EGN Conference 2013 – Plenary Two: Innovative strategies for engagement through the arts

by Claire Packman, Egenis Communications Officer

#egn13
 
In the spirit of this session, about innovative engagement through the arts, this blog is written in the form of haikus - with apologies to Samantha Walton

For Alistair Gentry
Your art enlightens
Your words provoke, creating
Laughter and ideas


For Peter Arnott
Climate change fury
Decimation of mankind
Fascinating play

For Lindsay Goodall
The Glasgow Effect
Obscures the truth so your search
For a title goes on

For Cameron Duguid
From cutting paper
To CAD molecule
A filmmakers journey

For Pippa Goldschmidt
Posit hypothesis
Resarch your argument
Create conclusion

Small shrivelled up snake...

by Cameron Duguid - Documentary Filmmaker in Residence

I had a really inspiring time at The Evaporation of Things last week, especially the bring-a-thing, show and tell. Funny how things transpire, but it just so happened that I re-found my thing the night before, after sorting through boxes after moving a year and a half ago. I’m in danger of falling into the pits of innuendo here, but, as you may be able to see- my thing was a small shrivelled up snake.

I hadn't realised I had held on to it, but somehow it has survived 25yrs hidden away in ‘miscellaneous’. Quite a literal take on evaporation, it's something which I've often marvelled at. I found it when I was nine, having just moved up from London to the middle of nowhere. I’m pretty sure I also saw an adult Adder as well, one of maybe 2 or 3 occasions that I’ve seen one. One of the things that I’ve always found interesting is that, although it’s gradually dried out more over the years, to me it is still a little snake.

At the time I felt like I was constantly assessing the various states of decomposition of creatures around me, foxes over the gamekeeper’s wall, or a sheep in the burn. But with them, a transition would be made…from sheep, to sheep skeleton, then to just- a skeleton- ready to have it’s bones poked at and investigated as to what poor creature it once was.

However this snake has always still been a little snake, and I'm glad that I've finally got over the terrifying fear that it (all 1cm of it) was going to come back to life!

Outside of the Evaporation I’ve been transcribing and digesting,the interesting interviews I conducted down in Exeter. I have them on my phone, so when shuffling they often pop up, a welcome break from the few albums that I’ve over-listened to!

I’ve also had some interesting, but fairly brain-straining discussions with Colin Semple
Trying to visualize Chromatin structure and the hierarchy of DNA, quite taken by these fractal globules. As always, it’s a bit of a battle between not over-simplifying and clarity. A fun challenge with things working at hugely different molecular scales, and to try and convey with the limits of stop-motion animation. I’ve had to resort to some computer manipulation, but I’m hoping the immediate/organic nature of the cut-out animation isn’t getting lost!

Now in production…

by Lindsay Goodall - Documentary Filmmaker in Residence

Since our commissioning meeting in February I’ve been working flat out looking for contributors to be involved in my documentary about health inequalities in Glasgow. It’s been a whirlwind journey so far, taking me from Bridgeton, to Parkhead, Tollcross, Shettleston and many places in between. Along the way I’ve met some really wonderful and generous people, who are genuinely enthused about my plan to make a film in the area where they live. 

In particular I’ve had a lot of support from the fantastic people at Playbusters and Bridgeton Community Learning Campus, I’ve met lots of locals who’ve responded to posters I put up in local shops (a very big thank you to the Morrisons’ notice board!), visited the Lodging House Mission, and enjoyed many meetings over copious cups of tea at the brand new Bridgeton Library (which also houses the first ever British Film Institute Mediatheque in Scotland). And last week I was reprimanded by the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland.

I’ve also had the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful architecture and history of Bridgeton while on the Bridgeton Heritage Trail (check out the heritage trails across Glasgow, they’re fab) and have spent quite a few hours dumping the jumbled mess inside my brain onto my wonderful producer Lili Sandelin who has a great knack for helping me put everything back together into a coherent whole.

As well as learning a lot about the people and place where I’ve lived for the past 7 years I was recently taught the slosh at a tea dance at the Whiterose Community Hall. Growing up in Fife, I wasn’t aware of the slosh until fairly recently, but it seems it’s quite a big thing around Glasgow. To help you picture the scene check this out:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFmtVhkOIWk&feature=player_detailpage

There were fewer men and a little less swearing at the tea dance, but apart from that it was not dissimilar, and I had a really good time.

So I’m learning a lot, meeting great people and trying to piece everything together and have a finished film by May. I’m really grateful to everyone who has helped in my research and development so far, and I hope I succeed in making a film they will be proud to contribute to and enjoy watching.

www.playbusters.org.uk/ (Playbusters)

www.bclc.org.uk (Bridgeton Community Learning Campus)

http://www.lhm-glasgow.org.uk (Lodging House Mission)

http://www.olympiaglasgow.org/news.html (library and mediatheque)

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4328 (heritage trails)

http://www.northisle.co.uk (Lili)