PROJECT MANAGER
POST PROJECT STATEMENT
This is my personal
statement and does not reflect the views of the artists
I worked for on this project!
Pre
Project Statement ~ Anna M Heim
Pi
presents me with a unique challenge and the opportunity to work on
a community art project of monster proportions.
I
personally appreciate the natural heritage of Southend and the surrounding
area, having relocated to the area some 3 years ago. On an emotional
level I feel passionately about the local environment, the ecology
and the captivating beauty of the area from the estuary to the nature
reserves, and from there to the pier. Southend and the surrounding
area has a lot to offer and a lot to be celebrated; in terms of
the history, natural heritage, and the innate talent of the people
who live here.
From my personal
perspective I have always seen this project as a “performance
and living sculpture” of mammoth proportions ~ our performers
are members of our community ~ coming together to celebrate the best
of Southend, which it has to be said is not only the natural heritage,
and history, but also the people.
For
me personally. Pi has significance on several levels:
• There is the New Age / Pagan spiritually of the project as
set by the date on which the event is scheduled to be executed…
(as close to the Spring Equinox as possible). – The Spring Equinox
and is symbolic of Rebirth & Renewal – so in bringing large
numbers of people to draw a circle of light at that time of year according
to pagan lore gives the area a significant positive and healing boost.
Especially as all old-world element of life would come into play through
the art… (Boats on the water, people on the land, light symbolic
of fire, plane or helicopter in the air & spirit, the will of
the people to want to participate).
• There is the circle we intend to draw with the help of our
volunteers /participants, also has meanings on a number levels from
the primal and sub-conscious to the conscious, the mathematical to
the magical, the geometric to the geographical, the circle is a bold
symbol.
• There is scope for involvement with local schools, colleges,
clubs and associations throughout the area.
• There is scope for real enhancement of community spirit and
a sense of belonging.
Post Project Statement
The Pi Community Art Project was a
defining experience for me and with the project complete, the experience
has inspired me to venture forward independently of my former artistic
collaborators.
As a research piece into the dynamic
of the greater Southend Community, this has been an outstanding and
highly revealing project. Being involved in this project and the event
has been an awesome personal journey which gave me the opportunity
to connect with the many and varied clubs, groups, individuals and
organisations that make up our community. I had the opportunity to
meet and engage with over 1000 people and feel like I have made 1000
new friends.
I have had a crash course the politics
of the town, and the internal politics of the diverse groups within
the town - the divergence of vision within these separate groups,
their hopes for the development of the town and more. During the research
phase of the project it was fantastic to discover the hidden gems
of history associated with the town, the groups and the clubs and
much much more.
Over time I hope to work with some
of the more historic groups and clubs to document these hidden gems
for the benefit of all. I have also learned that big plans need to
be supported by "baby-steps".
The biggest problem I faced as Project
Manager was in raising the funding for the project. I admit that I
am not and never claimed to be an experienced "fund-raiser"
however I did my best and in the end I was only able to raise £2,000.00
for the project, hence the last minute request that all volunteers
bring their own torches. Lack of adequate funding also had a major
impact in the level of advertising I was able to do for the project,
so I was not able to achieve the 7,500 people needed to accomplish
the full circle - in the final tally 1000 registered individuals participated,
with the addition of approx 700 additional member of the community
coming out at the last minute to support the concept. Fewer sailing
craft and boats were on the estuary due to weather and tidal conditions.
It was interesting to note that it
was some of the smallest businesses in the town which were willing
to take a chance and support the project financially - while the bigger
businesses shunned the project altogether. In spite of the funding
issues this project faced - it was the conscensus of the artists and
I to forge ahead regardless as we were not prepared to let the community
volunteers down.
In the final analysis I rate this
project as a total success in spite of the fact that the drawing itself
was incomplete.
From my personal point of view bringing
the community together and giving the project volunteers the opportunity
to meet people from around the town which they would not meet in the
course of their day to day lives was one the primary objectives for
the project - on this level the project was highly successful. After
the project I received numerous emails from volunteers telling me
of how people in the streets they were in came out to join them (with
and without torches).
As the drawing was incomplete, I feel
that as Project Manager I owe all the volunteers a personal apology
as it is unlikely that there will be an aerial image to provide you
all with as we had planned and hoped for at the start of this project.
The people of Southend, were utterly
brilliant for braving what turned out to be a particularly cold April
evening for the project, and have been outstanding in your patience
with me and the project.
After the project's execution Pi the
artist and I have gone our separate ways, as is the nature of project
work ~ enriched from the experience ... We hope that you too were
enriched by the experience.
Anna Heim
Project Manager
The Pi Community Art Project.
Footnote: At the request of
the Artists, the project web site has been closed as has the Pi Space
on My Space.
