The Buffer Zone

We three made work as one

The tensions (often good) of being separate yet merged

We noticed for each other things we might not notice ourselves

We noticed each other noticing

It made us feel like better artists

We discovered we could trust each other and the site for work to happen

We tried new processes teetering on the edge of performance

Sometimes those processes made us feel uncomfortable

What can you do together that you can’t do alone?

It was surprising

And fast: three, to the power of three

Lark song was conjured from a stone

We became seals

Bushes

We settled for lies (like the Warren)

There were tender deceptions

There are new contacts

Ranger Steve showed us the tiny vulnerable Warren Crocus

We kept trampling over our collaboration

We are still learning to give way

We (re)learnt the value of documenting

The video camera – once an inhibitor became a collaborator

It can become work by mistake

A reward for being there doing something

More things are possible than you might think

We shared ‘sippets’ of research, talked a lot and emailed loads

It can become work by mistake

We learnt how to share work online

Can we learn from LOW PROFILE to be ‘artists not administrators’?

A trip was made to Portland to meet with the b-side team and improvise at the Batteries

We could have encouraged more public participation

We made a publication, all three of us making decisions together: it was hard

But worth it: “lies lies lies – I bought them” and they “made me smile”

We had a show of work in progress on site, in 3 beach huts

There was a video reel showing off-grid

The sun shone, people came and were enthusiastic, helpful

“You had way too much fun”

Some work needed more explanation

And introductions were sometimes forgotten

What are the best words to talk three-as-one?

3 weeks later, we are showing the work at 333 Gallery Exeter Phoenix

We commissioned a writer

His response is insightful: there is talk of making new work

Talk of a proposal to take part in a symposium

We could transfer our processes to another site?

But we are missing the Warren already

Are you getting this?

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Thank you a-n

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“Shall we do another one?”

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Written by Susie David:-

The Throw only to an alert catcher film reel, first shown at the Dawlish Warren beach hut show, has been invited to show at Exeter Phoenix.

After painting the 333 Gallery niche as close to the colour of sky that we could get (Sky – our photobombing film-star sky), it’s all ready to view.

What is that? – A sample bottle? And what is in it? Oh.

The film reel is part of work in progress from an experimental collaboration between three artists and Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve over the spring and summer of 2016. Joint actions and activities focused on creating dialogue between the human and nonhuman, often through strategies such as mimicry and hiding.

An accompanying publication ‘lie lie lie’ can be purchased from the Box Office for £3.00 or ordered from [email protected]
for £4 including p&p.

Supported by a Professional Development Bursary from a-n.

Thanks to Matt Burrows, Andy Cluer, Steve Ayres and the sky.

lie lie lie | 2016 | 24-page publication | Photo: Susie David

Words by Susie David

lie lie lie is the artists’ book that arose from this experimental collaboration with fellow artists Megan Calver and Gabby Hoad, and Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve. Joint actions and activities focused on creating dialogue between the human and nonhuman, often through strategies such as mimicry and hiding.

Made partly for ‘Throw only to an alert catcher’ a show of shared work in progress that took place in three beach huts on site (2016), this co-created publication also appeared at ‘Counter 2016’ Plymouth with Spacex.

Available to buy at £4 from [email protected] including p+p, or they will be available at the Exeter Phoenix Art Galleries box office from the 14th November 2016, where in Gallery 333 the Throw only to an alert catcher film reel will be on view.

http://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/throw-only-to-an-alert-catcher/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMGvmdEABoO/