Coal Clough

We went to one of Kelly Loughlin's photograph scanning sessions at Coal Clough library. She is collecting a database of old photos of the area for the Ground UP project, and meeting local people to chat about their memories/photos. The photographs are all being scanned, to create a database of archive images.

Kelly was mid discussion with one person when we arrived, and another arrived soon after... and I joined in the conversation, finding out amongst other things, about the Cornish miners who moved into the area in the 1870's. It was really interesting to listen to the stories/take part in the discussion, and I found out a lot about a part of Burnley's history that had previously been unknown to me.

Some of the photos were of Kelly's own family, as she grew up in the area... and it was great to find out more about some of the amazing old photographs.

Caroline and Dave, Huckleberry Films

Jacob's Join

The craft group from The Fold/Ground UP project had a group outing to the SAMS scrap store in Blackburn. They returned with lots of materials and ideas for future projects, and we joined them as they gathered for lunch back at the Fold.

It was an 'ideas lunch' with the community, and ideas were shared about future plans. It was also a 'Jacobs Join', which meant everyone brought food with them to share. One of the artists hadn't heard the term before, and we realised it was a specifically Northern term. If you use the phrase where you live, let us know so we can see how local it is! Wikipedia refers to 'potluck':

'A potluck is a gathering of people where each person or group of people may contribute a dish of food prepared by the person or the group of people, to be shared among the group. Synonyms include: potluck dinner, spread, Jacob's join,Jacob's supper, faith supper, covered dish supper, dish party, bring and share, shared lunch, pitch-in, carry-in, bring-a-plate, dish-to-pass, fuddle. It is also referred to as a smorgasbord or potlatch'.

We filmed some of the meet up, shared food and ideas and looked at old photographs that one of the artists was drawing inspiration from.

Our youngest lunch member was little Phoenix!

Caroline and Dave, Huckleberry Films

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!

What do you miss about home?

I have been lucky enough to spend the last week in San Francisco in California attending the Performance Studies International Conference (PSi) where I was presenting a performance. Being so far away from lovely England brought with it a new perspective to home and what it means to belong. When you travel, you experience new things, hotter climates, cooler climates, different traditions and rituals, unusual geography and whilst this is (usually) a good and interesting experience, it can also make you realise what is special about where you live and the sometimes unexpected things that you miss. In my case, it was cups of tea, a more equable climate and, of course, people, particularly my family. I spent quite a bit of time out there driving on the wide expansive roads where surprisingly there are no roundabouts! Thats was something I did miss, since they allow a much freer flowing traffic than regular crossroads.

I am looking forward to returning to Burnley in the next few days, and talking with everyone about their families, homes and what they would miss if they travelled away.

Caroline 

Photo Walk: The Sequel

A Need to Respect the Past

After several days now spent in Burnley, I am getting to grips with the geography of the town.
As the other Caroline has said (how are we going to manage with us having the same name?!), it was a very enjoyable morning spent decorating ceramics and meeting more lovely South West Burnley folk. Then onto the Weavers Triangle Visitor Centre to see the displays and talk to the attendants there. What knowledgeable people and generous with their time and information. I was struck by the sense of pride they have in the heritage of the town and how today's memories will be made from these foundations. In the same way as the regeneration of that area - with the new technical college - incorporates and respects the now redundant buildings, so the things we will remember from today need to respect the past. This last thought is also partly thanks to Cath, with whom I spent a pleasant hour today sitting by the canal talking about the groundUP project, its structure and history and aims.

Some small seeds of ideas for this residency have been germinating in my head. Not ready to go public with them yet, but they are there and growing in momentum. I need to do some detailed research now to see if there is any depth to them - watch this space!

Caroline (not the film one!)

Our First Photo Walk and I Saw Red!

We had a great walk yesterday - it was lots of fun, I think we all looked differently at our surroundings and we took some pretty good photos of the area. As Andy Ford (the photographer who worked with us) pointed out, as well as photographs we now have contacts with people who we have spoken to, taken photos of and who have seen us out and about. The more we do it the more normal it will become for us and for the community.
We've got a Flickr page and group now. Andy asked each of us to focus on something to help create a 'body of work'. I went for Red and it definitely helped me. The rest of the group also took some cracking shots which revealed so many different aspects of SW Burnley. I don't have access to them at the moment, but they will be uploaded and shared soon.
The plan is to meet again in two week's time on the 27th June 10.30-2.130 at the Fold. Please come and join us if you fancy it. Bring your own camera or use one of ours.
Cath

Photo Walk

Art and Craft at the Cabin

We Want Everyone!

Yesterday we had the community shortlisting panel for the two residencies. The panel was made up of local residents, people who work in the local area and the Ground Up team (including Helen from Burnley Borough Council). We had initially longlisted from 50 to 25, and this process took us from 25 to 8.

When we had been planning the session we had been conscious of how to make it interesting, how to stop us all losing energy and keep focused during the Big Task. We didn't need to wory. The level of enthusiasm, insight and input from everyone was great and most people even stayed behind for an extra half hour to make sure we were finished. Even our youngest panel member stayed focused for almost the whole session!

I think the input from the community was crucial to finding the right artists. They were able to pick up on things that we, as we just get to know the people and places of South West Burnley, would never have picked up on. It must be said that 'We want everyone' was a cry that went out a one point. All of the longlisted proposals were viewed favourably and each had its own potential, but the final 8 for interview stood out and each for different reasons.

I think Helen is going to contact everyone today to let them know the outcome. If you have been shortlisted for interview, we really look forward to meeting you. To those who didn't make the final stages, thank you so much for your proposals and your enthusiasm for the project. We really were blown away by the quality and diversity of the proposals we received. None of us had experienced anything like this before.

So, next stage is to set up interviews which will be in the next couple of weeks.

Progress update from the Ground UP team!

On Tuesday 26 March, Steph, Cath, Iain and Helen Jones from Burnley Borough Council got together at The Fold on Venice Avenue, to look at the terrific response to the briefs for the Ground UP residencies and documentation project. Fifty eight proposals were narrowed down and shortlisting will take place in the community with a panel of local representatives on Wednesday 24 April.

The Fold, Centre for Integrated Health and Wellbeing image courtesy of http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2613041

The prospect of shortlisting in collaboration with the community is at once exciting and daunting. We anticipate each individual will come to the process with different levels of knowledge and understanding of participatory arts in practice. If people construct their understanding of something new based around what they already know, then the kinds of arts experiences ourselves and our community panel have had in the past will influence the way we interpret the proposals.

This however, is where the Ground UP project demonstrates ambition. Our aims are for everyone involved to develop their understanding about commissioning and developing socially engaged art, so that each one of us has gained from the experience. We’ll be using approaches that allow the panel to support one another as they consider each idea.

See you on the other side!