The Shape Of Things To Come - The Black Cloud is raised in Bristol
26th July 2009
The Shape Of Things To Come
In September 2007 Heather and Ivan Morison undertook a month long research visit to Bristol to investigate environmental issues, supported by Situations, a public art commissioning program at the University of the West of England and the RSA Arts and Ecology programme. On the 25th of July the project resulting from this research came into fruition with the raising of 'The Black Cloud', a remarkable pavilion-like structure in Victoria Park, Bristol. The structure was erected through community 'barn raising' from early morning till dusk. The Black Cloud is now a public artwork, shelter and meeting place untill the 6th of December and it is open to everyone.
By 09:00am the structure begins to take shape Photo Pete Telfer
The structure was designed by Heather and Ivan Morison in collaboration with architect Sash Reading and engineers Structural Solutions, and was informed by architecture from across the world wich responds to climatic scenarios or emergencies, such as the Hallig houses of Northern Germany built to withstand regular flooding.
Photo Pete Telfer
A shabono, a circular structure built by the Yanomamo Amer-Indians from the Amazon, was the starting point of the design for the oval form of The Black Cloud. The structure is made up of successive rings of timber triangular frames, bolted together to create a strong curving roof with an open centre, reflecting the communal space of the shabono. Heather and Ivan Morison have also made use of a geometric, crystalline form used in previous works such as 'I Am So Sorry. Goodbye. (Escape Vehicle No.4) which can now be seen at the Barbican Centre, London until 18 October 2009.
Photo Pete Telfer
Built entirely from timber harvested from the Morisons arboretum near Dolgellau, the frame was fabricated by a crew of volunteer artists and skilled technicians at Bristol's Spike Island. The timber has been scorched using a Japanese technique (Yakisugi treatment of the timbers) to create a dark, protective shield.
Ivan Morison Photo Pete Telfer
Photo Pete Telfer
As with the design of The Black Cloud, the barn raising has been inspired by many influences and this method of communal building reflects that of traditional Welsh One Day House building or Tŷ Un Nos, the Finnish talkoo and Amish barn-raising, a celebratory event in which everyone offers assistance in whatever form that they can manage, from physical labour to food, music and entertainment.
14:00pm half way through construction Photo Pete Telfer
Festival atmosphere Photo Pete Telfer
On a sunny day in the park, with music from an open mic, den building, puppets and a barbeque of organic sausages from the neighbouring farm of the Morisons home near Dolgellau The Black Cloud was raised; almost unnoticed. In a strange way, although there was obviously a number of construction specialists, volunteers and artists working hard to get the structure up, it felt as if it had always been there. The presence of The Black Cloud taking shape surrounded by people relaxing in Victoria Park was so natural it was almost as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening.
Photo Pete Telfer
But when you look at the form it is beautiful. The design is so perfect that it was more like a giant creature waking up gently, happy to see the sunshine, than the strenuous effort of the team inside pushing out triangular shapes with all their might.
Photo Pete Telfer
The beauty of the design, its elegant form, its apparent unity with its surroundings is put slightly on edge at closer inspection. The black charred surface of the scorched timbers tell a different, more sinister story. The story of a structure that has survived firestorms from our uncertain future, the suns radiation burning through our thinning atmosphere and attacking its outer layer or an interplanetary vehicle that has endured re-entry and landed in Victoria Park, Bristol. Maybe.
Nearing completion - Sunday morning Photo Pete Telfer
The majority of the work was succesfully completed between dawn and dusk of Saturday the 25th of July 2009. An exhaused crew pulled themselves back to the Park on the Sunday Morning and finally completed The Black Cloud in time for lunch on Monday.
Timber Photo Ivan Morison
For a month before the Barn Raising event Ivan and Heather Morison had been harvesting timber from the trees in their woodland near Dolgellau, planking the trees at the arboretum and then transporting it all, a truck at a time, to workshops in Bristol.
Preparing the frames Photo Ivan Morison
The individual frames were all fabricated in the workshops and scorched with blowtorches before being transported to Victoria Park for the construction.
Heather and Ivan Morison Photo Pete Telfer
Artists impression
Flyer promoting the Barn raising event.
The shelter is available for use by anyone in the park, free of charge. If you would like to hold an event in the shelter contact blackcloud@situations.org.uk
Forthcoming events devised by Heather and Ivan Morison
How To Prosper During The Coming Bad Years
October 10, 2009. Free
A lively forum, held in The Black Cloud, to explore the future of humanity: preparedness versus conservation. Speakers include science fiction writers, future thinkers and environmental campaigners.
Black Dog Times
Saturday 5th December 2009. Free
A carnivalesque winter wake which celebrates the last day of The Black Cloud.
Other community events in The Black Cloud
Cloudjam
5 September - open mic afternoon with a bar.
Art On The Hill
3-4 October 2009. Free
The Big Draw
Saturday 10 October 2009. Free
To find out more, visit www.situations.org.uk
Also see -
Fantasy Island video
Culture Colony - Y Wladfa Newydd Morisons Gallery
The Morisons take the Cultural Olympiad on the Road News Item
Tales of Space and Time News Item
Other links to more external web sites
If you have any photos from the day that you would be willing to
share, please upload them to Flickr (www.flickr.com) with the tag ‘Black Cloud Bristol’
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