WITH THE GRAIN

single channel projection, video and 3D animation, live art, music and community contribution

If These Halls Could Talk was a region-wide season of contemporary arts events held in seven community halls. The project  kicked off with a live art event by  Craig Walsh at The Channon Hall on Saturday 17 September. Celebrating the fusion of old and new, respecting histories whilst honouring the now, the happening was an outpouring of expression defining the town’s identity. With The Grain invited the audience to bring a lantern and join an effulgent walk to the hall, reminiscent of the pre-electricity days where the community would use the full moon and lanterns to make their way to the many events held there over the last century. Once inside the audience experienced Walsh’s large scale responsive artwork in the form of a traditional honour board, made in collaboration with the community and celebrating the identity of the iconic village by fusing the old with the new.

The virtual timber honour board contained edited video with composited animation. The edit utilised still portraits, video interviews, historical images and other content collected. This content  played back as if interacting with the honour board, appearing within the surface of the board, a vine slowly growing until it completely covered all the video content and honour board.

key objectives of the work

•      A single space to honour collective memory and community contribution;
•      A reference to timber and its uses;
•      Recognition that timber and forests are intrinsically linked to the collective actions, economic viability and purpose for the establishment of the town;
•      A reference point to the changes which took place in attitudes and education in relation to forests, and the old and new settlers;
•      Utilising a familiar feature of the hall and developing a contemporary version which honors current and past contribution in every way and not just      traditional notions of individual’s worthy of a place on the honour board;
•    Honoring the collective contribution of community to the identity of this place.

The work was  accompanied by a night of live music, entertainment and delicious food and drinks made by the local community.