Sorting and Creating

After the excitement of our visit to SAMS last week, we met this week to sort though our goodies and divide the spoils.

It was a quieter session this week and was definitely affected by the school holidays and childcare needs, but we are a strong and friendly group and what began as a deliberately unplanned session became a fun and companionable creative couple of hours.

Our painted pottery was ready for collection and everyone was really happy with the final results. Half will go to Iain for his Stoops Mobile Souvenir Shop and half went home with the makers. I was so impressed by people's generosity in donating their work to the project and that everyone was enthusiastic to hear that they won't be sold for money, but exchanged for ideas, memories, songs or jokes 'more valuable than money'.

 

While we were sorting through the wool for rug making, Fi remembered that Jo at SAMS had said that the wool tufts were great for making quick and easy pom-poms. Part of our mission that session had been to support Annette with ideas for the summer of craft sessions she will be doing with children at the community centre. Excited by the possibility of quick and easy pom-poms (and who wouldn't be) we set to work creating examples for Annette to show the children and experimenting with different techniques. I remembered I had a bag of googly eyes in the boot of my car (of course) and our mini monsters/aliens/creatures came into being.

 

We've decided to have a break over summer. When we talked about holidays, childcare and other commitments it seemed to be the best idea. We will all keep seeing each other though as we have the two residencies underway and Iain will be out and about with his mobile souvenir shop.

 

Cath

Cabin Craft Group Visit to SAMS

Jo explores the many potential uses of a carpet tile

The Tuesday morning craft group took a minibus to Blackburn to visit the wonderful SAMS (Scrap Art Material Store) this week. We've been meeting for a few weeks now and it seemed like a good time to make the trip, stock up on some materials and seek inspiration. Both Jonathan and Annette make wool rugs and I know SAMS generally have the materials in stock as well as felt, which Christine fancies using to make a rug.

Right, let's split up and get the whole place covered!

Jo gave us a brief tour, explaining about the ethos of SAMS and how the majority of things they source from industry would otherwise have gone into landfill. I, and I think the group, were really inspired by what SAMS do and also the possibilites presented by the range of materials - it isn't about what it was or is now, it's about what it could be.

This could be a wig (well someone had to do it!)

Annette and Chris also picked up some resources for the summer arts and craft programme at the Community Centre and the craft group will be supporting Annette by making examples and trying out different techiniques and ideas over the summer that she can then do with the children.

Thank goodness we went in a minibus!

A couple of people couldn't make it, which was a shame, but also a relief as we bought so much stuff I doubt if we could have all fitted in on the way back.

We returned to the Fold for an al fresco jacobs join lunch and Caroline, Kelly and Caroline and Dave from Huckleberry Films joined us in the sunshine to share ideas and talk about our SAMS goodies!

Photo Walk

Pushing the boundaries of SW Burnley

Dave and I both went on the photo walk last week, and really enjoyed meeting John, Pat and Simon. It was great to be able to come on the walk and just meet people and talk/listen to them - as we'd decided to just come and take part, rather than documenting it through film. 

I wonder if Jodie was ever found?

We planned initially to go to Scott park, but after we set off we all started discussing the boundaries of SW Burnley, with John asking if we could 'push the boundaries of the triangle' and suggesting we go and explore the industrial areas on the other side of Rossendale Rd.

It was interesting to see the busy area and walk through the buildings, butty vans and people having lunch... being part of the temporary community that lived there during the daytime. There were lots of cars in the parking areas, suggesting that a lot of the staff come from outside the area. I wonder how many SW Burnley residents work there? 

The group was keen to walk around the cemetery after this, and the nature of our location led naturally to talk about loss and death, and discussion of this being 'secret Burnley, the bit no-one really wants to talk about, but where everyone ends up'.

After exploring, the rain started... so we began to make our way back to the Fold. We had lunch in a cafe on the way, and reviewed our photos together. 

Caroline - Huckleberry Films

Photo Walk: The Sequel

Getting Started

Hello from Caroline and Dave, from Huckleberry Films.

We are both really excited about being selected to work on the Ground UP documentation project, and looking forward to meeting lots of you over the next few months.

Our proposal evolved from our initial ideas which were around the idea of creating a scrapbook. After reading the Ground UP blogs, and researching Kelly and Caroline’s practices and plans after they were selected, we spent some time working out the best way for us to document their work, and the whole project. Our new plan is to create a film that mixes live action documentation of the project and workshops, with animation... using animated characters to retell some of the of the stories and memories of people and place. The finished film will celebrate life in South West Burnley.

I arrived on the train into Rose Grove this morning for my first session on the project, and spent about an hour walking around the Stoops Estate on my way to meet Caroline. It was a warm day, with blue skies peeking through the clouds, and the streets were busy with people taking their kids to school, the refuse van emptying bins, and cars setting off to work. As I don't know the area very well, I enjoyed wandering around as a tourist, taking photos on my way.

  

Caroline and I met in a cafe for a brew and a natter as we've not met before, and I think we could have spent another hour swapping ideas if we'd not had somewhere else to be! After catching up, we went to the craft session at the Fold charity shop, where Cath Ford was running a ceramic painting session. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, and the 2 hours flew by as we painted, talked, and laughed. One of the participants Bernadette said she had really enjoyed herself, and described the session as 'the most fun I've had in yonks'.

Caroline - Huckleberry Films 

Craft Session, New People and Fresh Energy

We had the first art and craft session at the Cabin this week. There were seven of us in total, which is probably about all that the room can manage comfortably, but more people are planning to come next time so we will find a way (even if a little uncomfortably).  Caroline, one of the two artists starting her residency with Ground UP, was able to join us for the session, which was lovely as she was able to chat to new people, follow up some areas of interest and join the fun. She was telling us how friendly she found SW Burnley on her initial walkabout and how open people have been, which was great to hear.

As one of the Ground UP core team of three I have been inspired and re-invigorated by my first couple of meet ups with Caroline and Kelly. They are bringing a new energy and fresh perspectives to the project and it feels like  the development work over the past few months is now feeding into positive activity and already there is a cross-fertilisation of ideas happening.

Today we also interviewed six people/organisations for the documentation commission. We haven't made a decision yet, but the process itself has encouraged more questions and ideas about how and what we want to document and what role the documenter will play. Each of the interviews was so completely different and each proposed process would bring something unique to Ground UP and the local community. Again, it was good to hear from each of the artists and discover why they had applied for the commission. Most told us that the opportunity to work with a project that is founded on a solid and 'Ground UP' process linked to the open brief had inspired them to submit a proposal. We must make a decision tomorrow so that the successful artists can get going and continue to build on the developing programme and energy around the project.

Oh, and tomorrow we are going on a photo walk with local photographer Andy Ford to photograph some of the people and places of South West Burnley.

Cath

Art and Craft at the Cabin

People, Stuff and lots of Heart

I am working with the community charity shop based at the Fold at the moment. It's an amazing place, crammed full of stuff, with huge ambition and heart and is very busy. I had been meaning to go in for ages and as soon as I did ideas began popping in my head and I knew it was the place for me.

The shop is run by local people and not only do they raise money for local good causes, they provide an invaluable service to the local community by providing affordable clothes, toys and household goods. They put together packages for people who have nothing and sell fresh fruit and veg at affordable prices - they really need more space. The shop has become such a community hub they are organising their first coffee afternoon at the end of the month and I'm going to join them to do some making.

I don't know what will come out of our collaboration. Of course I had initial ideas about headdresses made of stuff from the shop (anyone who knows me will know my love of sticking stuff on my head), costumes, upcycling and sculpture, portraits of people connected to the shop.......but I know that part of this process is about supporting my development as an artist and part of that is about taking risks and experimenting. We may end up following some of the original ideas, but only if it's right for us as a group. For now, let's play!

I spent some time in the shop last week getting to know people, taking photos and drinking tea. It's a very welcoming place and there seems to be a real enthusiasm for getting involved. I also think we will have a few people for the photography sessions we are going to be running over the next few weeks.

Annette (below) who manages the shop will be part of the shortlisting group for the residencies tomorrow. The jacket and dress she's holding belonged to her Aunt who died recently.