Melanie Shearn completed 2 Artful Ways walks around Kendal on the same, very sunny day. One taking in the Cricket Pitch and one crossing the river Kent and skirting by Fletcher Park.
Melanie Shearn:
Cultural features along the way:
Track 1: The Archers – Cricket pitch, cemetery, woodland, sculpture seats, castle
Track 2: R You Lost? – Footbridge, ‘Waterside’, barriers, Tanners Yard, Priority Postbox
Question 1: Creativity – What does creativity/culture mean to you?
Going on an unknown journey and making little leaps along the way.
Question 2: Connectivity – Covid-19 has forced us all to reimagine ways to connect. What have you missed – and what new possibilities have opened up?
I missed so much during lockdowns but especially making eye contact during conversations with people and being able to touch things. Overnight, I found I was dislocated: it almost didn’t matter where in the world I was. Instead of turning to zoom, I turned outwards and to things I could touch: I set up creative correspondences with people all over the world; creative strangers sending things to each other in the post, in a correspondance.
Because I don’t know anybody locally and because I’m restricted by walking, ironically, my Artful Ways walks are still about me connecting with someone I haven’t met via international post. My recording of these walks is going to be posted from the postbox on Highgate, Kendal to a fellow creative in Frankfurt, Germany where she will walk my Cumbrian artful way.
Question 3: Place – How can we, collectively, and artfully, better care for our environment?
Pay attention.
Go first.
Offer a hand.
