One and Other book about Antony Gormley's Fourth Plinth is published
MY LONG-awaited copy of the One and Other book arrived on Friday, filled with photographs of people taking an hour of their time to stand on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square as the request of Antony Gormley.
Strange to think now that, back in July 2009, I was one of them, and even more bizarre to see the thing I took part in on a sunny Sunday afternoon being written about academically.
Me making origami birds on the Fourth Plinth with a Go Penguin
It's a beautiful book with one major fault - they spelt my name wrong. Instead of going down in history as Laura Davis, plinther 149, I will forever be Laura David. How disappointing.
Anyway, I cheered myself up by hunting out pictures of some of the other plinthers who I happen to know. There seems to have been a large proportion of Merseysiders taking part - perhaps just because I'm aware of them, I don't have the actual figures.
Stuart Burns, writer of the Feeling Listless blog on Liverpool culture; Peter Goodbody and Sam Corrigan, members of Liverpool-based photography group FAB Collective
If you took part, wherever you are from, and want to share some of your thoughts about the experience/book then please get in touch and I'll add them to this blog.
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Laura Davis
As the Liverpool Post's Arts Editor, Laura covers theatre, music, dance and the visual arts in Merseyside and beyond. Contact her at laura.davis@liverpool.com
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Hey Laura,
I googled One & Other book and found your blog... I don't know whether or not you were there but last night was the offical book launch for the O&O book at the Wellcome Trust in London, something of a reunion for a handful of plinthers, a chance to meet and share experiences with others and a platform for Antony Gormley himself to personally offer thanks to plinthers and everyone that was involved with the project.
Anyway, I was writing to tell you that all our plinth interviews are now available to listen to in the Wellcome Trust's online archive http://library.wellcome.ac.uk/ If you search the reference TP1/A/1*, you should be able to find yourself.
What a fantastic experience, hey?
Hi Hannah,
Thanks for your message. I wasn't there unfortunately but it sounds like the launch went well.
I will have a listen to my interview - although as I was very nervous in the hour before I went on the plinth I'm not sure I made much sense. I just remember waffling on about Liverpool's year as Capital of Culture and how important the arts are to regeneration and raising aspirations. Anyway it serves me right as I'm usually at the other end of interviews.
I'm sure other plinthers who read this blog will enjoy searching for their own recording so thanks for the link.
Laura
Hi Laura,
I was also a part of the 'One & Other' project (Plinther #554 - I made animals out of card sheets for my stint). I had such a great time. It was a wonderful experience to have taken part in.
This summer, I attended an anniversary get together in Trafalgar Square and it was a good opportunity to meet up with fellow plinthers and hear their experiences of the day.
My copy of the book arrived this Monday and I've only had a quick look through it so far but it does seem to capture the project's duration very well.
Best Wishes, Pete
Hi Laura, I was also a plinther and I've just received my book this week! I had a wonderful time on the plinth, where I re-enacted my usual 6pm routine, which is the bedtime hour! I went up in my PJ's with a hot chocolate, my kids pillow and fleecy blanket, a baby bath of water and played with bubbles, read stories and even sang the bedtime song! It was a true highlight of my life and I feel very priviledged to have taken part, I have blogged about my experience and the book here: http://lost-inagoodbook.blogspot.com/2011/02/one-and-other.html if you're interested in taking a look!