28.10.08 – Group Meeting Minutes
10:15am in Studio
Present: Jen/ Tori/ Julie/ Carolyn
Apologies from engagement + construction teams – out and about engaging and constructing.
Apologies from Kris – options module clash mon-wed this week and next.
Overview - Brief meeting to update Carolyn following Monday’s group meeting – group ran through ground covered and main outcomes and conclusions. Explained idea of a Friday/Monday/Friday ‘layering’ of performances, in order to build upon existing information, research and material. Carolyn agreed that this was a positive and logical approach, and the event would be an opportunity to showcase ideas and films to date, in a way that will not be possible at the final assessment.
Julie explained the three current subgroups to Carolyn (see minutes 27.10.08) – roles of each, and relationship between three.
Carolyn suggested contacting BBC Radio Sheffield for publicity; Sheffield Live was also mentioned. Importance of publicising next Monday’s event as quickly and widely as possible.
Public exhibition on monday - Persistence Works is looking likely for the final event – just waiting for final confirmation. Events team have viewed a couple of possible venues, and although this is the most expensive option, it is by far the most attractive. Suggested that team members contribute £10 or similar, then rest to be made up from budget (Trish agrees).
Timing of event – 7-9pm was planned – CB highlighted that this gives people the chance to leave work (and not come back into town). 6-8pm now proposed + agreed by group.
Carolyn raised the point that entering Persistence Works can seem uninviting to new visitors – maybe we address this by taking over the foyer etc? – to be discussed further by events + PW. Home make cake and tea looking likely (licensing problems with alcohol..?) – this could go in the foyer. Need to think about glasses + crockery. Cater for 100ish?
Events team to push getting out publicity asap, as soon as venue is confirmed.
Whole school event - Ran through idea for workshop based on Arch work and the Arts Tower – investigating memories of the tower and movement through the building using the paternoster as a tool. Carolyn agreed that the idea of installations in the lift and the bus stops are synonymous and that it would be an appropriate idea for the group to pursue. Provisionally next Thursday – group to discuss after the exhibition. Agreed that this should not be integrated with the final presentation.
(+ Pol/ Tilly/ Jonny)
Friday’s meeting – structures + engagement teams to provide rationalised information in order to produce a more choreographed piece w/dancers in collaboration with Simon (?). Schedule to be produced by events team based on info from s + e teams.
Structures – time constraints in building everything we want to build. Realistically will have to give a ‘flavour’ of the final scheme. Carolyn felt that the structures proposed were too ‘rigid’ and finished – if we accept we can’t build within the time period then we should be designing something which really pushes the boundaries.
Final design strategy – highlighted importance of reclaiming/recycling. Carolyn suggested we contact one of her sites for leftover materials etc – structures to pursue.
To Do
• Structures team to continue building and developing amazing final ideas
• Events team to continue sorting logistics of Monday, and draw up schedule for Friday. Also complete, email, print and distribute posters and invitations
• Engagement team to feed info to other teams to inform development
• Everyone to find as many people as possible to bring on Monday to make it a success!
Other Information - Please keep checking emails – bits of info are feeding in from suppliers + TO’S/SB all the time
Next Meeting – Wednesday 29th October @ 5.30pm (studio) - to run through progress since monday
Showing posts with label Meetings (Informal/Group). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meetings (Informal/Group). Show all posts
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Minutes of Meeting 20-10-08
10.45am in studio
Present: Av/Hayley/Jonny/Kris/Hoi Sun/Julie/Tilly/Jen/Pol/Tori/Helen.
1. Meeting Trish on Wed 22-10?
Trish was contacted (17/10/08) regarding meeting up on Wednesday. Currently she hasn’t responded with answer. It is decided that unless Trish gets in contact we will carry on with the week as planned.
2. Action plan for beginning of week.
It is decided that the most important thing that needs to be achieved this week is to create physical representations of our bus shelter ideas to date. It is agreed that this does not mean that we spend a lot of time creating structures but instead use easy available materials to create environments and situations which we want to study further. (Re-appropriating everyday structures.) The three groups will stay as they stand and will each go out and create installations and record the results in as many different mediums as possible. Each group is given a bus route to look at further.
Green Mallards – Bus route 22
Orange Chickens – Bus routes 97/98
Red Murderous Robins – Bus route 3
3. Postcards
Photographs will be taken of each installation and turned into 110 x 150 postcards which can then be left at the bus stop as a trace/memory. The idea of leaving them on buses is also discussed. Some of these postcards can just be keepsakes and others will be SAE’s with questions pertaining to our project. Julie will email Julia Udall to ask whether it would be possible to use the Sharrow Community Forum as the return address.
4. Image
It is agreed that all our postcards/future communication should include the #02Arch logo somewhere in an attempt to start to create a recognisable brand for any future event. Groups to work out amongst themselves how best to include it in their installations (or whether it is necessary.) Remember, any paint or adhesive must be water-soluble!
5. Bracelets
At meeting 15-10 it was decided that we should create bracelets with our #02Arch logo on them as something, in addition to the postcards, that we give out to locals as thanks for their participation. Helen and Hayley agree to look into this further. Possibility of buying cheap plain bands from the moor market and spraying them?
6. Carolyn meeting 21-10
It is agreed that Julie will email Carolyn asking to meet up with her on London road rather than in the arts tower so as best to take advantage of the whole day in Sharrow.
7. Recording the movements of the different groups.
It is agreed that an A0 map of Sharrow/Sheffield will be printed out and on it we will each map (in our agreed colours) the three bus routes we are looking at and the position of bus stops along the way. Jonny will print this map out and tack it up in the studio.
Another A0 sheet will be used to map in a looser fashion where our installation/events take place and what they consist of. Tilly will set this in motion and we will all add to it along the way.
8. Wednesday meeting 22-10-08
It is agreed to meet up on Wednesday at 5pm in the studio to go through all the research that has been collected and discuss what worked well and what didn’t.
9. Friday meeting 24-10-08.
It is agreed that this meeting must be planned by us down to the last detail, however this is not going to be possible until we have reviewed research on Wednesday. From this it will be decided which paths we will experiment with further, designing and creating a number of installations which the professional dancers will interact with on Friday.
10. Salsa
It is agreed to meet at the Forum at 7.15pm on the 21-10 for a group salsa session. It is mentioned that some people are going to the Wigglesworth lecture beforehand but will attempt to get down to Division St as quickly as possible.
Agenda for Wed 22-10
1. Comments on 21-10 Salsa lesson.
2. Mallards to run through their research.
3. Chickens to run through their research.
4. M. Robins to run through their research.
5. Discussion on the running of Friday’s meeting.
6. Agreement on actions to be taken before Friday.
Present: Av/Hayley/Jonny/Kris/Hoi Sun/Julie/Tilly/Jen/Pol/Tori/Helen.
1. Meeting Trish on Wed 22-10?
Trish was contacted (17/10/08) regarding meeting up on Wednesday. Currently she hasn’t responded with answer. It is decided that unless Trish gets in contact we will carry on with the week as planned.
2. Action plan for beginning of week.
It is decided that the most important thing that needs to be achieved this week is to create physical representations of our bus shelter ideas to date. It is agreed that this does not mean that we spend a lot of time creating structures but instead use easy available materials to create environments and situations which we want to study further. (Re-appropriating everyday structures.) The three groups will stay as they stand and will each go out and create installations and record the results in as many different mediums as possible. Each group is given a bus route to look at further.
Green Mallards – Bus route 22
Orange Chickens – Bus routes 97/98
Red Murderous Robins – Bus route 3
3. Postcards
Photographs will be taken of each installation and turned into 110 x 150 postcards which can then be left at the bus stop as a trace/memory. The idea of leaving them on buses is also discussed. Some of these postcards can just be keepsakes and others will be SAE’s with questions pertaining to our project. Julie will email Julia Udall to ask whether it would be possible to use the Sharrow Community Forum as the return address.
4. Image
It is agreed that all our postcards/future communication should include the #02Arch logo somewhere in an attempt to start to create a recognisable brand for any future event. Groups to work out amongst themselves how best to include it in their installations (or whether it is necessary.) Remember, any paint or adhesive must be water-soluble!
5. Bracelets
At meeting 15-10 it was decided that we should create bracelets with our #02Arch logo on them as something, in addition to the postcards, that we give out to locals as thanks for their participation. Helen and Hayley agree to look into this further. Possibility of buying cheap plain bands from the moor market and spraying them?
6. Carolyn meeting 21-10
It is agreed that Julie will email Carolyn asking to meet up with her on London road rather than in the arts tower so as best to take advantage of the whole day in Sharrow.
7. Recording the movements of the different groups.
It is agreed that an A0 map of Sharrow/Sheffield will be printed out and on it we will each map (in our agreed colours) the three bus routes we are looking at and the position of bus stops along the way. Jonny will print this map out and tack it up in the studio.
Another A0 sheet will be used to map in a looser fashion where our installation/events take place and what they consist of. Tilly will set this in motion and we will all add to it along the way.
8. Wednesday meeting 22-10-08
It is agreed to meet up on Wednesday at 5pm in the studio to go through all the research that has been collected and discuss what worked well and what didn’t.
9. Friday meeting 24-10-08.
It is agreed that this meeting must be planned by us down to the last detail, however this is not going to be possible until we have reviewed research on Wednesday. From this it will be decided which paths we will experiment with further, designing and creating a number of installations which the professional dancers will interact with on Friday.
10. Salsa
It is agreed to meet at the Forum at 7.15pm on the 21-10 for a group salsa session. It is mentioned that some people are going to the Wigglesworth lecture beforehand but will attempt to get down to Division St as quickly as possible.
Agenda for Wed 22-10
1. Comments on 21-10 Salsa lesson.
2. Mallards to run through their research.
3. Chickens to run through their research.
4. M. Robins to run through their research.
5. Discussion on the running of Friday’s meeting.
6. Agreement on actions to be taken before Friday.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Meeting Minutes 15.10.08
Meeting 15.10.08
Apologies: Kris sent apologies; she will be a little late
All other group members present.
Update/Review of where we are up to:
Last Friday’s meeting with Simon and Trish was positive but not very directive.
Interesting difference in their take on the ‘outcome’ of the project: public intervention, satellites? (Simon)/ internal event (Trish).
Discussion over the conflicting ways of working – circumlocutionary process; our ‘architectural thinking’ causing us to want to focus on an end point rather than fluid evolving process as the main body of work.
Video and books of ideas well received.
Outcome:
Need to define and take control of the direction for the next 3/6 weeks.
Define Plan of action for each week.
Divorce Friday’s meetings from the ‘working week’. Friday sessions to be used to inform work, but not necessarily be a ‘eureka’ moment each week to direct us.
Julie expressed that 'only a few ways it can go' - an event of some sort todemonstrate our findings in the 6 week project.
Tori highlighted the fact that, referring back to the brief sheet as provided bythe clients, in fact we have answered a lot of the questions raised initiallyby the client with respect to the areas they would like our work to explore.We need to throw ourselves into the participation element of what we areexploring. These could be meetings with: dancers, schools, individuals, local groups, andinterventions at bus stops which will all feed into final event.
Julie and Tilly reported back on their investigations into whether a bus-stopgraveyard exists: there is one - for the whole of south yorkshire!
There is to be a huge contract to renew bus stops across the region in 2-3weeks. We can have as many as we like and they can be delivered to wherever wewant them. Question of cost was raised - to be dealt with as and when delivery timeis closer. Julie is in discussion with the man concerned to see if negotiation can bring us even just one bus stop in the interim.Obtaining a bus stop (or several) might become part of a longer term strategyfor the project.
Where does this take us?This provides a focal point for us in the project; Gives us context.It could provide a theme for discovery of info - eg. if we can find out which busstops are to be removed next and when, perhaps, like the street piano, we could collectmemories of events at bus stops, ask questions about where people think their bus stop will go,what will happen to it etc.Tilly suggested that her brother may be able to provide some sort of contraption to mobilise the bus stop, possibly some sort of trailer, so we can move a bus stop around if that is appropriate.The Bus stop as a focal point:
Possibility of visiting the bus stop graveyard was suggested.The bus stop ‘graveyard’ is a hugely emotive situation - accumulation of journeys, memories etc. Suggestions of past journeys, memory, collected memory - use to inform 'product'?Interventions: Leave a mark on a bus stop - in a specific location?Setting up a stage for events - a model that we could apply anywhere?Discussion as to mobility of bus stop. Jonny raised the point that Bus stops are stationary; it is the people who move - the audiences come and go. Does the bus stop need to move around?Intervention in a bus stop.
Bus stop as a decontextualised object? Is its meaning inherent in its structure?
Discussions re impact of a new bus stop - influence on the community?
These participatory, emotive events can be used to feed into our end point.
Getting a bus stop will give us a sense of ownership of the project and interventions.
Where do we go from here?
Aim is to obtain a bus stop to start implementing our own interventions.
We decided to stick with this concept as a focal point to guide us through the project.
Look into the national network – long term strategy; outreach
Jen highlighted that our elemental experiments/tests can feed back into the long term strategy.
Helen highlighted that whatever council reactions are to our interventions will be positive research, even if seemingly a negative response.
The decision was made to brainstorm with people around a series of subjects:
· Journeys
· Dancing
· Installations
It was decided the best way to approach this is was to sub-divide the group into 3, taking 1 bus stop per day, over a series of days. ‘Giving to receive’ - providing a souvenir at each ‘test’ event. It is expected, however that there will be a degree of overlap between the groups’ activities.
Groups to investigate:
· sharrow community groups – local groups: art groups, school, dads’ group, asylum seekers (broader journeys)
· Dance groups – professionals and lay people – about journeys, movement and architecture
· Individuals – interventions at bus stops
Sub groups (drawn out of a hat):
DANCE GROUPS
BUS STOP INTERVENTIONS
LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS
Tori
Kris
Jen
Hoi Sun
Jonny
Pól
Julie
Hayley
Av
Tilly
Helen
Blog Privacy:
Discussions re our options post conversations/emails with Carolyn and Russell
Generally the fact that concerns have been raised, impacting the way we work and progress is a positive thing to work through and deal with. In simple terms it is the client vs the school and a compromise must be made.
2 blogs, one public and one private, was generally agreed to be a huge amount of work and difficult to ascertain then what detail should go on which blog as the process is so integral to the outcome of this live project.
Leaving the blog with restricted access was agreed to be detrimental to the success of the blog, which is in itself an integral part of the live project. Already feedback has been received from people outside the group who have questioned why they cannot access the blog.
Copyrighting the blog was discussed, but not seen to be a viable solution that the clients would be satisfied with.
So – a solution?
This leaves us with the question of confidentiality – which needs to be discussed further with the clients. However, the situation as we see it can be summarised thus:
We understand that the clients were made aware of the purpose of the live project, as a collaborative piece of work, and our requirements from that educationally before undertaking involvement.
Our approach to the public/private divide, rather than through the censorship of intellectual property, would be to propose excluding any information with regard to funding on the blog. The project therefore, as it exists in the public domain would appear purely educational. Anything with respect to a long term funding strategy could either be privacy protected on the blog, or not posted. The project would not be publicly ‘advertised’ therefore as something warranting funding merit.
Discussion also turned to include the fact that the idea of intervening with bus stops and dancing in public is not an original idea in itself – we are drawing on the previous work of other individuals and groups – and thus ‘privatising’ our work seemed inappropriate.
Privatising the blog seems in direct conflict also with the open engagement nature of the project, and we would highlight the collaborative context in which the project is set.
Discussion led to the proposal of a ‘statement’ to email about this – seen as less confrontational , also set out in writing, and will avoid the possibility of losing a lot of time discussing this at the meeting on Friday.
To Do/Further Ideas:
Provide mobile music for interventions – Tori to provide cd player
Record salsa lesson ( music and vocals) – play in bus stop
Reflections from those who attended salsa class on Tuesday
All welcome at Salsa at the Forum next Tuesday – from 7.30pm onwards, £3
Julie volunteered to look into short term funding – approach Julia Udal at SCF.
[Brief discussion about funding: our services worth £15000 on funding proposal – something to be aware of. Keep receipts for any expenditure for materials etc for hopeful future reimbursement]
Jen suggested collecting ‘found’ objects – freecycle, gum tree. This could direct our approach to installations.
All: Investigate local scrap yards/gumtee/freecycle for stuff we can use for live project.
Client meeting Friday – keep open, see what the dancers bring to the meeting and their reactions to our ideas- Funding – Julie is happy to carry on investigating funding options from shine Sharrow- Everyone to sort themselves out within the smaller groups.
Last 30 minutes of meeting 15th October
Av/Hayley/Julie/Hoi Sun/Kris/Julie/Helen
Hayley: Identity of live project?
Julie: At the 10/10 meeting it was decided to hold off from making a strong identity for ourselves until we have a definitive path and ideas/events in the making.
Discussion:
The need for perhaps a more subtle identity to add to events, esp. the more gorilla installations in bus stops. A ‘tag’ of some kind to just tie everything together?
This means that when it comes to advertising the final gallery presentation/satellite galleries we can use an image which has (hopefully!) filtered into the Sharrow conciousness.
This is agreed to be a good idea.
Julie: There is already a sort-of image coming through from the work already done, the #02Arch that can be seen on the blog and was also included in the emails to Trish’s contacts and was on the postcards. This could easily be printed onto stickers or made into a stencil….
Julie and Av: Will investigate non-permanent ways of ‘tagging’ installations – easily-removable adhesive/water-soluble paint/something as simple as post-its?
Helen: Do we need some sort of identity for ourselves?
Discussion:
Agreed that we don’t need anything as obvious as t-shirts. How about something around wrists? Decided to create bracelets with our ‘identity tag’ on them. They will provide us with something (in addition to postcards) that we can swap with people in return for answering questions/participating in our installations and events.
Helen/Hayley: Will investigate ways of producing these for little/no money. Colours/materials/ways of transferring image etc.
All: Decided that people who went to Salsa yesterday should add their thoughts on the matter to the blog.
Dance participatory group: Look into break dancing/street dancing tomorrow. Loxley 4pm-6pm.
Av: Ideas for group participatory events?
Discussion:
Asking groups about journeys they’ve had on public transport, people they’ve met. Asking how people move on buses, maybe getting them to do some spontaneous dance?! Getting kids to build their own bus shelters out of card? Brainstorming about how they would like to improve the normal bus shelter if they could do anything? Taking them outside to visit the Sharrow shelters? Most important, it needs to be really interactive. Collecting research through as many formats as possible, – photo diaries, video, reflective journals, questionnaires etc.
Note: Anyone who needs local people/group contacts please check the stakeholder beast that is pinned in studio, or if in doubt contact Julie.
Apologies: Kris sent apologies; she will be a little late
All other group members present.
Update/Review of where we are up to:
Last Friday’s meeting with Simon and Trish was positive but not very directive.
Interesting difference in their take on the ‘outcome’ of the project: public intervention, satellites? (Simon)/ internal event (Trish).
Discussion over the conflicting ways of working – circumlocutionary process; our ‘architectural thinking’ causing us to want to focus on an end point rather than fluid evolving process as the main body of work.
Video and books of ideas well received.
Outcome:
Need to define and take control of the direction for the next 3/6 weeks.
Define Plan of action for each week.
Divorce Friday’s meetings from the ‘working week’. Friday sessions to be used to inform work, but not necessarily be a ‘eureka’ moment each week to direct us.
Julie expressed that 'only a few ways it can go' - an event of some sort todemonstrate our findings in the 6 week project.
Tori highlighted the fact that, referring back to the brief sheet as provided bythe clients, in fact we have answered a lot of the questions raised initiallyby the client with respect to the areas they would like our work to explore.We need to throw ourselves into the participation element of what we areexploring. These could be meetings with: dancers, schools, individuals, local groups, andinterventions at bus stops which will all feed into final event.
Julie and Tilly reported back on their investigations into whether a bus-stopgraveyard exists: there is one - for the whole of south yorkshire!
There is to be a huge contract to renew bus stops across the region in 2-3weeks. We can have as many as we like and they can be delivered to wherever wewant them. Question of cost was raised - to be dealt with as and when delivery timeis closer. Julie is in discussion with the man concerned to see if negotiation can bring us even just one bus stop in the interim.Obtaining a bus stop (or several) might become part of a longer term strategyfor the project.
Where does this take us?This provides a focal point for us in the project; Gives us context.It could provide a theme for discovery of info - eg. if we can find out which busstops are to be removed next and when, perhaps, like the street piano, we could collectmemories of events at bus stops, ask questions about where people think their bus stop will go,what will happen to it etc.Tilly suggested that her brother may be able to provide some sort of contraption to mobilise the bus stop, possibly some sort of trailer, so we can move a bus stop around if that is appropriate.The Bus stop as a focal point:
Possibility of visiting the bus stop graveyard was suggested.The bus stop ‘graveyard’ is a hugely emotive situation - accumulation of journeys, memories etc. Suggestions of past journeys, memory, collected memory - use to inform 'product'?Interventions: Leave a mark on a bus stop - in a specific location?Setting up a stage for events - a model that we could apply anywhere?Discussion as to mobility of bus stop. Jonny raised the point that Bus stops are stationary; it is the people who move - the audiences come and go. Does the bus stop need to move around?Intervention in a bus stop.
Bus stop as a decontextualised object? Is its meaning inherent in its structure?
Discussions re impact of a new bus stop - influence on the community?
These participatory, emotive events can be used to feed into our end point.
Getting a bus stop will give us a sense of ownership of the project and interventions.
Where do we go from here?
Aim is to obtain a bus stop to start implementing our own interventions.
We decided to stick with this concept as a focal point to guide us through the project.
Look into the national network – long term strategy; outreach
Jen highlighted that our elemental experiments/tests can feed back into the long term strategy.
Helen highlighted that whatever council reactions are to our interventions will be positive research, even if seemingly a negative response.
The decision was made to brainstorm with people around a series of subjects:
· Journeys
· Dancing
· Installations
It was decided the best way to approach this is was to sub-divide the group into 3, taking 1 bus stop per day, over a series of days. ‘Giving to receive’ - providing a souvenir at each ‘test’ event. It is expected, however that there will be a degree of overlap between the groups’ activities.
Groups to investigate:
· sharrow community groups – local groups: art groups, school, dads’ group, asylum seekers (broader journeys)
· Dance groups – professionals and lay people – about journeys, movement and architecture
· Individuals – interventions at bus stops
Sub groups (drawn out of a hat):
DANCE GROUPS
BUS STOP INTERVENTIONS
LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS
Tori
Kris
Jen
Hoi Sun
Jonny
Pól
Julie
Hayley
Av
Tilly
Helen
Blog Privacy:
Discussions re our options post conversations/emails with Carolyn and Russell
Generally the fact that concerns have been raised, impacting the way we work and progress is a positive thing to work through and deal with. In simple terms it is the client vs the school and a compromise must be made.
2 blogs, one public and one private, was generally agreed to be a huge amount of work and difficult to ascertain then what detail should go on which blog as the process is so integral to the outcome of this live project.
Leaving the blog with restricted access was agreed to be detrimental to the success of the blog, which is in itself an integral part of the live project. Already feedback has been received from people outside the group who have questioned why they cannot access the blog.
Copyrighting the blog was discussed, but not seen to be a viable solution that the clients would be satisfied with.
So – a solution?
This leaves us with the question of confidentiality – which needs to be discussed further with the clients. However, the situation as we see it can be summarised thus:
We understand that the clients were made aware of the purpose of the live project, as a collaborative piece of work, and our requirements from that educationally before undertaking involvement.
Our approach to the public/private divide, rather than through the censorship of intellectual property, would be to propose excluding any information with regard to funding on the blog. The project therefore, as it exists in the public domain would appear purely educational. Anything with respect to a long term funding strategy could either be privacy protected on the blog, or not posted. The project would not be publicly ‘advertised’ therefore as something warranting funding merit.
Discussion also turned to include the fact that the idea of intervening with bus stops and dancing in public is not an original idea in itself – we are drawing on the previous work of other individuals and groups – and thus ‘privatising’ our work seemed inappropriate.
Privatising the blog seems in direct conflict also with the open engagement nature of the project, and we would highlight the collaborative context in which the project is set.
Discussion led to the proposal of a ‘statement’ to email about this – seen as less confrontational , also set out in writing, and will avoid the possibility of losing a lot of time discussing this at the meeting on Friday.
To Do/Further Ideas:
Provide mobile music for interventions – Tori to provide cd player
Record salsa lesson ( music and vocals) – play in bus stop
Reflections from those who attended salsa class on Tuesday
All welcome at Salsa at the Forum next Tuesday – from 7.30pm onwards, £3
Julie volunteered to look into short term funding – approach Julia Udal at SCF.
[Brief discussion about funding: our services worth £15000 on funding proposal – something to be aware of. Keep receipts for any expenditure for materials etc for hopeful future reimbursement]
Jen suggested collecting ‘found’ objects – freecycle, gum tree. This could direct our approach to installations.
All: Investigate local scrap yards/gumtee/freecycle for stuff we can use for live project.
Client meeting Friday – keep open, see what the dancers bring to the meeting and their reactions to our ideas- Funding – Julie is happy to carry on investigating funding options from shine Sharrow- Everyone to sort themselves out within the smaller groups.
Last 30 minutes of meeting 15th October
Av/Hayley/Julie/Hoi Sun/Kris/Julie/Helen
Hayley: Identity of live project?
Julie: At the 10/10 meeting it was decided to hold off from making a strong identity for ourselves until we have a definitive path and ideas/events in the making.
Discussion:
The need for perhaps a more subtle identity to add to events, esp. the more gorilla installations in bus stops. A ‘tag’ of some kind to just tie everything together?
This means that when it comes to advertising the final gallery presentation/satellite galleries we can use an image which has (hopefully!) filtered into the Sharrow conciousness.
This is agreed to be a good idea.
Julie: There is already a sort-of image coming through from the work already done, the #02Arch that can be seen on the blog and was also included in the emails to Trish’s contacts and was on the postcards. This could easily be printed onto stickers or made into a stencil….
Julie and Av: Will investigate non-permanent ways of ‘tagging’ installations – easily-removable adhesive/water-soluble paint/something as simple as post-its?
Helen: Do we need some sort of identity for ourselves?
Discussion:
Agreed that we don’t need anything as obvious as t-shirts. How about something around wrists? Decided to create bracelets with our ‘identity tag’ on them. They will provide us with something (in addition to postcards) that we can swap with people in return for answering questions/participating in our installations and events.
Helen/Hayley: Will investigate ways of producing these for little/no money. Colours/materials/ways of transferring image etc.
All: Decided that people who went to Salsa yesterday should add their thoughts on the matter to the blog.
Dance participatory group: Look into break dancing/street dancing tomorrow. Loxley 4pm-6pm.
Av: Ideas for group participatory events?
Discussion:
Asking groups about journeys they’ve had on public transport, people they’ve met. Asking how people move on buses, maybe getting them to do some spontaneous dance?! Getting kids to build their own bus shelters out of card? Brainstorming about how they would like to improve the normal bus shelter if they could do anything? Taking them outside to visit the Sharrow shelters? Most important, it needs to be really interactive. Collecting research through as many formats as possible, – photo diaries, video, reflective journals, questionnaires etc.
Note: Anyone who needs local people/group contacts please check the stakeholder beast that is pinned in studio, or if in doubt contact Julie.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
8/10 Meeting no. 3
3:30pm in Studio
Present: Tilly/ Jen/ Tori/ Pol/ Kris/ Julie/ Avinash/ Hoi Sun/ Carolyn
Apologies: All six years (Johnny, Hayley and Helen)
Pre ‘Meeting with Carolyn’ Discussion:
Points Mentioned:
Funding is mentioned, applying for funding to larger councils is a in-depth process, at this stage still difficult to know which are appropriate. We should speak to Trish regarding this. Julie mentioned a fund called, ‘Small funds for small groups’ which might be appropriate for us in the short term, could cover expenses, prototypes etc.
Should consider that a week on Friday we meet the dancers, week beginning 13/ 10 seems to be a busy week for 5th years, mon to wed is research methods, thursday is studio introductions. Will have to be organised to be prepared for that, don’t want it to be a missed opportunity, this Fridays meeting with TO and SB should make it more clear what is expected.
Carolyn joins the meeting.
The group summarised the progress we had made since our last meeting with Carolyn on 1/10, an explanation of the route taken to the idea of ‘bus stops’ and the idea of ‘Sharrow as a Stage’. The bus stop images were then laid out for observation.
The following comments were made on the idea and way it can progress forward:
Carolyn began a discussion on the different types of bus stops in Sharrow, thought to be related to the age of it. Seemed to be three main types: Curved Roof (London Rd, Abbeydale Rd) Square (Landowne estate area) and Posts on the pavement (residential streets). Need to consider the relevance of this and the space available around them.
The different interventions could have a fixed typology to bring to Sharrow, being collective but also all being different, bringing in the analogy of the individual and the crowd.
Pragmatically, who owns the bus stops? The bus companies or the council? Is it possible to use them? Health and Safety. Need to find out and gain permission before carrying out interventions. Possibly we produce a strategy which will be implemented post live project, so pragmatics resolved then.
Also should be considered that we design/make our own bus stop. Is it moveable? Does it fold down? Does it morph into something else? Does it have multiple uses?
Need to consider how we might begin to record these observations and reactions to the bus stop.
Could possibly be a collection of ‘bus stop dances’ in the final week. It is suggested that the dance might evolve from the installations placed in the bus stops and the public movement which is generated from this.
Need to consider how the public might react and what sort of reaction we want; do we use a busy or empty bus stop? Who is the audience and where do they stand? Possibly the performance is for people waiting for a bus or people on a bus? Or is it a daily event that people turn up to see.
Previous bus stop interventions. FAT - thatched a roof. In Sheffield – bus stops made into green roofs.
The bus stop is a ‘social condenser’. It is unknown who will be there and who you will meet.
Should consider the way people use and move around a bus stop. How do people get on and off buses? Everybody slightly different, something for us to record which brings another dimension to the research, something the dancers may be able to respond to.
There is no funding from the school for live projects, in terms of funding a prototype Carolyn suggests we salvage, welcome to come to her building site to look for bits and bobs.
A brief discussion about what our overall goal is. Is it thought that there should definitely be a designed element to what we hand over at the end of six week and this should definitely be useable by TO and SB, although it is not expected to be designed down to the last detail. Carolyn suggested that it may well be a live project for next year once funding has been obtained.
Discussion of ‘Uprising/In our rooms’
General consensus that the dance was enjoyed by all, commented on the minimal use of props, just a black stage and a bag of sand and the use of lighting throughout the performance. From the discussion with the chorographer it is interesting to note that the end point of a dance is never known when he begins - more about the development of ideas. The dance should be appreciated individually, rather than imposing a narrative – links back to just being in the moment.
Discussion on this Friday’s meeting in Sharrrow:
After this week of much creativity, we need to rationalise the journey we have taken and how we believe we have worked as a team. In a project that is less clear cut it is good to be reflective. Need to understand what are role and relationship with the client is.
Carolyn confirmed that this Friday we shall lead the meeting, so need to have an agenda and understand what we need to get from the meeting. Someone will need to pitch the idea of bus stops to TO and SB and why the idea excites us.
We will also need to take a revised stakeholder map for discussion.
It is decided that we will mock up a bus stop in the community centre for us to work with and also to take all necessary props.
Carolyn leaves meeting.
Our next steps:
To make a recording of people getting on and off buses to take to the meeting on Friday, also source a projector if possible. Jen and Pol
To analyse bus routes and maps in Sharrow. Tori
To make a cohesive book of ideas revolving around the bus stop to give Trish and Simon on Friday. Tilly
Research into bus stops and who owns them. Julie
Organise the construction of a bus stop for use in Friday’s meeting. Av and Hoi Sun.
Stakeholder Map. Julie
Research into previous bus stop installations. Kris
A postcard of logo design, deadline Monday. ALL
A large scale calendar for studio use. Jen
Other items:
Tilly to write up minutes for this meeting, write agenda and chair on Friday
Pol to be minute taker on Friday
Av to give presentation on his research into the history of Sharrow at Monday’s meeting
Hayley possibly presents ‘The fall of Public Man’ at some point?
Kris and Hoi Sun are still not receiving emails from the group list. Until sorted please add separately to all group emails. Kris: Arp08kdp@sheffield.ac.uk and Hoi Sun: ara08hy@sheffield.ac.uk. (Johnny to sort?)
On Monday it is thought we ought to assign roles. Need for someone or two to be a ‘recorder’, a project book maker – Linked to identity and branding.
Next meeting: Friday 10am at Sharrow
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Group Meeting #2
9:30am in Studio
Present: Tilly/ Jen/ Tori/ Pol/ Kris/ Jonny/ Hayley/ Julie
Individual Perspectives (postcards, concepts and conversations)
- Each group member ran through their own pursuits since Friday’s meeting and discussed what their own interpretation of the project was or may become.
- The postcards which captured these themes were shown and commented on by the group, each person’s ideas are to be entered onto the blog by themselves in full, but a brief summary of each (and the discussions generated by them) is provided below for reference;
Tilly – Research into the futurist movement and further exploration of the idea of the umbrella as a representation of a transportable shelter/container and expression of personal space, but also as a device which heightens awareness of context and others. Notions of how we may classify certain activities as being valid in certain situations (sitting quietly in a bus shelter etc) and how the project may reverse or challenge these conventions. The idea of weather as being an influence on activity.
Tori – Observations on the impact of interruptions on tranquillity of a space. Presented the idea of a changing stage which becomes malleable as interaction occurs. Precedents of buildings which capture and suggest fluidity, movement and journey, particularly where these may also express the connections between people. Potential capabilities of architecture to generate and inspire movement.
Hayley – Visual tracings of movement, memory and change and how we may engage through our feelings, emotions and perceptions. Reflections on our personal circumstances of an open client, providing us with a high degree of creative freedom, making it vital that we ensure we control the projects direction in order to provide a tangible end result. The importance of developing a theoretical thread for the project or research question to structure and define our pursuits. Need to document meetings, possibly film to create a database and catalogue of ideas. The end presentation may embrace performance and creativity more so than conventional presentations. Necessity for maintaining a comprehensive timetable and also providing time for self reflection and individual analysis.
Julie – Identified abundance of 2dimensional media and suggested a more haptic, sensory led approach. Suggested the idea of introducing installations to affect people’s movements and challenge preconceptions of thresholds and boundaries. How we can explore textures and objects of the everyday and make them interesting, manipulating and reversing perceptions of texture, surface, scale or temperature. Notion of ‘defamiliarising the familiar’ to generate awareness of the mundane and allow audience to reconsider their relationship with themselves and their context. (Possibly with specific relevance to defamiliarising Sheffield). The use of controversy to provoke opinion and introduce frustration in our environments.
Kris – With reference to residue and the focus upon the empty room, how can we translate the ordinary into an object which directly challenges our interpretation of a space. Particular interest in the use of shadow and silhouette as a form of projection – becomes a real time depiction of the movement and establishes a dynamic relationship between audience, performer, shadow and canvas. The shadows becomes a visual by-product which may or may not reveal the full picture. Precedents of environments which respond to human interaction and allow user to shape their space.
Jen – Examination of personal responses and self awareness, spontaneity and the unpredictability of human nature. Association of spaces and their assigned comfort levels. Addressing how architecture may provide both voluntary and involuntary engagement and of the importance of subtleties of environment on influencing behaviour. (Berlin Holocaust Memorial cited as example of forced engagement at an uncomfortable level). Introduced precedent of the Street Piano, distinct relevance to Sharrow and provides vehicle to unite society and bind community. This presented the concept of an installation which may involve ‘removal’ of an installation rather than insertion of one.
Pól – Using the umbrella as a canvas for performance. Dance as a general expression of weightlessness, contrasted in some cultures by an affiliation with the ground and a deliberate heaviness. Extended thoughts on the idea of the silhouette and the ability of rain to provide instances of spontaneous shelter. Suggested idea of using the blog as a means of cataloguing and collecting raw ideas and as a ‘scribble wall’ for group members to jot thoughts down on.
Jonny – Extending on thoughts about confrontation with the negative (litter, graffiti etc), started to explore translations of concept into project specific terms. We usually shy away from the negative, what if we were to embrace it? The static becomes as relevant as the mobile, movement artists provided with restraints – dynamism is instead generated from what is usually the background. Small movements become exaggerated and celebrated. Notion of exploring disruption to rhythm of routine and of disproportionate obstacles.
Afternoon session
- We brainstormed the thoughts, themes and ideas that were generated by the mornings discussions and allocated each one under either an ‘impulse’, ‘method’, or ‘action’ category.
- The general prevailing theoretical thread that emerged was concerned with ‘reimagining the ordinary’. We talked about the potential for creating a performance where there were no performers, just ordinary people going about their normal business but connected through an installation (eg an umbrella we distribute).
- We wanted to challenge the use of a particular space, specifically one which has a profound relevance to the community, such as a bus stop. Explore the potential of such an existing urban feature to become a more playful fulcrum within the community.
- The idea developed for analysing a bus stop within Sharrow (time lapse recordings) and then reimagining how this place may become reinterpreted as a performance space. Not in the conventional sense of performance, but where everyday life is the focus.
- Intervention could be an extension to the bus stop, which is given its own distinct identity, these could populate numerous locations within the community and become a centre for interaction, discussion and collaboration, providing a fluid and more transient interpretation of the community forum.
- The result would be for us to establish a network of these hubs which are interconnected through transport movement and pedestrian flow. Each one may exhibit a stronger or lighter concentration of ideas and each could be analysed throughout the course of our involvement to see how things change.
- Could the bus stop be re-envisaged as something other than merely a place to wait?
Our next steps
- Produce (10x) montages of how we may reinterpret a Sharrow Bus Stop.
- Analyse existing use of bus stop, record and document behavioural patterns.
- Research Sharrow and community, funding and a/v equipment hire.
- Continue process of reflection and comment via the blog (including uploading postcards and addition of precedents)
Other Information
Dance performance – Uprising/ in your rooms Tuesday 7th October
Next Meeting - 9.30am Wednesday 8th October (?)
Monday, October 6, 2008
02.10.08 – Group Meeting Minutes
Present: Tilly/ Jen/ Hoi Sun/ Tori/Julie/ Pol/ Kris/ Jonny/ Hayley/ HelenPoints discussed
- Sixth years ran through last years lives projects to the rest of the group.
- Last years blogs are available via http://05liveproject07.wordpress.com/ this will connect to all the live projects on the blogroll on the right of the screen
How we should run meetings
- It is necessary to keep clear routes of communication to the client and internally within the group.
- Everybody is to contribute to blog.
- Delegate one person at each meeting to transcribe and upload to the blog. If anyone has any ideas or responses feel free to add these in the comment boxes.
- Rotate who chairs the meetings.
- Make such we have a clear agenda for each meeting and produce actions lists.
Initial ideas
- We discussed ways in which we could express our initial ideas of the live project after meeting clients, Simon and Trish. The activities that we were involved in were personal to the individuals so we decided that we should all write a short diary of our feelings and reactions of the day in order to bring ideas together next Monday.
- Possible funding sources? Not clear yet we need to establish what direction we want to take the project. Establish the possible participants and groups who are interested in the project.
Our next steps
- Collect images, texts, websites, any information which is relevant to pin up in the ‘nerve centre’ for future reference.
- Next week maybe of making things. Put them out into the public to test ideas and challenge the public.
- Make sure we give ideas their own identity. Find ways of connecting ideas through choreography, movement, fluidity. Keep individuality.
- Maybe place an obstacle in the entrance of the arts tower and see peoples reactions. Looking at peoples movements for example getting off a curb.
Documenting work
- Keeping a personal diary of our experiences, postcards throughout the process, BLOGGING, photographing, sketching….. Observing and filming our activities and peoples reactions and responses.
The aim for next Monday is to collate all our individual ideas. Arrive at possible ideas of participation. Challenging space and observing how the public react. Making and testing ideas. Write our statement of intent for the project
Actions
- Produce postcards with an image/ photo/ quote/ sketch of initial ideas – Everyone for Monday
- Write down our own reflections about the start of the project and initial client meeting – Everyone for Monday
- Any key words / context ideas/ general information/ precedents – for the nerve centre - Everyone for Monday
- Get a group email address sorted and get a contact list of possible participant groups from Trish. Tell clients about the blog and how to log in (is that alright?) – Jonny
- Get blogging – get on the system if any problems talk to Jen or Jay
- Type up initial client meeting on the blog - Jen
- Any photos / information put on Arch stud
Other Information
Dance performance – Uprising/ in your rooms Tuesday 7th October 7.30pm at the Lyceum Theatre. £7.50 Get your money to Julie if you haven’t done so already.
Next Meeting - 9.30am Monday 6th October
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
