Monday 27 February 2012

Alex Wilde - genuine food for thought....

Alex Wilde,  a Glasgow based artist preoccupied with food and cultivation, and indeed our interaction with it, came along as the third guest contributor to the Life Friendly events last week.

Alex came armed with a large soup pan, some basic ingredients sourced on the day and route of her travel from Glasgow to Manchester, and a keen appetite to hear more from the participants about their own backgrounds and interest in all things 'Life Friendly'.

Using the activity of cooking, sharing and eating of soup, the group were relaxed into an open discussion about sourcing food and the memories that communal eating encourages. I found myself starting to discuss my choice of parsnips as a preferred vegetable for soup but within  20minutes then found myself discussing the moral role artists play within socially engaged arts practice. It does indeed seem that finding some common and comforting ground (in this case through the action of eating soup together) can spur on some serious debate and (forgive the pun) food for thought for pertinent issues around sustainability and the way we work and live (artist or otherwise).

We were particularly lucky to have three artists in the room, who have all worked with a socially engaged practice focus, and or worked predominantly with community groups. And sat beside them were three members of staff from the local Chinese Wai Yin community group, who initially came to the event because they were intrigued by an art event that included serving soup! What emerged from this group of individuals collectively was the issue of artists working with groups and communities and what roles that artist has during but more over after the 'art project' has finished.

In terms of the well being aspect of the Life Friendly term, I found this particularly interesting. As an artist myself whose work is often preoccupied by human nature and the way we react socially to each other as groups, most of my work therefore includes working specifically as an artist in residence with a community group of some sort. But what short term and long term roles do I play within that community? And what responsibility do I have to the group as a visitor, outside, facilitator, potential community member???

Alex recorded the whole session of our group discussion and we will be sharing the audio as part of a forthcoming e-publication to culminate the findings of our Life Friendly sessions - so watch this space for more info.

In the mean time you can find out more about Alex's work at http://www.axisweb.org/seCVPG.aspx?ARTISTID=15845



 Alex, the group and the all important soup...



Saturday 11 February 2012

Green Party Spring conference with James Brady

Something you might be interested in...

Green Party spring conference 2012
Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool
Sunday 26th February
6.30pm in The Boardroom

'Art & Environment in the UK: does Culture have value in this time of Ecological Crisis?'

by James Brady

Putting environmental arts on the Green political agenda - an act long overdue. Brady will present the Five Roots for Change, exploring diverse cultural activities across the UK, encompassing: public and private sector consultation networks, academic research and practice, public art, political activism, and collaborative art and climate science projects.

Based in Merseyside, James is an artist, curator, arts consultant, an active member of Green Party Wirral and an Associate of the Chartered Institution for Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), Art & Environment Network.

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/conference.html

Tuesday 7 February 2012

New Event Announced - Alex Wilde, Art-Food-Society

Alex Wilde is an environmental artist based in Glasgow, whose works with a cross-disciplinary practice, often incorporating elements of performance, installation and film.
Her work is usually temporary in its nature, with the process of development often being as important (if not more so) than an end product or event. She views the majority of her work as collaborative and plays different roles in each situation, always as a facilitator but sometimes playing a more visible role as a performer or director.

Food - its production, distribution and consumption - is a key area of interest in her practice, particularly the social aspect of people coming together to grow, cook and eat food. She is also interested in food systems on a local and global level; the means and methods of production, exchange and sustainability.

Alex will be here on 24th Feb, 5.30-7.30pm to share her projects with us and give her view point on the concept of life friendly. We look forward to seeing you there!
if you would like to come along then you can book a free ticket here: http://guestlistapp.com/events/88482

'I have seen Alex's 'Broth Mix' project in Glasgow and it was a personal highlight for me in terms of bringing art, food and society together - I can't wait to see her take on Life Friendly!'
Liz (Chinese Arts Centre) 

Image c. Alex Wilde, Broth Mix project, CCA - 2007

Friday 3 February 2012

‘The future of our cities, landscapes and communities, and our responses to the environmental and social effects of climate change are not just the responsibility of scientists, politicians, and engineers etc. but must also emerge from the Arts community and as broader participation and involvement from all sections of the wider public as possible. How we mitigate further effects of climate change and take the necessary adaptive measures should be inevitably, social and cultural as much as technical and scientific.’

James Brady (summer 2011)
Welcome to the We Are Life Friendly blog - over the next coming months we hope to share with each other and you, everything we are exploring under the term 'Life Friendly'. What is Life Friendly we hear you cry???? Well please read out about us page for more info.... but simply remember...
  
"The Life Friendly programme at Chinese Arts Centre explores in a systemic way how artists and arts organisations can redesign their practice to have benign/restorative impact on the natural world and on human quality of life"