Totemic Benches Project

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS!!!
Totemic benches: An interdisciplinary project involving architecture, anthropology, environmental studies and wildlife-conservation students in the design and creation of a social space.

Leader: Dr. Ian Bride, SAC
Location: Marlowe Building – between Marlowe and the new Templeman Library Extension

Project: Dr. Bride and Mr. Leadbeater (wood sculptor) to work with students to design, construct and site a series of ‘totemic artefacts’ that will provide seating accommodation in the space between the new Library Extension (the trees felled for the construction of which will provide the timber) and the Marlowe Building, and will thereby create a new social hub. If the participation, and therefore the number of artefacts, is sufficient, then the area outside the Jennison Building would also benefit. Students will explore their creativity, learn valuable woodworking tool use skills (construction and carving) and leave a legacy for the future.

The first stage of the project has to take place with some degree of urgency because we have just been informed that the trees will be coming down at the end of February before they come into leaf. Except for five trees (oaks) we have managed to save, all those between Templeman and Marlowe will be coming down – they are mainly decorative maples, were planted when the University was built and have little biodiversity value.

Stage 1 is to just look at the trees, think about design, construction and representation and try to decide which parts will best serve our purposes – so that we can mark them up and nab the pieces we want when the trees come down. The sculptor will then come down and work with us to help us realise our ideas.

I will set up a meeting for this Wednesday morning for anyone interested – and another for next Thursday’s 4-5 ELT2 slot (if no event is booked in).

Do please email me individually with declarations of interest. (I.D.Bride@kent.ac.uk)

Dr. Ian Bride

Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE)
School of Anthropology and Conservation (SAC)
University of Kent
Canterbury, Kent
CT2 7NS

Leave a Reply