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︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move! ︎ We’re On The Move!

'Our Common Mercies' was a project space and workshop series facilitated by artists Ursula Rose Rae and David John Scarborough, featuring co-produced artworks by artists, students and young people. Ursula Rose Rae is a multimedia artist and learning programmer. David John Scarborough is an artist and curator. ‘Our Common Mercies’ is a testing ground to prototype new ideas, host creative processes and begin tentative conversations around hopefulness; "to reflect on what it means to be public, and how we can realise artworks made from a dialogue between artists, audiences, community, and place." (Mat Jenner, 2023). The exhibition's title is adapted from text engraved on 'The Fearon Fountain', which stands in the middle of Loughborough's marketplace. The fountain marks where the Archdeacon Fearon brought the first piped water to the town centre in the 19th Century. The fountain is now dry.



As part of a research project, Ursula and David hosted workshops centred on 'thinking through making'. Alphabets and graphics were prototyped through shapes and textures gathered from the town centre including street pavings, drain covers, tiles and shop signs. Using collage, text and typography were cut, cropped and combined from newspapers, adverts and posters to develop mottos and mantras; ways of working and directions to follow. Participants created and added new emblems; suns, burgers, hearts and flowers. Ursula and David worked with young people, students and artists to develop these outcomes into prints and textiles. Technician Harry Freestone has designed furniture to host workshops, reading and reflection. Film-makers Joshua and Josie Jones created a video series screening online and in the gallery, documenting these processes and conversations. New artworks were added as we hosted workshops with artists Ama Dogbe and Mateus Domingos. Rather than offer an answer or a worldview, the exhibition puts forward a series of conversation starters; What's important to you? What is your motto or mantra? What should we make together? Who needs to be a part of the conversation? How do we host guests? How do we move forwards? How do we move up?


FILM

Joshua & Josie Jones:

Make Believe: An Imagined History of Here




Make Believe: An Imagined History of Here was a film screened as part of the Celebration Day at Modern Painters, New Decorators on 1 July 2023. The film was inspired by a series of family workshops hosted during June half term, where children were invited to imagine they were journalists working for a make-believe newspaper. Participants created silly stories and imagined urban myths for their newspapers. Joshua & Josie Jones took the publications and followed the children’s imaginations to adapt their stories for the big screen. What you’re about to watch represents an imagined history of here. We hope that this peculiar collage of folklore and heritage helps you to to look at where you live through the eyes of a child.
RELATED PODCAST

Ursula Rose Rae:

Thinking Through Making


 LISTEN 


As part of our exhibition, ‘Our Common Mercies’, artist Ursula Rose Rae spoke to us about ‘thinking through making’ and celebrating collective making. Working collaboratively in creating and providing workshops, Ursula expressed a continued enjoyment for operating without a set goal, instead simply making together and sharing ideas.

RELATED PODCAST

Nicola Middler & Lucy Stevens:

Breaking Barriers


 LISTEN 


Nicola Middler and Lucy Stevens joined us from the Urban Forest: a community space bringing the essence of Charnwood Forest into Loughborough Town. Breaking down barriers to accessibility, Nicola and Lucy discussed The Urban Forest as a way to engage the community with their local landscape and a chance for creatives to collaborate.




FILM

Joshua & Josie Jones:

Mantra in the Making


Thinking through making, the team began considering new ways of working together. This started conversations around our mantras for making. A mantra for how we might respond to ourselves, a mantra for how we might connect with others, and a mantra for how you might work with materials, resources or the environment. Our mantras were passed around and collaged, adapted, re-imagined – you could say the mantra was in the making.




FILM

Joshua & Josie Jones:

Making the Mantra


When we found out about the riso printer at Two Queens we were intrigued. This machine created limitations rather than possibilities. After heading over to Leicester on a cold March morning, Dan patiently told us how to use the machine as it chewed up stencils, struggled to pass paper, and stopped printing after only a few editions. Our print palette was limited to black, red, and green. Following Dan’s responsive instructions, we set about printing mantras and alphabets on coloured paper and print proofs, adding unexpected textures, layers and designs.
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