What a joyous thing to do, like so much of what we plan the back ground co-ordination is tough, but the result of some Shallal dance Theatre performers and a wide age range ( 2-93 ), of 24 local audience were a winning combination.
It felt a nice round off to a wonderful bicentennial season of Passmore Puppets and pop ups which started at The Ladder in March. Also celebrating Dean's recent Heritage award!
Jo Lumber, Associate Artist Shallal Dance Theatre.
How many people have seen the words 'Passmore Edwards Free
Library', carved in granite above the doors of Cornwall's public
libraries? And how many people have fleetingly wondered who that
was and what it meant?
Dean Evans has enlightened the county about ordinary Blackwater boy
turned philanthropist, John Passmore Edwards.
Dean's fascination and enthusiasm for bringing the achievements of
this man into public conscience has both widened knowledge and
brought people together.
Dean's selfless engagement has been extensive; he's researched John
Passmore Edwards and written the book 'Funding The Ladder', he's
helped fundraise for the restoration of Blackwater village hall, he's
given numerous talks about his chosen topic. And is helping to give
John Passmore Edwards the recognition he deserves; a man who used
his money to enhance the lives of ordinary people through access to
learning and enjoyment via free public libraries, and healthcare and
support by funding convalescence homes and hospitals.
I met Dean several years ago when he first gave a talk for Shallal
Dance Theatre. As an inclusive company we have a wide range of
people with differing needs. Dean shared his knowledge with
enthusiasm and warmth, in understandable language, with
photographs and pictures to support his talk. Dean came across as a
kind, gentle person, with great communication skills. Shallal created a
performance entitled 'Ladders and Footprints' (using words from
Passmore Edwards quotes) in 2017. Initially a 'site specific' piece for
Falmouth Library it went on to be performed in numerous places
including
St Austell Library, Blackwater village hall, St Agnes Library, AMATA at
Tremough campus, plus extracts at Hall For Cornwall.
With 2023 being John Passmore Edwards' bicentenary year Shallal has
continued the partnership with Dean. And we've gone big! The larger
than life puppets of Mr and Mrs Passmore Edwards have been visiting
towns throughout Cornwall, meeting folk with an oversized wave or
handshake, whilst sharing the knowledge of this special Cornish
couple. The puppets opened the 'The Ladder' in Redruth, a former
Passmore Edwards free library now currently being restored and
repurposed as a creative, community space. With banners created to
share Passmore Edwards quotes and achievements, they then lead
the procession and book chain to the current Redruth library.
They visited Falmouth Library for a community talk and afternoon
cream tea. They joined the Mazey Day celebrations in Penzance, helped
plant a commemorative tree at Newlyn Art Gallery (another Passmore
Edwards building). They met people at Trevithick Day in Camborne and
Murdoch Day in Redruth.
They even made it on to BBC Spotlight on what would have been John's
200th birthday!
All of this stemmed from our initial engagement with Dean. We have
written poetry, monologues and song lyrics. We have created artwork, physical comedy, poignant dance and movement, all connecting to
the life and work of John Passmore Edwards. We have gained
knowledge and enjoyed the process of interpretation, sharing with our
audiences and people at events in the streets of Cornwall.
I sometimes wonder what would happen if John Passmore Edwards
and Dean had the opportunity to meet. I imagine they might both be
overwhelmed by each others achievements. John, grateful for having
his beliefs and ethos brought to attention at this present time,
encouraging people to think about compassion in an ever challenging
world.
Dean, perhaps a bit 'fan struck', thrilled to meet a real life hero and
excited to tell him about how he's keeping his name alive, not just
carved in stone but in spoken communication.
Two men who, in different times and different ways, are on the same
page.
So I'd like to celebrate Dean Evans, for his continued enthusiasm in
celebrating Cornish philanthropist John Passmore Edwards, whilst
bringing people together to learn, enjoy and engage.
So much going on is a normal phrase this term so...Janice sent me a link to Margaret Beale some weeks ago and i've only just visited it
"The art of improvisation in performance is like surfing. You must jump in without hesitation and keep swimming. You must meet each new wave, the constant “now” over and over, afresh. Sometimes you shape it. Sometimes it shapes you. Sometimes you are lost in it. Sometimes you are exultantly, found. But, at the end of the ride, something authentic, alive, and arresting in its immediacy has been created and leaves its smoky, indelible trail on the consciousness. The process has become the performance and the performance has revealed the process that is improvisation."
"Aurora Levins Morales is a disabled and chronically ill, community supported writer, historian, artist and activist. It takes a village to keep her blogs coming."
suggested from The Common Cause Foundation.
Global is important - local is always good, 2 sides of the same coin.
We all need a village, a community.
New podcast now out - a joy to talk to and learn from Heather Ackroyd. I have a list of initiatives she talked about - as i was checking the captions.
I started this blog to be grateful for a wonderful day at the Tate St Ives yesterday, in our closing circle - we thanked George and Cassie our hosts.
What a joy to be meeted, greeted, cared for and fed, commissioned to create exciting new responses to Single Form by Barbara Hepworth. Working with composer Matt Thomson, Bobby being commisssioned to make a short film - the R&D one was wonderful so bring on the finished product - and the fun of seeing dear Steve Tanner lying on the floor photographing.
So open improv spontaneous response performance and art and movement mark making a glorious mix - my happy art space and made me smile...thank you to all artists involved. Debs is researching and gallery 8 must be one of the most stunning views and art spaces to work in - a little narrow ( for dance) but not complaining with the sea outside on to St Ives sand, glorious colours, the day turned form stormy grey ( the end of storm Ceiran) to sunshine.
snapshot
There are so many important initiative to follow:
after reading and watching Just Mercy https://eji.org/bryan-stevenson/
The Equal Justice Initiative works to end mass incarceration, excessive punishment, and racial inequality.
I realise this blog jumps around and my menopausal brain is that and i haven't time to polish this so here it is raw scribblings and hope some makes some sense and some seeds fall.
"Shallal's relationship with Back Lane West is one of our most fruitful and longstanding.
It came through friendship and a chance conversation, as many of the best things do!
Oliver Raymond Barker had a residency at BLW and i rolled along to it with my family as supportive friends. I had a conversation with Jane and Patrick Lowry who said, "We'd really like the community in," and I remember literally nearly jumping up and down, clapping my hands and saying " We can get the community in. We'd love to do a residency, it's just what we have been looking for!"
Since then a decade ago, I don't think we have missed a year and nearly every day of all our residency diaries has been packed, funded or unfunded, solo artists, visiting artists, community groups, bizarre collaborations, poetry, music, film , sound, painted walls, pop ups, performances, sharings, talks, zoom sessions, light installations and always Jane and Patrick visiting, supportive, appreciative.
Thank you. It's a glorious neutral space, a wonderful opportunity and here's to more!
The work done here has led to a Porthmeor Studios residency and Shallal Studios and into performances and exhibitions, degrees and memories and sheer fun of the creative process, celebrated by all levels and ages a chance to come together for longer with an open brief and enjoy discovery.
Today saw the culmination of a lot of planning and collaboration for two small but significant Shallal Dance Theatre events.
Saturdays procession with Make and Mends and todays 10 min performance at The Ladder for a visit from the HRH Duchess of Gloucester, who stayed to chat with everyone immediately after the performance.
Dean Evans greeted her with some Passmore words and Jo L was there story telling ( for Writers block ) to a room full of under 5's and parents, so it felt a 'family affair' with tea and cake afterwards. Thank you to Felix and Josh for inviting us, it's inspiring to see The Ladder develop and open up more and more.
I have heard many good comments from the dance performed in response to Janets paintings and Amys soundscape, on Saturday at Back Lane West, congratulations to Becky, Anna, Miles and Zoe. We work to give dance artists autonomy and confidence in their style, process and collaborations and it works, as shown by how well they did and the wonderful feedback from the audience.
Since the pandemic the cross over between groups which Zoom enabled and the relative availability of Shallal artists has meant we sometimes feel more like a loose collective, today the feedback was how much joy and freedom people can feel from the performers even from a short performance, we are like a family and are a strong community. This always requires work, it is never something you can take for granted, and we need the special 'holding' understanding of each persons unique needs, but once our vulnerabilities are accepted/held then wonderful things can happen, in the creative space/moment.
Eddie and Zoe represent many of the sides and talents in Shallal and were there today, with Demelza signing the Lighthouse poem, Star and Colin in the puppets, Debs, and Jilly dancing and Kerry T speaking her moving Silent Voice of Nature poem, which we ended with.
We managed to mention Signing needing to be taught in schools from early years onwards, and What would Passmore do now?, some of our favourite topics!
Also playgrounds for people with disabilities might be a new one, Debs mentioned it today and i know Stewart worked on one in London. We might join it up with our research and Situated Action thinking, ' play ' is vital. Toilets that's another topic and oh so many!
Very nice to be asked on Creative Communities Advisory group, going in with Universal Design, Equity, Access, Culture Declares Emergency, Doughnut Economics, circular sustainable approaches and global crisis responses hats on!!
Podcast 8 out now
Back Lane West Sharing on Saturday 1-4pm, Anna and I will be there with coffee and cake do drop in to have a chat and see the range of art produced.
HRH Duchess of Gloucester with everyone Jilly, Andy - supporting Eddie -, Eddie, Star hidden, Duchess of Gloucester, Ruby, Debs, Colin, Zoe and Demelza
Dean with Amanda from Writers Block, who have their installation at The Ladder
