Traders Tracks
Our Arts Council England ecology art artist commission exhibition, participatory workshop, live music and spoken word performance program. Across 6 venues in Herefordshire, Traders Tracks- curated by Salt Road’s Sally Payen commisioned 15 visual artists and performers to make a program of works responding to the Alfred Watkins Old Straight Track Club.
The Old Straight Track archive of 30 boxes of maps, photographs drawings and notes at the Hereford Archive and Records Centre were made in the 1920s and 1930s by 30 members of the club across the UK, who surveyed and mapped Ley lines -pre-Roman traders tracks.
18th August, 6pm – 10pm Bear Tracks:
Queenswood County Park, A49 between Leominster and Hereford, HR6 0PYMusic & art under the trees 6pm-10pm
6pm jus’jay Herefordshire’s most individual DJ, putting together fluid mixes that effortlessly meander their way into your consciousness, jus’jay creates a mood and musical atmosphere that is totally his own.
7pm John Knight Guitarist singer/songwriter performing a melodic blend of traditional folk, contemporary classical, and original composition. Taking influence from the natural world, folklore & the human experience
7:30pm Rhys John Stubbs Rhys is a guitarist and composer who creates a combination of music and words -about Latvian folkloric characters and stories including the C19th epic Latvian poem ‘Lāčplēsis’ (Bearslayer)
9pm Rushes with Adam Horovitz. . Rushes create original improvised soundscapes with double bass, saxophone, trumpet, harmonium, found and manipulated sounds, as well as vocals, strings and percussion. A new musical project put together by Mark Waters, Alex Gordon, Kate Gathercole and Dan Fordham. Adam Horovitz is a Stroud-based poet, performer and editor. His first full collection, Turning was followed by A Thousand Laurie Lees and Little Metropolis. His next book, Love and Other Fairy Tales, will also be released later in 2021, by Indigo Dreams Publications
9pm Jaime Jackson & David England. Moving image projections and artist’s talk in the woods responding to Alfred Watkins Old Straight Track postal club archive of pre-Roman leys trading tracks. Including Union of Trades artist film by Jaime Jackson with Will Hodson from 2Faced Dance Company
6-10pm Jane Grace Raw Chocolate artist with demonstrations and tasti ngs and Jane will be running the pizza oven.
1st – 31st August Union of Trades Moving image and participatory land artwork, linking Wigmore village hall community cafe & The Arts Hub at St Mary Magdalene’s Church Leintwardine
Thursday 19th – Sunday 22nd August Croft Castle Parkland, (Natural Play Area & Croft Ambrey iron age camp)
Thursday 19th
‘Union of Trades’ – drop in participatory workshop 10am to 5pm, Jaime Jackson
‘Hunger Moon Chocolate’ – chocolate demonstrations and tastings – throughout the day, Jane Grace
Friday 20 August
‘Union of Trades’ – drop in participatory workshop 10am to 5pm Jaime Jackson
‘Hunger Moon Chocolate’ – chocolate demonstrations and tastings – throughout the day, Jane Grace
‘The Map of Strings’ – drop in participatory workshop installation – 10am to 5pm Meg Thimm & Pearl Jackson-Payen
Saturday 21 August
‘Union of Trades’ – drop in participatory workshop 10am to 5pm Jaime Jackson and Sally Payen
‘Union of Trades’ – artist led walk – 11am, 1pm and 3pm
‘The Map of Strings’ – drop in participatory workshop installation – 10am to 5pm Meg Thimm & Pearl Jackson-Payen
‘Sighting the Ancient Landscape’ – artist led walk – 10am, 12pm and 2pm Celia Johnson
‘Ambrey Flora’ drop in drawing workshop – 10am to 5pm Jenna Naylor
Sunday 22 August
‘Union of Trades’ – drop in participatory workshop 10am to 5pm Jaime Jackson
‘The Map of Strings’ – drop in participatory workshop installation – 10am to 5pm Meg Thimm and Pearl Jackson-Payen
‘Wood Wide Web’ – artist led walk – 11am, 1pm and 3pm Stephen Whitehead
Tuesday 24th August – Friday 24th September Salt Road Gallery Leominster 24th – 31st August 9-10pm Moving image projection Jaime Jackson.
Hereford Library: Exhibition of Traders Tracks . commissioned artists artworks moving image, drawing and Straight Tracks Postal Club archive material from Hereford Archive and Records Centre. David England, Jaime Jackson, Pearl Jackson-Payen, Celia Johnson, Jenna Naylor, Sally Payen and Meg Thimm.
Open:
Tuesday – 9.30am to 12.30pm, 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Wednesday – 9.30am to 12.30pm, 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Thursday – 9.30am to 12.30pm, 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Friday – 9.30am to 12.30pm, 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Saturday – 9.30am to 12.30pm
Traders Tracks is an Arts Council England funded New Leaf and Salt Road project curated by Dr Sally Payen, in partnership with Herefordshire Council’s Library services and the National Trust. Exploring pre-Roman trading pathways inspired by Alfred Watkins early 20th Century Postal Club (Ley) Archive held in Hereford Archives and Record Centre. Croft Ambrey Iron age camp was mapped in June 1921 on Waktin’s first Ley 100 years ago
We have commissioned contemporary Herefordshire and midlands based artists and performers to develop practice in research, commissions, exhibitions and engagement activities: Walking artist events, book art and digital art. Inspired by Alfred Watkins Postal Club Archive which became The Old Straight Track 1927-34, held at the Hereford Archive & Records Centre. The archive was a participatory postal club, where Watkins and other members of the club tested and layered his hypothesis of trading pathways across the UK, enabling pre-Roman communities shared goods and services