(This is the final chapter from the publication ‘Straight A’s: Anxiety, Anorexia, Alcohol, Ageing, and Art’, made for an exhibition of the same name). I admit I’m still here; still trapped within the Straight A’s system of self-critical thoughts and go-to ‘remedies’, but I know I can’t physically upkeep these routines for much longer. IContinue reading “Art, indefinitely. The 2020s.”
Author Archives: John B Ledger
Works that didn’t go into Straight A’s
Straight A’s was a once in a lifetime exhibition – at least in terms of life so far. It’s only for this reason I am sharing work that didn’t make Straight A’s, because I feel it is interesting to speak about. Canary in the Coal mine If I had been succesful with funding this sculpturalContinue reading “Works that didn’t go into Straight A’s”
Big Exit: film
I had been reluctant to release Big Exit online, because it was primarily a film made to be seen in a gallery space. However, some people have told me they never got to see it in the space – so, on their behalf I have shared it here.
Straight A’s. 17 January – 11 April 2026
The Millennial Gaze. This long-running joke. Best Amongst Ruins Image from the burn-out decade. Big Exit..
‘Canary in the Coal-mine’ at the Barnsley Civic.
Thank you everyone who came to the Barnsley Civic for ‘Canary in the Coal mine’ on April 11th, a talk and screening to close the exhibition Straight A’s at The Cooper Gallery. Big thanks to Lucy Dewsnap for brilliantly chairing the event. ‘Canary in the Coal mine’ was a substitute title that I never usedContinue reading “‘Canary in the Coal-mine’ at the Barnsley Civic.”
The long dark night of the political soul.
In the 2009 era-defining book Capitalist Realism, the writer Mark Fisher defined ‘reflexive impotence’ as state beyond that of apathy and cynicism; a reflex of impotence to the state of the world, societal affairs – the very things changing and affecting our everyday lives. The belief that any possibility of changing anything has already beenContinue reading “The long dark night of the political soul.”
Canary in the Coal Mine. John Ledger: An Art/Life Story
Canary in the Coal Mine John Ledger: An Art/Life Story (Talk & Film Screenings). 11th April/ 1pm To mark the final day of his milestone exhibition Straight A’s: Anxiety, Anorexia, Alcohol, Ageing and Art at the Cooper Gallery, the Barnsley artist John Ledger will present a semi-autobiographical journey through his life as an artist throughContinue reading “Canary in the Coal Mine. John Ledger: An Art/Life Story”
Straight A’s, milestone solo exhibition
My solo exhibition at The Cooper Gallery is still on for exactly another 2 months, and will be open from 10am-4pm except on Sundays. The exhibition is running alongside “Expressing the Walls in My Mind” Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing. In collaboration with artist Tony Wade and with support from Barnsley Civic,Continue reading “Straight A’s, milestone solo exhibition”
Straight A’s: Anxiety, Anorexia, Alcohol, Ageing and Art
It’s been a while since I posted anything ‘adequate’ on here. In fact I have deleted most of the posts as they were often more incoherent cries for help during the most challenging moments in the last couple of years – far from posts that I valued for any sense of their merit. I haveContinue reading “Straight A’s: Anxiety, Anorexia, Alcohol, Ageing and Art”
John B Ledger 