The Distance Between

Finally, the show is up and we have completed a month long devotion to creating works for 'The Distance Between'.  @bethink arts and @sallemanda have been busy creating works that reflect their ruminations on the theme.

Check it out- visit LCB Depot Leicester:
http://www.lcbdepot.co.uk/event/exhibition-sally-newham-jodie-cresswell-waring-the-distance-between

 

What is 'The Distance Between'?

February was a very important time for this show to see its debut.  The thoughts and questions asked relate very much to the relationships we share with our loved ones.  In my mind it started with thinking about the being in a loving partnership but then my mind drifted to other important relationships that people form with each other and the world around them.  The pieces I created in response to my explorations of the theme have taken on some of the relationships that I feel are the most fundamental in life. The relationship with our parents informs us of who we are. The relationship with our home and the world informs are sense of place and happiness. Finally the relationship between life partners impacts on our values, aspirations, self-value and our sense of belonging. 

What struck me about these three relationships was how differently we all experience them and for me this is ‘the distance between’ people.  I felt I could only speak for myself and struggled with the idea of making sweeping statements about these fundamental human relationships and also not wanting to focus on my own experience. I was unsure how to create work that represented what I was thinking.  I realised that coming from a Live Art perspective where I normally ask people their ideas about the world I was not comfortable with giving answers and it seemed right for me that the works should be interactive. I wanted to be able to ask questions about these relationships, not give answers, but provide opportunity for the audience to give their answer and enable them to take control of the work; changing it or adding their own opinions. 

The answers will change as the audience interact with the work and this in itself will create conversation about the relationships and their views will represent ‘the distance between’. 

The Questions have taken the form of:

Recycled Cloth, felt, pins, string

An interactive piece.

Instructions

Please add your response to the following questions:

‘Where do you live?’

‘Where does your heart live?’

Attach a pin on the map to indicate where you live and then place a heart on the wall using double sided tape and write, using pencil, your comment about where your heart lies.  Join the two up with a string wrapping one end around the pin and the other stuck underneath the heart.

Mother’s Apron String, 2012

Recycled bed linen, tea towels and clothes, cloth tape, wire

Interactive Work

Instructions

Search the pocket at the front of the apron and find the word that best resonates with you in describing your relationship with your parents.  Attach it to one of the apron strings and remove any words that you don’t relate to and place them back in the pouch.  Write down your list of words in the book.



Sally Newham

Airing Dirty Linen, 2012

Recycled bed linen, embroidery threads

Interactive Work

Instructions

There are a variety of works that express different relationships in the basket.  Put out the works that you feel express the distance between you and your partner.  Use pegs to peg out the work.  Take down any works that you wouldn’t want to air.

Heart Strings, 2012

Life after Cinderella

Last week was a crazy week, and I felt I was making bunting in my sleep.  Cinderella's shoe swap proved to be very popular with young people and I had a real buzz of people around my stall at the arts market on friday.  The shoe boxes proved not only to be a nice touch but also to be essential for taking home sticky shoes.  One boy nearly used all my coloured glue to make a giant spoldge over the front of a very nice leather shoe.  It was his 'halloween' style slipper I think.  He enjoyed the process which is the main thing.

Parties- lots of people liked the idea of decorating old shoes at parties and I had a few enquiries.  I had a lady from Nottingham who liked the idea of decorating new shoes to wear.  Her son and his mates would enjoy that if they could take the trainers home afterwards.  This doesn't fit in with my recycling ethics but I am sure shoes are much more useful than party bags with plastic toys.

The stall looked good, with my giant pumpkins and lights.  I was informed it looked a bit scruffy- but more approachable- a making space rather than a buying space.  That may be why I didn't sell much bunting.  Oh well, I am sure I will find the right space to do this.  For more details on bunting just email me at pinkfruitbat@2sally4th.co.uk

Time for some images to give you a sense of the day.

Getting Ready

Having just spent the last few days helping my sister move house I am now back in the saddle and preparing all the fliers and marketing materials for the Arts Market on Friday.  I am always so last minute and it makes life even busier!

I now have several bags of shoes and lots of shoe boxes- with thanks to Sheila from the shoe stall on the market last week- make sure you check out the banners in The Garden of Light this weekend as part of the Chesterfield Festival activities in Queens Park.  It should be an exciting weekend of activities- The Cinderella Shoe swap just being one of them.

Cinderella Shoe Swap trial shoe

I am also busy making bunting for 2SALLY4TH Bunting- a new venture for the two Sally's.  Let's hope we can make enough bunting to seel before Thursday and have lots of fun bunting related activities for others to join in with...

I hope that lots of you are able to pop along and see what's happening next on Friday- it will be great to see you and wonderful to have lots of people to keep me busy and keep my mind off the cold!

The Cinderella Shoe Swap

Today I have been on the scrounge for old shoes.  They are to be transformed into fabulous shoes at my cinderella shoe swap.  The event is to take place in two weeks at the Chesterfield Arts Market.  I need as many pairs of shoes and shoe boxes as I can get so I have been hassling charity shops for oddments and shoe boxes from shops.  Johnathon James in Alfreton were very helpful and have promised me more shoe boxes next week- hurrah!  I also have a few leads on shoes and plan to get myself a wanted add on freecycle next.  I have also asked all my mates for some donations and with any luck in two weeks time there will be loads to go round.

I have been out on the town looking for all kind of decorative stuff that will turn the old worn out soles into gleaming new slippers.  I have a range of glittery glue and sequins and stuff and have just spent the last hour making an old boot look like new.  I am really pleased with the result-
Check out my facebook page for more images-
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4288&id=100001719577797&saved#!/photo.php?fbid=103427146391271&set=a.103427099724609.4288.100001719577797

I hope that lots of people will come and have a go at making their own creations on the 29th of October.  There will be pumpkins and bunting and lots of other funky stuff to try.