Collaborative Space | The Gates of Paradise | Introduction
Collaborative Space is a partnership which emerged in 2009 from creative projects and explorations undertaken by artists Hannah Elizabeth Allan and Jeni McConnell working together, and leading collaboration with a range of artists, makers and performers.
The initial seed from which this way of working has flourished is the cast copy of the Gates of Paradise which quietly adorn the café walls of the Harris Museum in Preston. They are one of a group of full cast copies which exist around the world, duplicates of the original gold laden bronze doors which hung majestically on the Baptistery in Florence, Italy for over 500 years.
Our project focuses on interpreting the replication in cast form, as well as providing a basis to explore and define the nature of collaborative working practice. Investigations and working methods to date have included film, drawings, bookmaking and writing – produced over a period of two years after site visits in Preston, London and Florence.
In late 2011 In Certain Places approached Collaborative Space to further develop and extend The Gates of Paradise project to coincide with the Preston Guild 2012 celebrations, and alongside three other artists commissioned to work on independent projects.
The next phase for Collaborative Space is to conduct a research trip to visit cast copies in Berlin and Florence in February 2012, during which we will explore working methods with other artists, as well as between ourselves.
This blog will function not just as document but as meeting place; between the artists, ideas and sites. A creative form where a number of ‘voices’ around the project will be heard.
For further information about In Certain Places, the Guild, and our fellow artists follow the links below…
http://incertainplaces.org/home (Twitter: incertainplaces)
www.a-n.co.uk/p/1832928/ David Henckel
www.a-n.co.uk/p/1839493/ Lisa Wigham
www.a-n.co.uk/p/1838157/ Iain Broadley
