Sam M Harley (she/her)
Sam M Harley (b.1997) is an artist and curator living and working in Glasgow, Scotland. In 2020 she graduated from the Fine Art, Painting and Printmaking department at The Glasgow School of Art. She was awarded the Royal Scottish Academy’s New Contemporaries and the winner of Visual Arts Scotland Top Graduates Award. She returned to education to study Curatorial Practice at The Glasgow School of Art/The University of Glasgow. She worked on a project with the Hunterian Gallery and worked closely with the artist-led organisation Rumpus Room. Her work mainly comments on themes of the everyday, thingness and accessibility. By combing these three themes, she aims to make the outcomes as inclusive as possible to those both interested in the arts and not. Harley uses the methodology of play and familiarity in hope the viewer can associate the arts with their everyday life, which Harley believes makes the sector more accessible. She has exhibited in group exhibitions in Scotland and North America, with future exhibitions taking place in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Usher: One that Shows the Way
Usher: One that Shows the Way is a pilot project investigating barriers young people face accessing the traditional gallery space. The main outcome is a thirty-two-page publication which consists of twelve different activities for young people to carry out before, during and after their gallery visit. It takes a pedagogical approach as I aim to discover what we as practitioners can do to make our spaces more inclusive to those who do not currently utilise them. It is informed through discussions with people who are not typically interested in the arts and uses play as a methodology to engage. Activity books and games are usually aimed at children, so the publication hopes to continue the act of playing in later life. The project uses the comfortability of familiarity to relate the art to the user’s everyday. The activity pack is free for anyone to use, please contact sammorgonharley@gmail.com if you would like one.
To view the book in full go to www.sammharley.com/portfolio-1/usher-one-that-shows-the-way, or contact sammorgonharley@gmail.com to receive an audio/large text version.
