Day 1

Beginning at Fabrica, there were 7 participants at the gallery, with 2 people visiting the exhibition donning some of my spare black clothes and joining the "I", creating the lovely number 9.
I didn't take photographs during the event but we got some at the end and will use film stills.

We began at the top end of the gallery in a circle, intending a 10 minute "I" activity, to follow with discussion before trying the next formation. As it happened we were able to communicate enough to continue with the "I" far longer than that, whispering, shouting, chanting, lining up, moving the circle around, eventually following our youngest (5 years) participant's movement to lay down. We lay on the ground still saying "I" for a while, then stopped for a tea break, though continued in "I" until all the tea and coffee was made and being drunk at which point we discussed how we were finding the event, the expression between us, the way we were forming / had formed a group and the movements within the piece.

Participants that needed to leave did so shortly after the break and chat, and the remaining "I"'s cleared the main space to spread out with further "I" formations. We closed the gallery at this point, though we did decide to further involve the public by bringing in people from the high street for stage 3.

We planned a few exercises to use, such as throwing the "I" between the group, echoing the idea of trace and generating a ripple effect, we also pushed each other about a bit, and sang the "I". At one point we lined up on the suggestion of Jason Brooks (who filmed all three events), and responded to the "I" sounds we were making without looking at each other which made it much more melodious.

There was a lot of laughter within all of these workshops, balanced with a seriousness we maintained for certain durations, the nature of the site, as well as the theme of the show - which included documentation of the case of Fred and Rosemary West, such as interviews with the forensics and psychotherapists and a long interview with one of the daughters in the case. The interviews reflected how the crime effects further than those directly involved, but ripples through the neighborhood, families of families and the detectives involved in the case as well as the wider public in hearing about what had taken place.

We discussed some of the comments made regarding female serial killers - the media and general population evidently respond to women more harshly than males committing similar crimes. This led to some discussion around power and gender issues sometimes apparent in my work - as well as an underlying psychological element and linkages between the piece we were creating and the subject of the show.

The next activity stage used the entire space and was more movement based, evolving to include several participants from the street - one of whom led us around the church in an "I" conga! We ended up huddled at the top end of the church at which point the event drew to a natural close.

Day 2

We began at the Turner Project Space, with a gazebo, shells, paints, water and table set up on the beach for any families that went directly there. We, being Tony Childs from Thanet Coastal project and 3 volunteers, Jason Brooks, myself and Lucy Kirke from Turner Contemporary.
At the project space we began with a discussion about the exhibition Nature Is A Workshop, and linkages between what we were doing, and the themes of the show. I introduced the idea that we formed a sculpture in the space, painting our shells, talking about / planning a piece for the beach and speaking in "I"...

We then all introduced ourselves, as "I" and began to paint shells. There were moments of "I" only, but generally people did speak to each other in their usual words and concentrated on the colours and patterns they were painting. We noticed that many shells looked like they had already been coloured, with strong greens and purples as well as detailed patterns.

We then proceeded to the beach, by now there were between 45 to 50 participants, and I felt like the pied piper carrying the paint to the beach whilst leading the procession of shell carriers. We here arranged the painted shells and continued to paint new ones - the threatening rain was kind to us and waited until the end of the day so it was relaxed and fun. There was a continuous "I" mixed in with other chatter and lots of concentration on the painting activity. When the majority of shells were painted we all gathered around them and had a big burst of pure "I" which was loud and lively. This was influenced by a further explanation that I gave of the idea that we are all individual "I"'s as part of the group collective "I" just as each of our shells were painted as ours, yet formed the one sculpture, and each of the "I" events were independent pieces yet linked into the one project.

Tony then led an activity whereby the group whispered wishes for the environment into unpainted shells which they placed at the center of a labyrinth drawn into the sand, which the tide would carry away.

Participants then collected some of the shells they had painted and wanted to keep, which they took away with them. We decided not to leave coloured shells on the beach as any potential arguments about such pollution aren't relevant to this project, so remaining coloured shells were taken to Sanford Cooperative (day 3) to decorate the garden with.

After the event I passed a family who had taken part, waved and said "I" to the child, who waved and said "I" back.


Day 3

At Sanford - a democratic and eco friendly housing cooperative in South London, I set up a blanket and some drinks and snacks between the ponds and the East London train line that is being developed adjacent to the cooperative gardens.
At first there were only 3 of us chatting and having a drink, but soon other members of the cooperative joined us and after an unnecessary introduction to the project by myself, started with the "I". This was really fun, asking to pass drinks etc. in "I". Soon it evolved to chanting and with the involvement of some musicians the chanting became quite elaborate! People joined and left with numbers fluctuating to and fro between 5 - 25, at one point I got sent away, which was odd as I had no idea why until after the event. It turned out someone had spilled red wine on the blanket so they were distracting me with "I" whilst getting salt and clearing it up, before inviting me to return again all in "I"!

An interesting and more serious element took place when security guards on the rail line became interested and their dog started barking at us. We said "I' in reply to the dog and were threatened about our right to take photographs etc. though we were on the cooperatives land with a view generated by the work taking place on the rail line. This raises some interesting questions regarding noise from the building work in the gardens, and the presence of 10+ workmen Monday - Friday overlooking the cooperatives property, therefore a much decreased sense of space.

At present there is discussion between the cooperative members and the landscaping team working on the rail line: it will be interesting to see how things progress and how mutual agreements can be reached regarding damage reduction to the flora, the fish and general sense of well being within this long standing community.

The episode of "I"ing with the dog was quite funny and the event drew to a close shortly afterwards.

There will be a presentation of the project at Fabrica Gallery from 6-8pm 13th May, including the initial workshops at BHASVIC, work made with the students there, development and activity of the "I" piece and links with the exhibition INDELIBLE as well as the work with and at Turner Contemporary, Margate Beach and Sanford Cooperative. This is free of charge and is for people who are interested in the work, and / or have taken part, though it will not be 'public', more a discussion based event for people with a definite interest in what has taken place and how this open way of working with artists in partnership can be developed.

The film will be sent to participants as soon as it is ready, and stills of elements 1 and 3 will be on the blog shortly.