Since Clare's work was installed the Pigeon Hole space seems to be gaining momentum. I emailed Clare's intervention around to interested parties to publicise it and asked for others to submit ideas. There seems to have been warm feedback and now I have my next artist lined up for January with two others in the pipe line for Feb and March. It has given me a real buzz discussing the space with other artists and being involved with their ideas and installations of work.
Whilst Clare's work has been installed there have been fascinating responses which I've witnessed from behind the windows of the space. Alot of children who pass the window on the way to school are particularly excited about the work and instantly focus upon the origami pigeons. They have no inhibitions about looking in the windows. Interestingly adults who are with them tend to stop only momentarily or not at all.
Alot of older people have stopped to look in the windows and are intrigued. It may be that they have more time to stop and look or maybe they are visiting the book shop next door? I am enjoying the accessibility of this space wholeheartedly. Part of the initial setting up of Pigeon Hole was to bring art interventions into Leominster, a rural market town on the fringes of many things. There can sometimes be alot of negative images of a rural market town and Leominster seems to have a disproportionate amount of these left at its door. I'm not sure why that is. In this case I see alot of positive things going on in the town and perhaps it needs recognition. It is certainly harder to maintain an arts practice in a rural market town than an urban centre just because you have to go a long way to network and possibly there are fewer connections. However it can offer a less pressured and precious environment to make work.
Doing this Pigeon Hole project has really impressed upon me the importance of presenting work to a whole range of people, some of whom may dislike it or not take notice but some who might really enjoy it and be surprised by that. I like the feeling of a democratic space, where anyone who passes by can view the work.
Maybe I can infiltrate other spaces in town!
