'There are no hills in Utica'

'There are no hills in Utica'

 Go-Kart still I [Speed] 2010

Go-Kart still II [For Sale]2010

















Go-Kart still III [Men looking]2010

















Utica 2010

This project was a journey around Utica, USA exploring the streets with a go-kart. On one level it was a way to get a reaction from the locals and to travel the streets finding a way to develope more of a relationship to the town physically - literally bumping up and down the streets - and socially.

It was a responce to small town America, and of course particularly Utica with its high rates of unemployment, depression and large amounts of empty buildings. Visually an large amount of people were always hanging out on yhe streets and sitting on their doorsteps. It was the opposite of the prosperous vision of America that its often thought of abroad.

In New York State just 5 hours by train north of New York City is the city of Utica. Industry has been moving out since the 70's, and the people followed it, so now it feels hollow and desolate.

The Go-Kart was made from a rough sketch without any purpose built materials and measurements. The effort of making it move makes the people moving it work hard and puts strain on them, encouraging them to work physically with it, and therefore the street to get it shifting. It became a tool to create a performance or narrative, with no expected outcome.

A few narratives emerged. Firstly the above photos of Becky fixed up in freezed still shots as though in the moment of go-karting down the slope, with locals looking on. Although 30, she looks like a little girl traveling down the rundown street. Surrounded by 'for sale' signs and fenced off buildings. Secondly we made a film of the 2 hour long journey around the town, recording any of the locals strange comments and insights when we passed them; "Does it go on water? Next you'll tell me its fuelled by ecstacy" and "Is that baby wagon?"

Sculpture: Morning Lane

Sculpture: Morning Lane

 

Foam and paper lightweight temporary sculpture.

Images taken in Space Studios 205 Morning Lane. A former Hackney Demolished 2010 for new school buildings.

2009-10





This group of work is part of an ongoing theme using local materials in conjunction with forms echoing architectural parts of buildings around the area. The foam was from a sofa warehouse on Homerton High Street. I found it the first week I moved into the studio, it just seemed be perfect.

The forms are based on sketches I did of repetitions and patterns in industrial buildings in old street, and surrounding Homerton and Hackney Wick where I started to live and work in 2007. The Lesney Toy Factory on the bank of the marshes, as well as the architecture of 205 Morning Lane all had a strong effect on me,as I realised when I placed them side by side. As well as profound feeling iminent loss of that sense of the place. Of it being on the cusp, of it all being tenous and about to disappear, which of course both buildings now have.
There is a very strong sense of change in the borough now, geared up to the Olympics, but two years ago the place felt more uncared and out of site, but also with a very interesting landscape of disintegrating buildings, alleyways and decay.

The materials are temporary and rougly put together, the bright colours giving a fake bubblegum perspective of the doom and depression of the area, which moves on up to Well Street. A gloom that is nostalgic of the brutalist buildings of the area, that is wiped out but actually has a pervading atmosphere that now is gone, is missed.

Morning Lane Studios:
SPACE has now vacated Morning Lane studios, which was leased to SPACE from 1999 to 2010 by Hackney Council. The building, which was an ex-adult training centre, contained 28 artist studios over three floors, and is now due to be demolished.

Designed by Stillman and Eastwick-Field (SEF) this elegant, Brutalist building has a rich industrial history. There was a campaign by the Hackney Society to register the building as listed to prevent its demolition.

New Studio work Jan 2009

I've been making some new work in the studio based on ideas from the industrial surroundings and findings on the streets of Homerton, and the empty spaces around the canal and the Olympic development. Using found materials I've suggested industrial forms which change through the making  process into something more abstract.

  

The light-weight look adds to the effect of the brightly coloured foam. Its waste sofa packaging, that normally goes to upholsterers but I acquired it from a wholesalers on the High street. 

'Vent'  wallpaper lining, masking tape. Jan 2009

'Beached'  Foam, Carpet, Wire. Jan 2009

'Beached'  Installation view. Jan 2009

'Hopper' Foam, Wood, Wire. Nov 2008

'Compacted' Foam, Wood, Staples. November 2008