WALKING DIAGRAM (FINAL ACT)

The final act I performed in the space, after washing the windows, was to draw a diagram which detailed various walks I have undertaken over the course of the three weeks. Some were recurring, like going next door for coffee, others were related to specific events, such as planting pips. I've been undecided about whether this is a satisfactory way to leave the project; however, in coming back to the space now after a short break I've come to the conclusion that it is somehow appropriate.

READING: SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT FIELDWORK

It seems trivial to be thinking of this project in light of the terrible tragedy in Christchurch, but I’ll continue anyway.

After a few days in which not much has happened within the residency, I thought I’d return to the book I was reading at the beginning of my time here. It’s a book that Lisa Kelly gave me when we swapped cities a year or so ago. It didn’t engage me so much then, but something compelled me to pull it off the shelf when deciding what reading matter to bring with me. Titled Fieldwork, and put together by ART/SPACE/NATURE (an interdisciplinary course run through the Edinburgh College of Art), it comprises a series of interviews and discussions with artists, educators, architects, archaeologists and anthropologists about their thoughts on ‘fieldwork’.

LAST MINUTE FRIDAY AFTERNOON PLANTING

Using the last window of opportunity according to the Māori lunar calendar, I planted two more green plum pips on Friday afternoon. Then I collected a few cuttings and put them in the water bottles saved from the dinner party. 

A BOTANICAL TOUR OF THE SURROUNDS

Here's the first video I made while investigating the vegetation around Book House (a warning - it runs for 10 minutes):

 

CAMERA PROPS AND LIGHT ON THE WALL

Since abandoning the construction of last week, I’ve been propping the video camera up with various other objects. 

YESTERDAY'S GREEN PLUM PLANTING DAY

According to both the biodynamic planting guide and also the Māori lunar calendar that you, Andrea, posted the link to, yesterday was an optimum day for planting seeds. The name of the 13th day after a new moon according to the Māori calendar is ‘Ōhua’, and is described as “a very good day for planting food.”[1]

 

Earlier, when thinking about the possibilities of this lunar planting proposition, I had the dilemma of what should be planted. It felt appropriate that the chosen plant/s be something related specifically to the site of Alterations or to the experience of being a ‘resident’ here. Two lines of thought led to different activities.

1:

First, after the suggestion of looking into the plants that were growing in the vicinity of the Book House building, I went on a number of video walks investigating in detail what was sprouting out of cracks and gaps, up walls and in between drain pipes. It was quite an adventure. (The first version to be added here shortly - while I am considering the possibility of screening another version in the gallery...)

LUNAR CYCLES AND BIODYNAMIC PLANTING

Since looking at the lunar calendar you posted, Andrea, and thinking about our discussions for possible activities that the movement of the moon might dictate, I’ve done a little more research. Yesterday I visited the City Library, and found a number of books about biodynamics, a topic I know very little of, but which seemed to tie in to our interest regarding lunar movements and their relation to planting. 

PROP BUILDING

Finally, on Thursday, I managed to construct a semi-functional structure, within the limitations of the tools and materials I had – a drill, but no saw, six pieces of pine in two different lengths, some wing nuts and bolts, a clamp and assorted kinds of tape. This is what I came up with, however the structure isn’t very stable and doesn’t move in very many directions.