COLLISION & CONFLICT
PROJECT OUTLINE
Collision & Conflict will be a geolocated sound walk through the Northumberland Cumbria landscape. The walk will travel along Hadrian’s Wall National Trail taking Thirlwall Castle, Green Croft On The Wall, the pronounced ditch at Gilsland, preserved milecastle at Poltross Burn, 914m stretch of wall at Willowford and to roman bridge remains beside the River Irthing leading to Birdoswald Roman Fort.
Often called the Borderlands or Forgotten Lands, the area is wild, bleak, beautiful, and unforgiving. Conflict over boundaries have dominated the history of the area, leaving scars present on the landscape. Thirlwall Castle is where the barbarians ‘thirled’, or threw down part of the wall, during a raid in Roman times. Romans were replaced with Reivers, with Gilsland at the centre of conflict and raids between Reiver families. Conflict continues in contemporary rural Britain with contested views on what land should be used for; production, consumption, preservation, diversification.
ARTIST OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS
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Art in the Barn 2018
22nd April - 2nd September 2018
Visual artist Imogen Cloët and sound artist Kit Haigh were commissioned to make a new temporary art installation within the Threshing Barn at Green Crofted that reflected on the sights, sounds and essence of these historic farm buildings located within the World Heritage Site. Originally called Foul Town, the buildings date from the early 18th century however the stone from which they are built was likely plundered from Hadrian’s Wall.
We also offered ways for the local community to engage with the work. Working with Haltwhistle Walking Festival we held a Singing Walk with Musician and Choir Leader, Bridie Jackson. We hosted a singing workshop for Hadrian Singers based in Haltwhistle led by Cheryl Camm and Kathryn Davidson. Cheryl was commissioned to write a new song for the choir, The Winnowing Song.
Find more ABOUT THE ARTISTIC TEAM
Fall of Iron - Kit Haigh
Inspired by an ancient, but still functioning wrought iron latch & keep on one of the barn doors, Fall Of Iron is a piece of generative music created especially for the barn in which it is heard.
It is made entirely using sounds found in the barn itself, with the iron keep to the fore, and evolves in an ever-changing way that never exactly repeats. Some sounds are taken from the fabric of the building, others by objects found in the barn, like a scythe and a stoneware bottle. The sounds are stretched, compressed and distressed to varying degrees, then layered like archaeological strata to reflect the long history of both the barn and its locale. Different sounds and fragments of tune appear and disappear like glimpses of artefacts in the soil.
Meto - Imogen Cloët
In Meto Imogen has taken the Threshing Barn and it’s original purpose as the starting point for exploring the ideas of wheat, harvest, layers of time and the theme of death and renewal associated with agriculture and the circle of life.
Meto, (Latin for harvest, to harvest, to cut down in battle) is a dynamic piece that demonstrates the tension between man and nature. It represents the palpable energy of the past, the turbulent and anarchic times of the Border Reivers and the perceived tranquility of the landscape. The choice of tools is specific to harvesting wheat and grain crops from pre Roman times to mechanisation - the scythe, hand scythe and pitch fork.
People who have supported us
Art in the Barn would not have been possible without financial support from Arts Council England and Northumberland National Park. We are also pleased to be part of the Inspired Programme for Great Exhibition of the North 2018. We would like say thank you to people that have supported us and given encouragement. Durham City Workshop for the metal work and Russell Kirk for the stems. James Froment and John Smith for their work on the install. Philippa Craig, Mandy Roberts and especially Ruth Dickinson at Northumberland National Park. Ranger, Jason Trinder, for his advice on suggested walks. Wendy Scott at Northumberland Arts Development. Kathryn Davidson, the Hadrian Singers & Haltwhistle Walking Festival for their positivity and general support. Archeologist Gerry Martin who quite literally dug around the installation. Finally the artists without which none of this would be happening.