photo - Zvonko Kracun
The Tide Machine - The story so far
Following a successful application to the Scottish Arts Council we built a prototype for TheTide Machine. The prototype was tested in April 2010 at Kingholm Quay in Dumfries and was presented with the support of The Scottish Arts Council, Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association, Conflux, The Crichton Development Company and many others. thank you to everyone who has made this project possible.
Our initial task was to establish engineering concepts for the machine mechanism while developing design ideas that will involve and inspire local communities. The event was a spectacular costumed performance using the power and mystery of tides as a narrative line. Work was undertaken at the Quay by the Port of Dumfries Group to renovate existing stonework and prepare the dock for the arrival of the Machine.
We have initiated a process to collect aural histories from communities along the river. These stories will be used to inform and create a number of installations and events that will be programmed for the Machine during its development. This work will also provide a template for similar projects at within other host communities.
A professional orrey maker called Peter Grimwood is working with us to design a mechanism for the Tide Machine that shows the specific relationship between sun, moon and earth. This mechanism is powered by the tide itself.
The Tide Machine is now being substantially remade and both Machine and performance event will be out along the coasts from July 2011 onwards. The machine includes on on-going series of new mechanical-kinetic ideas inspired by tides and tidal actions.
Photographs here from Portpatrick taken by Judith Milligan, Florencia Garcia Chafuén and the Stranraer Drama Group:
photo - Guy Veal
