Week 8 and we had another walk through. The sun was shining this morning and there was nowhere better to be than at the top of the Rock looking out over the town across to the Uillinn Arts Centre and the surrounding hinterland. The area is so large we gave names to particular places to help identify them to ourselves when working out our plans. Doctors Hill, Telecom Lane and Windmill Lane are access points. Well Lane, Fire Pit, Famine Memorial, Roundabout, Skeety Rock Lane are the physical features of the 4.5 acre site. Pictured above is our newly appointed HQ. Exciting times ahead in 2016.

Week 7 was important for us. We decided that we can continue to work together as a group after the research phase is complete. The experience of having spent 6 weeks meeting in different sites, discussing diverse artistic practices and processes gives us a shared field of reference and a language for discussing our artistic ambitions. Next week we will try and pin down those ambitions more specifically – a process that will be both iterative and generative. This week we met in the enclosed space of Uillinn. Next week we are back on the Rock – in the expanded field that I love.

Getting gritty today. We went to see an exhibition by Suzy Cremers and the sets for her interactive performance Underworld.  Afterwards we had a very ‘disciplined’ discussion using Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process. It was a real pleasure to focus on the work of one member of the group. An intriguing, challenging, eye opening and brave day for all of us I think.

Finished off the Create performance resource today at Uillinn and reviewed some of the audio recordings made at the Rock during the Summer. Then went to see a plaque I had never noticed before on Bridge St. It commemorates the Clerke sisters who are described as astronomers, scientists and writers, an unusual occupation for their gender and times as they were born just before the famine in 1840 & 42. It was so easy being in the arts centre compared to the other places we have visited – a venue designed for purpose and with a great staff putting resources at our disposal.

We met in the Board Room on the top floor of the Sutherland Centre, currently the home of Cork ETB, formerly the site of West Cork Arts Centre & in previous times a Bank. Technology let me down and Michele O’Connor Connolly Digital Humanities Masters student & artist came to the rescue. Michele gave a presentation on Jesse Jones Prosperity Project. This was followed by a jaunt to the Rock via Doctors Lane (pictured above). Taking a break next week – back again at Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre on 29 October.

Reddy took this photo while we were in Skibbereen Courthouse – looks like we are in a church. As well as going through material related to Context and Audience in the pack, Mary Jordan came in to talk about Tania Bruguera the artist that she had selected to contribute to the Urban Explorer archive of favourite artists. It was a very apt contribution given Brugueras interest in social justice and previous tangles with the law. We enjoyed exploring the space and spent time some in discussion afterwards. Apparently the motto of Skibbereen is something like Everything You Seek Is Here but when I went looking on the Internet the only thing I could find was a reference to The Donkey Aters explained by Jim O’Keefe when he was a TD “The people of Skibbereen are known as the “donkey eaters” because in the last century the town of Skibbereen suffered more than any other part of the country from the Famine. It is still a folk memory there”. Interesting as a lot of our discussion had revolved around current refugee & housing crisis and the resonance with the 3,000 people sleeping on the streets of Skibbereen during the famine. Also discussed the arbitrariness of justice and the need for a school for judges – Judge Academy – what would that be like? There are other creative groups in Skibbereen, in particular the inclusive dance group with whom 3 of us have worked – these links are important and hopefully can be addressed later. Lots of ideas spilling out .. lots of experience in the room .. feels really great to be there.

Great buzz today – there was a real sense of excitement and anticipation. The technology – mostly worked and the conversation flowed. This post responds to a request for references to the work we looked at & discussed …enjoy!

Feidlim Cannon & Gary Keegan Brokentalkers & Sean Millar Silver Stars

Louise Lowe ANU Productions Laundry

Helene Hugel Helium Infant Imaginings

Dylan Tighe Stomach Box Productions The Trailer of Bridget Dinnegan

Bob Cilman & Jidith Sharpe Young@Heart Chorus The Road to Nowhere

Helgaard Haug, Stefan Kaegi, Daniel Wetzel Rimini Protokoll Call Cutta & 100% Cork

Suzi Wilson & Paul Clark Clod Ensemble An Anatomie in 4 Quarters

Lisa Goldman & Emma Schad The Red Room Hoxton Story

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