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I’d never been to York before, but I knew when I got off the train in my moon boots and was met by a castle, things were looking pretty good for it. Then there was a river, and a bridge, and a woman wrapping herself in rope. I had arrived to SLAP Interventions. I saw Elise Nuding’s Shift, spin, warp, twine which was graceful and poetic on the side of the river. What a backdrop. Passers-by stopped and walked away. Then I saw Connor Quill’s Glitter Dancing Man which upped the tempo as he danced and pranced his way through ‘Black Friday’ in York with pink hotpants and gold chest with a sign that said ‘DANCE WITH ME’. The odds were against it, but a joyous Pied Piper-esque riot ensued.Or a silent musical with the entire cast of York shoppers. I can’t be sure. Catching those two different performances made me think about the possibilities of place and made me aware of the gaps there are to play in. How art and life can reveal things about each other. A celebration of chance, of one-offs.

Then I made my way with what I had come to do in the first place, a one to one performance called Moon Landings. I set up a moon on top of a pub roof and invite people to sit with me, for a while, wrapped in a foil blanket, to look back on planet earth. To stop and wonder at it all. From that perspective, I wanted to know what moments you could still see from so far, what would be the things that stick out to you from your lifetime. This is a new performance that I was testing out, inspired by my work with people with dementia. I am struck by what stays for a lifetime. What ensued were about ten unforgettable encounters, riveting conversations, brief but intimate disclosures. I was really touched by how open people were and willing they were to sit with me on the moon in the middle of their Friday night out. I have collected snippets of the stories I was told on a till roll from the bar, which I will publish soon- watch this ‘space’.

had time for a quick drink, a Blue Moon, naturally, and zoomed off for the last train to Manchester. 

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I remember it was grey, but not too cold—November temperatures could (should?) be so much worse. I remember no rain was forecast, but it drizzled for a short period. I remember feeling drawn to some potential performance spaces more than others, and then being attached enough to the first site we chose to locate the second performance in almost the same place. Almost, but not quite. I remember a small child wanting to pick up a piece of twine, but shyness (or was it suspicion?) got the better of him. I remember two people who tend the adjacent park walking by, and one of them stopping: “I just had to ask— what are you doing??” I gave her some twine. I remember the ground was wet and cold. It left dirt smears on my dress and shoes, and made my ropes damp and heavy. I remember Dancing Glitter Man being ten times brighter than his surroundings. I remember not being sure whether I had started the performances or not. The endings were clearer. I remember the funny looks from the construction workers on the embankment, the goose who eyeballed me, the baffled cyclist, the waiting women, the man with the rat (Oscar was its name), the cigarette smoker, the perfectly timed leaf fall— things you can’t plan but that come to define the experience of the work, both for those performing and for those observing…if you can even separate them.

- Elise Nuding

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I spent the day in York documenting meetings with strangers. I approached people who were sitting alone on benches. I set up a medium-format camera in front of them and played a song on a cassette player to set the mood. I sat next to them on the bench and nodded to them. They would then realise that we were going to be the subject of a photograph together. At this point there would, or would not be, a silent bond created. 

We then looked into the camera and I fired the shutter with a cable release. After this myself and the subject would talk. I would tell them about my life and they would tell me about theirs. I would ask why they were here at this place, why they were sitting alone. I would ask if they liked the choice of music. After talking, I would offer to post a print of the photograph to their house to commemorate our meeting. They would write down their address and I would say goodbye. After our meeting I would write down what I remember about them.

Deciding to take your photograph together with someone is a ritual that we might do to commemorate getting to know someone. I wanted to explore that ritual and create a bond of intimacy that might have otherwise been absent with a stranger.

I liked the weather in York. It was slightly foggy, and the temperature was mild. The museum gardens were a great setting I felt.

- Top Joe

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Here’s a look back at Top Joe exploring the presence of absence at our last event of 2014.

Our first event of 2015 will be held on the 28th of January at The Distance.

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We hope to see you there.

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SLAP are turning the grand old age of ONE!

To celebrate SLAP’s 1st Birthday we have invited 6 artists/companies to create guerrilla style performances in public spaces in York. The interventions will be taking place on the 28th and 29th of November. 

All of these will be captured by 4 local filmmakers working with AlterNative Pictures to create a short film that captures the essence of SLAP’s Ambition to bring high quality art, to unusual spaces in the city of York. 

For SLAP’s birthday we will be having at a Premier Party at independent cinema and bar 1331 on the 10th of December. 

ARTISTS INCLUDE:

Elise Nuding
Connor Quill
Lowri Evans 
The Paula Davy
Top Joe
The Dog-Eared Duo 

SLAP FILMAKERS:

Hamish Logan 
Tom Barratt
Dale Saxton 
Ben Mattless 

EVENING PERFORMANCES:
Top Joe 
Wildlife
Lydia Cottrell 

Come join us on the 10th of December at 1331 7:30pm 

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Elise Nuding - Shift, spin, warp, twine

Exploring the imaginative spaces within material realities, Shift, spin, warp, twine follows one person’s attempts to untangle. But often, the more you try to untangle something, the more tangled it becomes. It’s a ropey business.

Shift, spin, warp, twine" was originally commissioned by Wilton’s Music Hall.

1:00pm

Riverside Nr Scarborough Bridge.

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Connor Quill - Dancing Glitter Man 

Dancing Glitter Man is a roaming party man, covered in glitter & possessed by the ‘tunes’ playing through his headphones 
He’s just looking for someone to dance with. If you find him, or of he finds you be sure to dance with him - you won’t regret it! 

2:30pm - 5:00pm

City Centre 

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Lowri Evans - Moon Landings 

Join me up a ladder and have a rest on the moon.

A magical one to one experience where you will stop and wonder at it all.

Inspired by working with older people and conversations with strangers. An investigation of what things stick with a person for a lifetime.

7:00pm - 10:00pm

The Habit 

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The Paula Davy - Jigsaw of the Queen

On Saturday 29th November 2014 Paula The Disappointment will occupy a York pub and attempt to suceed at the arduous and gruelling task of: Completing a jigsaw of The Queen of England in under two hours whilst blindfold. You are invited to witness this extreme feat of endurance

12:00noon - 2:00pm

The Duke of York

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Top Joe 

Top Joe is a timid character who wears a hi-vis jacket and occasionally braves leaving the house in order to create intimate performances. He has had work performed/shown at Live Art Bistro, Hazard, Cornerhouse Manchester, FACT Liverpool, the Impossible Lecture at Beaconsfest and 4749 Tanner St.

2:00pm - 6:00pm 

City Centre

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