One Upright Arm

We move together along the disused railway track towards the top of the Swannington Incline.

"Don’t look the dog in the eyes. He don’t like it”

one upright arm
sustains the cheek
come walk with me
when things go wrong
there’s always the hedgerow

Paul Conneally 2011

From ‘Health Walk’ Paul Conneally with Nita Pearson ‘Whitwick to Swannington and Back’ May 2011

 ———————————
Notes The line: 'one upright arm sustains the cheek’ is a fragment from “HOW RICH THAT FOREHEAD’S CALM EXPANSE” by William Wordsworth. Wordsworth tells us that the poem HOW RICH THAT FOREHEAD’S CALM EXPANSE was inspired by a print at Coleorton Hall, North West Leicestershire. Mrs Wordsworth’s impression was that HOW RICH THAT FOREHEAD’S CALM EXPANSE was also written at Coleorton Hall despite William’s note that it was written at Rydal Mount in the Lake District.

Corn Dolly: Anne-Marie Culhane Artist, Activist, Visionary

'Corn Dolly' Anne-Marie Culhane Photo: Jo Salter

The above 'corn dolly' headdress, made and worn here by artist Anne-Marie Culhane was exhibited as part of 'Spaceship Unbound' at the Castlefield Gallery 2013 along with the video installation of her work 'Corn Dollies'

Corn Dollies was a public performance at the House of Commons, London to correspond with a mass lobby of Parliament regarding GM foods.

Anne-Marie Culhane was director/choreographer for the performance/action which was made in collaboration with Friends of the Earth, Annie Ball, Miriam Keye and Caitlin De Silvy.

Costumes for the four performers were inspired by teachings from corn dolly veteran Dorothy Horsfall and stories of harvest and corn dolly rituals.

Topping Out 'Kiss the Gable' - Paul Conneally & Anne-Marie Culhane

TOPPING OUT – KISS THE GABLE – Paul Conneally and Anne-Marie Culhane 2013 Photo: Kev Ryan

Cultural Forager, artist and poet, Paul Conneally, anoints a garden Shed during Conneally and Culhane’s ‘Topping Out Kiss the Gable’ ritual performance piece at Loughborough University Fruit Routes Harvest Celebration.

The shed stands on the LANDSCAPING AND GARDENING SOCIETY plot at Loughborough University and was recently erected to replace the original shed which was burnt down earlier in the year.

‘TOPPING OUT Kiss the Gable’ is based on the ceremony of Topping Out that builders undertake when the highest point of a building is completed. In Conneally and Culhane’s version, switches of tree and other plants are bound together and placed at the apex of the shed. The hanging plant material includes rowan, holly and bay twigs to ward of bad spirits and bring good luck to the shed and all who use it.

Two ladders were placed against the gable and people at the Fruit Routes Harvest Celebration were invited to climb one ladder, kiss the apex of the gable and say a few words if they felt that they wanted to while at the same time being anointed by Conneally, who is up the other ladder, with Apple juice freshly pressed on site that afternoon.

After Topping Out and Kissing the Gable the gathered people moved to a bonfire where food, drink and conversation carried on into the night with music being provided by the band Solana.

Bill Brookman at Kev Ryan Performing Life - Private View

Bill Brookman performs during the opening night of artist Kev Ryan's latest exhibition 'Performing Life' in the Atkins Building gallery of Creative Hinckley in Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK.

'ALEX' - Modern Edinburgh Film School

'ALEX'
Modern Edinburgh Film School
Paul Conneally
May 2013

Alex Hetherington is a visual artist with a practice in film, text and sculpture who works under the title Modern Edinburgh Film School. He produces complex projects on the ideas of film, poetic form and sculptural process. 

"Portrait of artist Alex Hetherington - the image of Alex is the franked stamp on the envelope in which he sent an edition from Modern Edinburgh Film School to me in. A one off print on another envelope was made and sent to Alex from myself with pencilled message and signature on it. The 'clean' portrait of Alex as a franked stamp features the legendary Scottish football player Dave Mackay and may become available as a limited edition print or other artefact in the future." 

Paul Conneally October 2013

The Big Purple - Snibston - Wind Turbine Art

The Big Purple will be a fully working wind turbine public work of art - Snibston Country Park - Paul Conneally 2009

The Big Purple

Builds on Snibston's long history of providing energy Transforms the visual landscape Celebrates the past workers of Snibston Transforms energy makes money Is illuminated at specific times Is a powerful educational resource

The Big Purple is a piece from Spoil Heap Harvest by Paul Conneally for Snibston TRANSFORM 2009/10 Snibston Country Park

More on wind turbines art and poetry - Alec Finlay

Artist poet Alec Finlay has worked extensively to explore through art poetry and thought, wind turbines and their place within culture, history, science, the environment and as objects akin to standing stones within the landscape.

 Any artist, poet, actually anyone, considering wind turbines, alternative energy production, landscape and the environment should look at Alec's work which engages at a much deeper level than, on the surface, The Big Purple, a site specific piece, could ever do.

 Here's a video of Alec talking about elements of his work around wind turbines - wind flowers too:
ALEC FINLAY part 1
ALEC FINLAY part 2
 Alec Finlay's blog: ALEC FINLAY
 Paul Conneally Coalville 2013

Heartsease

heartsease 


her first kiss pressed 


in Das Kapital 

Paul Conneally

http://burnthewater.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/heartsease/ 

Backstreet Business - Leicester UK

Despite economic downturns etc etc there are still a number of small fashion / textile businesses in the backstreets of Leicester, UK.

Photo: Paul Conneally 2013

Overseas Posting

overseas posting 

a letter feels better

than an email 

Paul Conneally

http://t.co/PRBVa3aa1b

Photograph: Postbox - Rothley, Leicestershire - Paul Conneally 2013

NB Rothley is the home village of Madeleine McCaan, the little girl abducted from her parents' holiday villa in Portugal in 2007 and is still missing.

Time and Plaice

even after lunch 

there's still so much to say 

tumbling leaves 

Paul Conneally

http://t.co/o4G5Dxj711

Photo: 

Time and Plaice - Rothley - Leicestershire 

Paul Conneally 2013

IBM COMPANY RALLY SONG 'EVER ONWARD'

IBM Computer circa 1960

IBM RALLY SONG - EVER ONWARD
(click above to hear it in a 1931 recording)

There's a thrill in store for all,
For we're about to toast,
The corporation known in every land.
We're here to cheer each pioneer
And also proudly boast
Of that "man of men," our friend and guiding hand.
The name of T. J. Watson means a courage none can stem;
And we feel honored to be here to toast the "IBM."

EVER ONWARD -- EVER ONWARD!
That's the spirit that has brought us fame!
We're big, but bigger we will be
We can't fail for all can see
That to serve humanity has been our aim!
Our products now are known, in every zone,
Our reputation sparkles like a gem!
We've fought our way through -- and new
Fields we're sure to conquer too
For the EVER ONWARD I.B.M.

EVER ONWARD -- EVER ONWARD!
We're bound for the top to never fall!
Right here and now we thankfully
Pledge sincerest loyalty
To the corporation that's the best of all!
Our leaders we revere, and while we're here,
Let's show the world just what we think of them!
So let us sing, men! SING, MEN!
Once or twice then sing again
For the EVER ONWARD I.B.M.

All Grown Up

all grown up 

a few leaves blowing 

across platform one 

Paul Conneally 

http://t.co/mmVxUiSw6G

Click above to see photo haiga

Tom Green - Musician and Composer

Tom Green - Musician in Thornhill Bridge Community Garden, London

Photo: Paul Conneally 2013

I had lunch with musician Tom Green in a little Italian cafe come restaurant around the corner from Kings Cross Station. Tom and I have been friends for over 30 years first playing together in the UK post-punk band DUM DUM DUM around 1980.

Tom went on to play and record with The Orb and as Another Fine Day producing along the way one of the seminal ambient albums of all time LIFE BEFORE LAND

Recently we've started doing a little writing and recording together again including Won't You Tell Me How To Mend This Broken Heart. I'm sure that we'll be working together again soon on new material and I can't wait.

After our meal we retired to Thornhill Bridge Community Garden for a chat by the canal before I had to leave for a planning workshop for Holocaust Memorial Day 2014.

Tom returned to his Brixton studio to work on the soundtrack for an up and coming new film.

Here's looking at you Tom till the next time we meet - sooner the better!

Paul Conneally

Loughborough 2013

Sweet Chestnuts

If you are in or around London St Pancras International Station and you have a little time visit the British Library.

It’s right next to the station on Euston Road. In fact if you need the toilet and you’re in the station I’d advise a trip next door. Do what you need to do for free in comfort and close proximity to Shakespeare first folios and other treasures.

The cafe is good and the exhibitions usually worth a look. Of course it’s also a place for serious study but me I’m generally there for the being there, a coffee and to people watch until it’s time for my train back north.

sweet chestnuts
the security guard
waves through my bag

Paul Conneally
London 2013

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE HAIBUN WITH PHOTOGRAPH

This Unsteady Heart

this unsteady heart 

the rhythm of heavy rain 

on an umbrella 

Paul Conneally

http://t.co/oBx2NR4Gen

haiku poetry 

Longer Shadows - Loughborough

longer shadows 

a sign in the park that says 

don't feed the pigeons 

Paul Conneally

Loughborough 2013

After Work Drink

after work drink 

a sweep of starlings 

over Wandsworth Bridge 

Paul Conneally

http://t.co/zDtNBeulEm

Old Church

old church 

trees swaying 

side to side

Yr6 pupil at Bridge Junior School, Leicester

Haiku Hands - Paul Conneally 2013

http://burnthewater.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/old-church/