Gathering Downstream at Quarry Bank

Maja Lorkowska, Exhibitions Editor
Jen Southern

Gathering Downstream at Quarry Bank, Cheshire 7 May — 25 November 2022 Entrance is free — Visit now

*Admission charges apply, National Trust members free.

The former cotton mill of National Trust Quarry Bank is currently home to Gathering Downstream, an exhibition by artist Jen Southern, exploring the site’s legacy of the industrial revolution alongside environmental change and disruption.

Organised as part of Unintended Consequences, a programme of activities in and around Quarry Bank, the exhibition launches a set of events focused on the environment, climate change and the unexpected effects of industrialisation on the surrounding landscape.

Gathering Downstream
Gathering Downstream


Gathering Downstream
is a specially commissioned display, taking inspiration from the movement of water, particularly the local River Bollin which lies at the heart of the estate. The show is composed of Southern’s river-like installation of five films, each focusing on a different part of the local landscape and all produced with the help of machine learning technology. Examining the movement of plants, rocks, people and machines, the artist ‘trained’ the AI with thousands of images from the Quarry Bank estate and archives in order to achieve a sense of symbiosis, an entanglement between that which is natural, human and machine-made so that it can no longer be separated. The resulting videos are mesmerising records of all of these elements fluidly morphing into one another. Visitors can also contribute their own photographs to affect future versions of the films.

 

The artist herself points out that the work is asking: “What can humans and machines learn about the impacts of climate change and ecological emergency from the trees, meadows, moss, rocks and river at Quarry Bank?” With the inseparable connection between us and the natural world made clear, Gathering Downstream emphasises the urgent need to act now if we are to avoid a climate disaster – it isn’t too late to affect our own future either.

Jen Southern is an artist, senior lecturer in Fine Art, and Associate Director at the Centre for Mobilities Research at Lancaster University. Her practice is situated between visual arts and social research with a focus on place and technology. A frequent collaborator, her pieces are informed by conversations with technologists, other artists and members of the public in order to produce live installations combining both material and digital realms, often inviting participants to become co-creators of the work.

Jen Southern

 

In her 2015 piece Searcher, Southern recorded the movements of a search and rescue dog and his handler using a GPS tracker and visualised the results by printing them onto kites, alongside images of the surrounding landscape. The kites were then flown by the audience to encourage them to fully engage with the surroundings, with their focus in the sky and their feet firmly on the ground. Similarly, in Gathering Downstream Southern gives her full attention to the location of Quarry Bank – its history, legacy and significance in considering the effect of industrialisation on the world today – and encourages visitors to do the same, while letting themselves be carried by the flow of the metaphorical river.

Image of woven fabric, part of 'Gathering Downstream' by Jen Southern
Jen Southern

 

Unintended Consequences is designed to inspire visitors to consider what we can do to create a more sustainable future. The programme was commissioned by National Trust Quarry Bank, delivered in partnership with Arts Council England and FutureEverything, an award-winning Manchester-born cultural organisation helping to shape the emergence of digital culture in Europe through events, public art commissions, and cross-sector collaborations. The programme is underpinned by research by The University of Manchester.

Jen Southern

 

Gathering Downstream will be open from 7 May – 25 November 2022, but if you’re planning on visiting in autumn, please keep in mind that from the 31 October Quarry Bank is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. While visiting the show, you’ll also have the pleasure of exploring the surrounding gardens and ancient woodland around the estate.

Gathering Downstream, part of the Unintended Consequences programme is delivered in partnership with Arts Council England, FutureEverything and underpinned by research from The University of Manchester.

Gathering Downstream at Quarry Bank, Cheshire 7 May — 25 November 2022 Entrance is free Visit now

Performances

Date
Time
Session Features
7 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
8 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
9 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
10 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
11 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
12 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
13 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
14 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
15 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
16 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
17 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
18 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
19 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
20 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
21 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
22 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
23 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
24 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
25 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
26 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
27 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
28 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
29 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
30 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
31 May 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
1 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
2 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
3 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
4 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
5 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
6 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
7 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
8 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
9 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
10 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
11 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
12 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
13 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
14 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
15 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
16 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
17 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
18 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
19 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
20 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
21 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
22 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
23 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
24 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
25 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
26 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
27 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
28 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
29 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
30 June 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
1 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
2 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
3 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
4 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
5 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
6 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
7 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
8 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
9 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
10 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
11 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
12 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
13 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
14 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
15 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
16 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
17 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
18 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
19 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
20 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
21 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
22 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
23 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
24 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
25 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
26 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
27 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
28 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
29 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
30 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
31 July 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
1 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
2 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
3 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
4 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
5 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
6 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
7 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
8 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
9 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
10 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
11 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
12 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
13 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
14 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
15 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
16 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
17 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
18 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
19 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
20 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
21 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
22 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
23 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
24 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
25 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
26 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
27 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
28 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
29 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
30 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
31 August 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
1 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
2 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
3 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
4 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
5 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
6 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
7 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
8 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
9 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
10 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
11 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
12 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
13 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
14 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
15 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
16 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
17 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
18 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
19 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
20 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
21 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
22 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
23 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
24 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
25 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
26 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
27 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
28 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
29 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
30 September 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
1 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
2 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
3 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
4 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
5 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
6 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
7 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
8 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
9 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
10 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
11 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
12 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
13 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
14 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
15 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
16 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
17 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
18 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
19 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
20 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
21 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
22 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
23 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
24 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
25 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
26 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
27 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
28 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
29 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
30 October 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
2 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
3 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
4 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
5 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
6 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
9 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
10 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
11 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
12 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
13 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
16 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
17 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
18 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
19 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
20 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
23 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
24 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm
25 November 2022
10:30am — 5:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

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