Luminous Muirhouse, Centipede Project 22nd Nov 2013,

Muirhouse Loan/Muirhouse St Andrews Church, Edinburgh

A collaborative visual event presented by Centipede Project, for and in

Muirhouse, Edinburgh. A celebration of the people of Muirhouse, and a

visual representation of Dream Home in reponse to a disused carpark in

the heart of Muirhouse, earmarked for redevelopment in Summer 2014.

This was conceived by artist in residence, Natalie Taylor as a fun and

engaging way of representing this opportunity for social engagement in

their own locality.

Participants

Workshops - MYDG (15+), Tomorrow’s People (12), Don Bosco (20+), Girl’s

Group and Boy’s Group (Millenium Centre) (20+), Boy’s Brigade (15+), Zoo

Arts (10+), Craigroyston Commuity High (12+), Portrait Sessions (30+), Food

Forum (10+)

Artistic Direction- Natalie Taylor

Architect- Eileen Hall

Dancers – Edinburgh Baton Academy (15)

Music - James Campbell

Photography – John McGlynn, Borja Prada

Portrait Projections – Kenny Bean

Filming – Chris Cook

Technician – John McCaffrey

Catering – Michele Macrae

Stewards – Joan, Ray, Jan, Valla, Julie, Kate, Holly, David, Debbie, Lesley,

Linda

Total Participants = Approximately 164+

Workshops

Portrait Sessions – We ran two portrait photogrpahy workshops where

participants were taught how to take professional photographs of each

other. Kenny also captured slow motion videos to be projected at the

event.

Consultation Sessions – Natalie carried out several consultation sessions

with various local community groups to identify what they would like to

see built in the Muirhouse area when building commences in 2014. These

ideas were then symbolised at the event through the design of the house

itself, and by each piece of furniture in the dream home.

Architect Sessions – Natalie and Aileen, the architect working with us on

the project, carried out several sessions with a CDT class at Craigroyston

Community High. At the sessions the group designed and created the

blueprint of the dream home that was then painted onto the ground for

the event.

Furniture Sessions – Several local groups worked with Natalie and Joanne

to create the 2D furntiture that was used at the event to symbolise what

the local community would like to see in Muirhouse in the future. They

helped to cut out the furniture and to paint it with the glow-in-the-dark

paint.

Name Label/Face Painting Sessions – Natalie and Joanne worked with

several local groups in the Muirhouse area to create name labels using

glow-in-the-dark tape and to face paint using glow-in-the-dark face

paints. This allowed the groups to see how glow-in-the-dark materials work

with U.V. light and encouraged them to attend the event.

The Event

We had a rehearsal on Wednesday 20th November where we ran into

technical difficulties regarding the U.V. lamps. This problem was rectified

and we had a second rehearsal on Thursday 21st where everything was

successful.

The event was opened at 16.30 on Friday 22nd November by Robert

Pearson (Chairman of TRIM and Manager of the Community Shop). The

baton twirlers perfomed at 17.00 and after this the audience made their

way over to the church where hot food and drinks were being served.

Glow-in-the-dark balloons were distributed as well as 200+ glow sticks and

LED rings.

Borja and John were taking photographs at the event of the glow-in-the-

dark toys using long exposure photography to capture movement. Kenny

Bean had a projector set up by the church building where giant slow

motion video portraits were being projected onto an exterior wall of the

church throughout the event.

Publicity

In the run up to the event, Tenants and Resident in Muirhouse (TRIM)

publicised through their facebook page and website. The event was

publicised on North Edinburgh Arts website, facebook page and through

an e-mail campaign.

External publicity included Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council and

(EVOC), North Edinburgh News (NEN), although press releases were sent

to over 10 external publications.

The event was featured in NEN, Edinburgh Evening News and the

Edinburgh Now insert of the Daily Record.

We have had very positive feedback from members of the community

regarding the event.

Edinburgh Evening News, 23rd Nov 2013-