COMMUNITIES UNDER CONSTRUCTION Communities under Construction is a three year programme of residencies at Wysing Arts Centre in which the selected artists work within and in response to the villages and communities surrounding Wysing Arts Centre. During the early part of 2009, and throughout the summer, artists A Kassen, Helen Stratford and Townley and Bradby were in-residence together at Wysing, living and working at the Centre. The exhibition was formed entirely of work produced by the artists during their residency period and developed in collaboration with individuals and groups in the village of Bourn and in the new settlement of Cambourne.

During her residency HELEN STRATFORD was using site-specific and audio-based interventions to make visible the practices that produce and maintain public space in the nearby settlement of Cambourne. Gathered during her residency, which continued until August, these practices included the voices of local residents, teenagers, groundsmen, road sweepers, light scouts, planners, and people working on their allotments. The table in the centre of Wysing’s gallery space worked as a meeting point for talking and discovering what Helen uncovered during her residency. Her research revealed both the heavily maintained, and the overlooked and un-noticed public space in Cambourne, and proposes alternative uses for them. Through her residency Helen drew on the practices of on performance, architecture and writing to explore how places and identities are produced and performed through every day objects and activities.

ArtReview Magazine, Laura Allsop: http://www.artreview.com/profiles/blog/show?id=1474022:BlogPost:849999

Frieze Magazine, Jonathan Griffin: http://www.frieze.com/blog/entry/heavens_above/

Communities under Construction is funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Arts Council England East. A Kassen is supported by the Danish Arts Council and Danish Embassy in London. Helen Stratford. With thanks to Maurice Gordon (Taylor Wimpey) Peter Wooten, Warren Bourne, Jenny Mckay, Margot Eagle, Maurice Buck, Roger Hume, Stewart (Tilbrooks), Claire Denard and Jackie (ESL), Bob Dean, Karen Bagshaw, Kate Wood, Pam Thornton, Barry (Goodwins sweepers), Pat, Alan and PJ (Brehenys), Laura Parkinson, Michelle Link, Lesley Scobell, Mole Architects, Nick Cheek, Sarah Evans and Polonca Lovsin.