Opening preview of The Charmers exhibition by Anne Robinson

The Charmers - Scotlands Witch Trials Unveiled by artist- Anne Robinson

Anne Robinson grew up in Ayr and works with film, sound, and drawing, often collaboratively. Her art work is concerned with ‘time’: working with archives to ‘listen to the past’. Anne has exhibited in the UK and internationally, including: The Hurrier (2021), Wakeful (2018) and Thrashing in the Static (2014) at: CCA, Whitechapel Gallery, APT, Southwark Park Galleries. She was a commissioned artists for ‘Queer Times’ at GoMA in 2018 and her earlier work features in ‘Women in Revolt!’ (2023-24) at Tate Britain and Modern Two, Edinburgh, with screenings at BFI, and E-Flux. She is Director of Programmes for Fine Art at Middlesex University.

Instagram: @anrobs Website: annerobinsonartwork.org

‘The Charmers’ are a (possibly fictional) band, formed by seven accused ’witches’ from Ayrshire. These runaway time-travelling-players were discovered on a 17th century scroll by an artist researching the Scottish witch trials. Now they’ve made a 4-track EP ‘Not to be Found’ and are ready to go out on tour. This is an art project in diverse forms: films, drawings, sound, broadside ballads, workshops and conversations.

‘The Charmers’ draws on research over a three year period by artist Anne Robinson into the Scottish ‘witch’ trials of the 17th century: known to be amongst the most brutal in the world. During her archival investigations, she found scrolls recording seven accused ‘witches’ in Ayrshire, near her home town of Ayr, as ‘not to be found’ - apparently fugitives. From these fragments, using ‘critical fabulation’ and experimenting with art practice - writing, songs, film, and collaborating performers, the work developed around the idea of a ‘sci-fi folk ballad’.

In this story, the accused 'witches' abscond using the very conjuring they are accused of: transported away out of their cells to form a band, on tour with their familiars to historical moments of transformative rebellion - levellers’ meetings, molly houses, cabaret, disco protests… At this point, they have recorded 4 tracks as a 12” vinyl EP. These stories of accused ‘witches’ have resounding relevance today: misogyny, banishment, sexuality, class and ‘othering’.

With huge thanks to all the Charmers: Deb Smith, Jo Gate-Eastley, Tansy Spinks, : Violin, Electric Violin, Maggie Nicols, Limpe Fuchs, Debbie Armour, Nic Howiantz, Karina Townsend, Brian O’Neill, Helen Spackman, Louissin Torah Pilikian, Charlie Wood, Rachel Gomme.. and supporters: Arts Council England DYCP, Middlesex University, Space Arts, Dimple Discs, Narture, Ayr, Beaconsfield Contemporary Art, and Queer Materialities Group at GSoA.

There will be ‘Broadside Ballad’ Workshops and an Artist’s Talk with the show.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

MAKE by Narture Studios 30 Newmarket St, 30 Newmarket Street, Ayr, United Kingdom