Winter Gestures/Beacon Whispers - the winter installation by Susie Osler - is in process in the field and on the blog from December, 2008 to Spring, 2009 . Regular posts about the winter installations and related ‘asides' will be added to our blogsite throughout the winter. Here are a few hints, or clues, to help you navigate, interpret, and participate in this work.
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Winter Gestures
ges·ture n
1. a movement made with a part of the body in order to express meaning or emotion, or to communicate an instruction
2. an action intended to communicate feelings or intentions
3. the use of body movements to communicate
This part of the winter fieldwork is an ongoing ‘exhibition’ of interactions with the field, that explore the psychological and physical properties of winter. The field acts as both the canvas for, as well as the subject of, these ‘gestures’, mirroring a variety of human responses to this season. This part of the winter project will respond to the season as it unfolds both on the land, and in my psyche. Meant to be gestures rather than an illustrations, the focus is not necessarily to complete detailed pictures, but to suggest essence. Some gestures may be fleeting, while others more anchored. Some may only be noticed on the blog (through photos or sound clips), while others may require direct experience in the field.
Beacon Whispers
bea-con n
1: a signal fire commonly on a hill, tower, or pole
2 a: a lighthouse or other signal for guidance b: a radio transmitter emitting signals for guidance of aircraft
3: a source of light or inspiration
The dead tree standing in the field is the Beacon. Its purpose is to act as a receiver/transmitter of personal gratitude and inspiration. Winter is commonly associated as the season of death, darkness and cold. Viewed in a more positive light, it is also a season of rest, introspection, inspiration, and regrouping – in effect, a necessary preparation for the regeneration that happens in spring. It becomes a period of literal, and metaphorical, death before rebirth, decay before growth. Oddly, the stillness of winter can also make us recognize the abundance of, and in, our lives; and it can become a natural time for taking stock of what we have to be thankful for.
How You Can Participate
Throughout the winter, the beacon will accumulate objects representing gratitude and inspiration. This will be a daily ‘meditation’ for me. You are encouraged to participate in this installation either in person at the site, or through the blog, (or both) as many times as you like.
On-site you will see a red box next to the interpretive sign. Focus on something you feel real gratitude towards, or that you draw inspiration from. Choose an object for each of these from the box and add it to the beacon. You are also welcome to bring, or to mail, your own object/message to add to the beacon. If you feel inclined, let me know (by leaving a comment on the blog, or emailing me: fieldworkproject@gmail.com) what your object represents, and I will add it to a list of gratitudes and inspirations I am compiling.
The mailing address is:
Fieldwork. 2501 Old Brooke Rd., RR2 Maberly, ON. K0H 2B0. Canada.
Please pass this information to anyone who you think might be interested.
As always, we welcome discussion about the work going on (or other related thoughts/links) so please feel free to add your comments to the postings on the blog.
