Commissioned Artist: ‘My Artful Way’.
Rachel Capovila has a cross-disciplinary, process-led and socially engaged practice. She often explores memory and place, and uses her work as a way of finding the links that connect us all. Her practice encompasses film, photography, mixed media textiles and installation. Collaboration is also a key part to her practice, working with artists, collectives, communities and arts organisations on a broad spectrum of participatory projects.
Rachel is interested in how we view our community and wants to show that Barrow – her home town – is more than just another industrial town.
“As probably one of the last generations of the steelworks era, and strongly identifying as a ‘Barrovian’, I seek opportunities to communicate and celebrate our town’s unique point of view.”
For her ‘My Artful Way’ commission, during the summer of 2021, Rachel made several trips to Piel Island, by ferry and by foot, and sought to engage with fellow pilgrims to celebrate being alive, and having the opportunity to reconnect after being in lockdown. The film she created for Artful Ways brings together experiences and perspectives from Piel Island, and is presented using two projectors side by side. One film shows the landscape and natural features, including seals and seabirds; the second shows the people and their interactions.
Watch the ‘Jaunt to Piel’ film here
Read more about the background to Rachel’s ‘Jaunt to Piel’
“My favourite place in our borough is Piel Island. To me as a child, everything interesting and exciting happened there. On the tip of the peninsula, overlooked by the Port of Barrow and the deep water shipping lane, Piel is one of our jewels.”
Find out more about Rachel Capovila at her www.rachelcapovila.com.