How do I access the workshop?

Go up the Parkinson steps, enter Parkinson Court, take the stairs at the far right end of Parkinson Court down to the basement, follow the corridor round to the left, room B.11 is on the left. Accessible route via the access lift to the right of the Parkinson Steps.

Is the workshop accessible?

This room is flat with level access via the lift and there is a height adjustable desk available. The chairs are mainly without arms, however, there is a chair with arms if required. An infra red assistive listening system is fitted in this room. To use this facility an IR receiver is needed.

Who is the event suitable for?

The event is open to all. No prior knowledge or experience is required.

How much does the event cost?

The event is free to attend as part of the 'Leeds City of Languages' programme hosted by the University of Leeds. Booking is required.

Wednesday, November 19

Interactive Workshop: 'Nothing remained unchanged but the clouds'

By Leeds City of Languages

An interactive workshop with photographic artist Alan Ward and Dr Corinne Painter examining WW1 postcards sent by German soldiers in France.

Date and time

Location

Parkinson Building

Parkinson B.11 University of Leeds Woodhouse LS2 9JT United Kingdom

Good to know

Highlights

2 hours
In person

About this event

Arts • Fine Art

In 2020, during lockdown, photographic artist Alan Ward bought 7 German postcards from the First World War. After some internet sleuthing, he identified them as from the French town of Grandpré, Ardennes. He was struck by how they were perhaps the most complete visual document of the place, far more comprehensive and informative than Google Streetview, and so began collecting postcards from the same place and period. Together with researcher Corinne Painter, Alan began an ongoing, multilingual dialogue around ‘a sense of place’ with Grandpré inhabitants today and he created new artworks.

This workshop will present some of Alan’s work and the responses of the inhabitants of Grandpré, on topics such as rural life, local opportunities, depopulation, high streets, climate change, and tourism. We invite you to navigate these topics through the fragmented narratives of the postcards and consider our pasts, presents, and imagined futures. We will look at some of the postcards, discuss the role of postcards in our own lives, and experiment with some creative writing.

Project Partner: Alan Ward

For more information about this project, please see the following links:
https://hosting.northumbria.ac.uk/warephemera/what-happens-when-first-world-war-postcards-and-art-come-together-by-alan-ward/

https://www.alanjward.co.uk/projects/la-vojo-returne/

https://www.alanjward.co.uk/product/pre-launch-subscription-offer-nothing-remained-unchanged-but-the-clouds/

https://www.alanjward.co.uk/news/page/2/