EXPLORING HALTON'S COLLECTIONS
HALTON BOROUGH COUNCIL
2018-10
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RESIDENCY, RESEARCH, ENGAGEMENT, PLAYFUL EXPLORATIONS & ACTIONS, EXHIBITION
2009-2011 - A two-year residency exploring Halton's four public collections, held at Catalyst Chemical Museum, Halton Town Hall, Norton Priory Museum & Gardens and the main libraries in Widnes and Halton Lea. A book discussing the project can be viewed online here: RESIDENCY This two-year artist residency was a HLF funded project in Halton, a local authority boundary which spans both sides of the River Mersey around Runcorn and Widnes, NW England. Halton has four public collections which reflect its rich and diverse heritage dating back nearly one thousand years, contrasting social, religious, industrial and civic change. The residency provided open access for me to the four public collections which until this point had been kept as separate entities. Over a two year residency, together, they were presented to the public in many and various ways, enriching the enticing story of this region of North West England. RESEARCH The tightly bound connections between Halton's underlying geology and natural resources of oak, salt, coal, water, together with the topographical surface begin to explain much about the marks human habitation has left on this richly historical and heavily industrial area. The River Mersey narrows significantly between Runcorn and Widnes, a gap that has seen many ways for humans to cross this fast flowing river since at least 1178 when the first ferry charter was documented. Today a fourth new bridge spans the space, strengthening and re-focussing connections between people and place. ENGAGEMENT Over the residency there were many acts of engagement, PLAYFUL EXPLORATIONS & ACTIONS kjhkjhkj EXHIBITION - Playful Order at The Brindley Gallery, Runcorn http://haltonheritage.co.uk/projects/exploring-haltons-collections/ book of project https://issuu.com/jenimcconnell/docs/wetogether |
Engaging re-collection Geological forms, flowed ice, rock Grinding channels through long aged glittering red sandstone carrying erratic forms to gouge and shape A gap still, water surges mouthwards, ever onward reaching outward; inhaling, exhaling, providing, carrying, transporting, shaping lives waterways; constructed, channelled, controlled. And life lost, remembered, forgotten, endured images, relics of times passed and passing the traces of human existence, archived as treasures secreted away, contained, secure. Traces, scratches, dust and debris hide fascinations rarely glimpsed visibly we engage, excited and encouraged through connections to the whole world, wired and wireless, we dream: to give to them all; united, formed singly, singularly, as one unique collection connected, enticingly engaged |
PROJECT IMAGES