CAMAC Open studio event

2 May 2011

For the Open studio event on 28 April, I exhibited 3 pieces that I had created as part of the residency at CAMAC, France.

The End of the Line (installation view)

The End of the Line (detail)

11ft Ping Pong Race Painting (detail)

The End of the Line

Marker pen, confetti, 5 speakers, fan, wooden triangle, 11ft Ping Pong race painting.

An audio-visual installation developed from a series of experimental studio works inspired by the pigeon post into Paris.

The End of the Line explores the end of the carrier pigeons’ journey and the end of the pigeon postal service. It is the 4^th development of installations, including Dropping station 1, Dropping station 2 and M and X soundscape (see below for further information). All installations have been inspired by the pigeon post into Paris and have been created at CAMAC as part of the residency programme.

After the Franco-Prussian War and the introduction of wireless communication, pigeons were no longer employed to deliver messages. The pigeons that survived were official property and were sold at the Depot du Mobilier de l’Etat.

The visual references in The End of the Line were marked out from the previous installation (Dropping station 2) and are a response to the journey (usually between Paris, Tours and Poitiers) by carrier pigeons to deliver messages. To reduce the flight distance, the pigeons were taken by train as far towards Paris as was safe from Prussian intervention and were regularly taken out of Paris by hot air balloon.

The confetti on the floor traces the lines of an open-back book case (used for Dropping station 2) and marks out 16 squares using confetti, to celebrate those pigeons that received a commemorative medal for successfully delivering messages in record time.

The 11ft Ping Pong race painting shows 19 lines representing those pigeons that never reached their destination and therefore failed to deliver their messages. The colours represent each month, (October= red, November= orange, December= yellow and January= blue).

The soundscape uses sound recordings generated from previous installations (Dropping station 1 and Dropping station 2), which include balloons being inflated, deflated, squeezed, popped and dunked into water. The sound of a pigeon auctioneer can be heard from a Youtube clip. Recordings from Marnay-sur-Seine, including the sounds of pigeons and the church bell were used to represent the sound of the loft bell, which also announced the arrival of a carrier pigeon.  The soundscape was split into two, so that two speakers placed on opposite sides of the room could take it in turns to play.  This set up worked particularly well when the recording of the pigeon auctioneer was used.

Listen to The End of the Line (approx 4 mins) The soundscape was split into two and played through two speakers at opposite ends of the studio space.

Egg box messages

7 French eggs boxes, paper letters and marker pen

Egg Box Messages

Egg Box Messages (detail)

Pigeons were used to deliver messages during WWI and WWII, when the usual methods of communication were disrupted or unavailable.

Cher Ami (Dear Friend) is a famous war pigeon, who delivered a message that saved the Lost Battalion (194 people), in WWI. The two pigeons that tried to send messages before her failed to do so (they were shot down). This is a tribute to Cher Ami and the two nameless pigeons.

First message sent by unknown pigeon number 1:

‘Many wounded we cannot evacuate.’

Second message sent by unknown pigeon number 2:

‘Men are suffering can support be sent?’

Third message sent by Cher Ami that saved the Lost Battalion:

‘We are along the road parallel to 276.4 our artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven’s sake stop it!’

Under the Seine

Under water sound recording

Under the Seine (installation view)

Minami listening to Under the Seine

During the Siege of Paris between 1870- 71, the Prussians disrupted the communication into and out of Paris.  They cut the last secret telegraph cable, located in the bed of the River Seine on 27 September 1870.

CAMAC, the organisation for art, science and technology, is based in Marnay-sur-Seine, which is situated in between the River Seine and a transport canal.

Using hydrophones (underwater microphones), I have recorded a conversation that I and a friend had while in Paris together.  We took it in turns to dunk our heads into bowls of water, to relay a conversation.  The initial idea was inspired by the connection to the River Seine and the notion of communication being disrupted.

Click here to listen to Under the Seine and to read the conversation between Lucy and Matt

4th development of installations for The End of the Line

1 May 2011

Using inspiration from Dropping station 2 to create The End of the Line

In the lead up to the open studios I was working on The End of the Line, an audio-visual installation developed from a series of experimental studio works inspired by the pigeon post into Paris.  The End of the Line explores the end of the carrier pigeons’ journey and the end of the pigeon postal service.  It is the 4th development of installations, including Dropping station 1, Dropping station 2 and M and X soundscape.

For the Open studio event I decided to paint over the shadow of Dropping station 2, (the pully hanging from the beam holding 4 popped balloons), as I felt it was repeating what had already been created before and I felt it didn’t work well with the space.  Instead I created 11ft Ping Pong Race Painting, which shows 19 lines of paint, created from rolling ping pong balls covered in acrylic paint over a sheet of paper.  Each line represents a pigeon that was unsuccessful at delivering its message during the Franco-Prussian War.  This data was taken from the book: Pigeon Post into Paris 1870-71.  The colours represent each month (Oct = red, Nov = orange, Dec = yellow and Jan = blue).

Creating 11ft Ping Pong Race Painting

Details on the installations that were created before The End of the Line:

Dropping stations 1 and 2:

Dropping stations 1 and 2 were two separate installations, created using found objects. Each installation was used to record the sound of the impact balloons made with the studio floor and bowls of water.

Dropping station 1 was created by leaning a door and a ladder against a wall, in order to record the sounds of the impact of balloons being rolled and dropped.

Dropping station 2 was created by attaching 4 balloons (filled with pebbles) to a device that lowered the balloons into an open back bookcase, to record the sound of the balloons hitting the floor. Balloons were then dropped into bowls of water (that were added to the spaces in the open back bookcase). The sound of the impact with the water was recorded via a hydrophone (an underwater microphone).

The process of inflating, squeezing, rolling, dropping, dunking and popping balloons represented the difficult and sometimes impossible journey, the carrier pigeons had to endure during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. The Prussians disrupted all communication into and out of Paris. For assured communication, the only successful method was by carrier pigeon.

M and X soundscape:

The sound recordings generated from Dropping stations 1 and 2 were used to create M and X soundscape.

M and X was inspired by J.D. Hayhurst’s book: The Pigeon Post into Paris 1870-1871. Hayhurst created a table showing the numbers of pigeons carried by hot air balloon out of Paris, the dates of release for return flights into Paris, and the dates of arrivals in Paris. The information that structured the soundscape was based on the arrival dates of pigeons that were awarded a commemorative medal (‘M’ on the table) and where the pigeon was unsuccessful at reaching its destination (Tours or Poitiers) (‘X’ on the table).

The soundtrack was edited according to each month (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan) and whether an ‘M’ or ‘X’ was marked next to the month, (Sept and Feb had no ‘M’ or ‘X’ so haven’t been included). Each month was given a different colour balloon (Oct= Red, Nov = Orange, Dec= Yellow, Jan= Blue) . The balloons were recorded using the Rode NT55 microphone and parabolic dish and individually using a hydrophone, in the studio at CAMAC.

Sounds for M are represented by: pigeon coos and clap of wings, and an engine (actually the sound of air escaping a balloon in water, which reminded me of a pigeon flying really fast).  Sounds for X are represented by: dropped, rolled, dunked, popped balloons and hydrophone (under water) recordings.

Marnay-sur-Seine recordings

23 April 2011

Ive been in Marnay-sur-Seine for nearly a month now and have gathered sound recordings everyday.  As I have so many recordings, not all of them will be included into the Open studio event at CAMAC on 28 April, so here’s a few short clips below that reflect my experience as an artist in residence at CAMAC.

Listen to After 8 frogs (approx 2 mins)

Listen to Balcony birds (approx 1.30 mins)

Listen to There’s something in the trees (approx 2 mins)

Listen to The only bar in Marnay (approx 2 mins)

Under the Seine

20 April 2011

During the Siege of Paris between 1870- 71, the Prussians disrupted the communication into and out of Paris.  They cut the last secret telegraph cable, located in the bed of the River Seine on 27 September.  CAMAC is situated in between the River Seine and a transport canal.

Using hydrophones (underwater microphones), I have recorded a conversation that I and a friend had while in Paris together.  We took it in turns to dunk our heads into water and relay the conversation.  The initial idea was inspired by the connection to the River Seine and the notion of communication being disrupted.

Listen to Under the Seine Approx 3 mins

Script for Under the Seine

Lucy: So what do you think I should base this conversation on for my next piece?

Matt: I’m not sure? Does it have to be on Paris and pigeons?

Lucy: No- Well the reason I want to do this is because I’m interested in the connection it has with the River Seine.

Matt: You said that before.

Lucy: But its interesting!

Matt: I’m not saying its not.

Lucy: The Prussians found the last secret telegraph cable in the bed of the Seine.

Matt: Why are they called Prussians?

Lucy: I’m not sure. It was called the Franco- Prussian War. The Prussians were German, part of the German empire.

Matt: So it was the French- German War?

Lucy: I guess so. So anyway, the Prussians found the cable and cut it, so that any communication into or out of Paris during the siege was disrupted. That’s why they had to use balloon mail and pigeons to carry messages.

Matt: You could base your conversation on two very different things- either really funny or really serious.

Lucy: I’m rubbish at being funny, really bad

Matt: I know

Lucy: I’ve tried before with a piece of artwork and it was shit.

Matt: It could be really serious and informative.

Lucy: and boring? I don’t want to read Wikipedia and just regurgitate it back to people. Or for us to pretend that we are from the 1870’s .

We have already practiced with recording ourselves under water and taken photographs of each other. The conversation should definitely be about us. Maybe it could be really personal- you know, about us and our relationship?

Matt: Well I’m not sure. No, I’m not comfortable with that.

Lucy: Ok, just an idea… what about this place then?

Matt: About CAMAC and your experience?

Lucy: It could be about my expectations of the residency and what I was told from other artists.

Matt: You were really nervous before you came.

Lucy: Yeah, about having no ideas and producing no work… and from the things other artists had told me- the whole bed bug thing and being vegetarian.

Matt: You cant write about that!

Lucy: Why not?

Matt: Its a negative advert for this place and its great here!

Lucy: I know, I’m not saying that it has bed bugs. I was just told that by another artist. The fact that your getting so upset about it makes me want to use it.

Matt: How rebellious of you.

Lucy: Its art, and anyway there are no barriers or censorship with art. No one is going to get upset over that!

Matt: Well why don’t you just base your work on this conversation? You should have recorded it.

Musée de la Poste and birds at Paris station

19 April 2011

Pigeon post at the Post Museum in Paris

Ever since the beginning of my research into the pigeon post into Paris I have wanted to visit the Musée de la Poste in Paris.  When I eventually found my way to the museum and found the tiny display with information on the balloon mail and carrier pigeons, I was disappointed that there wasn’t more.  J.D. Hayhurst’s book ‘Pigeon post into Paris’ has all you need to know about the pigeon post into Paris during 1870-71, and with a collection of clear images, repesenting the artifacts in the museum (which were really difficult to see in the dimly lit cabinet).

I also tried to find the 11 pigeon contraception houses, but ran out of time (and was with a friend who didn’t fancy being dragged to see a pigeon loft after being taken to the Post Museum!).  I did take my parabolic dish and microphone to capture the sounds of pigeons in the streets of Paris, but every recording has the sound of traffic, which drowns out the sound of any pigeons.  Although it is illegal to feed the pigeons, I expected to see a few people throwing food down for them.  I fed them at Gare du l’Est station.

When I first arrived into Paris, I was surprised at the amount of bird song I could hear at Gare du Nord station and Gare de l’Est station.  I’m still unsure as to whether there are speakers playing bird song at both stations or whether it actually is the sound of sparrows.  Charles de Gaulle Airport, has fixed runway speakers used to scare birds away. Airport agents stationed on each runway are equipped with flares and noisemakers that allow them to play the sounds of a bird in distress, thereby frightening other birds.  This helps to reduce the number of airplane collisions with birds.

M and X soundscape

15 April 2011

Dropping station 2

Dropping station 2 (detail)

Dropping stations 2

4 balloons, open back book shelf, pebbles, pin, 4 bowls containing water and a pully device made from found metal, string, cable ties and plastic tubing

As a result of the sounds generated from ‘Dropping stations 1 and 2’ and sound recordings of pigeons (taken from Digbeth, Project Pigeon in Birmingham and Marnay-sur-Seine), the soundscape ‘M and X’ has been created.

To create the soundtrack balloons were rolled and bounced down a door and ladder leaned against a wall (aka dropping stations). Balloons were also attached to a pully, filled with pebbles, dunked and popped over bowls of water.

Listen to ‘M and X soundscape’ (work in progress) approx 3.30 mins

Dropping station 2

‘M and X’ was inspired by J.D. Hayhurst’s book: The pigeon post into Paris 1870- 1871. Hayhurst created a table showing the numbers of pigeons carried by balloon out of Paris, the dates of release for return flights into Paris, and the dates of arrivals in Paris. The table holds a lot of information by different official representatives, so I have decided to focus on the arrival dates of pigeons that were awarded a commemorative medal (‘M’ on the table) and where the pigeon was unsuccessful at reaching its destination (Tours or Poitiers) (‘X’ on the table).

The soundtrack was edited according to each month (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan) and whether an ‘M’ or ‘X’ was marked next to the month, (Sept and Feb had no ‘M’ or ‘X’ so haven’t been included). Each month was given a different colour balloon (Oct= Red, Nov = Orange, Dec= Yellow, Jan= Blue) . Each balloon was recorded separately with a hydrophone, as well as together using the Rode NT55 microphone and parabolic dish in the studio at CAMAC.

Sounds for M are represented by: pigeon coo’s and clap of wings, and an engine (actually the sound of air escaping a balloon in water, but reminded me of a pigeon flying really fast).

Sounds for X are represented by: dropped, rolled, dunked, popped balloons and hydrophone (under water) recordings.

Therefore the edited process was structured around the information below.

October

6 October M

8 October M

12 October X

16 October X

22 October M

25 October X

27 October X

November

4 November X

12 November X

14 November M

21 November X

22 November M

23 November M

24 November M

26 November M

30 November M and X

December

11 December X

15 December X and M

16 December X and M

17 December M

19 December M

20 December X

29 December M

January

9 January X

15 January X

18 January X

20 January X

22 January X

24 January X

27 January X

Dropping stations, Egg box messages and Finch nesting song

8 April 2011

Dropping station 1

In response to my studio space at CAMAC, I have created ‘Dropping stations’, ‘Egg box messages’ and ‘Finch nesting song’.

Each piece has been created using found or recycled objects and will be used as a catalyst to develop a new installation each week. All the pieces have taken inspiration from the surroundings at Marnay-sur-Seine and the notion of the pigeon post and balloon mail into Paris during the Franco-Prussian War.

Dropping stations (work in progress) Door, ladder, goose feathers, zebra finch feathers, yellow twisted pods and balloons

Two ‘dropping stations’ have been set up in the studio, one made from a door leaned against a wall and the other, a ladder leaned against the back wall. Items, including goose feathers, zebra finch feathers (from my birds at home), yellow twisted pods (from the trees in CAMAC garden) and balloons have been rolled and dropped from each ‘dropping station’ and the sound of the impact recorded.

The notion of the pigeon having a destination whereby to drop its message and the visualisation of it soaring into the air, (as well as the balloon mail), has made me think about the sounds of things rising and falling. ‘Dropping stations’ will be developed and used to generate new sound recordings for next week’s installation.

Egg box messages 7 French eggs boxes, paper letters and marker pen.

Egg box messages

Cher Ami is a famous war pigeon, who delivered a message that saved the Lost Battalion (194 people), in WWI. The two pigeons that tried to send messages before her failed to do so (they were shot down). This is a tribute to Cher Ami and the two nameless pigeons.

First message sent by unknown pigeon number 1:

‘Many wounded we cannot evacuate.’

Second message sent by unknown pigeon number 2:

‘Men are suffering can support be sent?’

Third message sent by Cher Ami that saved the Lost Battalion:

‘We are along the road parallel to 276.4 our artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven’s sake stop it!’

Finch nesting song Lantern, French envelope, elastic band, confetti, polystyrene,marker pen, gaffa tape, iphone4 playing ‘Finch nesting song’.

Finch nesting song

Finch nesting song (detail)

I keep two zebra finches in my room at home and they usually wake me up in the morning. When I let them out of the cage they fly up to the light and try to make a nest out of ripped newspaper and rubbish out of my bin. The birds sing and call to each other all day until it starts to get dark, (the call of a zebra finch sounds similar to a squeaky toy.) The sounds in the morning at Marnay-sur-Seine are very different, but spectacular, with a loud chorus of birds singing each morning.  The video playing on my iphone shows the finches making a nest in my bedroom light.

Siege of Paris: Pigeon post and balloon mail

6 April 2011

A post-war souvenir. La Poste par Pigeons Voyageurs souvenir du siege de paris. Translated as: The pigeon post remember the siege of Paris

The pigeon post was in operation while Paris was besieged during the Franco- Prussian War of 1870 – 71.

The normal channels of communication into and out of Paris were interrupted during the four-and-a-half-months of the siege. With the encirclement of the city on 18 September, the last overhead telegraph wires were cut on the morning of 19 September, and the secret telegraph cable in the bed of the Seine was located and cut on 27 September. Although a number of postmen succeeded in passing through the Prussian lines in the earliest days of the siege, others were captured and shot.

Five sheepdogs experienced in driving cattle into Paris were flown out by balloon with the intention of their returning carrying mail; after release they were never again seen. Equally a failure was the use of zinc balls (the boules de Moulins) filled with letters and floated down the Seine; not one of these balls was recovered during the siege. As was later said “Pas qu’une souris pût franchir les lignes prussiennes sans être vue.” Translated as: “Not a mouse could cross the Prussian lines without being seen.” The only successful method was by the carrier-pigeon, and thousands of messages, official and private were taken into the besieged city.

Post office notice, 'Open Letters for Paris. Transmission of by Carrier Pigeons, 1870.

During the course of the siege, pigeons were regularly taken out of Paris by balloon. Soon a regular service was in operation, based first at Tours and later at Poitiers. The pigeons carried two kinds of despatch: official and private. The service was opened to the public in early November.

The introduction of the Dagron microfilms eased any problems there might have been in claims for transport since their volumetric requirements were very small. To improve the chances of the despatches successfully reaching Paris, the same despatch was sent by several pigeons, one official despatch being repeated 35 times and the later private despatches were repeated on average 22 times.

When the pigeon reached its particular loft in Paris, its arrival was announced by a bell in the trap in the loft. Immediately, a watchman relieved it of its tube which was taken to the Central Telegraph Office where the content was carefully unpacked and placed between two thin sheets of glass. The photographs are said to have been projected by magic lantern on to a screen where the enlargement could be easily read and written down by a team of clerks.

During the siege, 150,000 official and 1 million private communications were carried into Paris by this method. The service was formally terminated on 1 February 1871.

Balloon mail

Balloon mail was used to overcome the communications blockade. Letters were photographically reduced by René Dagron‎ to save weight.

Sixty-five unguided mail balloons were released in besieged Paris to communicate with the world beyond the besieging forces, of which only two went missing.

A photographer named Félix Tournachon, known as “Nadar,” (responsible for making the world’s first aerial photographs from a balloon during the 1850s), suggested that it might be possible to operate a balloon postal service above the heads of the Prussian troops surrounding Paris.

Nadar’s successful demonstration persuaded the French government to risk sending important dispatches by balloon to their troops at Tours. Nadar, however, was unavailable for this assignment. Having departed from Paris by balloon, he could not return. His unpowered aircraft, drifting at the mercy of wayward breezes, could not be navigated back to its starting point.

Another aeronaunt named Jules Durouf took off from Montmartre in a the balloon “Neptune.” He carried 103 kilograms of letters and secret dispatches. The Prussians opened fire with artillery and rolling volleys of musketry as the balloon passed over their lines. Durouf was unharmed. He landed about nineteen miles from Paris, just behind the Prussian lines, and successfully delivered his dispatches to the French provincial forces.

One of the balloons ready for departure, made in a deserted railroad station in Paris. Every 3 or 4 days a new balloon was made and inflated with explosive coal gas from the city gas works.

Sailors of the French navy were trained to man the balloons. For their first real flights, over enemy lines, the sailors were equipped with bottles of champagne. They would uncork these bottles when the Prussians started firing at them from the ground. “Death to the invaders!” the flying sailors would say, between drinks. “Vive la France!”

John Fisher writes in his 1965 book Airlift 1870, “As the siege went on, as ascent followed ascent, the balloons, in the eyes of Parisians and in the eyes of the world, came to be regarded not merely as useful carriers but as symbols of French daring and enterprise and success.”

While balloons allowed the French government in Paris to deliver messages to the provinces, another method of flight was needed to send return messages from the provinces to Paris. Every balloon leaving Paris carried homing pigeons that had been reared in the French capital. After the balloon landed, these birds were fitted with leg bands containing messages from provincial officials to their leaders in Paris. The pigeons were then released to fly home to Paris.

War pigeons and the Pigeoneers

5 April 2011

The message sent by Cher Ami that saved troops lives

Cher Ami (translated ‘Dear friend’), was one of the most famous pigeon’s that served in the US Army Signal Corps in WWI (1918). Despite being shot through the breast, leg and blinded in one eye, she managed to fly 25 miles in 25 minutes, to deliver a message that saved the lives of the Lost Battalion of the 77^th Division in the battle of Argonne (194 survivors). Cher Ami was awarded the Croix de Guerne medal for delivering 12 important messages from the Verdun front to Rampont, France.

Two pigeons were shot down trying to send a message for help, before the last pigeon- Cher Ami was sent.  The message delivered by Cher Ami was:

‘We are along the road parallel to 276.4 our artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven’s sake stop it!’

G.I. Joe was awarded the Dickins medal for saving 1000 British troops

G.I. Joe, served in the US Army at the loft of Fort Monmouth in New Jersey in WWII. He saved 1000 British troops and the lives of the inhabitants of the village of Calvi Vecchia in Italy. He flew 20 miles in 20 minutes to deliver the message, to stop the planes from bombing the city, on 18 Oct 1943.  Learn more about war pigeons

Pigeoneer is the term given to those that were part of the armed forces, with the responsibility of training and handling pigeons to deliver messages. As part of the US Army Signal Corps; Colonel Clifford A. Poutre, was Chief Pigeoneer of Service and Head of the Pigeon Breeding and Training centre, during WWI. He trained pigeons, including Long John Silver and Kaiser (German pigeon captured by the US Army).

Dawn chorus at CAMAC

2 April 2011

Its 6.30am (5.30am at home in Leicester) and I can hear the dawn chorus of songbirds singing and a rooster.  The birds aren’t singing to celebrate the start of a new day, this chorus of songs occurs when birds are defending a breeding territory or trying to attract a mate.  In spring the song is loudest, here’s a recording I took standing at the door of my room at CAMAC.

Dawn chorus at CAMAC- day 2

April in Paris

Camac is an organisation in the rural village of Marnay-sur-Seine in France that hosts an artist residency programme, with the aim to bring together artists from all countries and disciplines in mid or advanced career stages.

I have been offered the opportunity to complete an artist residency at Camac, between 1 – 30 April 2011.

The residency will be used as an opportunity for research and development into the pigeon post into Paris during 1870- 1871.  As part of this investigation I will visit the 11 pigeon contraception houses and Post Museum based in Paris, as well as interview residents and those that continue to break the law by stealthily feeding pigeons at night when no one is looking. Previous research into pigeon intelligence, pigeon fancying and Project Pigeonwatch (a project started in Oct 2010 to capture data on feral pigeon numbers and colour morphs), will act as a catalyst for experimental work in the studio environment of Camac.

The residency will mark a development in my practice as a sound artist by using contact microphones (to record vibrations, for example- bird footsteps, rather than air pressure), hydrophones (to record under water sound) and a parabolic dish, specifically designed for capturing bird song and other wildlife.

Camac gallery and studios. Image courtesy of vingtparismagazine.com