21 Sept -15 Oct 2024, M & Co, Silver Street, Trowbridge
Trowbridge was the fifth venue in Social Scaffolding's 6-venue, Arts Council-funded tour in the South West of England between April and November 2023. in 2022, before the tour, we faciliated two pilot exhibitions in Taunton and at the Emerge Showcase at Bath Spa University in Bath. We also exhibited at two other Emerge Showcases in 2023. Please visit the Social Scaffolding website for full details. Many thanks to the other Social Scaffolding artists, Alyson Minkley and Juliet Duckworth, and to the Emerge community for all their support throughout.
As at each Social Scaffolding venue, in Trowbridge visitors were invited to try on a selection of my hand knitted, wearable sculptures and to transform themselves into Living sculptures. It was absolutely fabulous to witness the delight with which all ages explored my sculptures in so many joyful ways. Passive viewers became active participants.
Once again, my Living sculptures brought laughter and delight to many visitors. Visit Living sculptures at Social Scaffolding, Taunton for more detail about this work.
Here's the documentation of my early research into clothing and identity. Since then, during this tour, at Weston Super Mare initially, I have also provided a bespoke 'video booth' app so that participants can video their performances and add it to a growing throng of Living sculptures on a life-sized screen within the space. It has been wonderful to see so many visitors enjoying this extra dimension to the Living sculptures experience!
Follow @_livingsculptures @socialengagement @social. scaffold.artists on Instagram and @loubaker2231 on YouTube for videos and more.
In Trowbridge, I was able to install four of the five steel bodies and cast feet in the large, open window at the front of the shop and draped the knitted sculptures over them. However, the step up to the window was quite high so we provided small steps but also tried to be around to help. The fifth body sculpture, iPad and screens were beside them, on ground level, so they were readily accessible.