Scuppered by jury service and wifi connections, oh and a
small dose of procrastination and general busy-ness, I’m only just getting to
my second post. A lot has gone on since the first one too! I’m well stuck into
my new project – Arts Council funded Violent Lives film project, to create at
least six short films inspired by women’s experiences of domestic abuse.
Now reading a book called Living With A Dominator by Pat
Craven and illustrated by Jacky Fleming which goes with something called the
Freedom Programme, a programme run at the Women’s Centre, Huddersfield, to help those who have had such difficult relationships. It’s fascinating
to come across Pat Craven’s name again – I believe and can only imagine it’s
the same person, she was a regular guest on BBC Radio Newcastle’s morning news
programme when I was a freelance producer there – not too many North East Pat
Craven’s with a Probation Service background, I imagine.
 |
| http://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Dominator-About-Freedom-Programme/dp/0955882702 |
Jacky’s illustrations also allow
some cynical humour into the book and will hit chords with many I'm sure ... this reminds me to dig out that book
of hers I have somewhere at home Be Bloody
Train Driver.
 | |||
| http://www.jackyfleming.co.uk |
However Relationships Manager with the Arts Council inDewsbury, Ralph Dartford bumped into me at Poetry Under The Arches – down by
Tesco in Huddersfield at the now closed Peacock Lounge – and told me I should
resubmit it ... and repeated that message a couple of times while I found the
bottle to do so ... and lo and behold I’m where I am today with my approval
coming through in September.
It was all systems go for a week, then normal service was
halted for jury service – which should have lasted into a second week but
fortunately I managed to do some civic duty and escape a week early – before
another lull into half term this week.
Before jury service however I did manage a great day out at
Liverpool Tate – a belated birthday trip with my mate – to see the Magritte exhibition,
along with all the other wonderful sights there. Now I like to call gallery
trips work these days ... but I couldn’t have guessed how many of the themes in
the Magritte collection would click with what I’m hoping to do in my films - it
was amazing. Magritte’s idea of using
framed images in front of what’s there, exploring what is
real, will work as a wonderful extension of my mask work done in my early
workshops. Some of the images are a 'photographic' representation of what's behind, some change it ... as below. I was intrigued by the idea of using an image representing what the outside world sees, and removing it to reveal the real! But I also also like the idea of using framed images to show what can never be seen. Lots to explore there in video and stills on the themes I'm looking at for my Violent Lives project.
 | |
| Rene Magritte |
It gives a whole new meaning to the video editing term
‘picture-in-picture’!! and I'll be exploring using that technique to extend this theme.
And although I don’t know where it might go the images of
a man and a woman posing and kissing with sheets over their heads, The Lovers, just rang such powerful bells for me with
the Violent Lives themes at the front of my mind ... all sorts of things being
mulled over there on the road of not knowing someone/each other, not being prepared to see them, not wanting to know, not being able to see, along with hiding behind the sheet... and much more.
 | ||
| Rene Magritte - The Lovers |
The Pleasure Principle (title of the Magritte
exhibition) also included several of Magritte’s films made with friends. Many
of the same themes were explored, but with a severely Python bent in the of
humour of many of them. I wish I’d been around with his ‘gang’ messing about
and exploring – whilst surreal in all terms of it and exploring wild and
abstract ideas, I do get the feeling they had a right laugh. I do like to laugh even when it comes to the hard and emotional edges of life - lift's just too short and when people have shared experiences there are always those 'laughs of recognition' (cheers Steve Coogan - 5'50'') that come with observational comedy - sometimes its a 'you had to be there' to understand moment or had to have 'been there' to have the 'right' to find it funny.
Looking ahead to where the Violent Lives films will be shown
- I am absolutely delighted that the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield,
where I am artist in residence until next October has confirmed an evening date
for a preview of the films on their full-size cinema screen. Ultimately the
films will be shown in pubs around the town and in outlaying areas for
International Women’s Day 2012 and the following weeks before being part of a second phase of this project in a walk-thru public art installation.
On other fronts ...
Exciting things are afoot with Valley Arts, the group of
artists I socialise with in the Colne Valley and it looks like we shall be
becoming more than the loose knit networking and socialising group we have been
so far – but don’t worry the open to all socials are set to continue and I’ll
be putting out new dates into the New Year soon for those who like to join us
once a month at the Commercial Ale House, in Slaithwaite.
My filmmaking with schools has not ground to a halt. I have
a bid in with Royds Hall School to work with the young people there on an
after-school project and if the funding comes through that will start next
month and I’m looking to do something similar with Colne Valley High after
discussions during half term. It will be exciting to work with an older group
of children and especially exciting at Colne Valley to reconnect with some of
the youngsters I have already worked with at its school Linthwaite Clough Junior Infant and Early Years School. The
plan is to use them as peer mentors/tutors – if they fancy the idea.
And it looks like my Frozen Valley* film is going to get a lot
of airings this winter. I’ve delivered it to all Colne Valley Schools
recently and a lot are keen to show it to pupils and parents so watch out for a
showing at your local school. Also it is scheduled for showings at Colne Valley
Garden Centre, Scar Lane, Milnsbridge, Huddersfield, at 6pm on Wednesday, December 7th, and I’ll be
showing it to Kirklees Council’s Area Committee when they meet in December as they
funded the original project along with Thornton and Ross, Linthwaite chemical company and Community Foundation for Calderdale Grassroots Grant and it all came about through Slaithwaite and Marsden Renaissance Project when they gathered artists together to see what we could collaborate on.
And I’m particularly looking forward to the film being part
of a special winter session of Enoch’s Hammer Folk Club, in January (the club
is held on the second Friday of the month at the Commercial pub in Slaithwaite
- yep they’ve got all sorts of fun stuff going on down there at the
Commercial). It’s a fab folk night, very friendly and some brilliant performers
– but sadly I’ve only been twice this year and it’s high time I sort out my
diary clashes and babysitting and get down there again – I’ve even got new
poetry to share! At least if the film’s showing in January I shall have to get
my act together –it is Friday 13th , but I rather find Friday the 13th dates have proved more lucky evenings for me so long may that continue.
**Frozen Valley – a 24minute film about the big freeze of
2009-10 in the Colne Valley. It’s a tale about the weather, but the story of a
community and how they found their valley spirit in their villages and pulled together through
that harsh winter. It was made using the photos, videos and stories of
villagers and visitors to the valley and features an original soundtrack by
Media Sounds – Shelley Aldred and Stuart Comins – performed by Running With
Scissors. DVDs available at the bar in the Commercial Ale House, in Slaithwaite, Marsden LiberalClub, The Rose and Crown, Cop Hill, Slaithwaite, and various other outlets £8 –
or direct from me, same price, plus p+p if you want one sending out.
NEXT TIME ON The Blog!
... Remembering Nicholas Parsons and Anglia Television ... hmm!!
