The penultimate event of the project Unseen Simultaneous Realities saw the recoverists hosted by David Hoyle in a picnic in HOME gallery. Fruit was the theme. There were bananas inscribed with questions that the group had put forward and a frank and moving discussion ensued between the artists , participants and audience. The audience were in some ways the most surprising and interesting - people revealed their own stories of giving up, being on recovery, struggling to recover - and some never ever talking about it to anyone. Discussion moved onto the politics of recovery and the implications of a drugged , damaged population feeding large corporations selling dreams of perfection. As most
In the performance, Apples and Other Fruits at HOME in Manchester, alongside other artists including the fabulous David Hoyle, Adele created a new autobiographical performance, based on an experience of addiction. Revealing her compulsive search over years for healing from trauma through self help books she describes the feeling that One was never enough. And she herself was never enough. Using a specially created rubber stamp, to frank each book in her huge collection, she then gave away each book to an audience member, with love. The soundtrack, like a strange and somewhat ludicrous motivational poem, echoed the titles of the tower of books as it gradually depleted. The piece is part of Un
Littoral invited Pool Arts to spend a peaceful two days at the Merzbarn near Ambleside in the Lakedistrict. Despite the torrential downpour we walked, talked, learnt, drew,cooked and were delighted to be there - away from the city and immersed in the magical atmosphere. Luckily a huge open ended awning with comfy chairs meant we could be inside and outside at the same time contemplating the beauty of the place. Thanks to Littoral for funding the trip.
Another Adele is working up a new idea that's been on the back burner for years. Now is the moment. My collaborative partner Adele has been working with the Unseen project in Manchester. Curated by Mark Prest and led by David Hoyle and Jackie Haynes, a group of artists with shared backgrounds as LGBTQI and "recoverists" came together to explore their experiences as artists. The new work we are creating as Another Adele will be part of a larger performance involving all the Unseen team, led by director Nick Blackburn with David Hoyle. Another Adele is gathering up her collection of self help books - where ONE is definitely not enough. Beside the huge tower of books, Adele explains the meaning
Here's Adele with our fried Paul We attended the launch of this fascinating project on Friday night at Ezra and Gil coffee shop in Manchester. Adele has been involved in workshops exploring how artists who are LGBTQ and in recovery from substance misuse can be "seen" - what barriers they face to developing their practices. Adele worked with a group of artists, Curators, writers and academics including performer David Hoyle, Jackie Haynes, Mark Prest, Greg Thorpe, prof Amanda Ravetz. There will be two performance events later in the month at HOME, but last weekend David and Adele created 5 Minutes of Peace - an interactive performative service for revellers at Pride. Adele used relaxation
