On the street

Donkey Fords chipper on John Street

I pass by this chipper most days. The  mouth watering smell of chips and vinegar catches me instantly, the sound of the ladies behind the counter shouting orders  catches my attention then having to maneuver the abandoned cars parked outside fords while folk run in to grab their chippy tea is another experience to be had.

As part of my psychogeographic and mapping experience I have always been drawn towards this place,  its pulls me and my senses in while passing by, smell, sound and the physicality of the place. I had been thinking that I would like to do some piece with/about this space. while I was considering sound as a way to explore my environments I thought it would be a great idea to create a transnational space .. Donkey Fords chipper and Shoppi in Paris. While walking by Fords one evening on my way home from a long day in college I decided to pay the chipper a visit. It was very much a spur of the moment thing and I queued up like a hungry customer deciding what to order. I made my way down the queue and the elderly  lady took my order of a bag of chips with extra salt and vinegar. After completing my order i asked to speak to her in relation to an art project i was developing. I explained that i was an artist and I would like to take their photos and create and installation in their workspace. The lady looked confused and told me to return the following day when the manager was there.
I returned the following day  to speak with Joe one of the many managers. I explained my project to him and tried to explain things in lay man terms as i think some folk can become stand-off-ish when it comes to art. I have heard on my occasions; 'its just some art thing, and really not knowing much about the art thing at all so i felt it was my duty to explain my proposed project and get this man on board. He was an amusing man and ready for a bit of craic and banter. He did make it clear that he had no appreciation for sound installations and would prefer a painting for his walls. 
I was disheartened by Joe's lack of interest in my work but on the contrary it was lovely to engage with him. On reflection I do think I could have handled the engagement more professionally and maybe tried to twist his arm a bit but this is not the manner in which  I work. I don't like to force people into a artistic collaborative process when they are not willing  or wanting to. It is important to keep positive and continue towards the task ahead  and consider what will work for all concerned.




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Montage of images; John street, Limerick.


Creating maontages of spaces provedes a new way to explore and discover

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Another place of interest is the Dental Technicians further down the street from Fords in Broad Street. As I have walked by here on a daily basis  also became familiar with a man that sits at his desk. I see him through the window and he is always working away contently. He makes teeth. I decided to pay him a visit also. strangers enter into interaction with high levels of uncertainity about each other, this is understandable. We began a dialogical process that  formed organically as both our socialisation processes were at a maxium. He was more forthcoming and very positive and even wanted to pose for the camera. He had an interesting story and loves sitting at his desk at the window and has done it for 13 years now. 
He says for him he sits at the window and draws the outside in and I guess that it what he has done to me. I took some photos of Anthony and of his working environment. 

I left his environment feeling very positive after approaching this man that I had observed for months,previously restrained from entering into his world.