“Join us on a journey by, with and within the river.”

A series of multi-sensory field trips over the summer of 2024 that explored and extended perceptions of the world, opening up space for new encounters and imaginings.

As part of Robbie and Jo’s (un)trodden paths residency in the middle Tweed for Connecting Threads, they explored the idea of the river as threshold, a liminal zone. An environment that is ‘in-between’, that flows across time and space, from hills to ocean; a speculative space for imagination.

The Micro-Utopias field trips emerged as creative investigations into this liminal space. Through a series of immersive, sensory-led walks and floats, participants were invited to attune more deeply to themselves, the river and its surroundings. These events became acts of individual and collective dreaming with the river acting as both site and guide.

The field trips opened up the idea of micro-utopias as a way of rethinking the future and encountering the river not only as geography but as a living collaborator in reimagining relationships to place, each other and the planet.

Above: Sensory walk and activities. Images Kerry Jones

Above: Participants in float suits. Images Kerry jones.

“A really special sensory experience”

“Spending time connecting with people and the landscape in an organic and relaxed way has been really nurturing”

“A transformative event. Experiencing the river in a new way was a wonderful therapy”

This artist led journey introduced participants to creative experiences using the river as a site and which opens up the concept of “asking as we walk” (Caminando preguntamos) a process of listening and opening a dialogue.

For other work on the (un)trodden paths residency see:
Pollinator Pathways
LADEN
Lost Letters
Glimpses of Utopia

Paths research documentation: https://colemanhodges.com/trodden-paths/

Categories: 2024, Community Engagement, Environmental, Interactive, Participatory, Process, Research, Site Specific, Sound, Strategy