Lancashire artist set to create Jelly Map of Preston

Olivia Keith is creating a map to tell the story of an area of Preston . . . and making it out of  jelly.
Pictured are some of Olivia's experimental work ahead of this week's performancesPictured are some of Olivia's experimental work ahead of this week's performances
Pictured are some of Olivia's experimental work ahead of this week's performances

The Lancashire artist, pictured, will use a map of the Nether Bartle district dating back to 1895 and build on it to chart the past 122 years up to its imminent future housing development.

Olivia, from Brindle near Chorley, will be “performing” the map at Bartle Hall today and also at the Harris Museaum on Saturday. She will, she says, use the “natural transparency” of jelly to enable people to see through to the past of the landscape as the map is built throughout the day.

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In addition to the old chart, ‘Setting in Place: The Making of a Jellied Map of Nether Bartle’ will draw together material from a variety of sources gathered during walks and conversations with locals.

As part of her research Olivia gathered fruit from the hedgerows of Nether Bartle and set them in jelly.As part of her research Olivia gathered fruit from the hedgerows of Nether Bartle and set them in jelly.
As part of her research Olivia gathered fruit from the hedgerows of Nether Bartle and set them in jelly.

The work is part of In Certain Places, which is a programme of artistic interventions and events led by curators Elaine Speight and Professor Charles Quick, with associate Rachel Bartholomew from the School of Art, Design and Fashion at UCLan.

A spokesman said: “The process will illuminate the story of the area, little-changed for 200 years but which, in the immediate future, is to experience rapid and extensive residential development.

“Setting In Place seeks to express something of the patina of place using the language of cartography. Visitors can drop in throughout the day and watch the map being formed, and will be able to take part in the final stages of the map by ‘building’ jelly houses to represent the planned development of the area.”

Here is where you can watch Olivia making the map:

As part of her research Olivia gathered fruit from the hedgerows of Nether Bartle and set them in jelly.As part of her research Olivia gathered fruit from the hedgerows of Nether Bartle and set them in jelly.
As part of her research Olivia gathered fruit from the hedgerows of Nether Bartle and set them in jelly.

Wednesday 8 November - 11:00am to 4:30pm

You can help make the map: 3:30pm to 4:30pm

Bartle Hall, Lea Lane, Bartle, Preston PR4 0HA

Saturday 11 November - 10:30am to 4:00pm

You can help make the map: 3:00pm to 4:00pm

Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Market Square, Preston PR1 2PP

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