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FILM: A PORTRAIT OF SWINDON
FILMMAKER:  GURCHETAN SINGH
 
A new documentary film; a visual poem, contemplative in pace and nature. The idea to reveal everyday comings and goings of life, viewing the ordinary as extraordinary.
 
A study of moments and vignettes capturing the unique identity of a town through the people’s voice and viewpoint.
 
The film celebrates Swindon life in this Jubilee Year; personal, public, corporate, cultural, urban and rural.  Exploring the worlds of the established family, the newcomer, the veteran, the innovator, the carer and the young person, together encompassing the ever changing spirit of the town.

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SWINDON ON THE COUCH
PHOTO INSTALLATION: JILL CARTER
 

“If you were free to take a gold velvet couch on a journey around your home town, where would you place it, who would you invite to sit upon it, and what treasured objects could you include in your unique portrait?”
 
Inspired by the great tradition of Royal portraiture and the ancient document of the Magna Carta, which acknowledges our liberty to own land and possessions, social engagement artist Jill Carter made a series of portraits to explore a wealth of Swindon stories.
 
A collection of warm and characterful documentary photographs celebrating people, place and possibilities.  The exhibition follows the journey of the couch around the town, playfully revealing the individuality of people along the way.
 
This series of spontaneous interventions took place over ten days at locations meaningful to the participants, providing time, space and freedom to explore personal stories and reflect on what makes them proud. The process of events directed by participants revealed a hugely creative and positive community spirit.

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E-book : Swindon on the Couch
An on-line artist’s book presenting a full series of images from the project is available at
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3175851
 
Blog : Swindon 2012
To see the artist’s blog – the background story of the journey – people, places and comments, documenting the process of research and development for the film and photographic participatory arts project, go to:
http://swindon2012.tumblr.com
 
A range of special screenings and events are planned to share “A Portrait of Swindon” for over the summer – watch this space for details!

Museum Manager Emma Cook said “We have been thrilled with the response. The exhibition has helped us showcase both the Beaney archive and the photographs produced by the project’s young artists, which together create a unique record of how young people’s lives in Swindon have changed over the last 70 years. Visitor’s responses to the project have been very personal – we’ve had several cases of people meeting up with long-lost friends and neighbours at events and finding photos of themselves and relatives among the archive.”

Huge thanks to Digital Artist, Dani Landau, who worked with us to use a range of innovative approaches including traditional and cutting edge photography techniques, and of course his boundless energy and enthusiasm!
It’s been an organic process that has just grown further than we ever anticipated. Over 2,800 people have now seen the exhibition at the museum, and a further 10,000 have been made aware of the project through exposure through the BBC Big Screen and online.

The exhibition will now roll out to the Wilts & Swindon History Centre and the Central Library to reach further audiences.

The project was funded by the Healthy Schools Team and the Swindon Tobacco Control Unit who were delighted to have some sparky new resources to use across schools, health centres and hospitals.

Here are the films with the BEST FILM at the top that was awarded to three boys at Highworth Warneford School.

Oh … and The Commonweal School with ‘Stamp it Out’ won a national award at the Cut Films Awards in London!

CreativeSwitch – Stamp It Out
 

Here are the others …

CreativeSwitch – Life & Death

CreativeSwitch – Crowdys Hill

Creative Switch – Come Die With Me

Creative Switch – Nova Hreod

We have just returned from visiting the exhibition and the children are buzzing with enthusiasm about seeing their work on display. It was fantastic to see the project come together with a real life outcome and for the children and teaching staff to get to experience hands-on use of the up-to-date computer programs, digital photography and to have the experience of an artist in residence.

This project brought together many cross curricula links including: history (through all the heritage links); ICT, Design and Technology, Art and RE (through the children sharing/discussing their own cultural experience) and much more. The children have delighted in sharing their work with each other and I hope that they will also share and encourage their families to visit.

The children are very proud of what they learnt and achieved and we are equally proud of them. Thank you once again.

We do this through our 3 strands:

Mobile Media: outreach projects to engage young people and communities using our groundbreaking CreateMobile.

Create Inclusive: projects which draw together individuals and communities in danger of social exclusion, including those with physical and learning disabilities.

Create Professional: commissions for Third Sector partners who need digital promotional or training resources.

Our crew of creatives are fresh, inspired and talented in pre and post production techniques who execute the projects with skill and precision whilst keeping a fresh and edgy style which reaches out to young people and organisations alike.

Email: MFitzgerald2@swindon.gov.uk