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Glenn Boulter and Chris Maxted -
Census
Glenn Boulter and Chris Maxted selected South Wonston Long Barrow in Winchester
District for their exploration of the sacred in ancient times.
"We turned down several other better-preserved and more immediately impressive
sites in favour of the small patch of overgrown land where the only indication
of its significance was an information board. Surrounded by a modern housing
estate, one would be forgiven for passing it by without a second thought."
(Glenn Boulter and Chris Maxted)
The book produced illuminated how the artists, using quasi-archaeological
techniques, encouraged South Wonston Primary School children to have a better
understanding of the barrow and its sanctity, as relevant to us today. A
map-like, fold-out sheet of drawings of flowers and objects found on the site
between 19th and 23rd June 2006 was contained within the right-hand half of the
book. The left-hand half recorded the research and development for the project.
A copy of Census was generously donated by the artists to each of the
participating children. Census is now in the Tate Library collection of artist's
books. Boulter was a guest speaker, together with the Art and Sacred Places
Project Director, at the sell-out Artists' Book Symposium convened by the
University of the West of England and Winchester School of Art on 13th July
2007.
With thanks to Winchester Archaeology and Local History Group for their support.
Boulter and Maxted's artwork was one of six artists' books produced for the Art
and Sacred Places Six Sacred Sites project in collaboration with 'aspex'
gallery, Portsmouth, 'The Winchester Gallery' and 'Hampshire Sculpture Trust'.
The project was designed to explore the range of ways in which a location may be
regarded as sacred and to reflect on the enduring power and significance of the
notion of sacredness in our society.
Six Sacred Sites exhibitions and events included:
23rd September to 16th October, 2006 - Basingstoke Hindu Society, Carnival Hall
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28th October to 19th November, 2006 - Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral
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19th November, 2006 - RoadPeace Service for World Day of Remembrance for Road
Traffic Victims
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8th January, 2007 - South Wonston Primary School
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13th January to 17th February, 2007 - Rope Store Gallery, Quay Arts, Newport,
Isle of Wight - Meeting Place of the Newport Quaker group
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23rd February to 18th March, 2007 - Aspex Gallery, Vulcan Building, Gunwharf
Quays, Portsmouth
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6th July to 2nd August, 2007 - The Winchester Gallery
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13th July 2007
- Artists' Book Symposium with UWE and Winchester School of Art
Project funders and supporters: Arts Council England SE, Hampshire County
Council, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Portsmouth City Council,
Winchester City Council, Aspex gallery, University of Southampton, Winchester
Archaeology and Local History Group |
