Summer Solstice Walk 2022

 As part of his '52 More' walking project, Blake Morris invited people to walk on the summer solstice, Tuesday 21st June at whatever time was convenient. 

The walking 'score' for the day was created by Melanie Mowinski and participants were invited to interpret the contents of the score as they walked their chosen route at their chosen time. The way these scores can be interpreted in a multitude of ways has fascinated me since I began following and creating them. 

My chosen route on this occasion was a short section of the Leeds - Liverpool Canal, beginning at Granary Wharf, walking west toward Armley. 

To engage with this activity, try to match up some of the lines in the score with what was observed in the images below. What did you notice?

The walking score created by Melanie Mowinski

The final lock gate that opens onto the River Aire

The basin at Granary Wharf, looking towards the final lock gates

Way-marker on the Desmond Family Canoe Trail

Emerging from under the rail track viaduct

Looking back under the main rail tracks entering Leeds Station

Grafitti decorated wall separates the rail tracks from the canal

Four routes line up: The rail tracks, the canal, 

the tow path and the River Aire on the left

Passing under the Monk Bridge Viaduct that once 

carried trains into the old Leeds Central Station 

Sid and Nancy with their six cygnets, 

local celebrities now thanks to Facebook 

Approaching St. Ann Ings Lock Gates

Moorhen family raising their five chicks by the tow path

Beautiful wild teasels, with fully-spent flower heads

 

Gorgeous wooden posts along the tow path

I bet the birds love these berries

Portage this way, don't forget your two-person canoe

Next to the new, there is the old attempting to retain dignity. 

Let's hope it survives

On our return to Granary Square, 

a female mallard duck challenges us to a race

Back at the bridge next to lock no. 2, 

bathed in the lovely afternoon sunshine

52 More - Score 11

'52 More' is a project created by Dr. Blake Morris and which follows on from his '52 Scores' project. The off-cuts of text left over from that previous work was now offered to participants so that they may use them to create scores that others could explore.

As I had greatly enjoyed participating in '52 scores', it seemed an easy decision for me to also participate in this new project. Of course, '52 More' involved taking responsibility for the compilation of a score, as opposed to following one compiled by others and it was this opportunity that attracted me.

To kick-start the process, Blake sent me an image and an assortment of short texts, sentences and phrases. As I was living in Vietnam at the time, the assortment was sent via email as opposed to the usual method via mail. 

Once I had received Blake's email, I printed out the various snippets of text, as well as his letter, and began playing around with them on top of the base image that appeared to be a sample paint card, featuring a variety of 'popular yellows', produced by Marquee Paint.

Following the instructions, supplied by Blake, I played around with the texts for almost a week, creating passages, disassembling passages, recreating alternate passages with the text, before finally deciding upon a configuration that seemed to present possibilities for exploration while at the same time retaining an element of the unknown, and perhaps some slightly absurd suggestions. At the end of the week I had arrived at the final score, which can be seen in the first images below:

The Final Score - 11

The walk took place on Sunday 29th August 2021. Blake walked in New York City - USA, Laura Phelps walked in Cardiff - UK, while Nina and I walked in Sewerby, East Yorkshire - UK. The three groups of walkers stayed in touch, exchanging comments and images via the 'Telegram' app. 

The final score text read as follows: 

The White House / yellows / are eligible only / After the Avant-Garde / cricket grounds - the Michael Carrick testimonial / Delivery / the magic of what is. / The explicit sociality we claim for The Walking / experiences / 'When is a Walk a Piece of Art? / Deep Listening / repeat the process

At the very start of the walk we found our first yellow, and with it the means to see our destination, a little further up the coast.

The cliff-top walk leads toward Sewerby, trees on the left, the sea on the right.

The first land-train platform, serving the model village.

More yellows: the remains of yesterday's fun-run.

The route markers were left for others but they became relevant for us too.

'The start', marking the entrance to Sewerby Park, the terminus of the land-train and the beginning of our cricket investigation.

We arrived at the land-train terminal platform but the train had already left. 

Heinrich Böll obviously never came here, and if he had perhaps he would have preferred walking too.

More yellows and more directional signage. This one hinting at the sociability of walking.

The largest yellow sign, announcing the destination cricket pitch at Sewerby.

Spectator seating surrounds the pitch, though today there were few takers.

...and some of those were from the insect world...

Varied refreshments await players and spectators alike, including copious rose-hips.

Further round the pitch I found a group of enthusiastic spectators, who came with their own wind-break.

A sight-screen...or minimalist construction?

The cricket match in progress, seen from the cliff-top side.

The cricket match in progress, seen from the pavilion side.

The rear of the pavilion. Another minimalist construction, this time in yellow.

Cricket nets, this time referencing Do Ho Suh?.

We finally sighted the White House, nestling in the trees, beyond the ha-ha.

A local bee enjoying post match refreshments.

We found a fairy ring near to the practice pitch.

Guard dog? or petrified companion?

Picking up more yellows in the local hedgerows.

Being observed whilst observing...

Deep listening, echoes of the park band reverberate only in our imagination.

At the end of the walk, we found ourselves in time to catch the land-train. However, we turned down the offer. Why ride when we could walk?

For more details and observations about Score 11, please see Blake's project blog here. If you would like to create a score or participate in scores created by others, please contact Blake directly via the details on his website.