Washed Up

In my continual 'look out' for interesting materials to recycle into my Plant I have been struck by the rubbish I have found on the beaches along our coast and intend to somehow use this washed up debris to make work which will ultimately be recycled .  This film clip brings home the pervasiveness of our wasteful society.



The first stage of my next recycling project is taking a closer look at the materials.

Mark II

The autumn strong winds have hit the HPC test beds here in the Northumberland nursery. The various propeller flower heads positioned along the fence are rattling around at great speed and reminding me of suggestions that I could be generating electricity as I travel. 

From left to right i.white desk fan flower  ii. aluminium  butterfly heater fan flower iii. black radiator fan flower with red inner wheel centre

With the development of Mark II of the plant on my mind I have been watching closely to compare smoothness of rotation of the various forms and the visual appeal of each of them. 

Taking up the offer of a colleague Tom Mullholland (engineer & science teacher) I took my collection rotors (propellers) down to his workshop in Sunderland to explore the possible ways of converting  the wind power into energy to light up the plant.

 

Surrounded literally by hundreds of stacked boxes containing mechanical parts, grommets, salvaged  electrical devices and a kettle heating up next to us  by solar panels on the roof - I knew I was in the perfect place to get advice and technical help.

  

Tom explained how the most appropriate motors to use for this situation are those designed to operate from batteries rather than the mains, i.e. using a lower voltage.





Checking out possibilities and thinking through fixing methods for each propeller it was decided that the heavier propellers such as this acrylic and metal fan once used to inflate hot air balloons would be best mounted onto an old drill.

While smaller motors used for running model cars etc could generate the electricity from the smaller fans.

Precise measurements were taken for Tom to be able to calculate the extension shafts required to fit over the motors axle.

While Tom is making the electrical links I am searching for tubes of the exact dimensions to house the motors. These tubes need to connect onto & become part of the  plants overall stem structure.

The first aim of our experiments is to light up a series of LED parasol lights that fit neatly round the plants stems, but which until now have been powered by batteries.

With the darker nights approaching I should have plenty of time check how well the flower turbines work.

Prize awarded...

At last the prize for naming the plant has been received by William White family in the Midlands.

The winning name being 'Mistral' - inspired by the winds that whipped up during the performance outside the Natural History Museum.

The prize was the first cut stem taken from the plant, plus
special chocolates.

Reclaiming Sculpture

Three dimensional artwork in the majority of schools increasingly seems to be left behind, possibly because of the lack of space and time needed and often the cost of materials. So as part of Art Week  in schools this summer I am promoting the idea of recycling unwanted objects into sculptures. I see this as my next quest - to share the vast assortment of materials donated, collected and found for the Heavy Plant Crossing with young people to make sculptures.

My first workshop reclaiming objects this week was with twelve 15 year old pupils at Penicuik High School. This was their first opportunity to make sculpture and to work collaboratively. Initially bemused by the strange array of materials they quickly picked up objects and began to fathom out how they could join them together. Abandoning  pre-conceived ideas of what they might construct e.g. unicorns etc they gradually let the materials suggest what might be possible. The ideas began to take the most wonderful shapes and within a few hours we had three very different  humorous sculptures with evocative titles -Colin the Tourist - Jealous White Lies - C644 LTN - each with fabulous back stories. 

Definitely the way to go in introducing sculpture in schools, especially as reclaiming materials is  free and inspires such imaginative artworks and associated story lines with a strong sustainable message.

Inspired names......

Thanks to everyone for the fabulous names which rival any plant label names.

Explorer             Sarah            Grace                          GM
Plantastic           Freddie          Car Plant                      Tamla

Wanderer             John             Trundleweed                    Jan
Hooveronimous        Ian              Morph

Florian              Stephanie        Stranger                       Steven

Morrissey            MM               Sojourner Truth.               Susanne

Changeling           lionpops         Euphrasia Eye-bright           Claudia

Poly                 MD               Black Night                    Caroline

Dizzy                CB               Pipe Dream  Pipio insolitus    LS

Barton’s Bloomers    AM               Lazylizzie
Wheel-plant                           Botanical Billy                Haywain
Doobiesaurous        Alex             Horace                         Stuart
Black turn ripples   AV               Contraption                    LL
Venus pie trap       Malia            Whirling Dervish               SG
Mistral              WW               Rhododendroid Perambulenta     WMB

Steamwheel           Anon             Everything Out                 Joe
Hector               Ian              Beauty form the Beast
Mobile Gimigog       Ireland          Spiderplant                    LL
         

The winning name was 'Mistral' - inspired by the  breeze that picked up outside of the Natural History Museum which suddenly began to turn the flower heads assembled from various fans. 

'Mistral' was put forward by William White - please let me have your postal address your prize awaits - the first cut flower stem and a collection of artisan chocolates.

Comments on the movie.....

received via e mail over the last few weeks: 


I love the film – in particular, people’s responses to the piece and your arrival at the CFS. J Hampson.  Senior Strategy Officer, Arts and Culture RBKC

What a fab idea ! What's happening to it next ? I'd like it to grow and grow ! S Shotton

Just watched your Heavy Plant film & so enjoyed it. It has a great feel of the progression of the idea & the playful spirit of it's making & reception. C Rankin

Loved the film. I think I’d like to make a wonderful machine like yours! You looked really at home making your way through the streets – you must do this sort of thing regularly!

I have built two generator-bikes and use them in my science shows. My latest idea is for a solar powered scooter lets talk.  Tom www.technologytom.com

Just watched film which is really lovely, such a lot of laughter, and some great faces/expressions/people.  Bravo!  fun it is.
J Ashdown

It was a pleasure to help and the video is truly magnificent  - I so wish I could have been there...such a manic time of year. I can't wait to see what you next ideas are!

Let me know what's next - I love your work 

Abby Hazell Garden Design  studio@abigailhazell.com

 

Hi Julia - fab video and was that Jilly as well? Lovely to see the kids getting involved and lots of people interacting with it! S Hallberg

The movie - a rough cut

Heavy Plant Crossing - the movie

At last the Heavy Plant Crossing - the movie is on line. Enjoy! Let us know what you think.



In under 5 minutes the film encapsulates the process from finding and reclaiming objects to assemble a mechanical plant, which is  hybridized by its keeper as she tows it through the streets and parks of London to RHS Chelsea in their attempt to win Best Plant in Show with a finale propagation party at Worlds End Kitchen Garden.


Once you have seen it on line you may want to venture to the Garden of Disorientation to see it projected onto on the walls of the City, before the Chelsea Fringe Festival ends on the 9th May.

Artists on the move

While the plant is safely bedded out in the Garden of Disorientation I returned north to catch up on preparing sculptures for the 'Expressions of Movement' art exhibition at The Grove, Hertfordshire and heard about a Nomadic Village of international artist's that had set up an encampment to make art  in the small rural village of  Wolsingham, Co Durham.  The project is run by Klaus Maehring (Lead Artist and founder) from ORP/Austria and is supported by ISIS Arts

The encampment comprised of a collection of artists caravans, tents, shelters, recycled fibre glass containers, nestled along the bank of the wooded beck running through the village with doors wide open, artists freely invited you in to view their spaces of work & travel, containing, films, installations, performances all touching on ideas surrounding nomadism . 

Using this beautiful location as inspiration, material, stage,  seemed to me extoll the excitement of journeying to new places to meet and engage with new people.









This is excitement is a feeling I recognise from my recent journey with my Heavy Plant and which I am now reflecting and  wondering how where we might go now. I certainly feel that my journey through the parks and streets of Kensington & Chelsea is only the beginning of a much larger journey which I am beginning.

Joining in the debate

Festival Gardens:  What’s the Point? Tuesday 5^th June, 7pm –

A debate hosted by Festival Director Tim Richardson with Marco Antonini (Land I) – veterans of conceptual garden designs having shown at Metis, Westonbirt & Chaumont; Julia Barton – Sculptor and Westonbirt show garden designer, installations include Chelsea Fringe and Holker Hall; Deborah Nagan (uncommon) – designer of the Garden of Disorientation and also of conceptual gardens in Luxembourg and Canada; Tony Heywood (Heywood & Condie) – designer of a garden at Westonbirt and this year at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Tickets  are free but RSVP to Deborah@uncommonland.co.uk

Transplanting update

Polymorphus mutabils 'Mistral' is now bedding-in well at the Garden of Disorientation, at 61 Charterhouse St EC1, opposite Smithfield Market, surrounded by Mentha  spitica.

Heavy Plant Crossing will be on exhibition here until the 5th May after which it will return to the studio for further modifications  and development with further trials ready for its next quest.

Garden of Disorientation Open from 11am-6pm daily; late opening til 10pm on the 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30, 31 May and 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 June

Transplanting to the City - 26th May

Heavy Plant Crossing will be transplanted on Saturday 26th May to the Garden of Disorientation at 1pm. Reconstruction will begin from 1.30pm, help is needed as it is a very 'Heavy Plant'!



You are welcome to help follow the flat pack instructions, check the measurements, bolt together, check the levels, attach flower heads and stand back and appraise.

The Garden of Disorientation  is a fragrant  internal pop up garden venue  hosting many artists work and events over the Chelsea Fringe Festival. The space  has been designed by Deborah Nagan of  Uncommonland

A list of the events happening  here and work being shown is available at the Chelsea Fringe website.

The first screening of the Heavy Plant Crossing short digital 'buddy film', will play from 6.15pm -7.15pm on a loop on Saturday 26th May..

The film will be played daily until the 9th June along with landscape images of Allan-Pollock Morris projected onto the wall of Smithfield. 


Venue is open 11am-9pm

Reactions on the Streets

Smiles & amusement - exclaiming to friends over the phone what they were seeing

Cordial banter - often beginning with:

'What is it?'

'Does it generate electricity?'

'Is it art?'

'Its crazy....I love it?'

'What drugs are you on?'

Questions which offered fantastic starting points to  discuss the event, the plants construction, the quest to win Best in Show at RHS Chelsea, to discuss reclaiming and recycling  objects.

Interaction:

Children seemed naturally drawn to the plant encouraged to explore the flower heads, they were keen to touch the plant soon discovering which they could spin, move and carry along side us when trundling along.

They loved working out what the objects making the flower heads had been and what I could possibly make next.

Captured stills - Sunday 20th May

The images below are from the video footage taken over the first two days of the journey. A short 'buddy film' is being edited, and will be screened daily at the Garden of Disorientation

venue from  the evening of Saturday 26th to the 9th June. 

Be sure to ask to see it if its not on!

Motoring by Imperial College

Naming frenzy

Humorous names proposed

Passing the Science Museum   

Having a chat in the Chelsea Physic Garden

Just in time

We made it ! Crossing the threshold of the hallowed RHS Chelsea Flower Show just before the gates closed at 2.20pm  for the judging... How fantastic more to follow! 

 













Off now to propagate the plant 'Mistral' with the members of the Worlds End Community Kitchen Garden tonight and children of Ashburnham Primary School, tomorrow.

We have a name!

The application form is set for completion today ready for our entry in the  the RHS Chelsea Flower Show today. Thank you to  everyone who sent texts,and e mails with ideas for naming the plant. The name selected 'Mistral' was put forward outside of the Natural History Museum yesterday  by William White ( we will be in contact to get your address to send the prize in the next few days). The name  inspired by the  breeze  picked up along Exhibition Road and powered the flower heads assembled from various fans   Mistral '

Thanks to everyone for the fabulous names a few of which are below... 

Explorer           Sarah

Grace              GM

Wanderer           John

Tumbleweed         Jan

Florian            Stephanie

Stranger           Steven

Morrissey          Mary

Sojourner Truth.   Susanne

Changeling         lionpops

Eye-bright         Claudia

Poly               MD

Black Night        Caroline

Dizzy              CB

'Pipe Dream'       LS

Barton’s Bloomers   AM

more to follow!

Trundling along nicely

A cloudy cool start at Marlborough Gate this morning, to bemused tourists heading into Hyde Park. After hailing my invitation to join in the construction of a weird and wonderful plant two Tazmanian women slowly joined in sorting, holding poles, reading my construction notes. After half an hour we were able to test out the plants base an wheeling ability.After a few more tweaks with the spanner an allen-key we set too adding stems,branches and then the all important flower heads. At which time we began to attract much more attention and we felt ready for setting forth to the Serpentine Gallery, drawing passers by into the story of our quest to reach the Chelsea Flower Show in time to win 'Best plant in Show' tomorrow!

On our way South.....

All packed into a few bags , our journey began cold and wet in the Northumberland hills.

As we headed down the A1 we began to cross the climatic zones, which where marked by increasing numbers of  trees in leaf and flower.  By the time we reached  Watford the May blossom and cherry trees began to brighten the horizon of grey cloud .





Stopping for breaks I glimpsed the delightful stand of Candelabra Primulas in a fabulous garden just as the sun came out . There's an apt great name... still hunting for the right name . Hoping that some more will appear on the blog by the morning .

On reaching London tonight the temperature was wonderfully much increased and the first road name I noticed was 'Flower Mews' very apt and heartening for the beginning of  our quest tomorrow. See you at Hyde Park 10 am sharp!

All set to roll

The plant is now bagged up and ready to begin its journey to London from the North East. Hoping I have remembered all its stems, leaves and flower heads, not to mention tools and of course the all important RHS CFS application form. 

 

Looking forward to arriving at Hyde Park at 10am, tomorrow morning to begin constructing the plant near to Marlborough Gate. See you there !

Out for an evening stroll in between the showers

After a long day in the studio checking over and reconfiguring the plants flower heads, I decided to chance the showers and head up the hill for our third road test.

 

















My thinking being that if the plant and I can make it up such a steep hill on a rough single track road, we will be fine along the smooth and relatively flat footpaths of the capital.

The road test went well, the plant towing smoothly and keeping stable even when having to pull over into the grass verge to let bemused cars and tractors pass by. Phew!

Rotating Flowerheads - winning feature ?

A recent development in the plants evolution has been the configuring of flower heads that rotate in the wind, inspired by fans from car radiators and office fans.To do this I have devised a simple loose shaft and split pin system to connect the reclaimed fan elements to the plant stems. 

After a walk with the plant in a stiff breeze where the larger bi-coloured flower head hurtled round behind me, I am confident this dynamic cultural detail will impress the judges.

 

















Who knows if a breeze picks up at Chelsea next week the rotating flower heads could clinch the ‘Plant of the Year' trophy!

North Tyne Valley artist shows 'plant' at Chelsea Flower Show - Environment - News

North Tyne Valley artist shows 'plant' at Chelsea Flower Show - Environment - News

The Heavy Plant Crossing preparations have not gone unnoticed . Word has reached  Newcastle, specifically the Environment correspondent of The Journal, Tony Henderson who has put the word out for their readers to come up with suggestions to name the Plant before it reaches Chelsea. The winner will  receive the first cut flower stem from the plant along with a very fine box of chocolates. To enter leave your suggestion on leave your suggestion on the competition page http://heavyplantcrossing2012.blogspot.co.uk/p/competition.html

Last search - on the streets

With a need for last minute additions to the recycling piles I decided to trek west to Manchester to visit a friend and check out unwanted and abandoned objects of the city. 

A Bank holiday is a good day to search skips which have been filling up over the weekend with discarded shower fixings, outgrown toy table legs and an old 45 record, perfect.

All finds are now sorted and noted in the studio,ready for
selection and assembling.

Selection decisions

With only two weeks to go before I will be  entering the plant in the RHS Chelsea 2012 Plant of the Year, I am making crucial final decisions as to which elements of the plant work best to gain those all important points. 


The black poly pipe stem structure definitely supports the multi flower head form well and allows for the plant to be reconfigured easily as it hybridizes away.


The intense shiny black stems and the grid leaves, make a bold dramatic effect, to set off the flowers, unusual and rare in the botanical world. 





The only other plant I know of coming close to this colour is Ophiopogon Nigrescens





 

Tens of flower heads are being trialed - assembled from black plastic cogs,fans, with red electrical wire stamens.



Today's studio decisions will help me begin to classify the plant and fill in the all important CFS FORM 19, to enable me to enter Chelsea.

Project Event

A box will arrive in London with its maker and keeper. The keeper will open the box and construct a mechanical plant on wheels to travel through the streets and parks of Kensington and Chelsea. The keeper will constantly appraise and make impromptu stops to adjust the plant.

Hybridization performances will take place in parks, streets and in gardens at scheduled places and times. The keeper will re configure particular elements of the plant, changing its form each time.


The aim is to perfect the plant and reach the RHS show to win ‘Best Plant in Show’ category.

Notation

As all good plant finders, I am collating and recording the components I have collected, noting the date found, collected or purchased , the location they came from , their condition, any particular ideas re use etc..

Reclaimed materials from the 

House of Objects NE12

Reclaimed scaffolding poles and hangers N48

Donated unused poly pipes and fittings NE48