Sunday, 20 July 2008
Saturday, 21 June 2008
nature@work goes PURIST
Following a period of re-branding nature@work have chosen Purist as the new name under which they'll launch their range of natural beauty products. And we've now incorporated this into our design for the Soap Box limited edition.
Colour Works Ltd (a Totnes based 'green' print and design company who we sourced to handle the print job) are producing the Soap Box wrap as I write.
Ray, Dave and I recently started to cut, wrap and pack the soaps which Purist produced for Soap Box. To get our mini production line underway, we took over Groundwork's meeting room, and the fragrant aroma from the soaps began wafting pleasantly through the offices. Curious members of staff popped in over the course of the day and the feedback was really positive.
Other exciting developments for Purist include their securing a new workshop and outlet space at Cockington Court (near Torquay), a busy craft centre that offers a really great location to launch their new enterprise.
And they are currently developing their website: www.puristnaturalbeauty.co.uk
Colour Works Ltd (a Totnes based 'green' print and design company who we sourced to handle the print job) are producing the Soap Box wrap as I write.
Ray, Dave and I recently started to cut, wrap and pack the soaps which Purist produced for Soap Box. To get our mini production line underway, we took over Groundwork's meeting room, and the fragrant aroma from the soaps began wafting pleasantly through the offices. Curious members of staff popped in over the course of the day and the feedback was really positive.
Other exciting developments for Purist include their securing a new workshop and outlet space at Cockington Court (near Torquay), a busy craft centre that offers a really great location to launch their new enterprise.
And they are currently developing their website: www.puristnaturalbeauty.co.uk
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Soap Box - the story so far..
I wanted to share this text as an update to how the 'Soap Box - sweet smelling social enterprise' project is shaping up. The launch of this limited edition object in early summer will mark the culmination of the Groundwork (South West) first Artist in Residence initiative......
"Sometimes good ideas come at unexpected moments and cunning plans are hatched in the most unusual places.
I wasn’t that surprised then when the Soap Box project first flickered into being in the ‘Ladies’ (toilets) at the Groundwork offices in Plymouth!
Way back near the beginning of my residency I’d attended the trust’s Business Planning day. During a ‘comfort break’ I’d tested out a sample of hand-made soap, wrapped nicely in grease-proof paper, left on the bathroom sink with note from someone called Jackie asking for user feedback. I sought Jackie out straight away – this beautiful blue marbled soap heralded the beginning of a small social enterprise project she was starting in Paignton, Devon. I was intrigued but before we could exchange further information we were called into the next session. As Jackie left for Torbay at the end of the day I called after her saying I’d be in touch – I was really curious about this enterprise and it felt like the hook I was looking for.
That evening as Ray and I digested the day’s proceedings I talked about my excitement about the soap making enterprise. I also had an idea I couldn’t get out of my head for a Groundwork packaging/letter design that somehow reflected the trust’s work around environmentally sound business practices etc. - Interested as I am in mail art and postal design I was curious to create an airmail letter inspired ‘landogram’ (not ‘par avion’ but par land – if u get me!)
Some weeks later after another jamming session with Ray we realised that these two elements should be combined – a limited edition box containing soap samples that would celebrate the launch of this sweet smelling social enterprise whilst at the same time creatively platforming Groundwork’s community and environmental ethos through a designed object. The tag line for the Soap Box project became – maximising local talent/minimising carbon emissions. Ray and I had already spoken of a multiple as a possible outcome of the residency. So it was game on! We had a plan – I hasten to add we hadn’t actually brewed up this plan in the Ladies toilet – rather a local watering hole! ;) The Soap Box project would also mark the launch of Groundwork Arts that Ray (as Strategic Arts Coordinator) would be pushing forward for the trust. Exciting beginnings….
Alex gave me some additional insights into the social enterprise project and also told me about Pat who runs a local launderette in Torbay called ‘Washing Well’ (just how fab a name is that by the way!) Pat is an important network/contact for Groundwork in the area and helped establish links with potential participants. The ‘Washing Well’ will naturally be one of the local outlets for the soaps in due course…..
Anyhow - Some weeks later Jackie and I made contact again by phone and we settled a date for me to come down to the Foxhole Leisure Centre to meet the women who were starting this local soap making business. Jackie, Claire & Claire warmly welcomed me into their soap making kitchen and they showed me all the wonderful batches of soap they’d already produced and talked about plans for their enterprise – possible names for the business, product ideas etc. All this was getting me in a creative lather and I really wanted to tap into their energy and offer any creative support I could as Groundwork artist in residence. I proposed the limited edition soap box idea and asked if this was something that might be of interest. The group was really enthusiastic and we chatted on about how it could work. We also started exchanging emails about possible company names and I was delighted to get Jackie’s call announcing the group had agreed a name for their enterprise:
nature@work – a sweet smelling social enterprise
The following week Ray joined us in the kitchen and we continued to cook up some packaging ideas. Mock up samples and sketches were now on the table and it felt quite exciting. I am also happy to report we have been joined by Dave, a final year art student at the University of Plymouth, who Ray and I met via our ‘Context and Collaborative Practice’ lecture. Dave is one of two students now receiving mentoring and getting hands-on project production experience at Groundwork. Dave is collaborating with us on the Soap Box project offering layout and design support – all hands on deck this is indeed a collaborative effort!
To stand back and reflect on the process thus far it’s perhaps useful to say something about my approach to making in general and how I develop social collaborations in the public realm.
It’s fair to say I am ideas led, responding in each instance to the people and places that I encounter.
In my public art practice I aim to produce pieces that are well researched, visually strong and provide an environment/context for engagement and entertainment. The processes and conversations leading to these events are as crucial as the final products or outcomes. I am curious about people & place, local histories and the investigation/representation of personal narratives.
I work with objects, text, images and performance, presenting mixed media installations, live interventions and printed matter in art spaces and public contexts.
I’ve only previously created one multiple – a machine embroidered leather wrist band called the ‘Rambling Rock Band’ for Pingo, piCOt’s touring art vending machine, so the Soap Box is an exciting project outcome for me. I hope both nature@work and Groundwork find it a useful way in which to celebrate their respective activities. And that 200 unsuspecting individuals will enjoy receiving and using their Soap Box! We are planning a series of Soap Box launch activities in June so keep your eyes peeled for the e-invite!"
"Sometimes good ideas come at unexpected moments and cunning plans are hatched in the most unusual places.
I wasn’t that surprised then when the Soap Box project first flickered into being in the ‘Ladies’ (toilets) at the Groundwork offices in Plymouth!
Way back near the beginning of my residency I’d attended the trust’s Business Planning day. During a ‘comfort break’ I’d tested out a sample of hand-made soap, wrapped nicely in grease-proof paper, left on the bathroom sink with note from someone called Jackie asking for user feedback. I sought Jackie out straight away – this beautiful blue marbled soap heralded the beginning of a small social enterprise project she was starting in Paignton, Devon. I was intrigued but before we could exchange further information we were called into the next session. As Jackie left for Torbay at the end of the day I called after her saying I’d be in touch – I was really curious about this enterprise and it felt like the hook I was looking for.
That evening as Ray and I digested the day’s proceedings I talked about my excitement about the soap making enterprise. I also had an idea I couldn’t get out of my head for a Groundwork packaging/letter design that somehow reflected the trust’s work around environmentally sound business practices etc. - Interested as I am in mail art and postal design I was curious to create an airmail letter inspired ‘landogram’ (not ‘par avion’ but par land – if u get me!)
Some weeks later after another jamming session with Ray we realised that these two elements should be combined – a limited edition box containing soap samples that would celebrate the launch of this sweet smelling social enterprise whilst at the same time creatively platforming Groundwork’s community and environmental ethos through a designed object. The tag line for the Soap Box project became – maximising local talent/minimising carbon emissions. Ray and I had already spoken of a multiple as a possible outcome of the residency. So it was game on! We had a plan – I hasten to add we hadn’t actually brewed up this plan in the Ladies toilet – rather a local watering hole! ;) The Soap Box project would also mark the launch of Groundwork Arts that Ray (as Strategic Arts Coordinator) would be pushing forward for the trust. Exciting beginnings….
Alex gave me some additional insights into the social enterprise project and also told me about Pat who runs a local launderette in Torbay called ‘Washing Well’ (just how fab a name is that by the way!) Pat is an important network/contact for Groundwork in the area and helped establish links with potential participants. The ‘Washing Well’ will naturally be one of the local outlets for the soaps in due course…..
Anyhow - Some weeks later Jackie and I made contact again by phone and we settled a date for me to come down to the Foxhole Leisure Centre to meet the women who were starting this local soap making business. Jackie, Claire & Claire warmly welcomed me into their soap making kitchen and they showed me all the wonderful batches of soap they’d already produced and talked about plans for their enterprise – possible names for the business, product ideas etc. All this was getting me in a creative lather and I really wanted to tap into their energy and offer any creative support I could as Groundwork artist in residence. I proposed the limited edition soap box idea and asked if this was something that might be of interest. The group was really enthusiastic and we chatted on about how it could work. We also started exchanging emails about possible company names and I was delighted to get Jackie’s call announcing the group had agreed a name for their enterprise:
nature@work – a sweet smelling social enterprise
The following week Ray joined us in the kitchen and we continued to cook up some packaging ideas. Mock up samples and sketches were now on the table and it felt quite exciting. I am also happy to report we have been joined by Dave, a final year art student at the University of Plymouth, who Ray and I met via our ‘Context and Collaborative Practice’ lecture. Dave is one of two students now receiving mentoring and getting hands-on project production experience at Groundwork. Dave is collaborating with us on the Soap Box project offering layout and design support – all hands on deck this is indeed a collaborative effort!
To stand back and reflect on the process thus far it’s perhaps useful to say something about my approach to making in general and how I develop social collaborations in the public realm.
It’s fair to say I am ideas led, responding in each instance to the people and places that I encounter.
In my public art practice I aim to produce pieces that are well researched, visually strong and provide an environment/context for engagement and entertainment. The processes and conversations leading to these events are as crucial as the final products or outcomes. I am curious about people & place, local histories and the investigation/representation of personal narratives.
I work with objects, text, images and performance, presenting mixed media installations, live interventions and printed matter in art spaces and public contexts.
I’ve only previously created one multiple – a machine embroidered leather wrist band called the ‘Rambling Rock Band’ for Pingo, piCOt’s touring art vending machine, so the Soap Box is an exciting project outcome for me. I hope both nature@work and Groundwork find it a useful way in which to celebrate their respective activities. And that 200 unsuspecting individuals will enjoy receiving and using their Soap Box! We are planning a series of Soap Box launch activities in June so keep your eyes peeled for the e-invite!"
Soap Box Design
Working away on the Soap Box design layout:
Dave on Adobe
Clare on Cutting Board
Ray on Accordion
Monday, 25 February 2008
A short presentation
Still in catch up mode...Also in January I screened a short documentary (made by film maker Mike Patterson) about a collaborative project I developed in Wednesbury last year. I was keen to share documentation of this socially engaged endeavour with interested Groundwork folk, and I must say thank you to those that took a chunk out of their lunch break to view this short film and stay to chat afterwards.
The session threw up some useful points about documenting work, revealed some interesting examples of projects that staff were currently/previously involved in and also evidenced how ideas can spring up from the most unlikely sources - for example, if i remember correctly, Ray and I got excited about waste audits/filing cabinets and skips (no really! In response to something Alex from Envision had said). I think it linked with our interest in archives and swap shop - go figure!
By the by: This project in Wednesbury came about through an invitation from Multistory. In response to my trips there, talking with local people and researching its history (industrial and political) I proposed a trade union style banner which i produced with a small team of talented local residents. For more info and images visit:
http://www.multistory.org.uk/?page_id=78
A big thank you also that week to Anne, Jocella and Alex for meeting with me to discuss their project areas and their pre-Groundwork escapades. I learned for example about Anne's involvement in 'Past on your doorstep, future in your hands' - a participatory project about Plymouth's naval, military and maritime history. (Anne's getting active in the Swilly at War project - must get an update on how that's developing!)
I was interested also to hear from Jocella about the on-going Horticultural Healing project based at Royal William Yard. And with Alex I discussed social enterprise, as you do. In particular we focused on the soap making initiative in Foxhole, Paignton (this you'll be hearing more about in due course). Its a peach!
Sporty Saltmills
Way back...
on the 1oth January I joined Ray and the Groundwork's team down at Saltmill Park in Saltash, Cornwall for the opening of the new sports pitch. Bad weather did not effect play and coach loads of school kids and local VIPS arrived for official 'kick off'.
The park, a former landfill, has undergone a massive regeneration and walking around the site with Ray (checking out the public art works and skate park) its hard to believe this beautiful spot overlooking the Tamar was once a rubbish dump.
Looking good!
The kids got to test out the 'astro-turf' pitch with a spot of hockey and rugby (check the photo of James showing us how it should be done!) I tell you, fake grass technology has come on in leaps and bounds since my hockey playing days back in the 80's - running around on the type of surface grocer's displayed their veg on down the high street! Wonder if this new stuff still burns as badly if you slip on it - you are surprised I didn't test this out!
Alex introduced me to one of the local residents Fran who has been involved in the sites re-development since the outset. She told me how back in the days of the site being a rubbish tip you sometimes had to keep your windows closed during the summer months because of the smell and flies. She pointed out her house overlooking the site. It was fascinating to hear about the scrapbook she kept documenting the process of change in the area. And her own process of change too, as she briefly described her own journey into community activism, local politics and her current role as Mayor.
Despite the grey day and bad light Ray and I filmed and photographed (there were almost as many cameras snapping as there were hockey sticks thwacking that day i can tell you!) Anyhoo I've chosen a few for your enjoyment - By the way the one of Nicola telling me where to go gives you an idea that perhaps I was just as bit too happy snappy ;)
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