Play Anywhere Now or Never

Spent the day walking around Finsbury Park geotagging (or in other words deciding which prompts go where). Bumped into a lot of walls and fences which is going to make the process even more challenging than normal but also spotted a tree of hope and other signs of daily life in the park – see some of the images we took below. The App will be ready to launch at the Free Fair and Alive festival 10th August- Save the Date. Till then we’ll be working behind the scenes…

More details can be found here. Hope to see you there!

 

We had an inspiring day at Furtherfield Commons in Finsbury Park – thanks to everyone who braved the cold to walk, play and talk past, present and future. We learnt about a huge reservoir hidden under a grassy mound and learned more about the path of the New river (opened in 1613!). We discussed and dreamt aloud about potential future additions to the park such as fountains, attractions for birds, labels for trees, a huge lego factory and even a giant trampoline! 

We asked how one could welcome creatures from a parallel universe and agreed a cup of tea might be a good start (it was cold so no wonder we all yearned for something warm). We talked  about fences, boundaries and rules as we meandered guided by the trusted ‘directions’ die. Luckily we had a seven year old to guide us through the numerous play areas, which are otherwise out of bounds for adults – even if they are playful. 

Our next walkshop is on Saturday the 18th (1500-1700)- join us for more exploratory walking and playing.

Find a line to follow and face the future! at Furtherfield in Finsbury Park.

Join us for an interactive ‘live art’ and time-bending walks. Dice will roll, cards will solicit and props will inspire. The walkshop on 5th May will inform the creation of playful prompts for a map and a digital mobile App that will act as provocations for future park users to be tested

Sunday 5th May 2019 at 1430-1630 (to inform the creation of the App)

the 18th May 1500-1700(to test the App)

and launched on 10th August 1000-1700 (drop in anytime to help launch the App – no need to book).

Walkshops are suitable for all ages and abilities. The walkshops on 5th and 18th May will last approximately an hour and will be followed by a reacall and share session where refreshments will be provided. Each walkshop is different so if you’d like to attend more than one – please do.

We’ve been working behind the scenes on our Mobile Art Objects (see previous post if you don’t know what we mean) – we’re working on designs for an entirely new interactive artwork for Yorkshire Sculpture Park (but can say nothing more on that just yet) AND in collaboration with Furtherfield – we’re preparing ‘walkshops’ that will inform the creation of our new App – Play Then Now or Never! which will be launched as part of Furtherfield’s Free Fair and Alive festival on the Saturday 10th August– exciting stuff!!

If you’re around Finsbury Park on the Sunday 5th May – do join us – we’d love to play and talk together while we walk.

Details and booking are here. And as usual – updates will follow so watch this space…

In the next few months we will be working on two distinct Mobile Art Object (which we nicknamed MAO) that will each form a playful trail for Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) as well as Furtherfield Commons in London’s Finsbury Park.

Gathering research we’ve been engaged with since 2012 and working with participants and staff in both sites we will design poetic prompts that invite visitors to interact with these two different landscapes in playful, thoughtful and sometimes mischievous ways. MAO will be launched in Spring/Summer 2019- watch this space….

 

CUT YOUR NOSE LIKE YOUR HAIR is the name of the article /review Jes Fernie has written about our work which is now published in Art and the Public Sphere Journal – Vol. 7.1

The review ends beautifully suggesting that our work is “designed to maximize certain degrees of freedom in the way it can be used. Players can explore all manner of worlds, including the idea of ‘publicness’; they can create their own publics with no sense that they are a vessel for corporate gain. Like projects and actions by the Dadaists, the SI and many performance artists, Play the City Now or Never aims to ‘unplay the dominant systems of control’ (Flanagan 2009: 189) and to re-inscribe power structures. In so doing, it has created a platform for subtle interventions, political awakening and radical acts”. You can read the whole review on our texts page.

As part of The Royal Geographical Society annual conference’s Walking Together as Research program – we shall be leading a ‘walkshop’ on Wednesday 29 August 2018 – join us if you can. Register here and watch this space for update (and photos).

---

We went back to lovely Yorkshire Sculpture Park on a sunny half term in May. This time we walked with cards but no props. We are in first stages of planning the production of a Mobile Art Object – watch this space for future developments in coming months as we work on a prototype- its going to be a fascinating journey!…

We don’t know about you- but for us the winter months are long, we do less walking, spend more time reflecting back and planning ahead for the start of new beginnings.  We’ve had a great year (scroll down through previous posts to see what we’ve been up to) and its lovely to end it with some heartwarming feedback. Here are some of our favourite quotes:

‘I totally love seeing the transformation in people during a really short time where they become comfortable, chatty and confident to interact with the work. It’s good art!’ (Judith Merritt Head of Talks and Exhibitions, National Theatre Learning).

‘We loved doing the walks as a group. It gave us permission to play and our visit had a different feel this time..’ (Participants of Walk&Play YSP).

‘Over the course of the project,  the artists worked with local community groups and individuals to develop and test the concepts of the game and the content of the app, ensuring both local relevance and user friendliness. The workshop activity offered a platform to engage the public in complex dialogues about the public realm, and the regulations that control it. Through playful and fun interactions and interventions, and using language that was very accessible, Idit and Helen managed to engage a diverse range of participants across ages, abilities and experiences. This included intergenerational groups, those with complex needs, those with English as a second language and those with no or very limited engagement with the arts. The project offered a new way to see the city centre, and gave permission to push the boundaries of what was deemed ‘acceptable’ or normative behaviour in increasingly managed and patrolled public spaces’. (Mark Richards, director METAL Peterborough). 

‘I have lived in P’boro since 1970. Participation in this project has helped me look at the city differently. I’ve shared ideas about play and had conversations with people I would not have had otherwise.’ (City Resident, Play Peterborough Now Or Never!).

“I played [with your DIY die] this evening, not sure my neighbour enjoyed my smile though! ;-)” (Glen Stoker, Director, Airspace Gallery, Stoke on Trent).

Wishing you all the very best of the season’s greetings and looking forward to more playing, walking, talking and reflecting in 2018!