Heartlands, Cornwall

Final Workshop

2011-06-01T05:25:00.001-07:00

Circles are magical things. For Millennia mankind has been fascinated by the power of them; a simple geometric shape defined by a line that has no beginning or end. The earliest dwellings were circular in form, places of ancient worship or gathering were defined by rings of earth and stone. Circles and spirals were carved on the granite rocks; the dead Ancestors were placed foetal-like in circular tombs awaiting their spiritual rebirth from the Earth’s womb. Places of safety, defence, meeting or sanctuary, the circle has defined the way we live and the way we die.

It is no coincidence that early Humans looked to the wheeling heavens and pondered their place in the Universe, building monuments to reflect or interpret the constellations we saw ourselves passing within. By arranging great stones into circles aligned to the Sun, moon or certain stars we could calculate the times to sow and reap crops, celebrate the equinox of autumn and spring and the solstice of summer and winter. Belief that the construction of these monuments was guided by, or intended for, visitors from beyond our World has persisted through our own time, and the similarity between disc shaped earthworks, or mysterious carved rings on ancient stones, and the ubiquitous ‘UFO’ has seized the imagination of generations. To appreciate a circle is to realise the existence of the sphere. text Steve Howe

The Matter of Time Totems have been placed around the Plen an Gwarry (small event amphitheatre) in front of the artist studios within Heartlands. The public will be unable to view the piece until the attraction, which will be free to enter, is open in Spring 2012. However, those wanting a sneak preview can attend the weekly guided tours of Heartlands by calling 01209 7223290 or emailing info@heartlandscornwall.com

Decoding Totem Symbols on the outer and inner circle.

Follow the path to the circle.

Turn to your right. The totems are numbered in Roman numerals, which are carved at the bottom of each timber.

Follow the numbers. Read the totem symbols from top to bottom, at every totem.

Each word is defined and changed with the different metals: steel/copper/zinc.

Each ‘totem pole’ has fifteen letters on the front and back, except the last side (Inner Totem 24 XXIV), which has twelve letters.

The Plaque has the signatures of the contributors to the ‘Art Work”.

The facing blank sides of the totems timbers are for the public, to mark with your own sentiments and ‘Tags’.

The challenge is to decode the symbols to reveal the secret poem, which enshrines a message...

RESPECT when contributing to the circle is essential.

Within this place people have lived, worked and died.

Selected students from Pool Academy, Art Department, have designed the twenty-six pages that come after this page.

This booklet contains the Hieroglyph that represents the letters of the Roman alphabet,

required to decipher the poem inscribed within the ‘totem’ circle.

'Matter of Time Totems' final stages:

WORKSHOP 5.

This workshop was funded independently of Heartlands

original art work produced by Pool Academy Students Feb 2009

To produce a 500 copy limited edition magazine, to decipher the metal, graphical, symbols attached to the 'Totem Timbers' which contain the secret message, from the Heart of Pool; for the 'Opening Ceremony' March 9th 2012.

This magazine has been designed by selected art students from Pool Academy from year 9 2011.

Students:

Robert Cartwright
Hannah Cartwright
Rebecca Webber
Sam Wills
Daniel Jose
Josh Hampton
Carl Perkins
Taylor Louise Lyle
Emma Neil
Jamie-Lee Carter

I (NICKY NEATE, with the help of Steve Howe from Pool Academy who gave me some names of companies and backed the idea and project) approached companies for independent funding to have the magazine printed. We got sponsored by a local Cornish company.

Paula Hoskin

Dolcoath Road Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8RA
01209 717 152

Students from Pool Academy and myself preparing images for 'Matter Of Time Totems' magazine.

Matter Of Time Totems

As one of Heartlands commissioned artists I have been working on this Artist Community led Project since July 2008. I have worked closely, in particular with Peter Lyons and Steve Howe, from Pool Academy, Art department; to produce a community collaborative project with various groups of selected art students.

All the companies involved have been 98% local Cornish based. All the materials have been reclaimed from the site of Robinson's Shaft or sourced from Cornwall.

Through-out the time of working and researching this project I have lived with the Cornish community, staying in the house of ex-miner Peter Hughes. I have integrated with the local community and learnt much about mining loads and veins .

Signatures of contributor to the art-work 'Matter of Time Totems' printed from copper plaque attached to "totem 12 side 24 (inner circle)

This project has taken the groups of students through a varied narrative to produce a graphical alphabet that has been applied to totem structures. The artwork that has been produced by students, under my guidance. The work was manipulated, by me, digitally to produce images that could be laser cut into metal stencils. Each metal stencil is a graphical representation of the 'Roman Alphabet'

The Totem Timbers contain a poem that can be deciphered using the alphabet code that has been designed using found discarded objects from the once derelict site of Robinson's Shaft. The alphabet was based on the original artwork produced by the students. Viewed above.

Transformation and Reflection; have been the key elements within this project, I believe that through the amount of people involved in creating this installation and community contribution this has been very much adhered to.

Collagraph Workshop

A ‘collagraph print’ is a collage printmaking technique. This printmaking technique is a safe nontoxic process.

The collagraph plate is printed in the same way as an etching plate. It employs the basic principle of relief printing producing textured and painterly results.

The collagraph plate is created from a series of textures ranging from scratch marks and thin materials such as paper and string that are applied/glued to a sheet of cardboard. The collaged card is then protected with a layer of varnish, ready to ink up and print, to create the artwork.

Matter Of Time Totems

As one of Heartlands commissioned artists I have been working on this Artist Community led Project since July 2008 I have worked closely, in particular with Peter Lyons and Steve Howe, from Pool Academy, Art department; to produce a collaborative project with various groups of selected art students.

This project has taken the groups of students through a varied narrative to produce a graphical alphabet that has been applied to totem structures. The artwork that has been produced by students, under my guidance, was manipulated by me digitally to produce images that could be laser cut into metal stencils. Each metal stencil is a graphical representation of the 'Roman Alphabet'

The Totem Timbers contain a poem that can be deciphered using the alphabet code that we designed. Pool Academy selected art students and myself. The alphabet was based on the original artwork produced by the students.

Matter Of Time Totems is an artist led community based project. At every stage of the production there has been awareness and some form of involvement from selected art students or members of the community. At all times I have kept an emphasis on reflection and transformation within the ethos of the project.

Using the graphical alphabet that was developed into laser cut metal stencils, from the artwork produced by students from Pool Business and Enterprise College (now Pool Academy), a series of phrases, created by these students, was put together to create a poem. The totem structures contain a message within the hieroglyphs.

The alphabet was laser cut into three different metals (all of which are native to Cornwall – copper, steel and zinc).

The different metals represent each word change: copper, steel and zinc.

The poem was then attached to the reclaimed logs using copper clouts and epoxy resin. The totems are to encircle the plan-an-gwarry on the site of the Heartlands Project.

The final stage of this assignment is to produce a booklet with a guide and a map to decipher the code and discover the poem within the totems. The hieroglyphs form an interactive promenade around the circle of totem structures.

Booklet

Reintroducing the community.

A workshop has been organised spanning over three days in July with yet another group of art students from Pool Academy.

By producing a collagraph print of every letter of the alphabet the project is returned to the art students. We will also have new material to create a booklet that will provide the instructions and a clear code on how to unlock the unique graphical alphabet that has been created and attached to the poles.

Process

The workshops will be planned to teach the students a printmaking technique.

We will be using cross platform printmaking to produce the design work for the booklet.

Within the guide lines of the workshops the selected group will be free to explore ways of creating, displaying and publishing their work.

I will give the students a template of the graphical alphabet letters and a cardboard plate. The template and card will be the exact size of the metal alphabet letters 19x23cm. The selected art students will create collagraph plates, using the collage techniques previously described.

Each student will print their plate, my intention is that they produce at least 2 copies – one to be used for display and one to be scanned and resized for the booklet.

Production

The artwork will be scanned and formatted to produce a design to create a booklet for the opening ceremony in October. The final booklet will be produced/printed by a local company, which has yet to be sourced.

The booklet will be a limited edition print, although does also have the possibility of being printed again should it be successful and/or beneficial to the overall project.

At present the intention is to have this booklet available for the opening ceremony as a game for the spectators and as a gesture to the public of all the work that has gone into developing this installation.

Matter Of Time Totems

This project stands out from some of the other projects on the Heartlands site, in that it was formed as part of the architectural design with the original Architect Jonathan Dransfield.

Due to popular demand, the quality of work and community involvement, as a group we have managed to continue with this installation, with some funding.

Heartlands have unfortunately run out of funds for this project but have given the go ahead for it to be completed as an independently funded artwork, which they will support.

“Dear Steve and Pete,

….Thanks for clarifying you have some additional funding to work with Nicky, I am sure there will be lots of creative energy and great artworks. I hope we will be able to see the finished results…….”

All bests

Sarah

Sarah Williams

Project Manager Art and Culture”

Additional Funding

In the planned workshops in July, with a new group of art students from Pool Academy, we will produce the necessary artwork and design for the booklet.

For the production of the booklet Steve Howe and myself have looked to get sponsorship.

Paula Hoskin from:

WILLIAMS TRAVEL

Dolcoath Ind. Park

Dolcoath Road

Camborne

Cornwall

TR14 8RA

01209 717152

has expressed a definite interest and enthusiasm. We intend to produce 500 copies of the booklet with this sponsorship, which will be very gratefully received.

Currently the printer, who will also be local, is being investigated.

Throughout this project I have kept all the materials and suppliers local as well as using reclaimed timber and metals native to the environment.

Matter Of Time Totems, as I have already stressed, is about reflection and transformation, this has been the philosophy of the Heartlands Project.

Matter of Time Totems - assembly work

2010-10-25T06:41:00.000-07:00

Matter of Time Totems

Brief: It is anticipated the Matter of Time, a highly collaborative social history project, which involves exploring Cornish material culture and oral history with Pool Business and Enterprise students will result in a series of integrated artworks set within the architecture of Heartlands.

Budget: £12,000

Duration: May 2010 to July 2011

Artist: Nicky Neate

Proposal: A series of artist-led activities with young people has resulted in the creation of a unique ‘Robinson’s alphabet’ and poem to be integrated within Heartlands Matter of Time Totems. Building on the creative work to date and further involving young people and students in hands-on activities to decorate the Totems at Heartlands, will ensure there is a strong local sense of connection to Cornwall’s rich culture and heritage. The Matter of Time Totems will aim to foster a true sense of community ownership and pride in Heartlands.

The Totems will utilise salvaged timber from historic Robinson’s site to form upright structures, which will define the outer circumference of Heartlands “Plan an Gwarri” amphitheatre.

Before the work commenced I had to produce various method and risk statements.

I had to develop a way of turning the 4 metre logs without the use of machinery, working within my budget as well as complying to health and safety concerns.

I produced this drawing with the aid and expertise of ex-miner Peter Hughes. I then had it made by an engineer.

What at first seemed to be an expensive issue was solved very cheaply and effectively.

After much research and paperwork I did manage to convince the Heartlands Panel that the project, 'Matter of Time Totems' was a viable project and could be achieved.

It has been a learning curve for me to work outside my studio space, with challenging concepts that had to be considered and developed as part of the art work.

I had an assistant, Alex Rodgers, for the preparation and cleaning of the logs. His help was invaluable, and his advice on the hiring of equipment was gratefully received.

The work took 1 month to complete. During this time I gave a one day workshop to a group of Pool Business and Enterprise College, students - linking the project back to the community.

The process of attaching the stencils became ritualistic, I reflected on the idea of mining techniques. I attached the metal stencils using epoxy resin and copper clouts. Each stencil represents a letter of the alphabet. I gave each letter a pattern for the clouts - as a metaphor for the drill holes that are used to blast through the rock underground.

I attached each stencil drilling and hammering - the repetitive sound began to resonate some of the procedures and constant sounds that were likely to have occurred underground.

The drawing shows images of drill patterns used to create the tunnel openings required for different types of rock as well as different types of tunnel formations. Miners became instinctive about which pattern to use and where. This is a crucial part of mining, different 'lodes' required different kinds of tunnelling, accuracy in this area is essential.

Below are two letters with the clout patterns that remained for each letter. As oxidisation starts to occur the formation of the clouts will create a pattern in the letters which will add a continuity for the structures.

Matter of Time Totems - experimental work

2010-04-28T01:59:00.000-07:00

This video demonstrates how the metal stencils (the unique graphical alphabet - created from the art work of the selected art students from Pool Business and Enterprise College) can be attached to the 13 reclaimed beams. The beams will form the totem structures that will surround the 'Plan-en-gwarry' area in the site of Robinson's Shaft. Part of the regeneration programme - Heartlands Project Cornwall.

2009-07-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

ET-tour of Robinson's Shaft. Performance workshop

2009-07-30T08:46:00.000-07:00

Press

2009-03-11T02:31:00.000-07:00

The poem

2009-03-10T11:26:00.000-07:00

I have taken and edited together the words and phrases produced by the students from Pool Business and Enterprise College. This poem will be burnt onto the reclaimed beams on the site of Robinson's Shaft- using metal stencils with the unique graphical alphabet that the students created.

Imaginary lay-lines, connecting the circle

2009-03-02T09:08:00.000-08:00

Identity

2009-03-02T09:00:00.001-08:00

Prepared stencils

2009-03-02T07:49:00.000-08:00

The artwork has been transformed into monochrome shapes - ready to be made into stencils. By using this printing technique it gives us the possibility to use the shape more than once - allowing language and unique patterns to form.

The task

2009-03-02T03:20:00.001-08:00

These 2 illustrations represent the virtual plans made for the 'Plen-an-gwarry' area. This is to be built in the site of Robinson's Shaft (as part of the Heatlands Project in Cornwall, Redruth). I am working as an artist in collaboration with DODS Architects, to help inspire the community in reclaiming the disused public space - as a place of play.

This project is a community led art piece. Our task is to inscribe a message, poem or sentiment on to the 20 totem beams that will be surrounding this concave circle. We will be using the graphical alphabet that the group of year 9 children (from Pool Business and Enterprise College)- created over a series of workshops.

The alphabet

2009-02-27T03:42:00.000-08:00

Through a series of three workshops, the group of year 9 students from Pool Business and Enterprise College, have created their own graphics for an alphabet. This alphabet is unique to the location and site of Robinson's Shaft in Cornwall.

I purposely designed the workshops via a means of role-play as a way to re-examine discarded objects and the locale which can become overlooked and mundane due it's familiarity.

As a group we have been considering identity and ownership, we have been reflecting on what has been and what will be.

The group picked letters from the alphabet (we put them in a hat). The students were then given the task of designing their own letter using and being inspired by the discarded metal objects that were collected from the mine site, for this workshop.

Photos by the 'Fabulous 15'- Pool School group - Jan 19th

2009-01-22T02:20:00.001-08:00

Photos by the 'Fabulous 15'- Pool School group - Jan 19th

2009-01-22T02:07:00.001-08:00

Photos by the 'Fabulous 15'- Pool School group - Jan 19th

2009-01-22T01:36:00.001-08:00

Photos by the 'Fabulous 15'- Pool School group - Jan 19th

2009-01-22T01:26:00.001-08:00

The 'Fabulous 15' group from 'Pool Business and Enterprise College' were instructed to collect images and inspiration from the site of 'Robinson's Shaft'. They explored the site under the supervision of their guides - Phil Kitchener and ex-miner Peter Hughes. The group took some amazing photographs. We will be examining and reflecting on all the gathered material in the workshop on Tuesday 3rd February - Pool art dept.

INSPIRED PHOTOS!

Photos by the 'Fabulous 15'- Pool School group - Jan 19th

2009-01-22T01:16:00.000-08:00

Photos by the 'Fabulous 15'- Pool School group - Jan 19th

2009-01-22T01:12:00.001-08:00

Everyday conditions

2009-01-07T04:08:00.000-08:00

I digitally restored these posters -the actual torn remmenants were found in the Miners Dry building, at Robinson's Shaft.

The Miner's Dry houses the shower, locker rooms and is the entrance for the men to the mines.

Amazing what one can get used to!

Performance

2009-01-05T09:39:00.000-08:00

Interactive Performance Workshop

8th Dec 2008 I organised a 'performance based' interactive workshop with the help of Peter Lyan and Steve Howe (art teachers from Pool school) for some selected students from Pool Business and Enterprise College.
I developed a fantasy element for the students to explore their environment.

We are nomadic space travelers. Guardians of the universe
We are on earth as 'ET' scientists - examining objects collected from and about the site of Robinson's Shaft. We, as 'ET' beings, have a particular connection to this planet (Earth) and the place 'Pool' - via an astrological phenomenon that occurred on April 13th - Richard Trevithick's (the great Cornish Inventor) birth date.

We will be continuing our performance workshop on the site of Robinson’s Shaft 19th January
We shall all be wearing sunglasses and latex gloves for protection from sunlight.
I think everyone will be given yellow hats and Wellingtons.

This workshop provides a platform for the pupils to access a fantasy world. By the use of role-play, I want to create a process of viewing familiar, ordinary and mundane objects with a different perspective. Giving permission for renewed interest and discoveries to made.

Our trip to the mine is to understand ordinary life as a miner. To examine familiar objects – giving them a meaning through their ritualistic and everyday use.

By collecting objects and images from around the site we are going to develop a symbolic language to decaorate 20 poles. I want the students to leave a message for the future about the past.

Workshop material

2009-01-05T03:45:00.000-08:00

Notebooks created for students at 'Pool Business and Enterprise College.
The selected art students from 'Pool Business and Enterprise College' were given note books to start a 'thought process' for the poles that are to furnish the 'Plen-an-gwarry' in the Heartlands Project.

Viewed - in the sections - 'Workshop material'- are the samples and objects that the pupils were asked to examine and comment on - describing the objects as if seeing them for the first time.

I collected all the pieces from around Pool, Redruth. I used sample pieces from Robinson's Shaft and purchased some unique/interesting objects from the local car-boot sale, opposite the old mine.

Workshop material

2009-01-05T03:42:00.001-08:00

Workshop material

2009-01-05T03:34:00.001-08:00

Workshop material

2009-01-05T03:20:00.000-08:00

Workshop material

2009-01-05T02:40:00.001-08:00

Community Involvement

2008-12-01T15:04:00.000-08:00

I will be doing an Interactive workshop with some students from 'Pool Business and Enterprise College' in Cornwall on Monday 8th Dec. 2008

My intention is to create a fantasy environment where by the students are encouraged to role play as beings from another planet. I will set up an interactive environment/game where the students have the opportunity to view and examine ordinary objects collected from the derelict mine- as if for the first time. I would like the students to imagine and describe the objects as if they have no prior knowledge of their actual use. By viewing their surroundings in the third person this exercise has the possibility of allowing a thought provoking attitude to what is perhaps overlooked and taken for granted.

I spent six weeks on an artist's residency in Newfoundland, studying and making work with icebergs. I made a dvd observing an iceberg - I will include this in the workshop as a way of looking at how the Industrial Revolution has had an impact on global issues of climate change. I would like to bring some awareness to the consequences of our actions that are contributing to climate change. (Understanding the butterfly effect.)

I will also have a couple of dvd's that look at the space allocated for this project ('Plen-an-gwarry') and look at how signs and symbols are used both past and present to covey a message that is understood on a universal level.

1. I want the students to create a 'Holley' identity typographic portrait /story using their blown-up thumb-print- hand writing their text following the contour lines of the thumb-print (with the help of tracing paper or thin copy paper). This has the ability to become a personal rendition as a combination of words, handwriting and a pattern of the unique individual thumb-print.

2. I am going to a set 5 questions that help the students to portrait their situation and community as an alien to this planet.

3. I will have samples of objects that the students can describe/illustrate as if taken from a foreign planet.

I want the students to reflect on a message, that as aliens they might want to convey to this society. By using contemporary symbols of communication I would like the students to invent a symbolic language that will have the ability to transcend language barriers (perhaps with the help of a map or some kind of pictorial reference.) What message would the universe want to advise our planet about our present and future prospects.

Thoughts and People

2008-11-28T06:55:00.000-08:00

Roger Bryant - Cornish folk singer and poet.

Roger wrote the song 'Cornish Lads' in response to the closure of Geevor Mine and when Scottish Scottish trawlers were breaking up the Mackerel shoals. The chorus in this song has been widely used by graffiti artist's, headlining newspapers(when South Crofty mine closed in 1998), and been the inspiration for short movies and art works. Roger managed to express the general despondency felt by the community over this period of decline.

'Cornish Lads are fishermen, and Cornish lads are miners too, but when all the tin and fish have gone what are the Cornish Boys to do?'

Considering the Landscape

2008-11-26T11:57:00.000-08:00

Considering the Space

2008-11-26T06:15:00.000-08:00

In the Past

2008-11-26T04:57:00.000-08:00