chain coral Chorus
What is the Chain Coral Chorus?
The Chain Coral Chorus is the working title for an exciting poetry project I’m about to undertake as Poet in Residence at the Black Country Geological Society (BCGS). This is the first in what will be a series of blog posts that explore my poetics, meandering thoughts and observations over the next twelve months, as I drift through my residency; conducting my research in Black Country Geopoetics for the University of Wolverhampton’s Early Career Research Award Scheme (ERAS). I was recently successful in obtaining a place on the University of Wolverhampton's ERAS, for a creative writing project that explores the geological heritage of the Black Country. This is an annual award, across various disciplines that encourages new researchers and creatives to hit the ground running in their artistic and academic careers. This residency has been enabled by this fantastic support. In this 12 month residency, I'll be exploring the many geosites of the region - places set out by the Black Country Geopark initiatives as areas of important geological significance - writing a series of poems inspired by and set in these wonderful places. These poems will be creative responses to the environment and will explore how the geological make-up of the land impacts, connects and clashes with the overlooked cultures of the Black Country. This work will be enhanced by the important geological research and work of the BCGS; together we'll be furthering the messages of geo-conservation; introducing newcomers to geology, poetry and the region's rich history. The Black Country is famous for its role in the Industrial Revolution; its industrial heritage forged unique and important communities and cultures; this, in many ways was connected to the grounds that gave life to these cultures - the fossil rich grounds dating back to the Silurian era. This is where the name comes in. Chain Coral is a now extinct form of colonising coral. Single cells branch off, forming helix, webs or chain patterns, and this species colonised an area that was to become known as the Black Country. These fossil-chained grounds gave rise to the chainmakers, steelers and miners - the chain continues to be an important symbol of the region’s heritage and strong communal / cultural links. Chains run deep in the region’s cultural psyche - they run deep in the deep time soils. My creative work will re-figure our relationship with the local environment; both in its surfaces and depths, the building materials and the forces that create them. This project will consider these issues in an overlooked region, famed for its 'dark satanic mills', considering this in conjunction with conservation, ecology, sustainability, and new ways of experiencing place in the anthropocene. I'll be working with The Black Country Geological Society to engage the public in these new ways of considering poetry and place. As such, alongside the poems I'll be running a series of walks, talks, readings and workshops throughout the year. You can also keep up with my explorations, thoughts and writing by following the regular updates in the BCGS bi-monthly newsletter, which again will consider all these concerns about poetry of place and to celebrate Black Country Geology. I hope you enjoy this blog as the year goes by. I’ll accompany these with poems, videos and photos; each time focusing on a particular site, aspect of geology and / or element of geopoetics. Please get in touch too. If you have anything you want to ask, chat about or contribute to the discussions - I’d love to hear from you. Find out more about the BCGS- https://bcgs.info/pub/ Check out the Black Country Geopark Project - https://blackcountrygeopark.dudley.gov.uk/bcg/ Learn more about the UoW's ERAS Scheme - https://www.wlv.ac.uk/research/the-doctoral-college/early-researcher-award-scheme-eras/ |
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January 2022
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