Walking the Tide

by Jo Hodges 2013

A large scale dynamic participatory performance event celebrating coast and community.

Walking the Tide created a large scale performance piece with 140 participants moving in a choreographed procession from the mainland at Kippford, Dumfries and Galloway to Rough Island across the causeway that is revealed at low tide, marking and linking the two.

Once at the island, participants performed choreographed moves along the shoreline to site-specific sound pieces and then walked to the highest point of the island where they sang a piece taught by composer Ali Burns before processing back to the mainland as the tide returned to cover the causeway.

This work explored the tide and the dynamic seascape through site specific, human intervention. It connected people to elemental dynamics; to tide, wind, sea and land and explored the space between the tides in the estuary, forming a human link between land and island. It created an opportunity for people to participate in a site-specific performative event, creating a collective community experience that had its own flow and dynamic that responded and reacted to the elemental ebb and flow.

Work by Jo Hodges in collaboration with Florencia Garcia Chafuen.
Voice work by Ali Burns. Music: Marion Kenny and Samson Sounds www.samsonsounds.net
Commission Making the Most of the Coast. Sept 2013

View of Walking the Tide from Mote of Mark. Photo: Elenor Johnstone

“I loved the visual impact but as a participant it also went much deeper than that. The different moods/feelings at every stage were quite profound: the happy party atmosphere walking through the village (the band were brilliant), the quiet contemplation as you crossed between the mainland and the island and the coming together of the group as we all sang together at the top of Rough Island expertly lead by Ali Burns. AMAZING!”

“It brought people together in a united celebration of the environment. A wonderful way to see and appreciate the landscape. Visually stunning from afar. Thank you for the experience”

“I loved being with so many people of all ages. A living red line across the landscape, singing together with a large group looking out to sea, the physical, spiritual experience; something to take away with you”

Photos Mike Bolam

Above photos: Keith Kirk

Categories: 2013, Collaboration, Environmental, Jo Hodges, Participatory, Performance, Site SpecificTags: , ,

Jo Hodges

Jo Hodges is a multidisciplinary public artist based in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
with a background in Human Ecology, community development and social justice.

Her work investigates ecological and socio-cultural systems, processes and relationships, and explores new strategies for working in public. Her practice takes many forms; temporary and permanent works, site specific installations and socially engaged projects and processes. She is often led by context, where the outcome is determined as a result of process.

She is interested in research, experimentation and collaboration at the intersection of environment, culture and technology and exploring the role of art in social change. She is joint Director-Curator of Sanctuary Lab, a public art laboratory in the Galloway Forest Dark Skies Park.