Resistance was beautiful
Posted: February 13th, 2012 | Author: Joe | Filed under: Art | Tags: art, resistance | No Comments »
For the Grow Heathrow Artists Residency: Resistance is Beautiful, 15 artists from all over; Bristol, Newcastle, Germany and more, gathered at Grow Heathrow on a Sunday, without really knowing what was in store for them in the week.
The project co-coordinators had created a loose structure. The beginning of the Residency was set up to introduce Grow Heathrow with its sustainable and community ethics and the history of Sipson, as nourishment and inspiration for the creative process. The week would culminate in some kind of ‘exhibition’ on the last day, which was to be planned by the residents. The rest of the week was open for the residents to make of it what they wanted.
Day one included tours of Grow Heathrow, looking at all the points of resistance, from the solar panels creating independent energy, to the many signs and placards opposing the third runway. Each resident then interpreted parts of the site that interested them, through their own creative means. On the Monday, a blank rota was also drawn up with chores such as cooking, washing up and going out to skip food. Throughout the week, everybody filled in their names to ensure the duties were equally distributed. At the end of the day, everybody was asked for feedback on how they felt it went, and the next day’s activities were discussed. As the light began to fade, the residents all settled in to a talk from Hedvig from the London Permaculture Network – more nourishment for the creative hands.
On the 2nd day the group was given a tour of Sipson and the surrounding area, showing the history of Sipson, and the detrimental effects the airport has had on the community. The residents were also joined by Steve, one of the many local residents who has adopted Grow Heathrow as a second home and who, with his wife and family are actively involved in protesting against the injustices being carried out by BAA. The rest of the day involved more creative interpretations, and ideas began to flow about the tragedy of Sipson, BAA and the hopes and strengths of the wider movement.
With our ‘introduction’ complete, everyone sat down to one of many delicious meals, made with ingredients largely ‘skipped’ or donated. Again, the group discussed opinions and experiences thus far, and what was wanted from the rest of the week.
By Thursday, the 4th day of the residency, the group had started to form plans of how the exhibition might evolve. Many ideas and concepts where discussed and suggested, from group forum theatre pieces to solo pieces. It was agreed by all that, of all of the worthy pieces of work we could muster between us, the site was not only a living breathing work of art, but also the site and its immediate surroundings represented enormous cultural relevance. It was our job as artists to present this in a way which embraced the significance, the beauty and the struggle of this powerfully charged square mile of land and the surrounding community. The form with which this were to take was a ‘trail’ or a ‘tour’ almost.
So Saturday came, the trail was set and a great mixture of friends and residents, new and old, were handed a map and sent off to explore the trail. The trail included paintings and signs at the gate, to art installations in the greenhouses, to creating a band playing entirely on recycled materials called the ‘Dumpstarz’ in the ‘Tat Store’ (the name given to the onsite recycling). A workshop was also organized, with talks and statements by residents and locals. These were held in the remaining derelict green houses to the ‘back’ of the site, which have been vacated since the early nineties, and have been nearly entirely ‘taken back’ by nature; trees and vines completely engulfing the vast amounts of domestic and industrial waste, and neglected market garden structures. We also went and did some excellent Guerilla gardening in the village, as part of the exhibition. Modifications were also made to a bridge, abstract installations, and ‘make your own pizzas’ in the Pizza oven made by residents. Oh and a map to the trail was lovingly penned by our one and only Mike!
It was a week of such condensed inspiration and action that it’s hard to fit everything in, but the magic of the residency has inspired Grow Heathrow residents, Sipson residents and residents from across the country and beyond. Thanks to everyone involved.
This blog was written by Dan, one of the artists who took part in the residency
