Monday 11 October 2010

Bookmaking with the community.


On the 5th of October and 16th of October we held all day public events at Clapham Library inviting the community to help us make the first book for the new Clapham Library.  This is a special book comprised solely of personal stories and feelings about Clapham past, present and future by it's residents.  The book is a tool for us to educate artists involved with a public commission of artworks about Clapham and the event was a wonderful opportunity to learn more from the community.  We now have over 100 pages of personal stories.  Here are a few pages from the book and snapshots from our day.
















The current Clapham Library

A student from Clapham Manor tells her story in the book.


Image making station
Typing station
Scribing Station

Monday 4 October 2010

Join us in making the first book for the new Clapham Library...




































All are welcome to join us at the Clapham Library Tuesday 5th of October from 11AM - 6PM.  We will be making the first book for the new library filling it with personal stories about Clapham from the community.

Checking out the neighbourhood...


Fabiane Lee-Perella and Emma Payne of flour studio are collaborating with us to deliver innovative and creative community activities to feed into the public art commissioning process.  They recently spent a day on foot in Clapham and the surrounding area of the ClaphamOne development.  Here, we trace some of their footsteps and findings. 
Clapham Common Tube station, built in 1900.
The much loved and much used Clapham Common
Grade II Listed Clapham Common Bandstand constructed in 1890 and restored in 2006.

Clapham Common Deep Shelter

Having started at Clapham Common we walked down the high street to the two construction sites identifying on the way significant buildings such as old cinemas, entrances to the deep level shelters, fire stations, etc, using the local history already researched. 

Clapham Family Practice
We visited Clapham Family Practice which will move to a new building within the ClaphamOne development.  We discussed the possibility of running a consultation event with the practice manager. The surgery is currently at number 51 in the High Street. We spoke to Linda behind reception who was very helpful and understanding. She was interested in getting the staff and clients involved in an event that would affect the artwork. We were given the name and e-mail address of the practice manager. It was also revealed that the practice was growing rapidly with a current 16000 registered patients.  
 
St John's Community Development Project

Going north, past Clapham North station we identified St. John Community Development Project situated in St John’s Church, an impressive old building with a fantastic veranda set back behind a lawn and fence. Suitable for one of our consultation events, we thought. There we found out about  ‘The History of our World in 10 Objects’ (www.bigupfilms.co.uk), a community based historical project with Clapham residents.  We have now a meeting schedule with them next Tuesday with the intention to involve their project participants in our consultation.  
 
Clapham Manor Primary School extension shortlisted for prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize!
Clapham Manor Primary School
After exploring the neighbouring streets of leisure complex site we walked by Clapham Manor Primary School were the initial ‘meet the bidders’ meeting was held. This school had a fantastic feel to it with a beautiful extension by dRMM architects which made this years shortlist for the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize.  It is a great example of a brave contemporary piece of architecture sitting beautifully with 19th century architecture.  Take a tour HERE.  We must have walked past at the end of the school day as further along our walk we saw lots of school children and parents in Grafton Square park. It would be fantastic if there was this atmosphere in the leisure centre after school finished. We would like to have an event that involved the teachers, parents and pupils of this school as it is so close to the leisure centre it would seem that many of them would use the new facilities too.

Current Clapham Library in the Old Town of Clapham

Mary Seacole famed British nurse of Caribbean descent, Mary Seacole House is the proposed name for the new library and community health building within the ClaphamOne development.

At Clapham Old Town Library we were very well received by Pauline Edole and we have agreed to hold a consultation event there. This is taking place on the 5th October. We have discussed the possibility of involving a group of 32 parents and toddlers and an elderly group.
The library foyer had a poster up about The Clapham Society, which was a newsletter about the organisation and what events were happening. Lambeth archive open day on the 25th September which could be interesting for our research, however it is to soon to propose an event there unfortunately.
This library is the one that will be moving to the new building. There we found that the current library building and possibly the disused toilet opposite are going to be turned into a new arts venue.
A library staff member asked us if there had been a statue of Mary Seacole at the old building. She would like for this famous nurse to be recognised in the art at the new build and we are researching this as we think it is a great idea.
It was also suggested to us involve the dedicated Parent and Todler Classes held Tuesday and Friday morning for 32 parents and their toddlers in our consultation. It was explained to us that this was the most participants allowed as it is all the current building can take and often people had to be turned away due to the lack of space. Anita , librarian, was keen that the new location allowed this class to grow and include a broader audience.
There is also an over 50s club that meets at the library and we hope to involve them in the art consultation. The library would like to maintain all their current devoted visitors interest in the facilities that the new building will provide. They seemed keen to spark more interest in the new development. 

Royal Shakespeare Company Rehearsal Rooms on Clapham High Street
 
St. Bedes Church on Clapham Road which is specially equipped to for deaf people.
Acclaimed Clapham family restoration business on Clapham High Street since 1834
Clapham Odd Fellows


ClaphamOne site affordable housing from Notting Hill Housing Group

A few more snapshots of interesting buildings and organisations contributing to Clapham's unique community and built environment.