Taking a line for a walk
Sarah Wray, (dancer amongst other marvelous things), joined Eamonn and I today.
After buying chalk in the LPC, Bishop Street we made our way down Shipquay Street towards Strand Rd. Following the recent damaging flood we wanted to reclaim and palliate the street. The score we devised to get there was to walk in a row, close together shoulder to shoulder looking at the ground. We each had a word written on our forehead, to display between us the caption KEEP IN TOUCH. The only problem with this phrase was that some people identified it with a BT advertisement. As we walked along we improvised a chant incorporating the three words.
At the start of Strand Road, at the rim of Waterloo Place, we removed the writing and were delighted to be joined by Teresa - now wholesomely, pregnant - as an observer. We decided to "take a line for a walk", along Strand Rd. This involved chalking a continuous line, each taking their turn. The line could include words or drawings, as long as the line was unbroken.
Sarah included ART IS TAKING A LINE FOR A WALK; HELP: DESPERATION; and PORQUE NO ME AMAS. I incorporated a few faces. Eamonn depicted a tribute to Teresa in the form of a bump. Sarah added flowers outside one of the shops which had been most severely damaged by the flooding. At Snugville Street the pedestrianised route along which we were progressing encounters a mini roundabout. Reaching this junction our strategy changed. We began to do dance movements whilst chalking. Sarah was particularly effective in accomplishing this difficult task. She still managed to move with grace with one hand moving over the ground. The resulting line swirled randomly forming many loops and holes. Eamonn suggested that we fill in some of these inviting spaces. So, within the various shapes created by the swirling lines we chalked different colours on adjoining quarry tiles, making a series of mosaics. These colourful patterns reminded Teresa of the work of the Spanish artist, Jean Miro.
THE FLOODS RECEDED AND LEFT DRY LAND,
SCAB O DAH PACK FLAH DEMAND,
IN DESPERATION CRY FOR HELP
STAFF OFF THE LAFF MA STRA NA KELP.
PORQUE NO ME AMAS WHY NOT,
TAKE A LINE TO WALK THRAP FLOT.
KEEP IN TOUCH BUT NOT B.T.
WHAT HER BELONGS OUT IN THE SEA.
DANCE WITH CHALK LOOPHOLE THE GROUND
COLOURS BRIGHTEN SKOSH THE MOUND.
PREGNANT SHAPES THE FRIEND OF ART,
DO THE OBVIOIUS WRITE DOWN FART.
WHIRLY SQUILES AND SQUIGGLES TOO,
DALBY GREEN, RED, WHITE AND BLUE.
YELLOW PURPLE SQUARES ENMESH,
SHIMMLE LOST OR FAITH PAPESH.
R0UNDLE RIMMLE ROLY FLOOP,
SWING AND TWIRI. FOFOR LENTIL SOUP.
CHAT AND TALK WHILE ALL GOES ON,
PEOPLE MATTER MORE THAN THON.
HUMAN HEARTS DESERVE SOME TIME,
TENDER THOUGHTS LOVE POLLEN WINE.
SWEET SAFASS TILL SMILES REMAIN,
ENGRAINED MINE DEEP SHA HUGAPAIN.
HUG A PAIN UNT GIVE AWAY,
GIVE ALL AND MORE BOTH NIGHT AND DAY.
LET GO BE GENEROUS GIVE AND LIVE,
LIVE LlFE NOW BREATHE OUT AND IN.
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