Walkspace: In Search of the Brumphalos
Hello walkers!
This is the newsletter of Walkspace, the art-walking collective for the West Midlands.
Much has been afoot since we last wrote. We have 36 members and have run a few walks and online meet-ups for them to get to know each other. New connections have been made, ideas shared and collaborations mooted. So far it’s all working as we intended!
This month we’re launching a series of public walks, open to everyone who wants to come along.
Under the banner of The Walkspace Erratics they will be run by members who want to try out ideas, present new work, or whatever they need for their walking practice. Think of it as a testing ground for ambulatory antics.
The first Erratic is on Sunday 22nd August. Book your place here.
In Search of the Brumphalos, with Walkspace members Andy Howlett and Robson, is a meander around Birmingham city centre attempting to locate the midpoint of this sprawling metropolis. Does a city have a heart? A navel? A nucleus? How do you measure it? We'll be considering these questions and visiting some of the contenders – some obvious, some less so. We'll be finishing up at the precise geometric centre of the city as determined by science… and it may not be where you expect it to be.
According to Greek mythology, Zeus attempted to locate the centre of the earth by launching two eagles simultaneously from opposite ends of the world. At the point where their paths crossed, Zeus placed a stone called the Omphalos (meaning "navel") to mark the sacred site. In the same spirit we shall be carrying a Brumphalos stone (courtesy of Hipkiss & Graney and pictured below) for the duration of the walk and we shall place it at the appropriate spot.
Starting by the fountain at Chamberlain Square, Birmingham City Centre at 11:00am on August 22nd, we shall be walking at a gentle pace with multiple stops and the total route will be just over two miles. The terrain will mostly be pavement, possibly with a few steps. We don't want to give away the final destination but the area is well served by public transport should you need to dash off. If you have some time however we'll likely find a nice pub to retire to afterwards.
Book your place
Although the Erratic walks are free to attend and open to all, booking in advance lets us know what sorts of numbers to expect and also makes it easier for us to communicate any changes or announcements.
We’ll write again soon with news about all the other fun things the members have been up to. And if you’re an artist who uses walking in their practice and would like to join Walkspace, please submit your application here.
All the best,
Andy, Fiona and Pete: The Walkspace Committee.