ART WALK PORTY 2018
The Art Walk returned to Portobello this year from 30 August to 9 September with an events centred curated programme around the 'Pleasure Ground' featuring live music, live art, participatory performance, writing, walks, installation and film screenings, alongside Artist Houses, Art in Shops and a Maker's Market. Please find below some of the festival highlights.
PIER TO PIER PROJECT
WITH GREIG BURGOYNE
Hastings based artist, Greig Burgoyne, was commissioned to create a project pairing up the space of Portobello's old pier with that of Hastings pier.
You can see the footage below of his 'Pier Dig' - a 7hr drawing performance, and his participatory 'Pier to Pier' walks that took place on or near to the site of Portobello Pier.
'THE BANDSTAND PROJECT'
Composer & sound artist, Ross Whyte, was commissioned to create a new composition 'The Great Exhibition' linking up Ross Theatre Bandstand to the site of Portobello's old Bandstand.
The project involves 8 soundspace sites across Edinburgh & Musselburgh of old or existing bandstand locations, with associated sound immersive App, together with live performances from Portobello Community Choir.
Supported by funding from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and City of Edinburgh Council.
The App is still available for use, with future performances planned for 2019.
above image: Lewisvale Park, Musselburgh
'FESTOON'
Deirdre Macleod
‘Festoon’ was a walk inspired by historical fairground illuminations and explored our experience of
urban darkness. It took place after dark in and around Porty.
Walking slowly in a line, 12 participants carried portable, lighted frames around the darker spaces in Portobello - spaces that can be ‘lost’ after dark - creating a walking illumination.
‘Festoon’ is a walk, a performance and a participatory artwork.
'SOUVENIR'
by Typochondriacs
'Souvenir’ was a growing community-making exhibition at Bellfield involving the postcard form, paper making and memories of visiting and living in Porty with outdoor workshops on Portobello Prom, supported by Edinburgh Shoreline Project.
This mini-residency built on an interest in language, history, ‘ephemory’ and place, exploring the building of a collective memory relating to the particular heritage of this seaside town under an evolving body of work called ‘Wish You Were Here?’.
The making workshops took inspiration from the Paper Mill that was established here in 1836 and the holiday tradition of sending postcards back home.
'CAROUSEL'
by Fiona Hermse
with Portobello Older Peoples' Project
Fiona Hermse developed a project working with Portobello Older Peoples' Project in August 2018 based around collected memories relating to Portobello, creating a series of mobile, merry-go-round style sculptures.
Supported by the Robertson Trust.
The sculptures featured on the Prom Parade on 1st Sept and were later shown at St Marks Church.
ARTIST WINDOWS +
ART IN SHOPS...
Many 'Lollies' adorned our High Street Shops, with artists developing 'Artist Windows' in a number of charity shop windows on the 'Pleasure Ground' theme.
Read more...
FILM
We showed a series of film based work programmed for this year's event:
'STRAWBERRY OR VANILLA'
Tracey Fearnehough & Holger Mohaupt
FILM SCREENING AND Q+A
SUN 2ND SEPT, 2PM, BELLFIELD
'PROMENDADE'
David Williams, in collaboration with Lee Patterson
SAT 2ND + SUN 8TH, 11AM-1.30PM
BELLFIELD CELEBRATION HALL
'AT THE FAIR'
FILM NIGHTS
SAT 1ST SEPT
THURS 6TH SEPT
SUN 9TH SEPT
9-10PM
SEE THE FULL 2018 PLEASURE GROUND PROGRAMME HERE
OTHER PROJECTS
EDGELANDS PORTOBELLO 2017
INSIDE LANE LENZIE 2017
ART RAIL PORTOBELLO 2016
About
The Art Walk Porty event builds on Portobello's diverse creative community and its unique coastline with site specific art, art houses, popup art in local shops and venues, and a maker's market, each year arranged around a different local walk of Portobello. We showcase quality contemporary art, supporting emergent artists as well as having an invited artists programme, forging links with local shops and related organisations with a collaborative approach. The event engages the local community and wider audiences to a rich and diverse programme.
