Curating the town: Walking Wet in Wellingborough

Not put off by the considerably wet weather, our Light Walks team gathered at Wellingborough Castle for our September Light Walk.

We had set aside our original plans for this walk due to the persistent rain, and opted for a more urban walk this time.

We started our walk in the art gallery space upstairs, where we laid down our challenge for the Light Walkers: could they look at the town of Wellingborough as an art gallery?

Jo gave each of the Light Walkers red dots and asked them to find "artworks" on the walk that they would like to "buy" and stick their red dot sticker next to that, to show it was "sold".

Since we had not planned this walk, Jo then introduced the team to the ideas of the Situationists and the concept of the dérive, and suggested that we take a walk driven by chance. Carole then explained how this would work, using a "fortune teller" she had made up from a map. The fortune teller dictated the direction of the walk.

And so we set off West, as directed by the fortune teller. It didn't take long before we started finding "artworks" to buy.

As we continued on our walk, we 'spotted' the following artworks on our way, and we feel this is a great exhibition created by the town of Wellingborough and curated by our Light Walks team. We hope you enjoy it!

 Curated by Carolyn

Curated by Michael

Curated by John

Curated by Carole

Curated by Pete

Curated by Pete

Curated by John and Curtis

Curated by Carole

Curated by Michael

Curated by Carolyn

 Curated by Jo

 Curated by John

 Curated by John

 Curated by John

 Curated by Carolyn

 Curated by Curtis

 Curated by Curtis

 Curated by Pete

 Curated by Carole

Curated by John

 Curated by Jo

 Curated by Jo

 Curated by Jo

 Curated by Michael

We ended the day exploring the terrific Museum; here's John playing on their pianola!

We have one more Light Walk to do in October, followed by a celebratory exhibition. The venue is still to be decided (but contact us if you have any suggestions!), so check back soon for confirmation  - we would love you to come along for our final celebration of a year of walking!

Magnificent Maps... heralding change?

I've been reading the British Library's curator's blog for the Magnificent Maps exhibition.  There is a comment about maps not often heralding change, they usually reflect change (29 May 2010).  But I think they can have a very important role in changing our perceptions of things, in the selection of networks that the map maker chooses to make visible. The way we connect things in our minds (which maps make visible) can profoundly change the way we view them and then respond, or behave. They are so powerful. The whole idea of this exhibition is fascinating, the maps reflect but perhaps played a role in the changing relationships of power and politics over the centuries.

It is a bit like language.  The language we choose to use for things can profoundly change the way we view them.  By carefully selecting the language you use to describe something, you can subtley change the way people understand you.  So with maps and networks.  What you choose to link or show, the relationships your map chooses to reveal (or leave out!) will change the nature of how you view those elements, the importance you might give one over the other and so on.

British Library Magnificent Maps curator's blog 

Magnificent Maps:  Power, Propoganda and Art
"Maps can be works of art, propaganda pieces, expressions of local pride, and tools of indoctrination... Magnificent Maps brings together some of the most impressive wall maps ever created, many of which have never been exhibited before, and will demonstrate why maps are about far more than simply geography."