As we have just stumbled into a new year, it’s inevitable that a large proportion of the population – and the media – will begin reflecting on the last one; evaluating what went wrong, what went well, and of course picking out the all important ‘highlights’.
Since I’m trying my best not to have any regrets these days – and my positive encounters are already posted within this blog for anyone who cares to read about them – I won’t delve into a full-blown analysis of the past 12 months, but rather pick out a project that I only briefly had a connection with during 2010, highlighting it to you, my fond reader, in hope that I may re-encounter this project in 2011 in a much greater capacity.
Roam:
“What is Roam? Well, picture a mobile village green preservation society, wending its way across London’s five host boroughs for London 2012, stopping off to lead foraging walks or geology talks. Think of it as a very British version of Ken Kesey’s magic bus – a TARDIS on wheels – an old library van filled with ephemera, flora and fauna collected from the markets and charity shops it pulls up outside.”
When I encountered Roam – after stumbling across their website via Arts Jobs & signing up as a volunteer – they’d parked up outside the Mile End Art Pavillion in East London on July 17th.
The schedule for the day was simple – attract a local audience and entice them into exploring both the arts and nature; through screen-printing workshops and ecology walks.
Unfortunately, it was a quiet Saturday – I believe many of the local creative types had fled the area to avoid the monster that is Victoria Park’s ‘LoveBoxx Weekender’, which was annoyingly taking place down the road, attracting a glorious array of booze-fueled, TopShop-clad festival goers.
However, away from the hustle and bustle of the main road, ROAM was appreciating a more relaxed atmosphere and in spite of the small numbers, the screen prints that were created were beautiful. I had a go myself, drawing around leaves & pine cones and cutting out shapes that somewhat resembled flowers.
What I adored the most though (after taking the time to walk along the river in the heat handing out flyers & smiling at tourists attempting to steer their rented gondolas), was taking the time to sit in the miniature van and reading the many second-hand books, poems and pamphlets they had accumulated, wishing that I could drive off into the sunset and travel the world with a bus load of literature at my disposal…
My time with Roam was short, but the premise was inspiring.
Here’s hoping it returns this summer.
Hayley Clarke Media 