The Greestone Group is a fluid collaborative of artists whose combined practice interrogates concepts of emotional experience and social representation. Through the centralizing of The Body while recognizing irrational as well as logical processes in communication and experience of life, the artists explore issues of identity along with interpretations of gender, language and power. Founded in 2007 by the artists Fabiola Paz, Joana Cifre-Cerdà and Benjamin Sebastian, the groups’ practice backgrounds span dance, music, science, drama and fine art. The Greestone Group is a signifier of social, emotional and geographic dislocation and marginalization. Collective influences range from Poetry, Myth, Literature and Film, through to Feminist and Queer Theory, Modern/Post-modern and Contemporary Philosophy along with Sociology and an uneasy interaction with Psychoanalytical Theory. The Greestone Group champions the transformative qualities of art and culture and strives to maintain space for change, thought and feeling.

Benjamin Sebastian
Phone: 07504135712

Email: benjaminsebastian01@gmail.com
Web: www.facebook.com/benjamin.live

Biography

Benjamin was born in Cairns, Australia and has studied in Australia, Germany and the UK. He is a founding member of the performance collaborative: The Greestone Group. Collaboratively and individually the artists’ practise is multidisciplinary, spanning Sculpture, A.V, Installation and Performance/Live art. While exploring existential concepts such as futility or the absurd, the artist also navigates the dialectic relationships between intimacy and solitude, security and vulnerability, along with individuality and the communal and Logic and the irrational. This culminates in a highly dynamic and informed practice investigating Identity and society, (their constraints and potentials) which is greatly influenced by Queer Theory, Autobiography and emotional experience. The artist currently lives and works in London.

Education

BA Fine Art HONS. University of Lincoln, Lincoln. U.K. (2005-08)
1st class Honours

Theatre of the Oppressed Training. Augusto Boal. Berlin. Germany (2008)

Gary Stevens Performance Labs. Arts Admin. London. U.K. (2008)

BA Education. James Cook University, Cairns. Australia (1998-)
Deferred

High School Graduate Diploma, Cairns State High School, Cairns. Australia. (1993-97)

Selected Shows

An Impossible Prison: Collaborative Performance by: The Greestone Group. The Rag Factory. London. UK. Curated by: Katherine Fry and 15 Minute Factory’s: Kiss Me Miss Me. (July ’09)

An Impossible Prison: Collaborative Performance by: The Greestone Group. The Usher Gallery. Lincoln. UK. (May ’09)

Icarus: Solo Performance. The Greestone Gallery. Lincoln. UK. As part of: This Is It: Lincoln University Degree Show. (May ’08)

Secret Masquerade: Solo Performance. The Arnolfini Gallery. Bristol. UK. Curated by: I AM STILL YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE. (May ’08)

(Be) longing: Collaborative Performance by: The Greestone Group. The Usher Gallery. Lincoln. UK. (April ’08)

Absolution: Collaborative Performance with Leibniz: Human Writes: Book of Blood. NRLA The Tramway. Glasgow. (January ’08)

Secret Masquerade: Solo Performance. Gallery PS2. Belfast. IRE
In collaboration with FIX0 (November ’07)

Damaged In Transit: Group Exhibition. The Art Organisation Gallery. Nottingham. UK. Curated by: The Greestone Group. (September ’07)

Flower Day: Multiple site intervention. (2007-08)

Cutting The Heartstrings: Solo Performance. Flat 2 above 32 Burton Rd. Lincoln. UK. (Aug-Sept ’07)

Secret Masquerade: Solo Performance. 102 Mill Rd. Lincoln. UK. (July ’07)

Absolution: Collaborative Performance with Leibniz: Human Writes: Book of Blood. Nottingham. UK. (May ’07)

Remains: Group Exhibition. The Greestone Gallery, Lincoln. UK. Curated by: Benjamin Sebastian. (April ’07)

Performance & Poetry: Group exhibition. Perspectives Jazz Bar, Lincolnn. UK. Curated by: Benjamin Sebastian and The Greestone Group. (March ’07)

Open Plan: Group Exhibition. The Tyler School of Art, Temple University. Philadelphia. USA. Curated by: The greestone Group. (Nov ’06-Jan ‘07)

Concept: Group exhibition. Perspectives Jazz Bar, Lincoln.
UK. Curated by: The Art Collective. (Nov ‘06)

Buy Me: Solo Exhibition. Café Aroma, Lincoln. UK. (Oct ’06)

November: Group Exhibition. The Greestone Gallery, Lincoln. U.K. Curated by: The Greestone Group. (Oct-Nov ’06)

Look at Us: Group Exhibition. The Greestone Gallery, Lincoln. UK. Curated by: The Greestone Group. (Jan-March‘06)

Unidentified: Solo Exhibition. The Old Ambulance Café, Cairns. Q.L.D. AUS. (Jun-Aug ’03)

Experience: Paid/Volunteer

Internship: Tim Redfern, aka Timberllina. (2009)
Work involved: - Administration of the performance artist networking site;
Qulturelink.
- Personal assistance with execution of the artist’s performance practice.
- Promotion aid and networking.

Deputy Team Leader: Residential Care/School setting. (2004-09)
Work involved: - Working with Autistic children in a care capacity. This has allowed a much greater, dynamic understanding and practise of language to evolve.

Artist Assistant: Rachel Parry. UK. (2008-09)
Work involved: -Invigilation.
-Exhibition/performance set up.
-Prop construction.
-General support at all stages of artistic conception and execution. Supported events include: Duckie, Act Art and Torture Garden.

Lincoln University: Boys Ahead. (2008)
Work involved: - Group Leader of a one day, introductory course to Fine Art study and practise. This session was aimed at boys from the N.E. Midlands who showed interest and or promise in the Fine Art field. Course included workshops on conceptual drawing, the body as medium and Live practise.

The Beacon Art Project: North East Midlands. UK. (2005-07)
Work involved: -Invigilation.
-Exhibition set up.
-Bus guide.
-Information support.

The Usher Gallery: Lincoln. U.K. (2004-08)
Work involved: -Exhibition set up and pack down.
-Transfer of works to other galleries/institutes.
-Recovery of Works on loan.
-Administrational assistance with mailing lists.

The Collection: Lincoln. U.K. (2004-08)
Work involved: -Exhibition set up and pack down.
-Transfer of works to other galleries/institutes.

Side Show Art: Nottingham. UK. (2006)
Work involved: -Invigilation.
-Exhibition set up.
-Performance Art/Happenings.

Programme Co-ordinator: Art and Craft. Lake Owego Summer Camp, Greeley P.A. U.S.A. (summer of 2001-03)
Work involved: -Programme outline and scheduling
-Stock maintenance
-Teaching of technical skills: drawing, plasterwork.


Experience: Curatorial

Damaged In Transit: Group Exhibition. The Art Organisation Gallery. Nottingham. UK. (Sept. ’07)

Open Plan (works from Philadelphia): Group Exhibition. The Greestone Gallery, Lincoln. UK. (March-April ‘07)

Remains: Group Exhibition. The Greestone Gallery
Lincoln. UK. (April ’07)

Performance & Poetry: Group exhibition. Perspectives Jazz Bar, Lincolnn. UK. (March ’07)

Open Plan: Group Exhibition. The Tyler School of Art, Temple University. Philadelphia. USA. (Nov ’06-Jan ‘07)

November: Group Exhibition. The Greestone Gallery,
Lincoln. UK. (Oct-Nov ’06)

Look at Us: Group Exhibition. The Greestone Gallery, Lincoln. UK. (Jan-March‘06)

JOANA M. CIFRE CERDÀ

Date of Birth: 07/05/70
Nationality: Spanish


BIOGRAPHY

Joana Cifre Cerdà is a Spanish artist currently residing in Britain, working in drawing, painting, video, installation and performance. The work is concerned with issues of identity, home, emotional and social experience . Joana is part of The Greestone Group, a fluid collaborative collective interested in investigating, socio-emotional expressions through Live Art .


EDUCATION

2005-2011 BA Fine Art Hons. University of Lincoln, Lincoln. U.K
2000-2001 Art A Level. De Aston School, Market Rasen, Lincs. U.K


SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

June 09: Home (bitter) Sweet Home. Performance part of You and Your Work 6 Festival Easton Community Centre. Bristol. U.K

May 09: An Impossible Prison. Performance with The Greestone Group. Usher Gallery. Lincoln. U.k

December 08: Washing up for Leandro ( Homage to my Mother). Street performance. Lindum Hill . Lincoln. U.K

August 08: Casa. Performance part of. AmaFestival 08, Pollença, Mallorca, Spain

April 08: (Be)Longing 2: Performance withThe Greestone Group, Usher Gallery, Lincoln. U.K

March 08: (Be) Longing: Performance with Ben Chandler. Greestone Gallery, Lincoln. U.K

February 08: The Book of Blood: Human Writes. Colaboraction with Leibniz, National Review of live Art, Glasgow.

December 07: Self Portrait: Solo Performance. The Greestone Gallery. Lincoln. U.K.

December 07: Work in progress. The Greestone Gallery. Lincoln. U.K.

November 07: Rey,Rey… : Solo Performance. Gallery PS2. Belfast. In collaboration with FIX07.

September 07: Damaged in Transit: Group Exhibition. The Art Organisation Gallery.
Nottingham.U.K.

May 07: The Book of Blood : Human Writes. In collaboration with The Sensitive Skin
Performance Symposium. Nottingham. U.K.

March 07: Performance and Poetry: Group Exhibition. Perspectives Jazz Bar. Lincoln. U.K.

November 06: Open Plan: Group Exhibition. The Tyler School of Art, Temple University. Philadelphia. USA.

January 06: Look at Us: Group Exhibition. The Greestone Gallery, Lincoln. U.K.

EXPERIENCE

June 08: Theater and Sensitive thinking workshop led by Augusto Boal. Berlin.
October 07: The Beacon Art Project. Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire. U.K
Work involved: Invigilation.
Information support.
Organizing audience participation.

Fluent in English, Spanish and Català (Mallorquí).

F A B I O L A P A Z


Exhibitions:

ACTS OF MEMORY, Collaboration with Monica Ross, The Women’s Library, London (Feb 2009)

WOMAN DRESS UNDRESS, Ladyfest, The Zion Centre, Manchester, UK (Nov 2008)

DESPIDO CON NUDOS DE TIRO LARGO, Ama festival08, Majorca, Spain (Jul 2008)

WOMAN DRESS UNDRESS, This Is It. Degree Show, Lincoln, UK (May-June 2008)

CAGE PIECE, I Am Still Your Worst Nightmare: The Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol, UK (April2008)

(BE)LONGING, The Greestone Group: The Usher Gallery, Lincoln, UK (April 2008)

THE EMPTY SPACE GALLERY: The forward Company, London, UK (March 2008)

PAPER SHOES: The Mezzanine Gallery, Lincoln, UK (March 2008)

D-VITAMINE PERSPECTIVES IN DRAWING: Collaboration with John Plowman, Tithe Barn, Lincoln UK (March 2008)

BOOK OF BLOOD, Leibniz: National Review of Live art, Tramway, Glasgow, UK (Feb2008)

FIX07 Performance Art Festival: Gallery PS2, Belfast, UK (Nov 2007)

THE WELLAND GALLERY GROUP: Ayscoughfee Hall, Spalding, UK (Nov 2007)

DAMAGE IN TRANSIT: The Art Organization, Nottingham, UK (Sep-Oct 2007)

THE BOOK OF BLOOD, HUMAN WRITES: Nottingham, UK (May 2007)

XX: The Greestone Campus, Lincoln UK (April 2007)

PERFOMANCE AND POETRY: Perspective Jazz Lounge, Lincoln, UK (March 2007)

OPEN PLAN: Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, USA (Nov 2006)

NOVEMBER: The Greestone Gallery, Lincoln, UK (Nov 2006)

CONCEPT: Start ART, Perspective Jazz Lounge, Lincoln, UK (Oct 2006)

LOOK AT US: The Greestone Gallery, Lincoln UK (Jan-March2005)

FINAL SHOW: The Balshagray Building, Glasgow, UK (Jul 2004)

HIGHERS: The Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, UK (2003)


Curatorial Experience:

OPEN PLAN: The Greestone Gallery, Lincoln, UK (Jan 2007)

OPEN PLAN: Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, USA (Nov 2006)

NOVEMBER: The Greestone Gallery, Lincoln, UK (Nov 2006)

LOOK AT US: The Greestone Gallery, Lincoln UK (Jan-March2005)


Education:

1st BA (Honours) FINE ART, University of Lincoln. Lincoln, UK. Sep2005- May2008

3 ‘A’s Highers, Langside College, Glasgow, UK Aug2004-Jul2005

NC Art & Design, Anniesland College, Glasgow, UK Aug2003-Jul2004