Strongest of Bodmin

Today we visited the local granite quarry and met one of a handful of remaining rock bludgeoners yet  hefting their mallets in the UK.  We are looking for some boulders to use as weights for a strength competition.  Strongest Bod, or Strongest of Bodmin.  The boulders will be carved to have a hole through them, this will take place publically over a week or so to generate interest.  A rope is passed through the hole and tied to form a loop.  Competitors have to drag the boulder up the hill.  Different sized boulders for different sized competitors.  

We start the project small since it will be too much hassle to get a big slightly risky event off the ground first time.  this means taking a few test boulders around to people in places and playing around, testing the sizes and shapes and weights.  During this period work is also done on coming up with designs or styles of the boulders.  Ideas should come from the people and might be inspired ancient granite monuments in the area, other symbols from other cultures, and / or collective wants and needs.  boulders can be changed and remodeled as the project develops. 

Building slowly like this will also give time to discussion testing and development of refereeing and technical matters around scoring, weight divisions, heats and eventual awards and prizes.  I think the prize for each division should be really big like £1000, but perhaps that will sour the thing.  £500 is pretty good.  plus nights at hotels and other local good things for runners up.

Aim to do a first side-show on halloween this year.  Organised by the youth group.   

 Geolocated audio walks / games

We've been experimenting with placing voices and other audio in specific places in Bodmin.  We've seen many artists make use of this technology including Kneehigh theatre company who have made a piece for Bodmin accessible at the following link https://www.kneehigh.co.uk/walk-with-me/

I've been experimenting with an app called Echoes.xyz 

I've made a little test piece that asks questions about what the Beacon monument is for, and if it is still (or ever was) relevant to the people of Bodmin.

download the Echoes app to your phone from the app store or google play store, and tap the following link

https://explore.echoes.xyz/collections/uUn6iKmWqzt8zzAZ

it will be best to download the walk (you'll see how to do this in the app) its about 15mb.  then you walk around and try to get yourself as a blue arrow into the sounding area which you will see as blue shapes on the map in the app. 

Bec has been in touch with developers of further AR apps, will report back when we've had a play

 BodMAXX 

Hi there, we are BodMAXX, a small group of artists and producers setting out to listen and respond to what Bodministers say they want in terms of cultural activity in Bodmin.  This means things like music and dancing, learning new skills, jumble sales, markets, and bigger events to include and inspire everyone.

Hopefully see you in town,

Holly, Greg, Bec.