The Methodist Church Hall, Monday 23rd April, 11pm to12noon - The text on the plate below the picture states it was given in memory of a Sunday school member who spent just 18 months in her short life as part of this congregation
Looking back at Corinna's blog for inspiration I realised that what I can contribute at the moment is painfully thin in comparison. Although I have three shows approaching, all of which require site-specific work, I want to set this residency aside in my mind as a space for other things to happen.
Finding time for anything other than washing, cooking and ferrying children back and forward from one place to another however seems impossible at times. But I'm not here to moan. This is how it is, this is the time I have and this is why I'm the priveledged recipient of the Reside Residency and not spending six months in Durham cathedral or suchlke.
On a dreary wet Monday morning I carried camera, ladders, tripod etc over to the Methodist Church Hall where I had booked the space for one hour only. Unlike the village Hall there were no reams of paperwork to complete, no deposits to be paid, just a visit to the home of Mr Moody, head of the family that almost entirely make up The Methodist congregation, seven pounds handed over,hastily scribbled receipt and the details filled in in the logbook entitled 'Art Art' ( he had asked me twice what I wanted to use it for, not quite understanding the first time, and in some confusion decided to put both answers down.)
Finding time for anything other than washing, cooking and ferrying children back and forward from one place to another however seems impossible at times. But I'm not here to moan. This is how it is, this is the time I have and this is why I'm the priveledged recipient of the Reside Residency and not spending six months in Durham cathedral or suchlke.
On a dreary wet Monday morning I carried camera, ladders, tripod etc over to the Methodist Church Hall where I had booked the space for one hour only. Unlike the village Hall there were no reams of paperwork to complete, no deposits to be paid, just a visit to the home of Mr Moody, head of the family that almost entirely make up The Methodist congregation, seven pounds handed over,hastily scribbled receipt and the details filled in in the logbook entitled 'Art Art' ( he had asked me twice what I wanted to use it for, not quite understanding the first time, and in some confusion decided to put both answers down.)
And so on Monday I found the old Methodist Chruch Hall open and empty awaiting 'art art'. Somehow I didn't feel the same about this space, no compulsion to move around and somehow explore the size and physicality of it. In contrast the Methodist Church Hall was full of detail, from the names of all the Sunday school teachers preserved in stone, to the worn pews, faded posters and flag rigged up by the scouts for renditions of the national anthem.
And so this time it seemed inappropriate to do anything other than photograph. Some of the images are below
And so this time it seemed inappropriate to do anything other than photograph. Some of the images are below
detail from the worn velvet of the few remaining pews
I particularly liked the random items left behind by the various groups who regularly use the hall.
...and so where does all this lead me?
Well, so far I have a number of images, recordings etc that I would like to plough into during the summer holidays when committments ease off a little. I have another space I want to explore though, but as I have just slammed that in last minute as a proposal for a curatorial opportunity I will wait before I talk more about it. Save to say though that I would like to shape these places more into territory for interaction of some sort.
As I said, Corrina is shaming me into fleshing out this post a little. I can't say that I fill my life with literature and films etc as there really is little time to do other than keep my head above water. I can share her diabetic testing routine though, not on a cat but on myself. Rare train journeys and music lessons however do permit me a little reading and recently this has consisted of;
The Contingent Object of Contemporary Art by Martha Buskirk
and on a lighter note
'Our Mutual Friend' by Charles Dickens
- his last and extremely weighty novel, (only in the practical sense), perhaps his most deliciously detailed account of Victorian hiigh and low society, and literally laugh out loud hilarious at more points than I can mention
Well, so far I have a number of images, recordings etc that I would like to plough into during the summer holidays when committments ease off a little. I have another space I want to explore though, but as I have just slammed that in last minute as a proposal for a curatorial opportunity I will wait before I talk more about it. Save to say though that I would like to shape these places more into territory for interaction of some sort.
As I said, Corrina is shaming me into fleshing out this post a little. I can't say that I fill my life with literature and films etc as there really is little time to do other than keep my head above water. I can share her diabetic testing routine though, not on a cat but on myself. Rare train journeys and music lessons however do permit me a little reading and recently this has consisted of;
The Contingent Object of Contemporary Art by Martha Buskirk
and on a lighter note
'Our Mutual Friend' by Charles Dickens
- his last and extremely weighty novel, (only in the practical sense), perhaps his most deliciously detailed account of Victorian hiigh and low society, and literally laugh out loud hilarious at more points than I can mention
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