Origin Interactive; Crafting Space – Starting points..
This project, which feels like it came from nowhere and has happened very quickly, is a step up in scale for my public, participatory practice as an artist. I am drawing very much on my experience on The Loom Project installation, as well as the R+D I have been doing since, and am enjoying the many roles I am currently occupying through the process of pre-production. Here is part of the brief I was sent from The Crafts Council who are commissioning it;
"ORIGIN INTERACTIVE – THE BRIEF
To produce a new large scale piece of work or installation that is created at the event or evolves over the two week time span for Origin.The piece of work should be thought provoking, vibrant and unique.
The piece should engage with the public and /or exhibiting makers in some way during Origin, for example, have a participatory or interactive element.
Thought should also be given to how the installation might look during times it is not engaged in activity and safety of the piece during these times.
THE THEME
The piece should respond to or comment on the environment of Origin in some way, for example with regard to:
The exhibiting makers / The visitor interaction and what they do / buy at Origin
The objects on display / technique, material or process / Collecting objects
The selling aspect / value and preciousness of objects
THE SPACE
A key space within the Origin pavilion will be allocated to the installation feature – depending on the nature of the work and medium used, this could be floor space / wall space or, if appropriate, the roof space within the height of the pavilion.”
Here is a section of my proposal :
“We will create a large scale, strip-woven textile house that is a record of the dialogue around making, selling and buying crafted objects at Origin.
The making of this piece will constitute a collective presencing of selected objects and their makers / new keepers in the context of a poetic, participative artwork. It will invite the public to consider the idea of Gift and exchange –
What do we receive when we give? And what might certain objects given as gifts signify to the giver and receiver?
This will take place within a creative ‘lab’ space that enables the public to contribute to and engage intimately with the work within the wider context of the Fair.
The participatory strip-woven textile ‘house of words and threads’ within the feature space – a dome-like, standing structure, will constitute the empty space in the poetic reference above.
The aim of the piece is to articulate a process of reflection and dialogue which participants are drawn into, thus deepening their experience of the Fair. It will provide a lively, daily critical context to the event which not all participants will have had access to without the work being made.”
