Those living within 10 minutes walk of Exeter Cathedral are needed for an ambitious art project that will result in a video installation at Royal Albert Memorial Museum this summer, and provide inspiration for performances around the city later in the year.
In a project called This City’s Centre, the Devon-based art collective, Blind Ditch, will explore some of the many different points of view offered by the homes, streets and vistas of central Exeter. The result will be a contemporary portrait of an English rural city, discussing the tensions between public, private and privatised public spaces through the views of the windows from people’s homes, and the views of the residents who live in them.
Paula Crutchlow, artistic director of Blind Ditch, said: ‘Busy with the hustle and bustle of our every day routines, we get used to seeing our city in a particular way. This project invites members of the public to experience their familiar city centre surroundings through new eyes. Perhaps leading us to think a bit more about how daily life in the city centre affects us and our general feeling of community.”
Participants don’t need any experience at all, just a willingness to share their thoughts on the view from their window and what the city means to them. General contributions will remain anonymous, but Blind Ditch are also looking for a particular group of 20 people to work with in more depth.
If you are interested in sharing your views as part of the installation and performance email info@thiscityscentre.net for more information.
There will be an open public meeting at Exeter Phoenix at 6pm on March 21 where you can ask the Blind Ditch team more about the project and what it will involve.
All city residents are invited to upload a photograph of their window view and a thought about it to the growing gallery on the project website at www.thiscityscentre.net
Look out for the Blind Ditch team on the Exeter streets over the coming weeks as they circulate round the city gathering your views for the project.
