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

Fledgling Sparrows

fledgling sparrows

on the last flight of the day

an empty bench

Paul Conneally
Dronfield Woodhouse

June 4th 2017

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

Wax and Wane

wisteria

the wax and wane

of my heart

Paul Conneally

May 2017

Fresh Bananas

Fresh Bananas

I have no religious belief. These two men do. They arrive on the edge of Loughbohemia Market sometime between 7.30am and 8, set up their leaflet stand and grab a takeaway coffee to help keep out the cold.

They are Jehovah's Witnesses and they would like to save my soul, yours too.

They don't shout out to people passing by like the fruit and veg sellers do. Quiet in their smart suits their leaflet stand does the talking: 'The Four Horsemen How Their Ride Affects You'

I know they mean well. I welcome them and all people with convictions within the law to our streets. Free speech is worth fighting for especially for those we don't agree with. Street preachers religious, political, social or economical add to the frisson of our streets.

twice round the market

a bag of fresh bananas

on an empty bench

Paul Conneally

May 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

Selling Hats - Paul Conneally, Cannes, 2014

'Selling Hats'

Paul Conneally

Cannes 2014

Rubbing Shoes

rubbing shoes

the ghosts of bluebell wood

whisper to me

Paul Conneally

TULIPS AND PANSIES

TULIPS AND PANSIES

Queens Park in Loughborough is an ideal place to walk when you're recovering from a heart attack. It's flat and each time you do a circuit you find new things in the old to look at and wonder, to instigate new stories, true and made up.

A man being taken for a stroll by his three Jack Russell dogs nods a greeting and is pulled on by. We pass again by the aviary and nod again.

A group of Italian adults are playing in the children's activity area. They missed the sign that insists that adults unaccompanied by children are not allowed in the playground.

teenagers share
a spliff in the park bandstand
tulips and pansies

Paul Conneally

April 2017

Football Fans Inside The Black Horse Public House, Leicester, Boxing Day 2016

Leicester City football fans enjoy a pint and a chat in The Black Horse public house in Braunstone Gate before the match against Everton, Boxing Day 2016

Paul Conneally
December 26 2016

Sweet Garlic Mushrooms

a room full of talk
and animated faces
sweet garlic mushrooms

Little Onion
OGGI Simply Italian
Leicester

Pink Onesie Convo

Pink Onesie Convo - Paul Conneally, New Parks, Leicester 2016

Today I spotted three different people wearing onesies and a woman in a dressing gown around the Aikman Avenue shops in New Parks. It's an interesting cultural shift in what's acceptable or not to leave the house in - maybe it's better - a more relaxed approach to indoor outdoor home not home distinctions. Each to their own - live and let live! Mind you I don't think it's a style I'll be sporting in public anytime soon - the world's not ready for that yet!

sweeping leaves
too many starlings
to count up

Little Onion

Bertie at The Blue Army Craft Group

Bertie at The Blue Army Craft Group, New Parks, Leicester, UK

I was at the Blue Army Craft Group meeting to talk through and invite the members to take part in a new sound art piece with I-mitri CounterAction and Soft Touch Arts.

The group is pretty much self-organising and they work together on crochet, knitting and other craft and making skills. Many of the group, including Bertie, have worked with me on other works and projects such as Involuntary Painting New Parks : New York alongside my collaborator and friend New York artist Millree Hughes. They are a great bunch!

Paul Conneally
New Parks, Leicester
November 2016

Marta Oliviera-Child - Head Chef at the Bom Bom Patisserie

Marta Oliviera-Child is the head chef and co-owner of the Bom Bom Patisserie in Loughborough, Leicestershire, right in the heart of England.

Bom Bom Patisserie has been operating a few years but only opened the café part of the business in May 2016. It has proved to be a tasty, stylish and instant hit.

Marta comes from Brazil where her mother runs a restaurant. She came to Loughborough in 2006, like so many young people do, to study at Loughborough University. She always had a dream to open a patisserie and luckily for the people of Loughborough she has and what a patisserie it is!

after the pastry
the cream
on the end of her nose

Little Onion

Find out more about Marta and the Bom Bom Patisserie by visiting its website and hey, even better, the patisserie itself!

Photograph and text: Paul Conneally

Hartleys Coffee and Sandwich Bar, Nottingham 'from the hip' Paul Conneally 2016

Hartleys Coffee and Sandwich Bar, Hockley, Nottingham

From the ongoing series 'from the hip' - photographs taken 'from the hip'.

Paul Conneally

Nottingham

Oct. 23 2016

Competitors In The Fruit Routes Balancing An Apple On Your Head Race2016

Competitors in the artist led Fruit Routes Apple Olympics balancing an apple on your head race. Each competitor wears not a number but the name of a fruit tree species planted during the Fruit Routes work on Loughbohemia (some call it Loughborough) University Campus.

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Other events were the '1km Or So Fruit Routes Run' where the aim was for all competitors to cross the finishing line together and not shot but 'apple putting' not forgetting of course the children's 'Apple And Spoon Race'.

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Fruit Routes is conceived and planned by my long time collaborator artist activist Anne-Marie Culhane with and for the wonderful Loughborough University Sustainability Team and it's a pleasure to work on and have be associated with it as artist and poet year on year since its start.

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Paul Conneally
Loughbohemia
October 2016
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Brian Allen - Plumber and Master Vegetable Grower

Brian Allen - plumber and master vegetable grower!

We've returned back to Loughborough from Dronfield two weeks running laden with fantastic produce, green beans, rhubarb, cabbage, courgettes... Thanks Brian and Jane Allen!

Paul Conneally
Dronfield Woodhouse
September 2016

Tender is the Night - The Old Bull's Head - Woodhouse Eaves

Tender is the Night
The Old Bull's Head
Woodhouse Eaves

The Old Bull's Head is in the almost alpine looking village of Woodhouse Eaves just outside the Leicestershire market town of Loughborough. It has been completely refurbished from what was a traditional fuggy old pub to a modern gastro pub with a light and airy interior.

The food is a mixture of traditional and modern classics from light bites and pizzas to fresh fish and roast meats.

It's a big restaurant but advance booking is advised particularly at the weekends.

Sunday evening
the family decamps
to a pub roast 

Little Onion
September 2016

Photograph: Paul Conneally

Marta at Work - The Bom Bom Patisserie - Loughborough

Marta at Work

Here we see Marta, co-owner and head chef, hard at work at the wonderful Bom Bom Patisserie in Loughbohemia (some call it Loughborough).

The interior design of Bom Bom is understated urban, almost industrial, industrial wood not metal, so a softness to it. Minimal but comforting especially with the smell of the carefully selected roast used in the patisserie's excellent coffee.

Bom Bom Patisserie was set up by Marta and her husband in 2012 making bespoke artisan cakes and bakes for individuals, companies and organisations. In May of 2016 the Bom Bom Patisserie opened the doors of its Loughborough café, something that for Brazilian born Marta was something she'd wanted, her own café, since being a child.

Find out more about Marta and the Bom Bom Patisserie at the BBP website:

http://www.bombompatisserie.com

Paul Conneally
Loughbohemia
Sept. 2016

Early September - Lost In The Supermarket

early September
she shops for this year's
last barbecue

Little Onion

from the ongoing photo series 'Lost In The Supermarket' by Paul Conneally