“What is the value of The Green Backyard?” with Jessie Brennan
“What is the value of The Green Backyard? Art, activism and the
environment in Peterborough” is the first of a new season of Tuesdays Till Two “Church of Ideas” lunchtime talks, to be presented by London-based artist Jessie Brennan, who is an artist in residence with Metal Peterborough at The Green Backyard.
Situated (in a shed-turned-darkroom) at the Green Backyard – Peterborough’s ‘community growing project’ – she is exploring ways in which an art project in collaboration with the grassroots charitable organisation can contribute to debates around regeneration and community land rights.
The Green Backyard’s future at its current site is uncertain: the land was proposed for redevelopment by Peterborough City Council. Jessie’s project attempts to challenge the narrative of the need for redevelopment of the site by offering alternative evidence – in the form of a visual (cyanotypes) and audio (local voices) archive – for the social use and value of the land. In her talk, Jessie will reveal her research to date – and why we all should be activists.
As usual the church café will be open from noon, and will be selling a range of hot drinks, and home made cakes, scones, and other baked goodies with all profits from the café going to The Green Backyard. The talk will begin at 1pm and will be followed by an opportunity for discussion and questions. Admission to the talk is free, but a donation to help cover costs will be appreciated. The suggested donation is £3.
Jessie Brennan is a London-based British artist whose practice explores the representation of places through drawing and dialogue, informed by their changing contexts and a direct engagement with the people who occupy them. She graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2007 and has since exhibited nationally and internationally, including: REGENERATION! HS Projects, London, (solo and publication, 2015); Progress, The Foundling Museum, London (2014); Talents Contemporains, François Schneider Foundation, France (2014); Coup de Ville, WARP, Belgium (2013); Cities & Eyes, Marian Cramer Projects, Netherlands (solo, 2012); and The Cut, Space, London (2011). Jessie is a freelance educator, visiting university lecturer and current Metal Peterborough/GBY residency artist where she is developing her Arts Council England supported project Inside a Green Backyard. She is also a Visiting Research Fellowship at The Bartlett, UCL, (2016). Further details about her work can be found at:
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