Tender Acts is a collaboration between Field Notes and artist Georgia Gendall. The project aims to bring together staff, students and artists at University of Exeter's Cornwall campus, by developing a programme of artist commissions and creative activity.
CONTEXT
We were given a brief of 'Civic Joy', and in trying to unravel what that might mean began to think about what it means to have a sense of belonging within a place, a sense of ownership over it and a sense of responsibility for it. Our first (and very broad) conclusion was that many layers of connection are needed to create this, and that we needed to begin to enagage and interact with people on campus in order to develop our approach.
We have begun inviting and instigating a series of ‘Tender Acts’: acts which invite curious exploration of the campus and ideas and acts which invite exchange between people who might not otherwise meet.
We have begun inviting and instigating a series of ‘Tender Acts’: acts which invite curious exploration of the campus and ideas and acts which invite exchange between people who might not otherwise meet.
TENDER ACTS
A large edition of poster format artworks have been installed at locations across Penryn Campus without explanation or interpretation. They each offer a short provocation such as ‘learn from a bird’, ‘prune’ or ‘walk on the grass’.
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TENDER ACTS
A large edition of poster format artworks have been installed at locations across Penryn Campus without explanation or interpretation. They each offer a short provocation such as ‘learn from a bird’, ‘prune’ or ‘walk on the grass’.
INSTRUCTIONS
An ‘INSTRUCT’ form inviting people to submit a set of instructions for someone else to interpret and enact, has been widely distributed on campus via pigeon holes, and events. The instructions are also available online.
COLLECTIVE ACTIONS
Between April and July 2024, we also invited a number of locally based artists to instigate a ‘Collective Action’ at the university, drawing on ideas and research from their own practices. Our aim for this series of artist-led activities was to offer students, staff and other campus users the opportunity to do something intriguing, in company and without the aim of producing a fixed outcome. The activities are being held at a variety of locations around campus. So far we’ve had people doing all kinds of interesting things, from writing and singing queer sea shanties to mapping the sounds of the campus into a giant chalk drawing.
Sing out a rope, composing and singing queer sea shanties with Rhys Morgan / First image by Barbara Santi
PULP: repurpose and reprocess, handmade paper artworks with Ben Sanderson / First and third images by Barabara Santi
FUNDERS AND PARTNERS
GET IN TOUCH:
info@fieldnotes.org.ukThe development of this website was supported by Cultivator Cornwall
