In 2017 I was invited to make an artwork for the NN Contemporary archive in Northampton. Through my research I had discovered that Churton Fairman’s wood carving ‘Deposition of the Cross’ was featured in the ‘Images of Christ’ exhibition at the parish church of St Matthew, Northampton in 1993. So I decided to commemorate Fairman’s connection with the Midlands, by compiling ‘The Fairman Collection’ of artifacts for the NN archive (above), along with my video-artwork ‘Talkie’ 2014 (right).
The Fairman Collection includes: Gordon Anthony’s book on, Margot Fonteyn (1951) Phoenix House Limited, with photographs by Fairman.
Fairman had a keen interest in Aleister Crowley, so I found a copy of Crowley’s book ‘Magick’ (1973) edited, annotated and introduced by John Symonds and Kenneth Grant, Routledge & Kegan Paul.
In recognition of Fairman’s acting careers I included Denis Meikle’s interview with Mike Raven, Never More, In: Hammer Horrormagazine #4 (1995) p14-18; Crucible of Terror (1971) featuring Mike Raven, Sealed VHS released in 1987; and a promotion leaflet for the Disciple of Death film (1973).
To commemorate Fairman’s role as a Radio DJ I included: Mike Raven, R n' B Show (1970) Pirate Radio, 3 October 1970. (90min reel to reel tape size 5. Speed 3 & ¾ ips); The Mike Raven Blues Show: Various Artists (1966). Transatlantic Xtra 1047, Mono LP, Vinyl; and a photograph of DJ Mike Raven of the BBC Radio1 Mike Raven Blues Show, at home with his wife Mandy. Real name Austin Churton Fairman.
I included my own film 'Churton Fairman 1924 – 1997’ (2016) using edited footage of a documentary film about his life as a sculptor, digital video: DVD & flash drive; along with a leadflet about his sculpture, The Tree of life (1993), and the ‘Images of Christ: Religious Iconography in Twentieth Century British Art’ exhibition catalogue edited by Tom Devonshire-Jones (1993) featuring Churton Fairman and Jacob Epstein (below). The exhibiton was organised to mark the centenary of St Matthew's Church, Northampton (below).
And lastly, to honour Churton Fairman’s faith I added a Catholic Madonna Rosarywith carnival glass beads.
Images of Christ: Religious Iconography in Twentieth Century British Art, ed. Tom Devonshire-Jones (1993) front cover.
The Fairman Collection, NN Contemporary 2017
In the early 2000’s I made a series of artworks based on the life and career of my relative Churton Fairman (1924 - 1997). As part of the research process I created installations and video works shown at Workplace Gallery Gateshead, B39 Newcastle, Syson Gallery Nottingham and G39 in Cardiff; culminating in my exhibition ‘The Raven’ at the New Art Gallery Walsall (2014-15).
In partnership with Fairman’s family we made a bequest of his sculpture‘ Deposition of the Cross’ to the Walsall Art Gallery collection.
Churton Fairman began his career as a ballet dancer and ballet photographer, then became a pioneer of blues music on pirate radio (Atlanta, Radio Caroline, Radio King and 390) where he adopted the alias ‘Mike Raven’. As a horror film actor he appeared in several films including Crucible of Terror (1971) and Discipline of Death (1972); he also featured in ‘I Monster’ alongside Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Fairman then spent his later life as a sheep farmer and sculptor on Bodmin Moor.