events archive

Turn Around
An exploration of the renovated Ropewalks area from sea level at Campbell Square to half way to the top of the hill, on Berry Street. April 26 2007

Jean Grant, creative director of Urban Picnic, asked us to sit in the spaces en route and ask ourselves some questions;
What can you hear?
What does it look like?
Do you know anything of its history?
who is using the space?
Who does it cater for?
What would you come here for?
We finished our journey with a sunset view from the roof of the Far East restaurant before a selection of DimSum to accompany a reflective chat. It was a fascinating event, with so many contributing their stories and sharing their opinions with others.
It was a very popular picnic. Participants found out about it from many sources some came especially from Wirral. Many thanks to all those who participated and also distributed flyers, also Catherine Hamilton Radio Merseyside for her extensive coverage of Urban Picnics. Listen in June when we will be doing another sound walk.

Campbell Square
"This area used to be full of Rope walks making ropes for the docks, then it became a centre for paper recycling and jute"

"The funny thing about Ropewalks is that Liverpool flows from the top of the hill straight to the docks there dont seem to be links across the city one of the objectives of the development was to develop connectivity across, to link L1 to the other side of town"

"They are going to make Cleveland Square where Jess Hartley is buried"

York Street / Henry Street
A picnicker revealed that as a boy hed worked in the old warehouse in York St when it was a paper recycling factory. One day, he fell from the delivery hatch, but luckily caught his foot in the hoist rope. What a tale to start our journey with!

Wolstenholme Square
(Penelopeis the sculpture of curling lights)

"The space is so much better than it was"

"The seats seemed dirty, derelict, discarded crammed to the walls and not encouraging sitting on"

"the artist did not want seats under Penelope"

"Cream used to be such an icon in terms of youth culture, this square should be important, it links so many people"

"These are mop-headed maples selected by the artists to respond to the sinuous nature of this artwork"

"Twenty years ago there used to be the most beautiful cast-iron lampposts hereprobably scrap now"

Seel Street
"20 years ago I lived in the attic next to the Jacaranda, it was not renovated then but I had a good view across the city and Jacksons and Hobbs were across the road"

Concert Square
If this space is owned by the bars why is it so dirty and unattractive?

"it looks ok when full of people"

"Maybe needs a hedge"

"So this is what became of the 24 hour city"

St Peters Square
"These seats are the same as in Wolstenholme, but cleaner"

"the way they have put them is nicer for sitting"

"There are more up Seel Street , not well placed, they are a waste too"

"With the little sisters of the poor and BDP everyone is welcome here."

"Its the best square but why is the planting so boring?"

The Arthouse Square next to FACT
"How sad, its a new building but this space looks uncared for and forgotten"

"It was designed as a Caf area to link to FACT, the blank wall of FACT was to be used for projections"

"I love the way the buddleia takes over and creates secret gardens in derelict houses"

"All this expense for these new places and they are dirty and forgotten"

"This picnic has taught me so much about Liverpool, from the people who know it best"

Images
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