Project:OPEN SOURCE

Summary:
Focusing on the High Street as an example of shared public and private space, research will be conducted with a range of residents, workers, students and visitors of Southend-on-Sea to elicit opinions, thoughts and memories of Southend’s High Street. A number of research methods, including recorded interviews, surveys and social networking will be used, resulting in a series of interdisciplinary art works.
One might suggest that private space is both the metaphorical space we occupy in our minds (consciously and unconsciously) and the physical spaces in our environment that are shaped to form our everyday visual landscape.

For me, the High Street represents a potent example of both private and public space, crossing all the above boundaries in a way analogous to identity, therefore exposing tensions between self and other and between systems and people.

Photographs capture moments in time. They represent memories, ambitions, fears and regrets and trap them beyond our grasp. This frustration might manifest itself in motivation for change or merely nostalgia. By exhibiting juxtaposed images of Southend High Street, from different viewpoints it is possible to elicit thoughts and feelings about our community and shared spaces.

I would like to stimulate the evolution a community of interest into dialogue about their public spaces, by focusing on Southend’s High Street.
If you want to help out on this project let me know because I'll be commencing interviews and surveys in the next few weeks. This particular project will be going on until November so if there's any volunteers and or creatives who want to get involved on this let me know. I'll be needing lots of volunteers for the exhibitions so if you've a few hours spare get in touch using the email at the top of the page and I can give you more details.