Meetings about Meetings

19th June 2008 - International Scenography Conference, Stockholm

Stockholm is precise, clean and expensive. There is no visible poverty. The congress is a cross -section of scenographers and theatre architects from around the world - participants from well established and facilitated theatre cultures to Kenya where even the concept of theatre as any kind of profession barely exists.

For the delegate from Kenya it is his first time in Europe and the chill factor in Stockholm is an even greater culture shock than for the rest of us.

Meetings are meetings the world over and by the end of the first one we are wondering why as a rule we spend more time reviewing what was done at the last one than planning what should be happening at the next. All this slowed further by trying to respect the cultural protocol of other nations.

As always, coffee breaks are when you learn most, just from talking to people and I hear of plans to create a version of Madam Butterfly in the Phillipines set in the Muslim community that has existed there since the 19th century, yet still has a less than easy relationship with the indigenous population. These are artists taking very real risks with the work that they make, theatre at its most powerful, staging living issues at a remove in time in order to reflect contemporary society back at itself.

In the afternoon we visit Drottingholm, one of the most intact 18th century theatres in the world. Walking in is like being allowed secret entry to a life-size Pollock's toy theatre. It is lit by simulated candlelight and is still in full mechanical working order. these mechanisims are not even iron or steel but wood. With a crew of 15 -30,scene changes took place in a matter of seconds.

Here was an international resident company assembled by the Queen, and like in all old theatres , their presence is still felt. This was where the audience came to flirt, to parade and to be entertained. The stage for them viewed in much the same way as we view film and television today.

Fiona

Museum of Tales

The excellent project 'Museum of Tales' first exhibition is now open at the New Art Centre gallery, here are a few pics from the opening night.

Museum of Tales: Chatham Town Tales presents a rich tapestry of illustrated yarns woven from history and beyond, inspired by material and manuscripts submitted by members of the public and reconstructed by illustrator Mark Barnes.

The culmination of a yearlong public art project created by Mark Barnes as winner of the Chatham Vines Public Art Award sponsored by Medway Renaissance, this exhibition will undoubtedly take you by surprise. Witty, informative and inventive, Museum of Tales guarantees one thing: you’ll never look at Chatham with the same eyes again!

Museum of Tales: Chatham Town Tales runs from Friday 13th June – Saturday 21st June 2008, 10am-5pm at Nucleus Gallery. Admission free.

Capturing the present - 4th June 2008

In January 2008 I began working with a group of traditionally disenfranchised adults on a project about space. My only brief was to look forward and not back. We thought about and made work about space, all kinds of space - head space, personal space, domestic space, public space, gallery space.

Somewhere in the middle, we encountered time. None of us belong here. None of us think of ourselves as coming from here. This is not where our root is, and yet in responding to a particular space in Medway, we found we wanted to leave a more permanent memory of ourselves, a legacy for future generations to ponder.

The idea for a Time Capsule came from a member of the group during our exploration of a neglected public garden. Not a particularly original idea perhaps, but when it is raised by a group of people in temporary accommodation who until now have been essentially invisible to the wider community, the resonance perhaps changes.

What they wanted to commemorate was the project they had just completed, the artwork they had just made. And so, a Maplin's flight case became an editing device and the choices about what went in to it a democratic process in operation.

Over a period of six weeks, we met for two hours a week, decided what we wanted to put in it and who we wanted to invite along. It had to be a 'celebration' and not a 'burial' and for perhaps the first time in all of our lives, we have imagined 30 years ahead when our time capsule will be lifted back out of the ground.

On 4th June after a week of rain, the sun shone on us and we inhabited the neglected public space that inspired us with a tea party to thank members of the community who have responded quickly to support us
financially, in person and in kind. And our memory box went into the ground.

As someone who normally makes work that no longer exists after about four weeks, this sense of some kind of permanence is a curious feeling.

Fiona Watt
scenographer/theatre designer

Bespoke Summer 2008

Selected images from the exhibition. In no particular order, Wendy Daws, Steve Rowland, Andrew Lapthorn, Paula Groves, 3 Little Birds, Keep the Ferret and I Love Twinkle.
Bespoke Summer 2008 Corn Exchange, Rochester High St, Kent.

New Memories made in Rochester

Let me know if you recognise yourself . . .

Brenda and Barbara

I met Brenda and Barbara in the gallery today, brilliant, they told me all about Icons and Icon painting, the correct colours that must be used for each saint, I didn't know of such things. You can't just use any old Prussian Blue for Mary, I didn't understand what colour should be used for Mary. Feel free to illuminate. They are currently being taught by someone who was taught by someone who was taught by a Russian Monk. It starts with chaos on the first layer, this is refined as you build up the layers, so I was told. I will find out for myself, I can't tell you why. Paul Mercer is showing at the New Art Centre for the next week, come and see for yourself.

Spectacular noise!

I've been at the Rochester Art Gallery today, with 62 10 years olds visiting for a schools workshop.  We looked at the 'Memory' installation and they played at being Memory Detectives. I told them a few stories from the 'memory blanket' and they had to remember what I'd said, like what town is the Waghorn Statue in? and what is the statue called?  Could they remember the favourite family pet?  Find the 1000 Yen note, how many pieces in the largest blanket, it has 81 columns by 13 rows?  Answers ranged from the Sarah Statue in Chatam, 153 to 2053.  We had a Bassett Hound called Sarah.  The noise was spectacular, 62 voices in the gallery, great echoes.   Two new 'memory blankets' were created, you won't get to see them as they will be going back to school in Maidstone, fantastic drawings that we will fashion into a blanket - Wendy stylee.   Our favourite pet was a cat called Ebony, you can find her in the blanket.  Or if you are interested in more adult conversations, see what else you might find and ask me the question.  If I'm asked I'll have to answer, otherwise I'll keep it all in shadows.