40 Days Of Public Solitude

Day 40

2009-04-12T10:00:00.000+01:00

'Who are you looking for?'
John 20. The Bible

Day 39

2009-04-11T10:00:00.003+01:00

Name: Jain McKay

Are You an artist? Yes

Three Items:

1: Ink
2: Paper
3: Japanese Paint Brush

I previously spent 3 days locked in a tower for a project called Drawings from the Ivory Tower' where i completed 120 paintings. This could be a development of that idea.

Day 38

2009-04-10T20:02:00.000+01:00

Name:Harriet Cooper

Are you an artist: yes

Three Items:

1 - A pack of pens,
2 - A roll of paper,
3 - masking tape.

40 Days Closing Party

2009-04-09T13:45:00.002+01:00

Day 37

2009-04-09T10:00:00.004+01:00

Name: Kevin Leadbeater

Are you an artist?

Three Items:

1 - A large box of recycled paper
2 - A sharp pair of scissors
3 - A roll of Gaffer Tape

Why: Loneliness is something we all feel, even though we have the opportunity to be always online and always connected. By transforming the lonely, desolation of an empty space into something living, I'm intrigued to see whether it is possible to get a feeling of connection, or home, even whilst being watched like a caged animal.

Day 36

2009-04-08T10:00:00.000+01:00

Name: Charlotte Turton

Are you an artist: Yes

Three Items:

1 - Typewriter
2 - Blue Tac
3 - paper

Why? solitude is pace for the imagination. I am interested in generating text which bridge imagination and memory.

Day 35

2009-04-07T12:54:00.002+01:00

Name: Myn Cotterill

What three Items will you take into the box?

1 - A Stretched Canvas
2 - A box of pains and brushes
3 - A Jam Jar or Terpentine

Why do you want to participate in this project?

To have the space and freedom to do nothing but create.

Day 34

2009-04-06T10:00:00.000+01:00

Name: Jessica Longmore  www.jessicalongmore.com

Artist?: Yes

3 Objects: 
1. A chair, 
2. A plinth, 
3. A sphere (in this case a weather balloon)

Why: Three objects familiar to my practise, one interesting but dauntingly public studio space, and one artist interested in the
psycology of the studio. A stimulating combination.

Day 33

2009-04-05T10:00:00.000+01:00

Name: David Andrew Jackson

Are you an artist? No

What three Items will you take into the box?

1: Large role of plain white paper.

2: Blue tack.

3: Fine liner Pen.

Why do you want to participate in this project?

The idea of imprisonment and chastity interests me greatly whether forced or by choice and I would be interested to see how I react being held in one limited space for a long period of time with only the most basic tools for expression. My background is in stills photography and I see this as an opportunity to throw of what could be seen as restraints.

Day 32

2009-04-04T10:00:00.000+01:00

Tony Russell-Pattison

Are you an artist? No

What three Items will you take into the box?

1: The Divine Office
2: Blank Paper Journal and Pen
3: Crucifixion scene in a bottle *

Why do you want to participate in this project?

I don't really know, I saw Bishop Mark's stint, looked up the website and was moved by it. I live as a Christian Solitary (at least partially, I am a priest's housekeeper: stagneslongsight.org the parish in question) and increasingly try to live the moments and seconds of my life according to the the movements of the Spirit. I assume the urge to apply is God moving in one of his/her , oft mentioned, mysterious ways! The God of Surprises constantly surprises. It's up to Him therefore, I will be surprised if you select me and content if you don't. I am no artist, but can and do write well , you would be welcome to my writings of the day.

* This is one of my oldest treasurers. Found in a car boot sale it is a complete Crucifixion scene in an old Zal disinfectant bottle. Myself and my (now deceased) Lover were amazed. It's kitch but with such devotion. The base is dated (1972) and signed , it's hard to describe , but it holds a thread of love through the last 25 years of my life, thus the choice.

Day 31

2009-04-03T16:09:00.000+01:00

Name: Cristina Fodarella

Are you an artist? No

What three Items will you take into the box?

1: Camera
2: Scrabble
3: Bouncing ball

Why do you want to participate in this project?

Living in Manchester just for one year made me think that I shouldn't miss this opportunity to have a great and unique experience.
I'm originally from Germany and Italy (3/4 Italian, but born in Germany) and making a voluntary year here. So I thought that it would be nice to take 3 items in the box which represent these 3 countries. The camera would be a sign for a tourist; for me being here as actually a stranger. The game "Scrabble" would be a German one (with a few different German letters), and it would be a good way to talk to people who are outside the box. Italy is quite famous for football so that I thought about taking a little bouncing ball which looks like a football. Even though I love watching football, I'm rubbish at playing... So I couldn't just take a normal ball. And I think that it's much more fun to play with a bouncing ball.

Day 30

2009-04-02T11:00:00.002+01:00

Name: The Bishop of Middleton (Rt Revd Mark Davies), then Rev Andy Salmon,

Are you an artist.... N0, No!!

Three Items:

1 -Bean Bag, Juggling balls

2 - Candle, Pen

3 - Taize Icon, paper

Why do you want to participate in this project?

Day 29

2009-04-01T18:32:00.002+01:00

Name: Tracey McGarrigan

Are you an artist: Yes

Three Items:

1 - A pen

2 - A pad of white paper

3 - an orange coloured fleecy blanket

Why do you want to participate in this project?

after participating in a creative partnership for a number of years i would relish this opportunity.

Day 28

2009-03-31T10:00:00.001+01:00

Name: Beth Barlow and Son

Are you an artist? Yes

What three Items will you take into the box?

1: Bamboo canes
2: Tissue paper
3: Tape

Why do you want to participate in this project?

After filling in for the phantom missing artist we now have another idea. Yes there are two of us but we feel we can make a comment on solitude and the division of territories to the detriment of some. We plan to do this by using above materials to create a wall down the middle of the space. This will lead to one of us having access to the door and so the facilities, food, water, toilet. This will lead to this one wanting to gain access to the other space. Tiny holes poked in the tissue will be patched up by the person in the good position. Eventually it all might get too much for the bad position person and it all might end in an attack on the wall.

Day 27

2009-03-30T10:00:00.001+01:00

Name: Lee

Are you an artist? Yes

What three Items will you take into the box?

1: Pen

2: Paper

3: Another Mysterious item

Why do you want to participate in this project?

My aim is to try and count every one of my breaths whilst I am in the space, for this I will make a mark with the pen every time I breathe, probably using the time honoured method of counting up to up to four with vertical lines then a horizontal one for the fifth and then repeating over and over (and over) again. I think this will be interesting as (obviously?) I have never tried to do it before and I reckon it will be quite a unique feeling/state of mind that it produces. I like the idea of just trying to concentrate on one thing and one thing only for that amount of time and also the idea of reducing the complex bodily processes involved with respiration to mere uniform data that is completely abstracted from any context. I haven’t been practicing so I might not be able to hold my attention on one thing for that long, I guess we’ll see. But I will try my hardest and hopefully it won’t make me feel too insane.If it does I might just have to go to sleep instead.

Day 26

2009-03-29T10:00:00.000+01:00

Name: Samantha Berry

Are you an artist? Yes

What three item will you take into the box?

1 - Bean Bag
2 - andy warhol's dance diagramme
3 - Tin Foil

Day 25

2009-03-28T10:00:00.000Z

Name: Ben Johnson

Are you an artist? Yes

What three Items will you take into the box?

1: Classical guitar
2: Guitar notation book
3: Guitar notation book

Why do you want to participate in this project?

To get to know myself better, free from social constraint.

Day 24

2009-03-27T10:00:00.000Z

Name: Charlotte Tupper

Are you an artist: Yes

Three Objects:

1 - A big ball of coloured wool
2 - Sellotape
3 - A blue Pen

Why do you want to participate?

I feel that it will be a challenge to entertain myself whilst being watched wiyth limited materials.

The art of doing nothing

2009-03-26T14:30:00.003Z

Thalia Allington-Wood may well have got the exhibition name wrong, but nevertheless, Manchester Confidential has a nice write-up about our little exhibition. Thanks!

Day 23

2009-03-26T13:10:00.000Z

Name: Naomi Sumner

Are you an artist? Yes

What three Items will you take into the box?
1: Facepaint kit
2: Digital camera
3: A pen? Or maybe a box of rubber eggs?

Why do you want to participate in this project?

Firstly I just think it is an interesting idea to spend a day alone in a glass fronted space-very David Blaine!!! Also as an artist who is currently very busy delivering projects for everyone else I would really value a day where I am free to focus on my own art and start developing an idea I’ve had for a long time. This idea centres around the idea of the clown-someone who is visible in society yet somehow set apart. A character who appears foolish and yet portrays wisdom. Using the Bible and Shakespeare texts as inspiration for what might be seen as characteristics of foolishness and then looking at passers by to think about who modern day fools/clowns would be in today’s society. There is a tradition that every clown registers his face by painting it on an egg so I thought that might be an interesting way of capturing images. The rubber eggs is a joke to do with appearances-what appears fragile is bouncy and unpredictable!!!

Day 22

2009-03-25T10:00:00.000Z

Artist: Nina Chua

Are you an artists? Yes

Three items:

1 - A Slinky Toy

2 - Balls

3 - Camera

Day 21

2009-03-24T10:24:00.002Z

Artist: Jonny Walsh

Are you an artists? Yes

Three items:

1 - Blue Tac

2 - Magazine

3 - Piano

Day 20

2009-03-23T10:00:00.001Z

Name: Stephen McCusker

Are you an artist? Yes

Three Items:

1 - Type writer
2 - Ream of paper
3 - Pen/Pencil

Why do you want to participate in this project?

I designed the 'art-box' entrance and am inspired by the idea to use it this way. I am also a Christian and part of the Sanctus1 community in Manchester,

Day 19

2009-03-22T10:00:00.000Z

Name: Elise Malay

Are you an artist? Yes

What three Items will you take into the box?

1: Chalk Pen colour blue

2: Chalk Pen colour Red

3: Chalk Pen colour Green

Why do you want to participate in this project?

As a performance and visual artist I have a responsibility to make a public display of myself at every opportunity. Isolation and voyeurism and communication are all things I am incredibly interested in artistically.

Day 18

2009-03-21T10:00:00.000Z

Name: Cameron Bray

Are you an artist? No

What three Items will you take into the box?

1: Fountain Pen and refills
2: Pad of Lined A4 people
3: Bubblewrap

Why do you want to participate in this project?

Think that it will be a good experience, give me plenty of time to write and also something to write about. I also love Nexus and want to take part in more things that they do