On Friday the 27th of March HOME IN BRIDPORT and Transition Town Bridport with the wonderful support and contribution of Sarah Wilberforce created a set of treats for children in the schools' garden. Delicious food and a special hot chocolate were made and offered by the head gardner and cook Tia Perrella, broad beans were planted by some of the children who attended, Easter Eggs were designed and Martin Maudsley provided silly stories and songs to thrill all. Despite the occasional drizzle, everyone found entertainment and conversation inside the polytunnels and the tent provided by Sarah and Sam Wilberforce. About 30 people attended including three school governors and the head teacher, Helen Farmer.
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The DEMOCRACY IN BRIDPORT 2015 celebration was born out of the HOME IN BRIDPORT project. I was planning on making a film and a photo-essay about how democracy is practiced in a small western European town. I thought of it as a universal expression about what the condition of democracy is today. Although it is a system superior to others, there is an ever-increasing critique of cabinet government, the rise of the national security state and the threat to social harmony fostered by rising economic inequality.
Many people are alienated to politicians, elections and often to local participation and there are rising signs of racist and fascist activity. I feel this is a vital time for all of us to look at what we believe and care about as a community. Since my HOME exhibition in 2012 seemed to stir people into asking questions, I believe that likewise, this project may do the same. As a consequence of the workshops held by HOME from May 2013 through August 2014, virtually everyone involved wanted to participate in the development of the Democracy project. Many people have joined and offered ideas and new skills in puppet making, dance and music. Its perspective and depth has grown with these increased contributions. By sheer coincidence, this is the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, whose fundamental idea that all people should be treated equally under the law, served as a spark to illuminate democracy in Europe. At the same time, the town council wish to encourage the people of Bridport to contribute to the rewriting of the town’s own charter, a consequence of the Magna Carta. We will encourage young and old to become excited by the towns heritage, and will help people to newly see its 1000 listed buildings, and how its religious, civil and industrial history played a part in its developing democracy. This will be accomplished through workshops, theatrical pieces, an exhibition, musical events and other offerings. At the moment, we are waiting for funding news but would like to ask if there are any local crafts people or artists who would decorate 8 small ballot boxes as receptacles for the charter questionnaire that will be placed around town. Robert Golden Christmas at St Mary's Primary School HOME IN BRIDPORT showed up on the 5th of December, 2015 at the Christmas party with a stand and to participate in the enjoyment. Here are some pictures from that day. HOME SUMMER PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOPS We ran a series of 5 workshops across the summer held, with many thank to James Ward-Rice, in the Bridport Youth Centre.
The intention was to start at the top of page one in terms of using and controlling a digital camera and proceeding from simple things like learning to focus your ground glass for your own eye, through to how automatic metering and focus work, how a picture is altered by the use of different lens lengths and how depth of focus can be used as a powerful tool to control the look and feel of an image. As most of the 8 people were used to making landscapes, portraits, or more casual street/snap-shooting work, it was decided to assign something more controllable but challenging – the making of a still life from scratch. Through the 5 secessions people progressed in their technical understanding, their creativity and their ability to begin to see an image before the shutter is released. Some amazing images were produced from highly constructed to found still life images, the latter especially by Makeda Downes, an 11 year old with a surprising perception of composition and space, managing to reduce the objects in the frame to a simple and elegant composition. Chris Hilton, Rosie Mathisen, David Powell and Rosie Allsop all somewhat older than Makeda, also produced captivating images reflecting their passions for music, crafts and in the expressive force of the medium. Well done to them. Robert Golden “I strongly believe that, regardless of what is happening in politics – not just in Zimbabwe but in many different parts of the world – if we want to change things, we will need to go to the grassroots and teach them to stand up for themselves, because it we can empower them beyond being a victim of a political situation, then we are making change happen. “The reason why I go into communities, select groups … empower those and bring them back into the communities to inspire change, … because we need to change the way change it viewed. People say politicians or grownups or the successful ones are going to change things in the country, but I think everyone has a part to contribute.” Chido Govera – a 28 year old Zimbabwean mushroom farmer, educator and speaker. Clearly a wonderful young woman who overcame poverty, abuse and oppression, and who now speaks eloquently about these things. While her frame of reference is within the third world, I believe that we, here in England do not ‘teach them to stand up for themselves’ but offer ideas, workshops and sometimes analysis hoping that people will find a way for themselves within the opportunities and concepts we both live to and offer. robert golden After our wonderful day at the school allotment I wondered what this sharing of food grown in the neighbourhood meant. I came across a quote by Albert Howard.
" The birth right of all living things is HEALTH. This law is true for soil, plant, animal and man: the health of these four is one connected chain" On the hot, sunny evening of Wednesday 28 July, 2014, the HOME IN BRIDPORT PROJECT organised a barbeque with the help of Skilling residents. The purpose was to encourage people to view the St Mary’s garden that HOME has helped to re-invigorate for the school. Our two wonderful, green thumbed gardeners, Tia Perrella and Emily Gainsford have created a beautiful haven swelling with ripening tomatoes, courgettes, grapes and other fruit and vegetables. Skilling resident and unemployed chef, Chris Jackson took command of the barbque, producing marinated skewered chicken and peppers, burgers and both vegetarian and meaty sausages; Amanda Downes’ potato salad and bruschetta were scooped and Emily Burwood’s seductive chocolate cake gathered a following. It was a wonderful evening and we believe many people became convinced that their voices should be heard in unison, asking the landlords to help them create a private garden between the flats where food and flowers can be grown, children can play in safety away from passing cars and adults can enjoy fresh air and privacy. photographs: Robert Golden |
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