LIVE ART WOC

An evolving programme of live art and performance: An opportunity for debate and discussion of work in this field. For futher information about Live Art WOC and any of the events please email: liveartwoc@hotmail.co.uk

With the excitement of making Grains of Paradise at the Bluecoat in Liverpool and taking part in Hazard, Manchester's site specific live art and performance festival - Live Art WOC gets ready for a new series of events.

Projects in the pipeline will feature new work by artists Adela Jones, Will Pollard and Peter Knowles. Live Art WOC is in the process of re-locating in Northwich, Cheshire and establishing a new base venue to host events. Please do keep an eye on the site over the coming months for our most recent updates and projects!

Live Art WOC was established in May 2006 by Adela Jones

SLUG INFESTATION

Sunday 13 July 2008
Phillips Park, Manchester

A live art event by Adela Jones
In collaboration with Ravensbury Primary School and New East Manchester

Inside a small plastic greenhouse, something big ugly and slimy had been growing; almost completely taken over with no room for plants a glimpse of the mega slugs was enough to make visitors to the park shudder! Prompted into action by the Ravensbury Pest Controllers; and armed with high strength slug pellets - unsuspecting passers by took part in the destruction of the lettuce chomping, fast breeding giant slugs.

Tamed and friendly baby slugs were on site too for handling and helping the public understand the scale of the problem. This event was a real success thanks to the ultra enthusiastic team of Pest Controllers from Ravensbury Community Primary School, Beswick who worked incredibly hard with all the preparations for the event for Seeds of the East a special celebration of gardens in Phillips Park, Beswick.

Performers:

Adela Jones, Will Pollard, Ammie, Matthew, Matthew and Nancy

Photographs by Adela Jones

HOOKED

Saturday 12 July 2008
Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester
A site specific performance Will Pollard & Adela Jones

A trout and a fisherman find common ground in a fountain. Competition and one-upmanship turns to tenderness and love. As the sun set and the flies hatched. Trout and fisherman walked hand in fin into the evening.

Hooked was a collaboration between artists Will Pollard and Adela Jones commissioned by Hazard Manchester’s micro-festival of incidental intervention and sited performance, packed full of chance encounters, random occurrences and risky ventures around and about the city centre an event Produced by hÅb and greenroom.

For more information about Hazard see

http://www.myspace.com/hazardmcr

GRAINS OF PARADISE

Sat 21 & Sun 22 June 2008
At the Bluecoat, Liverpool
A live event by Adela Jones

Grains of Paradise: The launch event for an incredible collection of giant plants nurtured by Liverpool’s Botanical Specialists: Over 130 people attended this event over the two days, during 6 intimate interactive tours of the plants. Adela Jones devised this event in collaboration with a group of families from Liverpool. It was hosted by the Bluecoat and forms part of Fragrant, a citywide project commissioned by Liverpool Culture Company, which explores Liverpool’s Botanical Collection.

Guided by the ‘Head Grower’ visitors were given a unique introduction to the plants and opportunities to interact with the more unusual specimens. Every visitor was presented with floral leis by the assistant botanist and invited by one of the gardeners to name and plant a glittering rich coloured seed they had been given on arrival, whilst being serenaded by a grand piano solo of the well known song Mud, Mud Glorious Mud. Once the seeds were planted a medical screen on wheels was pulled back to reveal four magnificent plants:

Sonitus Contemno - Noise Hater
This plant loves the shade and has an unusual sensitivity to loud noise and touch; it flowers once every 8-9 years. On display it opened its giant leaves to reveal a stunning flower when stroked gently on its leaves but kept suddenly closing up each time Radix Emanio let off a loud noise.

Familiaris Presul - Friendly Dancer
A fast growing friendly plant that craves attention, this specimen was very popular during the tours – it went to seed on clothing of unsuspecting visitors sprinkling red seeds that looked like glitter off its tendrils.

Radix Emanio - Rooty Spreader
A member of the mint family this highly irritant difficult to manage plant lets off regular gassy explosions, visitors assisted the gardeners with the daily task of keeping its rampantly growing roots under control using giant dibbers specially designed for this purpose.

Magnus Imbibo - Big Drinker
Originally coming from dry areas of the tropics this plant usually manages to survive in desert conditions storing water for months at a time in its plump leaves. Grown in captivity it has not had the usual fight for survival; this has made it very demanding. During the tours this plant was heard by visitors gasping for a drink and asking for water, they helped keep it quiet by squirting it with water.

After the special plant introductions, visitors were ushered through to witness Botanist, Dr. Pollard performing a live plant dissection. On a giant block spot lit in four corners. The visitors were instructed to stand in a circle around this large specimen: They were invited to taste the sweet pollen of the plant; who became increasingly agitated as they did so – the event concluded as the noise of the wailing dissected plant became unbearable. The plants may be seen on display again in September 2008 at Croxteth Park in Liverpool.

Performers:

Alan Crombie, Jade Crombie, Faye Crombie, Kali & Charlie, Adela Jones

Will Pollard, Charlotte Tupper, Sally Grimwood, Matthew Keogh, Sian Jones,

Helen Jones, Gerallt Jones, Annie McClean.

Thank you very much to everyone who worked on this project! It was great fun!

Photographs by Andrew Brooks

VERMIN: a pest control training centre

8.30pm, Friday 5 October
A live art event by Adela Jones
Cow Lane Studios, Cow Lane, Salford

At this event guests joined the pest control training squad and were exposed as trainees; to a new set of guidelines to erradicate local vermin. They were taken on a route through 3 training units and introduced to new and safe methods of pest control. The pest control team were named after different aspects of Vermin erradication.

The evening began as trainees were met by PREVENTION. He proceeded to tie the bottoms of their trouser legs with bailing twine (to keep out rodents). He then sent them outside with grabbers wearing protective gloves, to clear away matter which could attract Vermin; the pavement was covered in bread, half eaten chips and nuts. At 7pm trainees were called back inside and sent through a cleansing room where they were made to scrub their hands carefully under observation. This was followed by a short headlice examination on a spot lit stool infront of all the other trainees. The later people arrived the more people they had viewing their examination.

Hand written accounts of pest encounters formed the basis of the training introduction talk by CONTROL before the trainees were led in groups of six at a time into a giant mouse tunnel. The tunnel led to Unit 2. Inside Unit 2 trainees were instructed to clean a giant black rat sat in a bathing pool of tepid water. Attached to the matted fur coat of the rat were what looked like giant pink grubs (a set of fermenting prawns with a lingereing smell). After this they were directed through another tunnel to Unit 3 a workshop area where PREVENTION and ERRADICATION presented trainees with cheese, wire and a spoken instruction poem on how to make a trap. This space was quite dark. Led by CONTROL trainees had to leave the unit and plant their traps.

Cheese and wine were served in the time waiting for everyone to pass through the training experience . The pest encounter accounts were pegged up to be shared by all the trainees. The evening concluded with a presentation to all those who attended. This involved trainees shaking hands and being congratulated by the full training squad and the giant rat presenting certificates and white chocolate mice to each trainee.

Performers:
Will Pollard, Adela Jones,Charlotte Tupper, Sally Grimwood

Matthew Keogh, Peter Knowles

Photographs by Andrew Brooks 2007

AN OBEDIENCE CLASS

8.30pm, Saturday 1 September 2007
BIFLTBA (Birmingham International Festival of Live & Time Based Art)
The Edge, Digbeth, Birmingham

9pm, Friday 28 September 2007
greenroom, 54-56 Whitworth Street West, Manchester M1 5WW



A 20 minute interruption and introduction to ring-craft; judging potential agility, temperament and obedinece of a class of young pups. A live art event by Adela Jones. Part of 'emergency' an annual platform for contemporary performance, live art and intervention at Greenroom. Over 30 short performances took place in a day and a half (described by Greenroom as ' a veritable lucky dip - from the contemplative to the downright bonkers') and BIFLTBA at 'The Edge' in Birmingham.

Instructed by ladies in fuzzy green jogging suits with matching pink shoes and flowers in their hair; eight volunteers from the audience were invited to come and stand on a grass green runway. Put into pairs they were told they were about to compete in a 'dog show'. Each pair was given a team colour and a special bag containing a t-shirt, special doggy head gear a collar and lead. The remaining audience were given voting cards by Judge Knowles and Judge Grimwood and asked to vote for the dog they believe to be the best performer in each of 3 classes. The judges interrupted and passed comments on the dogs performance for the duration of the event.

After an action packed demonstration by the enthusuastic pups, voting cards were collected and counted and prizes were awarded to the impressively obedient animals. The dog in first place just made it with his pants still on - Judge Grimwood noted that wearing designer underwear would not fetch him extra points; but Banjo with his barked rendition of 'happy birthday' was not overlooked. On conclussion the show was packed back into the wheelie bone box from which it arrived and the event was over.




For further information about the programme at greenroom see: http://www.myspace.com/emergencymcr

This special event is dedicated to and inspired by EM BURROWS one dog-obsessed friend no longer with us. It will be presented again in Summer 2008, in Birkenhead in Em's home town.

Video stills taken from documentation by Will Pollard

The Imaginative Eye and the Levenshulme Bicycle Orchestra

8pm Saturday 15 September 2007
At Cow Lane Studios, Cow Lane, Salford, M5 4NB



The Imaginative Eye and the Levenshulme Bicycle Orchestra joined together for a unique collaboration of performance art and live music. The performers’ ages range from 21 to 81 with a variety of different experiences and backgrounds.

The Imaginative Eye consists of three performers. Milena Yon describes herself as a ‘dance shamaness performance artist from Croatia’: Jane Whitaker is a performance lecturer and a visiting tutor in radical performance: Ken Turner, painter and performer, set up ‘Action Space’ in 1967 as a pioneer of live art outside the gallery system. They have been performing together when the occasion arises for the last 6 years. Levenshulme Bicycle Orchestra is made up of experimental musicians. A sculptured bicycle is beaten and bowed alongside sheet metal, battered drums, hammering bass lines and howling wails; making up its sound.

The intention of this work was to look closer at a period of painting and thought from 1884 to 1930 in relation to the contrast in aesthetic between the ‘Rustic Naturalism’ of the Newlyn School of Painting in Cornwall and the rise of Impressionism in Paris and Brittany.

For more information see
http://www.levenshulmebicycleorchestra.com/colourcowlane.jpg

Photographs by Adela Jones 2007

THE OBSERVATORY

A live art event by Adela Jones
2-3pm Saturday 7 July 2007
At High Gables, Moss Lane, Nr. Congleton, Cheshire



You are invited to join the ‘Jones Family Nature Watch Team’ and spend an afternoon in their purpose built hide. This is a one off opportunity for the public to visit this private observatory and have access to recently noted unusual behaviour of local wildlife.



Guided by rangers from ' The Jones Family Nature Watch Team' Visitors to this event witnessed a rare sighting of a Large Mole (graudimolus) from a purpose built hide in a private rural domestic garden in Brereton Heath, near Congleton. Upon instruction by one of the rangers, tokens each visitor had been given on arrival were exchanged for specially prepared ‘wildlife food’.

Four visitors were given passes for a close encounter with the unusual local wildlife. Another ranger helped them to get prepared and dress in giant worm costumes - this group of four were allowed into the habitat beyond the observatory through a worm hatch. They were instructed to put feeding bowls down in specially marked areas, they clanged on their tin bowls with spoons and then crouched and waited for the timid creature to arrive.



The mole measured up the garden and hammered a set of red pegs into the lawn. He then proceeded to twist white string between the pegs creating a network of sectioned off areas. Once this was done he brought in a shovel and a wheelbarrow mounded high with soil. He then neatly piled mounds of soil into each sectioned off area, shaping them carefully with his paws. Occasionally he took a taste of the wildlife food set out for him by the ‘close encounter’ visitors, then continued with his work. Finally he removed the pegs and string - tumbled a giant worm into his barrow and disappeared off down the garden.

During the event homemade cakes were served with tea and coffee and tickets for a Live Art WOC raffle were sold. About 40 visitors attended the event: A mix of local people and others who had travelled over from Manchester, Nottingham and Liverpool. After the mole had gone back into hiding visitors were invited to explore the garden recording any wildlife they discovered on the daily sightings board.

A big thank you to the JONES FAMILY NATURE WATCH TEAM!
Helen Jones, Ges Jones, Adrian Jones, Sian Jones, Dan Stykuc
Kevin Linnane & Peter Knowles

Photographs by Kevin Linnane 2007
With visitor photographs by Andrew Walker

BARE BAITING

A live art event by Kevin Linnane
7pm (prompt) On Friday 18 May 2007
At ‘The Fridge’ - Cow Lane Studios, Cow Lane, Salford, M5 4NB

Place your bets on the results of a series of competitive heats; Fantasy and reality collide in this intriguing event. Beauty and the beast slug it out at Live Art WOC... Once upon a time lives happily ever after.



In a room filled with the smell of fresh sawdust and cider, a ring of straw surrounded a small wooden table and two chairs. A woman sat perched on a tall stool playing folk tunes on her fiddle. Guests were welcomed into the space and sent to fill their mugs at the bar by a ring master wearing a black top hat and huge red boots.

At 7.15pm guests were invited by the ring master to move in closer; he proceeded to read the format of the evening: A contest of will, intreague, wit, cunning, underhandedness, endurance and extreme danger...the event consisted of five rounds between two contestants RED and BLUE at the end of which the audience decided the winner. The two contestants entered, each with 'a second' carrying a bucket full of insults and pampering tools to keep their contestant going.

Each bout was introduced by the ring master following the ring of a bell by 'the time keeper'. "Seconds out Round...1,2,3,4 and 5" Jeers, cheers, laughter, frustration and elation from the onlookers followed the action.


Photographs by Dave Bennett 2007

THE LONG TABLE

7pm (prompt) On Friday 23 March 2007
At ‘The Fridge’ - Cow Lane Studios, Cow Lane, Salford, M5 4NB

A live art event devised and hosted by
Adela Jones in collaboration with Naomi Kendrick

Menu - Six, six minute courses served by six special guests:

Course 1 - Naomi Kendrick
Course 2 - Marie Louise Cookson
Course 3 - Kevin Linnane
Course 4 - Peter Knowles
Course 5 - Sophia Hao
Course 6 - Matthew Keogh

'Come and join us around the table for an evening of anticipation and participation'

The first 12 visitors to arrive were given a new name for the evening, they were then directed to find their place, a seat at 'The Long Table' to consume a menu of encounters and interactions at this ‘one-off’ event. Standing areas were marked out for visitors who arrived after the first 12 were seated. Six special guests had been invited to bring something to the table; an intimate experience for the seated guests. Each of the special guests served 'a six minute course' introduced and timed by the hostess; Adela Jones: She stood on a raised platform at the head of the table. Three ushers (Sally Grimwood, Elly Stringer and Shoey Juna) worked closely with the special guests throughout the evening assisting with the preparations and clear away of each course.

The table was covered in a deep blue cloth with a gold geometric repeated pattern, the handmade dress worn by the hostess and Naomi Kendirck (who met guests on arrival) were made from the same fabric as the table covering; the platforms were also covered in this material. Items on the table at the start included: 12 cream napkins hand embroidered in blue with 'The Long Table' , 12 name places corresponding to the new names the visitors had been given for the evening and a heavy steel chain running the circumference of the table with 12 sets of cutlery attached.

Course 1 - Naomi Kendrick
The seated guests were split into pairs. Each pair was dressed by Naomi in either a hats, gloves or a scarf which were physically connected together with chains. Pushing the boundaries of personal space; the ushers then bought in six baguettes on plates placing one between each connected pair. Naomi then asked everyone to pick up the knife and fork (attached to the steel chain) and consume their meal. Whilst eating the visitors were encouraged by Naomi. After 6 minutes the action was stopped by the Hostess and the table cleared as with each course.

Course 2 - Marie Louise Cookson
Marie entered wearing her everyday clothes, wrapped up warm like the event visitors. She presented a monologue that explored the concept of recalling a story to friends at a dinner table. The interaction with this piece was through listening and did not require any props. The story focused on social interactions in public spaces and what it is to really know someone. Marie moved around the space surrounding the table and used body language and eye contact to connect with the standing audience.

Course 3 - Kevin Linnane
Kevin entered the space with ceremonial precision. The female ushers bought in wine glasses two at a time containing red liquid they placed one in front of each guest. The male usher followed them placing an envelope to rest upright against each glass. Once complete Kevin asked the visitors to open their envelope. On the front of each envelope was a quote about 'work', inside were instructions. Kevin then asked them all to stand and demonstrated how to create a continuous harmonious sound with their glass. Each glass contained a level of water that would produce an individual note.

Course 4 - Peter Knowles
A member of the standing audience was invited to draw a name from a hat. This was Peter's method of selecting the recipient of his first delicacy. Dragging a long hessian sack (and his foot) behind him Peter moved around the table to find the person who had been selected, creating a sense of anticipation. On reaching the 'chosen one' Peter invited him to select a 'Match'. Peter's work explored the way language and interpretation can challenge meaning. Complete with a set of handmade and carefully chosen props and safety gear he used the chosen visitor as the receiver of his concept in the form of an object.

Course 5 - Sophia Hao
Sophia entered to the sound a somber ticking clock. A female usher placed a glass test tube on the table beside each visitor. Sophia walked around the table carrying a domestic washing up bowl filled with water. A male usher entered carrying a photograph of Sophia as a Memento Mori. When Sophia placed the bowl at the end of the table the usher handed her the photo; she placed it facing upwards in the bowl of water then proceeded to wash it with her hands. Sophia then moved around the table placing the bowl in front of several guests; inviting them to wash the photo prompting a controlled intimate encounter for each individual. Each time the hostess rung a bell Sophia filled the visitors test tube with water from the bowl; capturing fragments of the photo. The visitors were given the signed tubes as gifts to keep.

Course 6 - Matthew Keogh
The final course involved a transformation of the table. The seated guests were asked to stand and move with their chairs to the area marked out for the standing audience. Matthew then removed the cloth revealing the table beneath. He then brought in a large electric circular saw; wearing protective goggles, gloves and a respirator he proceeded to cut a line along the 7m length of 'The Long Table'. Moving steadily along, the sound of the cutting alarmed the visitors. Splaying from the side of the power tool was a fountain of fine sawdust falling like windswept sand in changing patterns on the white table top caused by the vibration of the cutting.

The evening concluded with the Hostess inviting everyone to take a mint to aid their digestion.

Duration: 45 minutes





Photographs by Sam Jones 2007