Residency @ SHOP, Stoke- Preparations

Amongst other things I have been creating a Green Man Trail map as part of my Residency at SHOP click here to read more and to find out about free workshops and activities on offer.

Below is the map. My Residency at SHOP starts On Saturday 31st July and runs until 14th August.

Get out there and start exploring the Green Men of Stoke!



Double click on each side of the map to enlarge and print your own copy off, or come into SHOP from Sat 31st July to collect one.

More about the Green Man Trail:
Whilst the Map clearly marks the location of each Green Man, there will still be an element of discovery involved, where the participants may have to spend a minute or two looking up at the facades of buildings to spot the Green Men lurking up there. Some are more obvious than others.

I hope the process of individuals and small groups of people stopping in the town and looking 'up' will generate interest from other passers by who may also respond by looking up and discovering a Green Man for themselves. The notion of finding the Green Men on the buildings will also allow people to re-consider the buildings of Stoke, by looking 'up' beyond the Shop (or empty shop) windows and discovering interesting architectural features that they may have not noticed before- perhaps enhancing their experience of the town.

Questions on the back of the postcards will invite the viewers to consider the faces and the surrounding area- what has this character seen? what expression is he displaying? why is he feeling this way? By asking these questions the Green Man becomes a 'tool' to consult the public and feedback their own views and memories of the town- considering both the towns current state, it's history and hopes for the future.

The information collected will be used to construct a pop-up style book which combine images of the Green Men of Stoke with images depicting the towns past, it's current state and visions for the future- resulting in a document of the town at this moment in time.

Many thanks to Steve Birks, creator of www.thepotteries.org for allowing me to feature some of his information about the Green Men of Stoke (installation dates). Read his Green Man article that inspired me to start this project here http://www.thepotteries.org/architecture/green_man.htm

Airspace Gallery, Dialogue Box- 'GREEN/REGEN'

GREEN / REGEN
Kate Lynch, 2010
Found lithographs, vinyl on polycarbonate sheets

Window installation, Airspace Gallery, Broad Street, Hanley

‘GREEN’ is an anagram of ‘REGEN’. The circular form of the text allows both of these words to be read and reflects the regenerative cycle of nature and continuity of life. Just as in the natural world, the city is undergoing constant changes involving destruction and renewal; urban regeneration. Regeneration has become a buzz word in the city at this point in time, often abbreviated as ‘regen’.

‘Green’ is also emerging a desirable and fashionable term/ethos within the city, with campaigns for green spaces and environmental improvement, and the rising popularity of allotments and ‘grow your own’.

This organic aesthetic has been diluted into the marketing of many products, with the results sometimes being misleading and false. Concerns about climate change have sparked widespread thinking about sustainability in everyday activity, something that the artist is greatly concerned with. The use of vinyl lettering and plastic, over the artist’s usual choice of natural and sustainable materials, reflects these contradictions. This piece is intended to mimic current shop window displays which take on this ‘green’ aesthetic, providing the public with a familiar, corporate look.

Translucent lithographs and discarded backings in window installation

Therefore the piece raises questions about what is green and abundant in our city. Whilst celebrating positive aspects such as parks and green spaces, it is also about destruction, loss, and what is lacking; the used lithograph backings are lifeless remnants of industry. The anguished face of the ‘Green Man’ emerges from the detritus of the ceramics industry, questioning the sustainability, growth and prosperity of industry and regeneration schemes. The figure of the ‘Green Man’ traditionally represents regeneration of the natural world. Here the artist is reinterpreting this theme to relate to the regeneration of the city, therefore suggesting potential - that it may become abundant and vibrant after the process of urban renewal.

The floral lithographs also remind us of the wild force of nature that takes over derelict land and the habitats that temporarily flourished on nearby wasteland. These overgrown areas provided habitats and flowers for dwindling insects such as bees and butterflies. Now work has commenced on the nearby Tesco site, these areas have been cleared. Images of bees, butterflies and other insects feature in the piece, perhaps as a reminder to plant more beneficial plants in your inner city gardens.

'Green Man Trail' inspiration- Space invader maps

I have seen many of street artist Invader's 'space invaders' in various cities over the years and it was always great to discover or spot one, and after sightings you found yourself looking for them and finding them everywhere- This aspect is relevant to the 'sighting' element of my green man project, and the idea that once you have an 'eye' for the green man you will begin seeing it everywhere- something that a few people have said to me since I started this project.

However, I am attempting to highlight these existing features rather than applying them to the city as invader does. I was not aware of these 'invasion' maps until now. This is the kind of layout/ format I would like to consider when producing a green man map for stoke town centre, something I am going to begin work on soon. Invader's maps are also sought after pieces of work, limited editions-this is also an aspect I am interested in developing.

COMMON GROUND

Click here to see the Common ground call for entries

I'm currently working on a proposal for Common Ground, where Airspace Studio artists and other selected artists will respond to Hanley Park.

Here are some images that have inspired my proposal along with some mock ups for my idea, after visiting and photographing the park. My idea is based on the creation a 'green man' type creature that lives in Hanley Park. The creature will be the embodiment of the park as he is made from foliage, flowers and debris found there. The work will be based around the idea of 'sightings' of this creature along with a participatory element where the public will be invited to add foliage to the green man. I want this project to raise awareness of the habitats and natural aspects of the park, and the importance of such green spaces in the city. Also to create an out of the ordinary experience for public who may see this creature and wonder what it is- this relates to current spoofs seen on popular programmes such as facejacker, making for an entertaining and humorous experience. I still need to do a lot more work, these are just a few ideas for now:

Costume inspiration

Left: a 'Bogie' from Hasting's Jack-in-the-Green Event

Right: Hastings 'Jack in the Green'

(Images Copyright C Walton 2010 http://www.thecompanyofthegreenman.co.uk/)

Nick Cave's 'Soundsuits'

Military 'Ghillie suits'

Public interaction-Ghillie suit Artwork

'Urban Camoflauge'

Bigfoot sightings- I could create a similar map of Green Man sightings, or manipulate the park map in some way

IDEAS

Paul Newman performance photography from The Secret Garden, 2008

Paul Newman, Performance photography from The Secret Garden, 2008

Levi Van Veluw

Landscape III, 2008

Levi Van Veluw Website

MAD 'Dead or Alive' Exhibition

Levi Van Veluw

I came across this 'Green Man' on the cover of this month's Crafts Council Magazine. It is one of the works to be featured in the upcoming show 'Dead or Alive', at the Museum of Art and Design, New York, (April 27th- October 24th). The group show will feature the work of over 30 Artists who create artwork using organic materials including insects, feathers, shells, bones, plant matter and fur.

These works are of particular interest to me:

Nick Cave creates bold sculptural costumes using hair, leaves, twigs and other natural materials. He calls these sculptures 'Soundsuits' and they are brought to life when worn, creating various sounds as the performer moves; a meditation on the power of ritual and ceremony.

Levi Van Veluw is a Dutch Performance Artist who applies layers of natural materials onto the human body in self portrait photographs and films. Van Veluw adheres miniature landscapes to his own face, which takes on the form of the contours of grass, hills and clusters of trees. By placing the human form at the core of his work he subverts the traditional concept of Landscape.

Jennifer Angus creates subversive site-specific architectural interventions which mimic traditional wallpapers and textiles. However the surfaces she constructs are made from thousands of dried insects, pinned directly to the wall, blurring the distinction between decoration and expression and comfort and disturbance.