GRIT / SALT - Paul Conneally 2017

GRIT / SALT

Paul Conneally

Dronfield Woodhouse

July 2017

"In 1957 Canada's National Defense Research Service carried out an experimental study into boredom, in which subjects were isolated in a hermetically sealed environment (a constantly lit cell with clear walls, furnished only with a comfortable sofa, rigorously devoid of sound, smell or variations in temperature). Extensive behavioral disturbances were noted by researchers. In the absence of external stimuli the brain was incapable of remaining in the state of regular excitement necessary for its normal functioning. They could therefore conclude that boring surroundings have a negative influence human behavior. This would certainly explain the unpredictable accidents that occur in monotonous labor, which would no doubt increase in frequency with the extension of current forms of automation."

Situationist International Issue 1 1958

ANOTHER CITY FOR ANOTHER LIFE

ANOTHER CITY FOR ANOTHER LIFE

"The increasing dissatisfaction that dominates the whole of humanity will arrive at a point at which we will all be forced to execute projects whose means we possess, and which will contribute to the realization of a richer and more fulfilled life."

Internationale Situationniste #3 (December 1959)

Photograph: Pentland Road Dronfield Woodhouse Drift May 2017 Paul Conneally

Memorial Stones

a pile of red bricks

under a horse chestnut tree

memorial stones

At the site of the Califat Mine on the eighth of October 1863 a coming in of water filled the mine workings killing three miners:

Harry Clements 16

Jeremiah Rose 40

Thomas Bird 50

Paul Conneally

Califat Colliery

Swannington, UK

May 2017

Foan Hill to Balm of Rakasiri

Leaving the Robin Hood pub Russ Ralph and I set off not knowing exactly which way to go and choose to go up Foan Hill. I'm not sure of the origin of this word 'foan' it might be an old name for a moor or a bog, well that's what just one reference on the internet told me. I also found a map showing the distribution of the word foan as a surname which seems to be mainly in the south and south west of the UK. Maybe the hill is named after someone. The first thing that crossed my mind was 'fawn' a young deer and the 1911 census tells us that at that time there were in Swannington four houses with a Fone Hill address and one with a Fawn Hill address. The Swannington History Society believes all these houses were on the same road and it is not known when the spelling standardised as Foan Hill. The spellings in the census could just be due to the way the forms were filled in by individual householders.

Walking up the hill we come to the Incline Kennels named after the Swannington Incline, part of Stephenson's Swannington Railway, one of the earliest railways in the Midlands and used to transport coal from the local mines to Leicester.

From behind the fence unseen dogs bark at us.

Russ and I both agree that we are not big fans of dogs but that some are okay and make you think maybe having a dog like that wouldn't be so bad.

Later, still intrigued by the name Foan Hill I search it on Google and it somehow takes me to a page in 'THE DRUGGIST'S RECEIPT BOOK' and to Balm of Rakasiri which was 'Oil of Rosemary dissolved in common gin'. It was made by the Jordan brothers in Canon Street Road, London, who marketed it throughout most of the 1800's as a cure for nervous diseases but actually without saying so openly as a cure for venereal diseases. They were outed as quacks but were still trading through till the 1860s. Oil of Rosemary in gin sounds quite interesting and maybe worth trying not for its 'restorative' properties but for its beverage qualities if it has any.

Any point on a vague walk can lead us to new discoveries, emotions and stories true, half-true and false. Welcome them all.

Paul Conneally

Swannington

Leicestershire

May 2017

Wax and Wane

wisteria

the wax and wane

of my heart

Paul Conneally

May 2017

Morning Rush

Morning Rush

From around 7am market traders arrive in their white vans and transits to start setting up for the Thursday market in Loughbohemia's town centre market place.

There's not quite room for all the vehicles at the same time and so thee are moments of calm amongst all the activity as stall holders wait for their workmates to get in with the produce, be it women's fashion, men's socks, fruit and veg or kettles.

morning rush

an on the move coffee

and a bunch of tulips

Paul Conneally

Loughbohemia

May 11 2017

Salt and Pepper

Searching for a pub we find ourselves in the North West Leicestershire village of Belton. One pub is now a set of upmarket apartments and the other doesn't seem to be open.

Russ parks up in the village hall car park and we decide to explore the impressive 14th century St. John the Baptist Church. There's a sign outside proclaiming 'John's Cafe - every Wednesday from 12.30'. It's one o'clock and we go in.

We meet a long trestle table with some older villagers sat at it. A woman smiles and says "If you'd been here three quarters of an hour ago you could have had lunch!"

They offer us tea but we decline and have a look around the church.

A man tells us the pub opens when it feels like it during the day and at night it opens but is more like a posh restaurant than a pub. The woman says we should come on Friday morning when the church "does bacon sandwiches".

spring sunlight

through a stained glass window

salt and pepper

Paul Conneally

May 10th 2017

Summer Haze

After a long journey to the Port of Dover due to traffic chaos caused by 'increased security measures' put in place by the French border forces we are waved through without showing our passports and straight on to a waiting ferry.

summer haze
a gull crossing the channel
on a ship's mast

Little Onion

Photo: 'Onboard the Pride of Burgandy Cross Channel Ferry' Paul Conneally 2016

#haiku #boat #ferry reading #photography #sea #sailing #poetry #mindfulness

Still Hungry

still hungry
after the full English
a hole in the road
the knowing that October
is followed by November

Paul Conneally
October 2015
Leicester

"Don’t commit suicide just because you are afraid of death" Danai Anesiadou

Danai Anesiadou: "Don’t commit suicide just because you are afraid of death"

Working across performance, installation and video, Anesiadou plays with rumour, fantasy, the mystical, and the intimacy of sharing secrets. For her first UK solo exhibition, Anesiadou layers allusions to classical myths from her native Greece, pop culture and contemporary politics together with references to her personal biography and every day experiences. Her exhibition includes sculptures from compressed personal objects, and a monumental wall installation which she imagines as a “horror-vacui” of theatrical and movie props. Anesidaou has also created a new performance that will be presented on 11 December.

At Nottingham Contemporary 10 Oct 2015 - 31 Dec 2015
http://www.nottinghamcontemporary.org/art/alien-encounters

Photographs by Paul Conneally

BAG IT BEAT IT

BAG IT BEAT IT
Paul Conneally
Loughborough
August 2015

Let's Dance

Saturday night
the doorman says
not in those shoes

Paul Conneally
Loughborough
August 2015

Follow Your Heart

follow your heart
a portion of fish and chips
in the town square

Paul Conneally
Loughborough
July 2015

Newspaper Seller

A

Newspaper Seller

It's good to see that despite the online proliferation of news there are still local newspapers and what's more local newspaper street sellers. This jolly chap is at the intersection of Loughborough's Market Street and Market Place. He sells just one publication the weekly Loughborough Echo. He doesn't shout out to passers-by to sell his papers but draws them in with his smile, a broad grin, and kind words.

local gossip
just when will the council
mow these verges?

Paul Conneally
Loughborough
July 16 2015

INVIGILATOR : DIGBETH

Thinking back to 'Invigilator : DIGBETH' discussions I am struck by oblique and direct references to boredom - the gallery invigilators job being referred to as sometimes boring.

When transposed to an outside space where the invigilator has to stand or sit and simply ‘watch over’ then the space and the action of simply watching over it sets up an interaction that is boring in such a way that it can transcend boredom if we let it… The space becoming bored of the invigilator throws up new facets new resonances between it and the 'watcher over’ the 'invigilator’ A couple of Invigilator:Digbeth participants said that they found the invigilating very zen like - another not at all - the invigilating passed-by with a contrived doing - a counting of and classification of vehicles passing through the invigilated space. Such actions are invoked by the space itself as it is watched over - after all it was only chance that the space invigilated happened to have cars passing through it - this counting this classifying borne out of the possibility of boredom.

“INVITE BOREDOM” - paul conneally 2008

Pedestrian Zone

Pedestrian Zone
Paul Conneally
Loughborough
May 1 2015

The Albion Inn - Loughborough

The Albion Inn, Loughborough

The Albion Inn is a traditional English canal side pub.

It's on the canal bank in the heart of Loughborough. To get to it by car requires driving up a single track road along the canal bank itself. Not for the faint hearted at night.

It's a small pub. It doesn't come with many frills.

The pub generally has four ales on sale and food available most days at lunch and in the early evening.

Paul Conneally
April 2015

Spider-Man in Loughborough

Spider-Man in Loughborough
The independent supermarket franchise, Nisa, has taken over the only pub in Shelthorpe, Loughborough, The Hunters Moon, and turned it into a shop. Today they were out touting for business with men dressed as Spider-Man standing on Park Road waving to the passing traffic.

Paul Conneally
Loughborough
April 2015

Changing Landscapes - Walk the Line - Kings Norton

Changing Landscapes

This video shows people of Kings Norton 3 Estates taking part in Changing Landscapes 'Walk the Line' a Public Artwork comissioned by Birmingham City Council.

Artist Maurice Maguire with Rob Colbourne surveyed the route of the Wast Hill canal tunnel that passes under the Kings Norton 3 Estates Birmingham UK and marked it with blue on the surface. Residents were then invited to meet and join Maurice, Rob, Paul Conneally, Rob Hewitt and others to 'walk the line'.

During the walk participants were encoraged to engage with their surroundings and the canal below them via short talks from Maurice Maguire that gave an insight on the history and importance of the canal tunnel below the estate on the landscape and spaces of the 3 Estaes today. Paul Conneally introduced walkers to haikai ways of seeing everyday things, writing haiku and sharing them back with others in the Kings 3 Cafe after the walk.

Changing Landscapes is an artist led project conceived by Maurice Maguire 
Changing Landscapes is curated by Maurice Maguire and Rob Hewitt.

Video and images: Paul Conneally
Music: Walk the Line - Johnny Cash

Waiting For The Chips

waiting for the chips

in the Supreme Fish Bar

banter and batter

Paul Conneally
Supreme Fish Bar
Loughborough
March 2015