This blog documents the development of a project by Iain Broadley, which has been commissioned by In Certain Places. Iain is one of five artists selected to create new artworks in response to the city of Preston, which will be presented as part of the Guild celebrations in September 2012-an historic event that takes place once every twenty years. For more information, visit www.incertainplaces.org
The torch light procession had to adapt pretty sharpish due to the fact that there was no way this was going to be a quiet meditation walk, as it turned out it really didnt matter….everyone had a huge black rose to hold (Sophies symbol) one or two had pink ones to liven the display up a bit.
The young chaps at the front were full of red bull and monster and as a result were singing and chanting holding the S.O.P.H.I.E with pride as they chanted ‘S.O.P.H.I.E…peace and love and unity!More smiles and thumbs up from the thousands who turned up to watch…’I get it!’ a woman shouted to me…..that was enough!
Sylvia and Adam (Sophies mum and brother) turned up, which gave the whole evening a warm family feel, i think all of us in the parade felt like we had known each other for years never mind a day or a week or two.
Next stop, the Black Parade goes back home to Bacup where it all began, this will be tough but essential!
All finished! The day/s were a success after realising at the 11th hour that i didnt have a fire extinguisher on the truck. the ‘inspector’ was huffing and puffing as he walked around our very DIY truck criticising the makeshift handrails and the fact that we had flammables next to a diesel generator….blah b’blah, i thought i’d left my ‘real’ job to escape all this ….. obviously not!
Anyway, 5 mins before the parade was due to start we were given the green light which was actually a piece of green card and we were off.
After leaving the park where the various procession vehicles had collected we set off into Preston city centre for the Community procession, at the bottom of Moor lane i turned to my left to see an army of punks, goths and assorted metal types…It worked! I couldnt stop smiling and couldnt look at Donna for filling up with tears of joy.
The highlight was watching Neil from behind my drums singing ‘its your right to riot!’ with his ‘pussy riot’ balaclava on as we crawled slowly past the Harris museum…confetti falling down on us as the mayor and other VIP’s clapped and cheered us…smiling faces….old people in beige punking out to the Sanity Clause!
http://www.reverbnation.com/thesanityclause
Both sets of workshops in Burnley and Preston seem to be engaging with the local populations of alrnative young people and adults. In the Burnley workshops groups of five or six will breeze in do a bit and away, however they are producing some great stuff and feeling confident to approach me with their ideas, There seems to be a lot of interest in the gig so hopefully we’ll get a good turn out on the 1st.
Went to take some furniture and materials into the st. georges centre in Preston today, left a huge poo in the window of the shop which id made on a previous project to illustrate the life cycle of a blue bottle, the man ken from the centre wasnt laughing.
When i say I made it….you know what i mean!
Already started workshops in Burnley which are going well, lots of goth/alternative types hanging about and showing interest.
Its rebellion festival (punk) at Blackpool this weekend. i always feel a bit guilty about this now, as Charles Quick my MA tutor once said to me that i should be going to galleries not punk rock gigs anyway as it happens the black parade project is growing tentacles in alsorts of directions and i am now doing an installation in the punk art bit of the festival.
I am also doing a performance i think, or it could be just a bit of extended reality as i deliver some punk meditation, got a logo and everything!
Good week this week! ……although goldblade still havent got back to confirm their performance on the float, i receved confirmation from Awards for All that we (that is the sophie lancaster foundation and i) will get the funds we need to continue the project till the end of the year!
Also!… i managed to secure a residency at Burnley library for the summer, this will also concentrate on stigma and alienation of young alternative people with an emphasis on subculture and heritage, from teds and mods through to emo’s and moshers.
Currently trying to contact The Notsensibles to finish with a celebration event…..
‘Im in love with Margaret Thatcher she’s the girl for you and me, i go red when she’s on telly ‘cos i think she fancies me!’
Notsensibles – Im in love with Margaret Thatcher
