Thread and Word - A Walk with Shrines 

At The Margate Bookie                               

Film maker Anna Bowman takes some time out from a busy filming schedule in Yorkshire to reflect on her experience of filming A Walk with Shrines in Margate.

"A WALK WITH SHRINES  - Anna Bowman

Earlier this year, when I interviewed Elspeth (Billie) as part of a short documentary about the exhibition Memories…There’s Always Tomorrow at the Gallery, St Pancras Hospital, in London she asked me if I’d be interested in filming a walk. I said yes, having no idea what it would involve.

It turned out to be an extraordinary experience Nine artists’ beautiful ofrendas (offerings) formed temporary shrines to stories and poems by four visiting authors at the Margate Bookie. The film celebrated the meditative walk Elspeth devised and led, with artists and other participants processing along the sea front, up the cliffs, to the Winter Garden and the War Memorial, then back to the Turner Contemporary Gallery.

Filming was a challenge.  My work is collaborative and usually filmed in galleries or at events where I have a quite a bit of control over what I film. Here there were the elements in full force – crashing waves, howling wind, some brilliant sun – all the seasons in Margate in two days. 

It was a wonderful collaboration with Elspeth and the artists who made the ofrendas. I was touched by everyone’s generosity, as some interviews and readings needed to be re-recorded as the sound of wind was over powering.  I asked Anastasia if she would film some of the walkers on 29^th, so we could see them from in front as well as from behind. I would love to collaborate with her in the future, if the opportunity arises."

A Walk with Shrines was part of Margate Festival 2018:Now, which was funded by Turner Contemporary, Dreamland and Kent County Council.

WITH THANKS TO ANASTASIA MILLER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY.

A LINK BELOW. TO Anna Bowman's VIDEO WITH FOOTAGE OF PROCESSIONAL WALKING AND OF OFFERINGS CREATED TO FORM A LITURGY TO FOUR BOOKS BY FOUR AUTHORS AT THE AUTUMN BOOKIE IN MARGATE.



A WALK WITH SHRINES by Thread and Word from Anna Bowman on Vimeo.