This is the official project blog of the AHRC-funded research project Mapping Medieval Chester: place and identity in an English borderland city c.1200-1500. The blog will be regularly updated by the Project Team and we hope it will offer an interesting perspective on our research.
Catherine Clarke, who leads the Mapping Medieval Chester / Discover Medieval Chester projects, has a new book coming out this April with Boydell & Brewer. Titled Writing Power in Anglo-Saxon England: Texts, Hierarchies, Economies, the book explores how power is shaped and negotiated in later Anglo-Saxon texts, focusing in particular on how hierarchical, vertical structures are presented alongside patterns of reciprocity and mutual obligation.
The launch at St John’s last Thursday was a wonderful culmination of all the hard work which has gone into the art project. But, for our team, it’s a beginning, too, as we start our work on the new ‘Discover Medieval Chester’ project. Due to complete in summer 2013, this new project will include a new website with an interactive map, multimedia materials and the facility to create ‘bespoke’ tours of Chester; a major exhibition at Chester’s Grosvenor Museum, which will then transfer to Wrexham; and lots more resources and activities for visitors to the city and local people.
It’s very early days, but we have now created a basic ‘Discover Medieval Chester’ website where you can read about the project. This will evolve over the coming months. You can visit the website here at http://discover.medievalchester.ac.uk.
On Thursday 22nd March the permanent version of ‘Hryre’, the new artwork created by artist Nayan Kulkarni, launched at St John’s Church, Chester. The launch event, held at St John’s Church, began with a presentation by Catherine Clarke on ‘Ruins and fragments: illuminating St John’s, Chester’. After refreshments and medieval music, the event continued with short speeches from those who had been involved in the project, including Rev David Chesters, the rector of St John’s, Katherine West of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Magnus Theobald of ‘Chester Renaissance’, Catherine Clarke and, of course, the artist himself Nayan Kulkarni who introduced us to some of the technical complexities of the lighting commission, as well as the creative side. The photography competition prize was also awarded to Nick Price, who was there to receive his cheque (and to take plenty more photos of the new installation!). His wonderful picture is shown below.
The permanent new version of the artwork is stunning, incorporating more manuscript images and focusing on ideas of ruin, loss, memory and endurance. You can download the PDF interpretation guide here.
It was so exciting to see the final artwork emerge out of the darkness. It has been a privilege, and tremendously exciting, to be involved in this project and share our research on medieval Chester in such an innovative way. It was also great to see at the launch event so many of the people who have been involved with the art project over the past year, via workshops and consultation – your input definitely helped to shape the artwork into its final form.
Catherine and Nayan at the launch (photo David Heke)
Our partners the Grosvenor Museum, Chester, have organised some exciting medieval-themed events in Chester for the coming months. On Saturday 16th June the ‘Minstrels’ Court’ will be held at St John’s Church (10.30am – 5pm). This event recreates a unique tradition in which medieval musicians would come to St John”s to be granted their licence to perform for the coming year. In the evening of June 16th, a ‘Medieval Music Makers’ concert will allow you to hear more medieval music. In the atmospheric setting of St John’s, you’ll discover medieval music as well as modern interpretations of historic tunes (£5, for booking information please click on the PDF link above).
We’re proud to announce that ‘Hryre’, the new light-based artwork at St John’s, has been commended in the Chester Civic Trust’s New Year Honours, 2012. This is fantastic recognition for the contribution which the artwork is making to the public environment and culture of Chester. Created by artist Nayan Kulkarni, in collaboration with Catherine Clarke, ‘Hryre’ builds on the ‘Mapping Medieval Chester’ research and is part of a new AHRC-funded ‘Discover Medieval Chester’ project which shares that work with new audiences.
Could you take a winning photograph of the lighting installation at St John’s ruins, Chester? There’s a £200 cash prize for the winning image. The lighting sequences will be adjusted for a short period to help you take your photo. Please see full details, and the official entry form, here. Closing date Sunday 26 February. Good luck!
Catherine Clarke was filmed recently talking about the ‘Mapping Medieval Chester’ research and the new ‘Discover Medieval Chester’ Knowledge Transfer project which will share the academic work with new audiences.
At the workshops before Christmas we had another opportunity to discuss the research and ideas behind the St John’s art project with local people, and hear their views and suggestions. It was tremendous to hear such positive responses and I felt really privileged and proud to be part of such an exciting project. A few photos attached – though the ones on site don’t show the projections and were taken in very dark conditions! Thank you to our hosts at St John’s for making us so welcome.
We’ve now finalised arrangements for another series of community workshops in Chester in December, including more text development workshops, a public presentation at St John’s Church, and an on-site workshop in which you can talk directly to the artist, Nayan Kulkarni, see the projection technology and even get involved in the production of some slides.
You can read more details of the events (and information about booking, where appropriate) here. There will be further activities in January, including a Photography Competition for local photographers to have a go at capturing the light installation – watch this space!
On Tuesday 15 November, Year 6 pupils at Newton Primary School worked with artist Nayan Kulkarni to produce illumination designs which were projected over the school building. This workshop and new art were inspired by ‘Hryre’ at St John’s Church, Chester, which projects fragments of text edited by the ‘Mapping Medieval Chester’ project across the ruins. The Newton Primary School artwork also explores the idea of writing with light. Pictures by Andy Scargill.
