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Action Research Projects
No Place Like Home

Creative Consulation Event & Workshops



Top: House we used as a base for workshops.
Bott: Estate being redeveloped during project
Fragmented plaques delivered by Ian to invite residents to creative consultation event
 Ian making his way around the estate Performance artist Ian Thorley
Aim:             
 To create a focal point on the estate for the project where activities could happen, people could meet and a place where artists could make work.
What & How: The project was launched during Architecture Week 2006. There were drawings on the walls, photographs and objects placed in the rooms where the activities happened to stimulate debate about the estate. Performance Artist, Ian Thorley toured the estate with a wheelbarrow to attract attention, handing out invitations and a fragment of a plaster cast as an incentive: if they brought this fragment to the house they would get a whole one to decorate.Leaflets were distributed to all on the estate, agencies in the area; posters were placed in local shop windows and laminated signs attached to lampposts. The launch event and subsequent workshops consisted of taster sessions in printmaking, plaster casting, story telling and a photographic nature walk: Lead by Marion Horton a Groundwork Wildlife officer accompanied by photographer Kit Anderson (see final poster/leaflet).
Outcome: We were successful in attracting children, a number of officials/councilors/surestart workers etc. and some mature residents.
resident looking at old map of the estate drawn onto the wall of the house walkers across the bridge from estate to otherside of canal
Martin telling stories to children in a teepee in the house's garden child looking at plaques she had painted blackboard used to collect ideas during session veiw of canal at side of estate with man on bicycle
Activities in and around the house during the creative evaluation day including painting plaques, story telling, printmaking whilst others
reminisced over old maps. All comments/conversations/suggestions were written on balackboard or on lables in the hallway.		 Nature walk by Marion Houghton & photography workshop run by Kit Anderson
Dinners with the Luncheon Group
      
salt & pepper shakers with what's your story? text luncheon group around specially designed tablecloths happy resident beaming at camera elderly resident sits at table
The luncheon group met once a week in the newly regenerated pavillion - most of them had been residents on the estate for many years and some had grown up in the area - and had witnessed many changes.
 
Aim:    To Engage with the Friday Luncheon Club and gather material to work with and respond to for final event/artworks
What & How: The Pavilion was adorned with bunting made from photocopied images of the estate in the process of regeneration, (houses being knocked down, freestanding stairwell’s open to elements and children’s wall paper flapping in the wind) and photographs taken on a canal nature walk (summer 2006 by Kit Anderson) and large printed paper tablecloths dressed the tables. The tablecloths were adorned with provocative questions – to prompt discussion and story telling. Whilst listening to the stories the artists made notes to record key moments of the tales for use in further artworks.

Outcome: The conversations flowed and the artists met after the session to discuss their findings and develop their ideas and to generate – appropriate responses. After much discussion the artists wanted to a) develop and gather the stories and b) to work with the community to develop ‘arts’ stalls & games for a fete type event. There was not enough funds/support for the fete so we developed a collective narrative, which was used in hardback books and on poster.


  
To view Final Stage
click image
   



      
 
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