2014 brought temporary art to unusual and unexpected places in Boston Borough and South Holland
Transported hoped to demonstrate the potential for quality art to take place anywhere, as a way to engage new audiences, especially those who may not have engaged with arts activity before.
The Wonder Allotments
Pop Up was launched in May with the project The Wonder Allotments. Photographer Adelaide Carneiro undertook a short residency on the allotments. She worked with the allotment users to produce a photography exhibition. The project was a celebration of the unique and distinctive places that are allotments, as well as the people who use them. The outcome of this project is a beautiful photography exhibition which is printed onto silk, as well as a striking photobook. The exhibition was unveiled on Willoughby Road allotments in July 2014. The event was co-organised with the allotment committee, who really took ownership over the project. This event echoed the vision of Transported to take art opportunities to where people work and play. (Image: The Wonder Allotments, Adelaide Carneiro)
Following the success of The Wonder Allotments, Transported commissioned three more Pop Up projects which related to, and celebrated, the local area. For this, we asked project proposals to be inspired by the foodscape of Lincolnshire. This led to the creation of Cabbages and Kings, Food from the Farm and the Festival of Fruit.
Cabbages and Kings
Cabbages and Kings was a live art performance designed by Nu-Urban Gardeners. The performance invited participants to take part in a ‘creative game’ about Fenland food. The ‘contestants’ were asked a series of questions and could win prizes based on their answers. The performance was completely different each time, being shaped by the public taking part. The work was also very visual, meaning people could watch from afar and get involved as much as they wanted. The performance ‘popped up’ at a variety of food related places including super markets, farm shops and bistros. This quirky invention really captured the imagination of the people who took part. (Image: Cabbages and Kings, the Nu-Urban Gardeners)
Food from the Farm
Food from the Farm was created and delivered by artist Hannah Gardiner. Hannah moved to Boston for three months. During her time in the area, she collected recipes and stories from local farmers and farm shops. She also organised trips to local farms. This was a chance for local people to get an insight into how farms are run, before getting to try some food that they provided. Hannah spent her time meeting and talking to lots of different people, before collating this information ready for her interventions. Along with a specifically commissioned ‘Food Hub’, Hannah ‘popped up’ in lots of different locations, giving out samples of recipes she’d collated, along with recipe cards to give away. She also collected more recipes at these interventions. The conversations and recipes gathered throughout this project have been made into a book, which is available as a free download. This project really intrigued people and encouraged people to discuss their heritage.
Festival of Fruit
Lastly, C-12 Dance Theatre brought the Festival of Fruit to Boston’s Stump, as part of the Family Arts Festival in October half term. This was a highly energetic performance which is involved acrobatics, juggling and free-running. The festival involved face painters and smoothie bikes, as well as a chance for the audience to have a go at some juggling. The festival took place over a weekend, and was extremely well received by all the family.
Moving forward, Pop Up will not be a separate development area in Phase 3. Instead, its defining features will be incorporated in different ways into the remaining projects. Pop Up gave us a chance to take artistic inventions and performances into unusual places and this was a great way to engage new audiences.
Moving forward, Pop Up will not be a separate development area in Phase 3. Instead, its defining features will be incorporated in different ways into the remaining projects. Pop Up gave us a chance to take artistic inventions and performances into unusual places and this was a great way to engage new audiences. (Image: Festival of Fruit, C-12 Theatre, Electric Egg)
Pop Up Commissions – External Websites
Transported Food From the Farm
Related News
