A sense of place

Booth Centre and arthur+martha group, photo courtesy of Jack Silverstone

'The role of the Outsider is to speak out.' Jack Silverstone

We started our Armour field trip with a visit to The Lowry for the exhibition Home 1947,  a new work by Sharlene Obaid-Chinoy, reflections on the Partition of British India. Through short documentary and drama films Home 1947, shows us this world not through the words of historians and politicians, but through the eyes of those who lived through it. Such parallels to our project 'The Homeless Library.' 'Home, a sense of being, a sense of place...'


Throughout the day the group wrote poems, as a way of focussing their minds on the experiences and distilling deep-felt reactions into words. But the process of writing itself brought up issues for many. One person described themselves as illiterate; dictating lines of poems to be written down by a 'scribe' was a powerful experience, a disturbing luxury. To be allowed onto paper, to be acknowledged after so long! It's a delight that can bring pain. Another group member told us that they'd never been praised, so to suddenly be told that a piece of writing was good was far more challenging than the usual round of expected abuse.  

Visiting the exhibition with the group from The Booth Centre, gave us insights into both this exhibition and the afternoon visit to the Imperial War Museum North. Together we form a group from disparate backgrounds, cultures, ages, genders, many of whom have experienced or who are still experiencing rough sleeping, life on the margins. But this time the conversation and tears shed, were directed at the trauma of the other people, the refugees fleeing across the Indian sub-continent in the largest ever human mass migration. Or meeting and conversing with David, a World War 2 veteran who'd fought at Juno Beach during D-Day, and then in the vicious Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes, at the IWMN.

Phil, Georgina and Peggy, watching film projection at IWMN

David described fighting for his life against hostile forces, and the elements. Our group listening to him nodded their heads; many of them have faced those things over and over again.

'I don't know why people ignore us. The homeless see everything. Even the police come to us for information. They understand they need our help. We've seen it all.' Ian

The poems that we worked on were love poems to weapons. They're strong pieces of writing, but what also exists in these pieces, and at times overwhelms the words on the page, is the story between the lines.

A big thank you to... Danielle Garcia at IWMN for arranging our afternoon, to Mathew for sharing his wonderful knowledges and patiently answering all our questions and most of all to David, the World War 2 veteran, who brought the conflict and aftermath alive.

Lois Blackburn and Philip Davenport



  

Fear

 

Detail of Peter Twigg's embroidery work in progress

Armour Project

Phil writes:

The Booth Centre: there was also anxiety in the air this morning, it hit like a shock wave as I came through the door. Someone was trying high level intimidation, with raised fists, loud shouted outbursts, staring competitions. He was dressed in black, he paced the room, moving erratically and occasionally launching into another confrontation, while the staff tried to defuse his anger. Because people in the Centre are very attuned to threat, their radar was on  alert. They looked over each other's shoulders while talking, there was an unsettled feel, objects kept being knocked off tables, people bumped into one another. It was as if an earthquake had dropped in for a cuppa.

Paula's 'Safe'embroidery, in progress

As is the often the way there, I spoke to some people I have known for years and some I'd only met this morning. Every conversation was fragile, lightly touched by the presence of fear, yelling its head off in the corner. The first person I talked with was fighting back panic, he said. The next was joking with me, but kept checking the threat potential. The last had been awake four days straight, out on the streets. He'd not been eating, because of grief. He looked shrunken, like a an inhabitant of an institution, with over-large, over-bright eyes.

But walking alongside fear, and just as powerful, was the feeling of being thoroughly, immediately alive, and the intensity of each shared moment. A day at The Booth Centre is like this, you can squeeze several hours-worth of living into an instant. There’s a surreal-ness to the fast-forward rush of it all. It came as absolutely no surprise that the footballer Ryan Giggs suddenly turned up with a camera crew to meet folk, sign autographs, and add a further manic element. Suddenly beaming smiles and a celebrity frisson punctuated the atmosphere.

 Footballer, Ryan Giggs visiting the Booth Centre

In the afternoon, making an oasis of stitching and poems, we read The idea of order at Key West by Wallace Stevens, a poem about reducing chaos. Its subtitle might be how to insure yourself against the effect of the world by finding safety in art. Or in other words, how to write your way out of fear. The writing was made sharper by the recollection of our morning demon, a malevolent drug dealer stalking his own mad shadows.

When I was fighting didn't think that was dangerous

When a knuckle duster knocked out my tooth

Didn't think that was dangerous 

And when I was driving 130mph, 

Didn't think that was dangerous.

When I hold a knife, that's the closest I come.

That's closest:

“If I'm not careful with this

In my hand

It is dangerous.”

Anonymous

fish and chips I like to order

I don't like the word chaos

it brings disorder

danger comes in all sorts

car, bus, tram

suicidal thoughts.

Peter Twigg

Paula embroidering for 'Armour' project

Stitch in time

It was a big pleasure to launch the Stitching the Wars quilts and book at the newly-opened Buxton Art Gallery and Museum. The first new artworks to be seen in the new-look gallery. The two quilts have been handmade in collaboration with hundreds of older people, with Lois directing the work. (Tom Jones a longstanding project participant, looked at the quilts, nodded and said, "Looking nice.")

Catherine Serjeant (Blythe House Hospice) Dr Nadine Muller and Brian Oven, participant

Phil worked on collaborative poems during the project that distill many people's experience of the two world wars, and the brief peace between the conflicts. But the poems also explore an understanding that gradually came to light during the project: there were two kinds of wars being fought in these lives, one a military war, the other a war against poverty. 

Brian, longstanding project participant and the 'Bomber's Moon' quilt at Buxton Museum

A group of participants came to the gallery, some of whom were kind enough to read the poems aloud. The power of these reading resonated through the whole event. 

Derbyshire Museums Manager Ros Westwood introduced the project, Lois talked us through the two quilts in detail and Phil gave a little overview of the project:

"Stitching the Wars is history, made of stitches, and words, and memories. 

The two quilts here have been team-stitched with over 400 older people involved, telling fragments of their stories about the effects of two world wars on life in Derbyshire. They talk about gentleness of rural life, but also hardship and the need to change. 

"Sharing of life experience and the task of recording it as writing and art brings deep satisfaction - and the stories are extraordinary. A man who had witnessed Hiroshima just after the bomb. The Sheffield bombings through the eyes of a young boy. Bridling a horse for ploughing, a tradition of many generations...

"These two quilts contain many voices, they are work shared by many hands. Some people bravely faced up to fears and disabilities in the process of making them. Annie, a visually-impaired women, knitted for the first time in years, without sight she used only muscle memory. Dorothy, who has lost the use of one hand, carefully embroidered with the assistance of Olga holding an embroidery frame. And with encouragement Geoff took up needle and thread for the first time in his life.

"One of the biggest hurdles to overcome was the fear of memory itself, because many people who contributed to the quilt have dementia. The pleasure that people got from sharing their memories in a safe environment, was a delight.

"Stitching the Wars speaks about a particular time, but also speaks beyond it's own time, because it is at heart the story of how life feels. We are all stitches in this story of Britain - sometimes it's a joyful, colourful tapestry. Sometimes the colours are darker and stitches are needed to heal a wound. We talk together, we work together and sometimes we help each other to heal."

Artist Lois Blackburn & Poet Philip Davenport with the quilt Fresh Air & Poverty

A Stitching the Wars quilt will be on view at Buxton Art Gallery and Museum until September 2017, the other quilt will be on tour around Derbyshire. The Book Stitching the Wars will be available to purchase through the museum shop. 

We are thrilled to share we have just had confirmation that the two Stitching the Wars quilts will be going on to form part of the National collection at The Quilters' Guild in October. http://www.quiltmuseum.org.uk/collections/

Invitation: Stitching the Wars

1pm - 3pm on 7th June 2017 at the newly refurbished Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, Terrace Road, Buxton, SK17 6DA tel 01629 533540. Refreshments provided.

Quilt, 'Fresh Air and Poverty' exhibited at National Trusts Lyme Park, by Gary Lomas

We are delighted to invite you to the opening of the Stitching the Wars exhibition, made in collaboration with older people living in Derbyshire and arts organsation arthur+martha.

Award winning project Stitching the Wars combines history, poetry and embroidery from older people living in rural Derbyshire. Artist Lois Blackburn from the arts organisation arthur+martha collaborated with older people to make community quilts embroidered with reminiscence.

This special celebration event will also share poems and interviews, and launch the accompanying book to the project

The project has been supported by Arts Council England, Foundation Derbyshire, Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Dales Council, Age UK, The Alzheimer's Society and The Farming Life Centre. We would like to thank the many, many people who have participated and whose work has made this a very special project.

For more information

Our Website

documentary film  youtube

Sound recordings Soundcloud

THE HOMELESS LIBRARY: homecoming

The Homeless Library exhibition at Central Library, Manchester. 31 Jan-31 March.

I stopped counting after our audience filled all the seats and started standing at the back. They'd come to welcome The Homeless Library to Manchester, where it all started. What can't be counted is the affection, the interest shown, the kindness and courtesy. This was quite a homecoming; but of course this Library can and should never actually arrive home. It is an account of lives in movement, with precious little rest.

Danny, Lawrence and Gary read a scattering of the poems from the many we've gathered during the project. It's a delight to hear them breathe life into these words, transforming the page into a dance of voices. Danny is measured and precise as he reads, Laurence sparks with mischief,

Gary is gently modest. I feel bursting pride for them. Their extraordinary lives, packed with experiences both harsh and happy, are present in their faces, in their every movement and of course in their words. They command the space. When they read, the big room goes absolutely quiet for them.

Then, a wonderful speech by John Garrard, a director of The BoothCentre, who's also a historian, advising us through this project, editing and supplying footnotes. He describes The Homeless Library as a moment now that's been flash-frozen, for future historians. It is "a treasure trove, a complete world", a rich and deep source of stories. He says in his experience it's unique, the stories held within The Homeless Library invited him into places that he didn't know existed. A society with its own rules and ranks and beliefs.

 

John Gerrard speaking at The Homeless Library opening event

Professor Jeffrey Robinson has come from Glasgow to be here for this day and to read two Victorian poems discovered by researcher Kirstie Blair and kindly offered to us. One is by a man who died in the workhouse, the other imagines living rough. Both of them are ancestors of the Homeless Library. As Jeffrey reads them, he carries us into a sadness that's 150 years old. But told elegantly, with humour and music in the words. Jeffrey's reading is quick, darting, like a tough little boxer.

I say a few words. And then suddenly it's the time for thank you’s. Lois is thanking the many, many people who've been involved, those who could come today and those who couldn't make it. The living and the dead. People have moved on, been deported, been arrested, been rehoused. The audience, the amazing supporters of many sorts, the funders. And most of all the Homeless Librarians themselves, who opened the book of their lives and so bravely, so graciously shared their stories.

These little words we have to offer in exchange are not enough. But they are from the heart. Thank you.

Gary, Lawrence and Andy and other audience members

A new film about the project can be viewed on youtube

https://www.facebook.com/homelesslibrary/

Twitter  #HomelessLibrary

A library within a library

The Homeless Library comes home to Manchester Central Library, Archives +  31st January to 31st March. 

THE HOMELESS LIBRARY is the first history of homelessness in Britain and has been made by contemporary homeless people. Their interviews, artworks and poems have been inscribed into handmade books. The Homeless Library celebrates their determination and insight. 

On the 31st January there will be a special Preview Opening, sharing the handmade books, full of artwork, poems and interviews. 

Complementing these are a selection of The Homeless Library audio pieces housed on the Archives+ Soundcloud 

The documentary film by John Felix The Homeless Library, will be shown and archived through the North West Film Archive.  You can also view it on youtube here. 

You can download a free copy of the Homeless Library ebook at Blurb,  Alongside the interviews, poems and artworks this book tells an emotional history. In Britain, the heritage of homelessness is brutally sparse. This is the first shared history of British homelessness. 

In the build up to the exhibition, Archives+ are re-tweeting out Tweet from Engels, #tweetfromengels

You can view more photos at our portfolio site here. Including the beautiful portrait photos by Paul Jones.

Our thanks to everyone who has made this exhibition, archiving and event possible.

THE HOMELESS LIBRARY is an arthur+martha project, supported by The Heritage Lottery Fund.

Poetry archive

Updating and gently editing the poetry archive is a joyous thing to do,  revisiting old friends. I can hear the voices who originally spoke them, see their faces, witness the struggle it took for some  to write them- with a shaking hand from Parkinson's, or one distorted by arthritis. The fragility of the person facing an un-certain future in hospital.

Most poems on the blog are written by older people, there is poignancy here. At the time these were written the poet was in care of one form or another, either sheltered housing, hospital or care home. Many won't be here any more, but their poems and artworks are left on the page.

http://arthur-and-martha-poems.blogspot.co.uk/

Many thing

I know full well we’ll never leave this place
there’s a law in chemistry that says
you can never create or destroy matter, no matter
if they cremate or bury – your remains
will become part of the strata of the rains
and winds will blow you across
the face of the agnostic earth
you the atoms cannot be destroyed
will be here doubting Thomas for millions of years

perhaps we are all the figment of someone

don’t need to dig down if you
drop by a graveyard
the bacteria come up to become
more stars in the sky than there are
grains of sand in the
oceans are not burning
me it’s an overcoat for your spirit:
do I believe in anything, do
I believe in many things?

(I never go to bed ‘til I’ve said me prayers at night:
whisper that)

David Smith, Harry Wantling, Phyllis Hollinshead, Hilda Hewitt
2007

 

















sitting looking out
the windowaiting
for them to come
hurry up
hurry up
minutes
hours
days
it seems
forever


Pauleen Eaton
2007


Over the next few months I continue the long overdue job of posting poems on the blog from the last couple of years, poems from more older people and homeless people living in Greater Manchester and Derbyshire. You can follow the progress here: http://arthur-and-martha-poems.blogspot.co.uk/

A wee light at the end of the tunnel

Danny Collins

'So many of the books have so much to say, doom and gloom and a wee light at the end of the tunnel- there is a light at the end of the tunnel- but it's a long bloody tunnel.' Lawrence McGill

Howard Installing books for The Homeless Library

Yesterday saw the exhibition install of two arthur+martha projects at Bury Art Museum, The Homeless Library and Sing me to Sleep, a British-Lithuanian art project.

The Homeless Library, is a fraction of a heritage: the unwritten, unheard stories of homeless people. The exhibition in Bury shares 50 plus books, full of artworks, poems and interviews.

Riff Raff

Lawrence identified one of the problems with showing artist books behind glass: 'you only get one page of the book, it's like only getting one page of Alice in Wonderland, you're not getting the full story- that's why I flattened that one out (Riff Raff, shown above) so you could read the whole thing.

Another member of the group pointed out: you might only get one page of each story, but it all comes together with snippets of other peoples stories...

Lawrence, Egle and Howard installing The Homeless Library

For the install of The Homeless Library, I was joined by Gary, Howard, Masoud, Lawrence and Paul from The Booth Centre, (a day center for people who are or who have experienced homelessness) Over the last few years, Phil and I have learnt so much from The Booth Centre and friend to arthur+martha
clinical psychologist Polly Kaiser, about the importance of participants being involved at ever stage of a project, of finding ways of this not being a token gesture, but a opportunity to truly learn from each other.

Leaping from the success of the Homeless Library presentation at The University of Glasgow,  I stood back and handed over the curating to the rest of the group. 

As soon as the cases were open, they got on with the task- made all the decisions as to what was going where, read the books carefully and decided what pages were to be left open, and all done in such an amazing co-operative sensitive way- no bickering, no ego, but respect for each other and the work, the results are wonderful, the group added a great richness and freshness to the exhibition.

Masoud, Paul and Howard installing The Homeless Library

Sing me to Sleep / Padainuok man labanakt is a British-Lithuanian project. People who are currently homeless or who have experienced homelessness, worked with artists from arthur+martha and Lithuanian Socialiniai meno projektai.  The projects explored the tangled forests of fairytale, childhood and their current life.

Sing me to Sleep, Lithuanian film.

Preparation of space at Bury Art Museum

Hanging of Sing me to Sleep

Sing me to Sleep, quilt and Lithuanian installation in foreground

We are delighted that Egle Gudonyte,  the lead artist in Lithuania brought to England a beautiful and thought provoking intervention to the gallery. The installation is just a fragment of the overall collaboration in “Sing me to Sleep”. In its modest scale, it connects the nature and human acts that can be found in both life, and fairy-tales: walking, confronting hunger, finding a shelter and the pursuit of happiness. 

Materials and instructions to build a house. Part of the Lithuanian installation

 
-->

Materials and instructions to build a house. / Priemonės ir instrukcija, kaip pastatyti namą.

Instruction, thread, 4 match boxes, wooden plate, plastic bag. The instructions were written down by the project participant Rimga.  This house has never been built.