Emma Cummins, Ged Robinson,
Alan Smith, Elpida Hadzi-
Ste Walker, Tracey Warr, Andy Wilson
An interface for individual and collective experience.
A project originating from ideas about the significance of experience and how our understanding and interpretation of that experience can take on other forms when others and their personal accounts of the same event are shared or adopted; creating alternative realities. Relevant points of interest include paralanguage, consciousness and specific response to place and experience.
Venue: Ballroom Flats, Nenthead. Nov 27th – 28th 2009.
Parameter:
1. a: An arbitrary constant whose value characterizes a member of a system (as a
family of curves). Also: a quantity (as a mean or variance) that describes a statistical
population. b: An independent variable used to express the coordinates of a variable
point and functions of them.
2. Any of a set of physical properties whose values determine the characteristics or behaviour of something. (E.g. Parameters of the atmosphere such as temperature, pressure and density).
The event:
A two day project looking at how shared ‘Non Verbal’ experience will influence our perception of reality, through singular and collective memory.
We will share time in an extreme underground environment; ‘The Ballroom’, on arrival we will each find our own space and set up our bedroll. While this will mark our personal location within the space there will be limited room to move around.
Participants should make every effort to independently internalise the physical, psychological and visceral reading of their experiences while remaining aware of one and others presence. There will be no visual, written or audio documentation made during the trip. We will internalise the time; embracing our physical, psychological and illusionary reading of the experience.
Returning to Allenheads we will be joined by Tracey Warr. Tracey is Lecturer in Art
Theory at Oxford Brookes University. She edited The Artist’s Body (Phaidon, 2000)
and co-
Breakfast will mark the point when we can begin to communicate again. Tracey’s part in this project is of great importance, as the 7th participant Tracey will be creatively contributing and directing the next element of the project through conversation, analysis and discussions.
Over breakfast participants should speak only when they are ready, this is not a ready steady speak kind of scenario. The breakfast will begin our decompression as well as gently start the next phase. Following breakfast we should find our own space for a period of rest and get cleaned up. Essentially, after our intense period in Smallclough we should independently decide how best we use this time.
We will have gone through an intense period of time underground and collectively we deserve a period of more structured discussion in order to tease out essential elements of that time together, to get some measure of what happened. To achieve this I propose we spend a period of time in conference; let’s say from lunch (1pm till 3 or 4pm) Tracey will lead these discussions. This element will be documented.
Liability:
Please remember that each individual is responsible for their participation in this project. It’s a mutual curiosity that is taking us below ground against the present litigious concerns for health and safety. Concerns that frequently impede dilute or change the contextual experience of contemporary events, happenings or artwork.
Schedule:
Friday 27th November 3pm: Our group of 6 will meet at The Old School House in Allenheads. This will give us time for introductions, spend some time under the sky, gear check and go over safety for our trip. Arrival times are likely to be staggered due to individual travel arrangements (if we can coordinate an arrival time I am happy to arrange pick up from Hexham, can do 4 people at time).
Friday 27th 7pm: we will leave for Nenthead in Cumbria. Our departure for Nenthead will mark the beginning of our silent period.
All durational times are approximate
7.20pm: Arrive at Nenthead 20min walk to mine entrance.
7.40pm: Arrive at entrance to Smallclough lead mine. (Smallclough is a small part of the labyrinthine passages that perforate the North Pennines landscape). Enter mine 1 hr walk into Ballroom Flats.
Stay there for 10 hrs (no time keeping devices, iplayer etc).
Saturday 28th November
7.40am: pack up.
8.00am: begin walk out.
8.20am: return to Allenheads
9.00am breakfast
1pm: till 3 or 4pm Conference: Tracey will lead these discussions.
4pm: Pub and relax before dinner
While I am sure the Saturday will help us understand what took place below ground, I am also interested in the solo reflection that will take place over extended time when we separate and return home. I really do believe there will be so much for us to think about and work with.
Logistics:
Remember: anything you take with you is your responsibility, what you carry in; you carry out. Keep your equipment minimal and light. You will not be carrying cameras, sound equipment, notebooks etc. There will be no visual, written or audio documentation made during the trip and nothing made while in there.
Essential equipment:
1. Helmet, headlamp, battery pack and belt.
2. Wellies.
3. Clothing will get filthy. Bring something you don’t care about for the trip
4. Fleece, waterproof jacket, spare socks (on the way in, water can rise higher than your wellies). While travelling underground the temperature can feel quite warm, in fact while travelling through some of the tighter squeezes we will get a bit of a sweat on. Arriving at the Ballroom you will soon notice a drop in temperature, so carrying extra clothing is important for the duration at the Ballroom. (This extra clothing will not be worn on the way in; it will need to be carried. Think about size and quantities).
5. 1xTorch (back up lighting).
6. Candles (while in the ballroom no headlamps will be used, we will each be
allocated one candle that can be lit -
7. Mattress or camping mat (whatever is carried must be small enough for the tight squeezes)
8. Sleeping bag or blanket (Plastic bag everything inside rucksack to keep dry)
9. 1x box safety matches.
10. 1x lighter.
11. Sufficient food and drink for the night.
12. Toilet roll.
13. Map of Smallclough.
14. Black bin bag x1 spare
This is not currently being run as an ACA project although I do envisage a 2nd phase and I am hopeful that a good group dynamic will assist in shaping developments. It might be beneficial at that stage to work and apply for funding through ACA. All of this we will discuss. There is always a possibility that none or some of us will want to continue.
Unfortunately there is no funding available for this event and there will be costs that we need to share.
- Accommodation will be provided at the Schoolhouse in Allenheads
- I will arrange transport to and from the mine, not sure yet if that will incur a cost.
- Important: there are no shops in Allenheads, buy any food for the mine trip or anything else you might need before you leave town.
(1. Early evening meal before mine trip. 2. Cooked breakfast. 3. Lunch before formal meeting 4. Evening meal 5. Sunday morning self service).
Food and drink (All food/wine shopping bills will be split equally between us. I will shop and prepare big pots of food before you all arrive, let me know if any veggies. I will also buy in wine before your arrival.)
