Emma Rushton & Derek Tyman curated The Good Life project in 2011. Using the writing of 19th Century American philosopher and abolitionist Henry David Thoreau as a starting point, they invited artists, activists, writers, musicians and others to respond to his ideas on self-sufficiency, politics and nature.
Ruston & Tyman built a replica of Thoreau’s cabin in the Miterdale Forest and a wooden stage at the Lanternhouse art centre, both in Cumbria in the north of England. They invited me to talk about my Urban Utopias work in relation to Thoreau's ideas. They then invited me to stay in their cabin. I, in turn, invited artist Katie Beeson and curator Martina Caruso to join me. We were instructed to 'idle' our time and spent four days mainly eating, talking, sleeping and walking. The Good Life publication documents the project, published by Castlefield Gallery Publications. |