Prospects

Gunpowder Park is 255 acres of regenerated green space dedicated to arts-led collaborations that explore relationships between urban and rural environments and the public. I was invited to develop a series of artworks in direct response to a strategy for public engagement as part of Gunpowder Park’s research programme into the arts/science/nature confluence at the Park.

The brief was to explore ways of engaging the public with the scientific and ecological principles underlying the Park - namely the creation and evolution of its four bio-regions.

The work produced for the Park itself, Prospects I-IV, captured the micro aspects of these bio-regions (Shock Wave Galleries, Blast Mound Plateau, The Energy Fields and The Salix) and tracked changes in these environments over three months. Three sets of glass slides were left in the bio-regions and the resulting ‘accidental’ collections were photographed for display at viewpoint locations. During each of those three months, visitors observed new images celebrating those aspects of the environment, which might otherwise have passed unnoticed. Viewing these micro-scale images against the Park’s vast landscape gave viewers the opportunity to travel between both interpretations and engage with their environment.

This in-situ work was supported by an exhibition in Gunpowder Park’s Field Station. For this I collaborated with Lea Valley Park Rangers and Conservation Officers: these experts examined each slide and documented the flora on them, interpreting movements of species across the bio-regions and tracking the establishment (or otherwise) of indigenous and imported species on the brown-field site. This exhibition therefore provided a dramatic visual and textual taxonomy of species, their establishment, migration and survival across the site.

The local press tracked changes on the site over time by a visual diary using these photographs to reflect local community involvement and ownership of the project.

Amanda Hopkins

Research Interests

Developing practice-based tools for enhancing thinking skills. Exploring ways to reconnect ourselves with places/communities around us through heightened sensitivity, active contemplation of the everyday and employment of shared ritual

Current Research

There are two principal strands to my current research:

1) Exploring theoretical models and developing practice-based tools for enhancing thinking skills. This includes techniques for idea generation, development and evaluation for use in professional and educational contexts, clients include the Design Council

2) Exploring ways of reconnecting with ourselves and places/communities around us through heightened sensitivity, active contemplation of the everyday, and employment of (shared) ritual. Commission include 'Flock' for Waterlow Park, London (2000), 'Knotted Gate' for Gillespie Nature Reserve, London. Exhibitions include 'Collective Evidence', Feeringbury (1988) and 'Teleport' for Alphabet, London (1999), once upon a time (2002) for Thames Chase Forests. Visions of the Valley: This strand of research links Iain Sinclair's psychogeographical method and the Bicewtewary of artist samuel Palmers Birth. It critically examines the current packaging of 'Palmer's Valley of Vision' (Shoreham in Kent) 8 visions of the valley held by those who visit and live there today. Walks and a publication will publicly present a more convincing 21st century view. Prospects: This strand of research explores the 'micro' aspects of a newly developed art, science and nature park in the Lea Valley, Hertfordshire. The aim is to examine transience, biodiversity and movements of 'micro's' across the different bio regions of the parts.