Arts Awards at Marsden Heights

Since October last year, young people in Billington and Nelson have been exploring the story of the Pendle Witches. Some of them have decided to work towards their Bronze Arts Awards as part of the project. Below are Hakeem, Ikram and Caitlin’s reviews of ‘being in the audience’. Hakeem and Ikram visited Pendle Sculpture Trail with artist Philippe Handford, whilst Caitlin missed the visit so chose to review her experience of Bingley Music Festival. Please comment on their reviews, this will provide them with evidence for their Arts Award portfolios. 

 

Haqeem Anwar: Pendle Sculpture Trail

 We were in a forest full of sculptures. There were sheep and it was raining. It was called Pendle Sculpture Trail. We were in a project called Pendle Witches.

(The things I liked and why): meeting one of the artists Philippe Handford, because I wanted to know what inspired him.

(I didn’t like) the weather because we were getting wet.

I would recommend it to others because the art was great.

(I learnt) how the witches were a part of the art.

 

Ikram Ashraf: Pendle Sculpture Trail

(Visiting Pendle Sculpture Trail) was a great experience of old sculpture. (I went) to experience seeing natural sculptures. (I liked) that it was open space, outdoors. (I didn’t like) the weather.

I would (recommend it to others) because it is a great place to investigate our country’s past. (I learnt) that natural art is beautiful.

 

Caitlin Gibson: Bingley Music Festival

The event was a music festival and lots of musicians performed. I went to this event because I’ve always wanted to go and I finally got the opportunity. I liked watching my favourite musicians perform, like Nero and Rudimental because I’ve always wanted to see them. 

I didn’t like the weather, it was cold and muddy. Also it’s really busy and I got lost.

I would recommend it because it’s like one giant party and you meet lots of new people, also you have a feeling of independence.

I learnt how to take care of myself and how great live music is!

(As evidence of being in the audience) I have my ticket, a photo and ruined shoes!

 

 

 

 

The Soldier’s Song Experience

It’s been a couple of weeks since we helped look after Quarantine’s karaoke booth at Accrington Market Hall and the time is right for some reflection. Now if you don’t know anything about this project you’ll be wondering, quite rightly, what on earth we were up to!

Quarantine are a highly regarded, experimental performance company based in the North West, and we were very keen to work with them.  During April Live at LICA brought the installation by Renny O’Shea to both the Harris Museum in Preston and the market hall in Accrington. The work explores the world of currently serving British soldiers through the music they listen to. Quarantine developed the The Soldier’s Song, which takes the form of a karaoke booth, where the visitor finds a video screen, a microphone and an invitation to sing. A chance to share a moment with a soldier, a chance to think about that person and our connection with them, a chance to join in if we choose.

Soldier Song Booth

MPA had offered to staff the booth, to be there to persuade visitors to the market to step inside. It turned out to be hard but very rewarding work and we met some unforgettable individuals along the way. First let me tell you about the booth, it is a solid, large, wooden box which took up most of the sitting area in the centre of the market hall. You couldn’t miss it! Lots of people were intrigued and wanted to know what was going on but the second you say ‘sing’ most get hit by serious stage fright and disappear. ‘It’s completely sound proof’, you say, adding, ‘and private’. We heard the same answers over and over again. ‘You wouldn’t want to hear me sing’, ‘I can’t sing’, ‘you must be joking love’. The funny thing was that once we got someone in there they loved it. Everyone came out with a big grin on their face, many came back to do another song.

Sergeant Heather McGregor

Of course, we all had to have a go. I stepped in warily wondering just how sound proof it really was! Selecting to sing Rose Garden with Sergeant Heather McGregor I started off tentatively but by the end was belting it out with gusto. Just imagine singing in the bath or in your car when you’re alone, it was that sort of sensation, made all the more enjoyable, and poignant, due to who you’re singing with.

The Soldier’s Song experience

Although some visitors travelled especially to take part, most of the people we met were regular market hall customers and were a little wary about just what it was we were selling. Persuading people that participation was free was the first hurdle but much harder was persuading them to sing. Singing is something that all children love to do but somewhere along the way to adulthood most of us get convinced that we can’t do it. It was a wonderful experience to see the sense of freedom and fun that people enjoyed once they were brave enough to step inside the booth. As one visitor said to me, ‘I felt really fed up this morning but that’s cheered me right up’!

Danny

A lot of the visitors had family members who are or were in the forces and for them it was especially poignant. I was concerned for one woman who came out, obviously tearful, but she’d found the experience very comforting, thinking about her own son, who’s in Afghanistan, as she sang. We also met some ‘old soldiers’. Danny was a regular visitor during the week we were there and was not shy about singing, leading a rendition of It’s a long way to Tipperary which the market hall shoppers joined in with and applauded loudly.

Overall more than 150 people enjoyed singing along with the soldiers and many more were interested in hearing about the project.  We enjoyed our time at the market hall, which for anyone who hasn’t visited is not only a magnificent piece of Victorian architecture, but has stalls selling some great food, the vegetable pakoras were my personal favourite!

Thanks to Live at LICA and Quarantine for involving us and a special thank you to our volunteers who staffed the booth:  Dominque Dunand Clarke; Giorgia de Maio; Raechel Beardwood and our old colleague Hannah Jones.

Melanie Diggle – MPA

Sense of place in south west Burnley

MPA’s Steph Hawke is working with a project initiated by Burnley Borough Council, called Ground UP . It aims to explore sense of place in South West Burnley. Steph is part of a team of three Creative Collaborators and her role is to act as an ethnographer, studying people and place.  Here’s one of her recent blog posts:

First rule: gatekeepers

Ground UP is about exploring sense of place and asking questions such as ‘What makes South West Burnley different?’ and ‘What is special about South West Burnley?’ Studying people and place in South West Burnley however has its own particular tensions, especially when discussion moves on to consider change. Unfortunately for some people, asking them what makes South West Burnley different from other places elicits negative perceptions about the area or rather what it is felt to have become.

On Friday afternoon I set out from Coal Clough Library, camera in hand, with the intention of striking up a few conversations, capturing some images and maybe, if I was lucky, recording an interview or two. Susan at the Library was incredibly supportive and offered me a little space where I could invite people to join me for a chat.

Now, using a digital SLR camera on a residential high street is not the most subtle approach an ethnographer might employ, but based on experiences I’d had late last summer, I naively imagined that the camera might draw a bit of interest. When I was last out and about with a camera, people were sitting on the low walls outside their houses, chatting in groups: quick to stop me and ask, ‘are you from the council?’ or ‘are you a student?’ but crucially giving me the seed from which a conversation could grow.

An icy wind-blown day in March was sadly a less hospitable environment for idle, playful chats. One resident, we’ll call her June, was keen to tell me about the changes she had seen over her 30 years in the same house, and the transformation of the street as her old neighbours moved away to be replaced by a proliferation of (largely absent) private landlords. It felt to me almost as if she was struggling to take a position in relation to the shifting social dynamic, where at once she seemed to condemn the ways of her new neighbours, she quickly rounded to boast about how the younger men looked after her ‘Are you OK, we’re going into town, do you need any shopping?’

June clutched her dressing gown around her and sucked on a cigarette as she stood in the front doorway of her house. ‘Would it be OK if I came in and recorded a chat?’ I asked, but no, our conversation occupied an odd place between June’s garrulous geniality and her almost suspicious restraint. I strained to catch what she had to say, leaning over the wall, the wind causing tear drops to stream from my face. On three occasions as we chatted, she shouted greetings to passers-by, ‘Do you know a lot of people round here?’ I asked. ‘Oh yeah, I know everyone.’

Where to next? I need to be introduced by a person of trust. First rule of ethnography: gatekeepers.

Steph is working as part of a team of three Creative Collaborators. They are working with local people to commission artist’s residencies in the area. Visit the Ground UP blog to read more.

Contemporary Heritage Launch Events Defy the Weather!

With two launch events on subsequent weekends in March the MPA team, artists and venue staff have been working flat out to have everything ready on time.  All was planned down to the last detail including preparations for rainy spring weather.  What we got was two weekends of bitterly cold winter weather including serious snowstorms for the second opening.  Despite this everything went ahead, with the addition of extra layers, hats, scarves and gloves!

K-Scope at Turton Tower on Saturday 16 March

Turton Tower is a wonderful gem of a venue that is a delight to explore.  Owl Project‘s installation there is in the library and the gardens.  As the rooms are rather small we thought we’d have a marquee in the beautiful gardens for refreshments, speeches etc, not realising just how cold it would be.  Thankfully our guests are a hardy lot and over 80 turned up for the event and enjoyed the hot coffee and cupcakes provided by the team at the Tower’s cafe.  We were especially pleased that so many brought their children with them as K-Scope is an ideal contemporary art installation for young people.  The wooden analogue computer in the library is interactive, you need to turn the handle to see it come alive, so kids (big and small) loved that and there was a queue for much of the afternoon.  As for the listening horns in the gardens, all the guests were fascinated by what they could hear.  Was it really the sound of James Kay’s amazing subterranean workshop?

MPA’s Creative Director, Nick Hunt, acted as master of ceremonies for the launch and we were delighted to be joined by Steph Murfin, Pennine Lancashire Museums Curator of Applied Arts, who talked about the ‘Wonderful Things’ campaign which is celebrating the amazing, weird and wonderful collections and stories of Pennine Lancashire Museums.

The final speaker was Simon Blackmore, one of the three artists, along with Antony Hall and Steve Symons, that make up Owl Project.  He explained the research and development that had taken place that had lead to the creation of K-Scope which gave a fascinating insight into the history of Turton Tower.  Simon, Antony and Steve spent the rest of the afternoon talking to people about the work and demonstrating how it works, which was much enjoyed by the guests.

Flicker at Gawthorpe Hall on Saturday 23 March

On Friday 22nd we woke to snow storms, snow drifts and freezing cold weather.  After much deliberation of the logistical problems (staff being able to get to Gawthorpe to open it, for example) we decided to go ahead.  120 people had booked to come to the launch and in all honesty we thought less than a quarter would make it, so we were delighted when over 80 people joined us to celebrate the opening of this beautiful and emotive work.  Many of the volunteers from the photoshoot, which was integral to the work, joined us and enjoyed trying to spot themselves in the finished installation.  Unfortunately the artist, Catherine Bertola, wasn’t able to make the journey from the North East and was very disappointed not to be there. However we were lucky to have some other very special guests who helped us open the work.  Nick Hunt acted as MC again and introduced: Bruce Jackson, County Heritage Manager, Lancashire CC; Jane Beardsworth, Regional Director, Arts Council England and Co Cllr John Shedwick, Chairman of Lancashire CC who did the official honours of declaring the installation open.  In lieu of Catherine, MPA’s Project Manager for Contemporary Heritage, Lucy Green spoke and thanked all the many volunteers, partners and funders who have made Flicker possible.  It was a bitter sweet moment as it was Lucy’s last day with MPA (she’s moving to Contact Theatre, Manchester) and a bit emotional for the rest of the team.

We were delighted with the reaction to Flicker and how worthwhile the guests thought their journey through the snow had been.

As with K-Scope at Turton Tower many of the guests had not visited the venue before and as well as enjoying the contemporary art had discovered a fascinating heritage venue that they will visit again.  The perfect response to a Contemporary Heritage installation.

More Arts Awards – Our Reviews

Young people involved in our Lost Legends project have been experiencing art, most recently by exploring a sculpture trail. Here are their more detailed reviews of their experience as arts audience members. To help them achieve their Bronze Arts Awards please leave a comment about their reviews below.

Emily Brown:

The event was a Pendle Sculpture trail at Aitkin Wood. The artform was Sculpture. The pieces were made by a number of local artists, the main artist was Philippe Handford. The art trail displayed was made from natural materials in the wood.

I went to this event to gain more information about the Pendle Witches for our project. Some sculptures linked with stories of the Pendle Witches. I liked how the sculpture trail was outside linking with the natural materials the art was made from. I especially liked the sculptures of the falling tree as something good was  made from something useless. I didn’t like how the trail wasn’t very accessible and how some sculptures didn’t relate with our project of the Pendle Witches.

I would recommend this sculpture trail to others because the experience is very different as the art work is made naturally and displayed outside. However some people may not prefer this.

From this experience I have learnt how art can be made from something as simple as tress. I have learnt that people actually make these outdoor sculpture trails.

 

Franscesca Tomlinson

(I went to) Pendle Sculpture Trail at Aitkin Wood. It was a trail up a hill that included lots of pieces of art made from natural materials. Lots of different artists created them and the main one was Philippe Handford.

I am doing a project on the Pendle Witches and wanted to see if the sculptures showed us more about the witches. I liked to see how much effort people had put in, especially in the sculpture of a made made from a tree bark, because of how detailed it was. I also liked how it was made from natural materials.

I didn’t think the trail was very accessible and it was hard to understand what some of them meant. I also thought eh sculptures were quite dull and could have been better with colour. I would recommend this trail to others if it was a nice day because the sculptures were very raw and natural. However I don’t think it suits everyone.

I learnt that lots of different sculptures and pieces of art can be made from such simple materials that create something with much more meaning than they did in their original form.

 

Georgina Ward

(The event involved a) talk about the sculpture trail of the Pendle Witches. (I went to this event) to get a better background knowledge of the Pendle Witches). The sculpture trail included many interesting pieces. I particularly like how the bats were hidden in the tress and also the fallen trees. (It was) a little difficult to understand some aspects of the sculpture trail such as the wall. I would (recommend it to others) because it is very interesting and a good day out.

(I learnt) how other people interpret their different views of the Pendle Witches into art. 

 

Frank Metcalfe

We went to Pendle Sculpture Trail which is in Aitkin Wood. We walked around and looked at artwork by Philippe Handford. The theme is the Pendle Witches. (I went to the event) because I was interested in viewing the artwork of Philippe Handford and exploring the sculpture trail. I did not enjoy the sculpture trail because although good, I didn’t see how the artwork was relevant to the witches and it was quite dull. I enjoyed walking and exploring the woods and liked learning about being a sculpturist. The artwork was very complex and was hard to understand the relevance to the Pendle Witches. I learned about Philippe’s work as an artist and that you could make a career out of sculpture work, which I didn’t know before.

 

Erin Porter-Brown

We walked around a trail and saw different artwork / sculptures. I went to this event to learn more about the Pendle Witches. (I liked) the different sculptures because they were interesting. (I didn’t like) the weather (and I felt Philippe) didn’t explain it properly. I would recommend it to others because it was really fun and you can learn a lot. I learned lots about the Pendle Witches.

 

Jodie Walsh

Pendle Sculpture Trail was at Aitkin Wood. Philippe Handford took us around and explained the many art sculptures to us. Many artists were involved in these sculptures. I went to this event because we are doing a ‘Pendle Witches’ project and during this project we wanted to find out more about the stories and how these sculptures showed us more about the witches.  I liked the fact that the sculptures were all outdoors because it gave the art a ‘natural’ feel. I also liked many of the sculptures because they were interesting and different. I didn’t like the fact that some of the art was quite hard to understand because it was very different, also it was not very accessible since it was outside. I would recommend it to other because it was very interesting, especially because someone explained it to us and I felt I learnt a lot. I learnt that the different ways we can make sculptures and how the sculptures tie in with Pendle Witches.

 

Georgia Robinson

We went on an art sculpture trail, and walked around the woods of Pendle, looking at naturally made objects made by Philippe Handford. (I went to this event) to learn more about the Pendle Witches and visit the area that all of the things occurred in. There was a range in art things. I liked the sculptures which were made naturally out of resources like trees and metal. (I didn’t like) the weather and atmosphere, also I didn’t understand the explanations behind the sculptures. I would (recommend it to others) because then people in the area could learn more about the Pendle Witches and look at the sculptures. I learned more about the Pendle Witches.

Melissa Gaffey

I went to see the Lion King, the artform was theatres. I want to watch the Lion King with my family. (I went to this event) because it was a great experience and I liked the film. (I liked) the animals, the acting, the experience (and that) I knew the story. I didn’t like the long drive. I would recommend it to other people because it is a great experience for families to watch.

 

Keiran McGaney

We were viewing sculpture that Philippe Handford had made out of natural materials. We went to the event to learn more about the Pendle Witches. I liked it because I learned about the sculptures and I spent the day with my friends. I could not understand the story behind the artwork (but) I would recommend it to keen walker or people who like history. I learnt more about the Pendle Witches.

 

Louis  Barrett

We walked around Aitken Wood following the Pendle Sculpture Trail. We were given an audio tour from artist Philippe Handford. Its theme was the Pendle Witches. I went to this event because I was very interested to explore the trail. I found it easy to relate to the witches’ story. I liked talking to Philippe and learning about his job and things. Also exploring the artwork and realising how much time went in to making it. I didn’t like the boggy footpath and bad weather. Also I did not like the duration of the tour as it dragged on and got boring. I would recommend it as it was helpful to understand the witches’ story. I learnt more about the witches’ lifestyle and what they did in their life.

Abi Robinson

(I took part in) viewing all of the sculptures that Philippe Handford had made from natural materials. I went to learn more about the Pendle Witches. I liked the creativity and how he made all the sculptures from natural materials. I didn’t like how I couldn’t understand the story behind the artwork. I would recommend this artwork to people who enjoy walking and have an interested in history and art. I learnt more about the Pendle Witches and how different sculptures can be made from natural materials.

Sarah Gullfoyle

We went on a sculpture trail at Aitkin Wood. The artist Philippe Handford led us along the trail explaining his artwork. I went to this event because it was linked to the Pendle Witches project we are working on. I was very natural, all the materials were tree-based after being cut down. All the art being at different heights made it interesting. It wasn’t very accessible or easy to walk around in difficult conditions. I couldn’t really see a link to the Pendle Witches. I would recommend it on a nice day because it was a nice walk and the art was quite eye-catching. I learnt that you can make beautiful and inspiring art out of natural materials.

 

Olivia Peccerillo

We followed a sculpture trail around Aitkin Wood, and the tour guide was Philippe Handford. He was the artist who made the sculptures, and he explained what they meant. We were involved in a Pendle Witch project and we were going to get more information about the Pendle Witches. I liked the fact that the art was at different heights and different sizes. The location linked to the story about Pendle Witches plus it was a very natural feeling because it was outside in the woods.

I didn’t understand the art, the tour guide and the art didn’t really link to the Pendle Witches. It didn’t involve much about the witches. I would recommend this to others if it was a nicer day, but we did manage to enjoy it even though the weather was bad, which means it would be more enjoyable in better weather. (I learnt) that art could be portrayed in different ways and that artists could use locally sourced materials to create the sculptures. Also that the artists could be paid for doing this.

 

Catherine Burns

We followed a sculpture trail through Aitken Wood and Philippe Handford, the artist who made the sculptures, explained their meaning to us. We were involved in a project about the Pendle Witches and were learning more about the story and local beliefs about it. I liked the fact that the sculptures were different sizes and some were partly concealed up in the trees. The fact that it was outdoors gave it a natural mood, especially as the location fit in with the Pendle Witches. The art wasn’t very accessible and it was hard to see how some of the pieces linked to the witches. I would (recommend it to others) because we managed to enjoy it even though the weather was bad, which means in good weather it would probably be more enjoyable. (I learnt) that artists can use locally sourced materials to create sculptures that follow a theme, creating pieces of art work for people to interpret themselves about the witches.

Liberty Apricot Turner

(I enjoyed) walking around the wood in the outdoors and observing the learning about different sculptures made by Philippe Handford inspired by the Pendle Witches trail and story. (I went to this event) because I wanted to learn more about the Pendle Witches and also to learn about art. I enjoyed looking at the sculpture of the falling tree as it was creative and made from natural materials. I didn’t like how some sculptures were hard to understand because I like art that tells a story and is interesting. I would recommend it to keen walkers or families as it is a pretty walk and are interested in history. I learnt that art can come from basically anything since before I associated art with paper and pain, now I know it can be more – just basic materials.

 

Jack Harbour

We walked around Pendle Sculpture Trail. Philippe Handford gave us a tour of the trail. It was in Aitkin Wood and its theme was the Pendle Witches. I went to this event because I was very interested by the artwork was quite hard to understand. I liked some of the artwork because it was really cool. Some of the art was hard to understand and wasn’t relevant. I would recommend it but not all the art. I learnt that the council would pay Philippe to go into the woods and do that sort of thing.

 

Stephanie Warrington

I went to the Paper Cut Exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery. There was a mixture of art ranging from sculptures like a motorbike and paper like maps made of money. I went to this event because it links to the projects we were doing in class. I liked the life-sized sculptures, different types of art and a man that was made only from books hanging from the ceiling. Some of the paper art were more obscure / difficult to understand. I would recommend it to others because it would appeal to a wide range of people. 

Arts Awards with our HLF Lost Legends group

Young people involved in our Lost Legends project have been experiencing art, most recently by exploring a local sculpture trail. These images show our responses to the experience and now we want to share them with you. Please leave your comments as this will help the young people involved to achieve their Arts Awards at Bronze level.

Since Autumn last year, MPA have been working with two groups of young people to explore the story of the Lancashire Witches. We have visited museums and heritage sites and met and talked to a range of heritage experts. As part of this adventure we have used the arts to think about and communicate what we have learned. The young people involved have worked with filmmakers Huckleberry Films, drama specialist Steve Fairclough and community artist Kerris Casey St Pierre to creatively retell the story of the witches. We discovered a tradition of artists drawing inspiration from this legendary story and we visited Aitkin Wood with artist Philippe Handford to explore the Pendle Sculpture Trail inspired by the witch trials of 1612.

Being part of the Lancashire’s Lost Legends project has introduced young people to creative practitioners, led them to develop their own artistic skills and allowed them to experience arts events and exhibition such as the Pendle Sculpture Trail.

Earlier this week, we reviewed our experience of the sculpture trail and now we want to share our review with you. The photos above show the responses we generated and shared in school on Monday. We also wrote up our responses which we will share with you very soon. Please take a moment to let us know what you think after reading our comments.

Flickers of the past

As a volunteer at MPA I was excited when I was asked to help with a photo shoot for the upcoming Contemporary Heritage installation at Gawthorpe Hall, Flicker by Catherine Bertola.  I have visited the hall on a couple of occasions and I felt privileged to be able to see behind the scenes and learn about the history of Gawthorpe from some very knowledgable people.

For the first two days of the shoot I tried to be as helpful as possible, getting people into costume and making sure everybody was comfortable.  Two sets of re-enactment groups took part in the project and it was engrossing to see them transform from 21st century people into characters from the 1600’s.  Even more amazing was the way that their transformation created a dramatic change in the space, passing a 17th century physician on the staircase really made you feel like you had gone back in time!

On the third day of the shoot it was my turn.  Early on in the process of selecting the cast for the shoot there was a call for a petite female with dark hair, as I fitted the bill I put myself forward to help.  Little did I know that I would get the chance to dress as a 17th century lady of the manor and wear an incredible dress! I began my day by being strapped into a very small corset and a floor length dress.  I began to realise why ladies had such a need for servants as bending, sitting down and even walking suddenly became very difficult without some help.  Then it was time for the photographs and I really enjoyed chatting to my fellow cast members while trying to ‘look natural’.  The day was a lot of fun even if it was a little chilly and I can’t wait to see the images that come out of it.

Flicker will open on Saturday 23 March and run until October, see Mid Pennine Arts website for details.

Contemporary Heritage: A new way of seeing is an ambitious programme of site-responsive artist commissions at stunning historic sites across Pennine Lancashire.  The commissions, inspired by Pennine Lancashire’s heritage, animate each site and offer visitors a rare chance to experience major works of art by artists of national and international standing outside urban centres.