Remarks: One Mile

In summer 2008, Collective Gallery’s One Mile project, lead by artist Kate Gray, will complete a three year programme of exhibitions, publications and events that has connected this contemporary art space with its local area in Edinburgh. Since summer 2005, artists, community groups and institutions including N55, Spartacus Chetwynd, Move On, David Sherry, Mark Neville, Freee, Ellen Munro, Space 44, Johanna Billing and Scottish Widows have collaborated on projects within a mile radius of the gallery, exploring the role of public art as well as creating a significant body of new work.

Johanna Billing’s film of local (non-seafaring) musicians on the Firth of Forth, This is How We Walk on The Moon, was screened in June 2007 in Edinburgh and then shown at documenta 12, Germany. David Sherry is working with homeless group Move On in an exploration of shopping and social interaction—themes common to the artist’s previous work. This project culminates in a publication out early 2008. Spartacus Chetwynd’s 16mm film, The Call of the Wild, shot on location on the Isle of Lewis with a cast of pattern cutters and knitters from Edinburgh, will premier at a secret location on 30 November, 2007.

Now on the final lap, Kate Gray says, ‘One Mile has given myself and other artists a different method to work with. It challenges what we do by allowing us to work in an organic way with others. It’s great the way the many different works have involved many different types of people, artists and locals alike, on their own terms.’ Her own contribution, a film made in collaboration with staff at Scottish Widows, will be shown next year.