useful to read this catalogue. I have some spare copies by the way.
There’s also ‘The Ritual Year’ book about all of Dave Pearson’s Calendar Customs work, which is mainly facsimile pages from his notebooks and tell us a lot about his research and preparation. Unfortunately it’s out of print but the ISBN is 978-1-3999-4788-6 which might help a library get hold of a copy.
Dave was obsessive about his approach to his art work. He worked on these themes from the late 1970s until 1984, producing hundred of drawings, prints and paintings. They are wonderful pieces of work individually, but even more so taken as a whole.
I wish you well with your own work on the subject – its a wonderful area to immerse yourself in.
All best wishes and let me know if I can help further
Bob Frith