Pick up Sticks
The Arts Council England North West grant to me(John Fox) under The Artists Time/Space scheme in May 2006 is still invaluable and enabling me us to begin an extended project at our Beach House called:
“The Weather Station"This is a cliff and beach garden on the shore designed to monitor meteorological and psychic disturbance, Occasional blog/ diary in "A Pigs Ear"of it " on this website . Also as part of "The Weather Station" collagraphs, drypoints and etchings under the heading "Icons for an Unkown Faith." Plus occasional prints for occasional ceremonies.
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For a couple of weeks each year we welcome vistors to The Beach House within the context of a Gift Relationship contract. In exchange for agreed periods of practical work from our visitors (on "The Weather Station" beach garden), we offer refreshment and discussions and/or interviews on significant cultural issues.
- This is working very well so far. We are now fully booked until Autumn 2008.
In 2007we had visits from :
Chris May, Director and three colleagues from Creative Partnerships N.E.Lancs...Ages ago he wrote:
"You successfully reminded us during the gift exchange of a number of important principles:
The value of doing and making - much of our lives are spent 'enabling' - doing in different ways I know, but you reminded us that making art refreshes and replenishes the soul - and that we need to do that more often
The value of dialogue - this is something we spend nearly all our time doing, but in a highly functional way with clear outcomes in mind. You reminded us that open ended dialogue which is about finding an unexplored place together must be given time and space.
The power of everyday rituals. Eating together with respect for the fine food we were eating helped make our conversation special and memorable, this happened in a very natural manner, but with care. We rush a hastily assembled snack far too often, missing opportunities for deeper contact.
The importance of art as an answer to the mistakes we (humanity that is) are making through our collective inaction, forgetfulness, poor prioritisation and fear. We were reminded how we need to constantly offer up alternatives to the rubbish that our young people are surrounded by.
So...our visit left us thoughtful, challenged, inspired and questioning. A good outcome in anyone's books I'd say. Again, many, many thanks for your kind and generous hospitality. We look forward to seeing you again, hopefully in the near future. "
AND
Strangeworks ( Will Bock ,Mary Doyle, Georgia Jacob) a young dynamic theatre company from Hackney ~London. They wrote:
"It has been a great and valuable experience to take part in this Gift Exchange ...very helpful to our own work...seeing your work has affirmed for me the importance of bringing your life and work together.."...
We know these statemements are dated but as they both give a clear indication of our philosophy in action we have left them here.
See images on" A Pig's Ear of it ." ( Our newsletter)
April 2008 seven young theatre practitioners from Contact Theatre in Manchester visited for a day researching into "6 Ways out of the Desert " their autumn performance piece. Directed by John E.Mcgrath
Projects over the last six months
STAGES OF THE WEATHER STATION.
May. Intensive sprouting of everything despite uunusual and persistent gale force east winds.
Awaiting detailed report..... if the rampant sea kale ,cardoons and rhubarb don't get there first.
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23-24 Feb. "REACH FOR THE SNOOZE BUTTON." A weekend workshop for the Centre for Performance Research. University of Aberystwyth- part of their "Spring Shift" workshop programme. "If time is running out what is the point of theatre?."
7-10 March "SPRING BOARD " A Creative Retreat for Makers at Trelowarren Estate. For Cornwall Crafts.
"..... allowed all those who took part to move beyond what we've already experienced as individual artists, and to reach new levels of understanding and play. Almost like being awakened. I am now itching to continue on this new path".
"This was a very worthwhile course,and one that will have a lasting impact on participants ' creativity, and in some cases,their personal lives."
12 March. Lecture on Community Celebration.and Carnival .Bridgewater Arts. North Petherton. Somerset.
4th April. 1.15pm Cultural Provocation ."Occasional Remedies" Looking forward and backwards to successful prototypes of necessary theatre. "Further Upstix" 5th Festival celebrating Rural Touring Theatre. 3rd -6th April.Hosted by NTC (Northumberland Theatre Company) Alnwick .
April 26 -June 7. Pilot Retrospective Exhibition. RADICAL MAYHEM: The former WSI AND ITS FOLLOWERS Mid Pennine Gallery. Burnley. Curated by Gillian Whitely. Catalogue and prints ( old WSI posters) for sale.
May 10- 18. "New Ground" Residency in County Mayo, Ireland, working with a total of 50 freelance artists and others from the region ,including Mayo Art Squad and members of the community . In the context of the Rural Training Centre in Castlebar we began a small exploration into "applied vernacular art " informed by the shifting values of the last 160 years of Irish history (from famine to the Celtic tiger.) A small publication will be started in Autumn 2008.
" ..a big THANK YOU for all your work in Mayo...the final event was really remarkable-very easy going inclusive (in a non threatening way),thoughtful,grounded but dreamy and rooted in folk history....my original aim of re invigoration for burnt -out community artists was fulfilled ."
Anne McCarthy, Arts Officer. Co Mayo.
June 10-11. Masterclass for InterAct professional development for theatre makers.NTC. Alnwick, Northumberland.
"A fantastic master class- .... they have worked very hard on their show since." Gill Hambleton. Director.
RITES OF PASSAGE .
14 March. Presentation to "The Life of the Mourner's Dance" Funeral Symposium for Chisenhale Dance Space in association with Queen Mary, University of London, curated by Doran George as part of the Interface Residency.
" I so loved your talk at the Mourner's Dance..you were the stars of the show and had put a lot of work into
this presentation..very impressive." Susan Morris. Board member of The Natural Death Centre."
NEXT:2008
June to September TRANSITION TIME Development of The Weather Station at the Beach House as part of AHRC fellowship. With new weather vanes , icons for an unknown faith and drypoints, collographs and etchings.
August Bank Holiday . SOLFEST Music Festival. Solfest FM directed by Dan Fox
NOTE: We are now taking bookings for February 2009.and beyond.
Please Contact us via our e mail: foxandgill@btinternet.com.