Boundary Walk 20 – Tracing the Boundary Part Three
25th August 2022. Little Bridge that crosses over Ogden Brook, High Peak, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdomom
Latitude: 53.498696 | Longitude: -1.972267
For her micro-commission, artist Alison Lloyd has been navigating along Ogden Brook, towards ‘Wilderness’ on the map.
Alison proposed, “I would walk up and down the Ogden brook, which is where the boundary and stream combine. And on up to the point marked, Wilderness (spot height 497 m) to explore one of the remoter sections of the boundary. At this point the boundary turns sharply west along the edge. I can also see Hoarstone Edge, Wimberry Moss and a trig point at Alphin.”
During her recent visit to the area, Alison conducted an instagram takeover and shared her experience of walking alongside the brook, as live as possible, when the signal allowed.
“I’m at the first bit of boundary just before the swinesshaw reservoir. See photo of map. Just in fields for now. Will actually be more accurate at Ogden Brook.”
What we found interesting is that Alison’s emails, posts and texts came in waves, as she moved in and out of signal, at times receiving duplicate or triplicate messages as her phone re-tried sending failed messages as she walked. It was a digital translation of Alison’s movements in and out of an unseen boundary between mobile phone masts and how that signal mirrored or navigated their own physical boundaries of the landscape she was moving through. A live form of mark-marking as she walked through these glitches.
On the 25th August, we walked with Alison to the ‘little bridge’ towards ‘Wilderness’. This was the farthest we had walked on this section of the boundary, which is not as easily accessed as others. We were hoping to join the first section boundary we walked at the start of the project, up to Chew Reservoir, but there was not enough time, still leaving a part of the boundary untouched for another time.
During our time by the little bridge, in which Ogden Brook flows below and down through Ogden Clough, there was the opportunity to film, record audio and photograph, marking a live collaboration with Alison and within this place. Another ‘cosy’ space perhaps?