Interactive Edinburgh art projects explore life during pandemic

Two interactive Edinburgh art projects have been launched to explore life and social connections in the time of the coronavirus pandemic.

Flow Lines by Portobello artist Deirdre Macleod will give instructions for members of the public to record themselves performing six scripted movements beside a local body of water.

The movements are based on gestures made by people in Portobello in recent weeks of social distancing and observed by Ms Macleod.

One score and set of instructions for the activity will be published on the Portobello Art Walk Projects website each month for six months, beginning in June.

Ms Macleod will approach people across the city, Scotland and the world asking them to take part and record their responses.

These will also be archived for future performances, with the aim of remembering how people moved while social distancing during the pandemic.

Artist Annie Lord has created another local project to forge virtual connections during the pandemic.

The Neighbouring Orchard will deliver a young apple tree to locals in Portobello, Musselburgh and Craigmillar for them to plant in their personal or community gardens.

The trees are intended to act as a link between socially distant members of the community.

They will be planted in front gardens or shared gardens so as to be visible to members of the community.

It is also hoped that bees and other pollinators will travel between them, forming connections during times of social distancing.

The apple varieties will all have a historic link to the area, and were grown locally in the 19th century.

Locals can apply to receive an apple tree via the Art Walk Projects website.

The trees will be delivered as bare root trees in winter, ready to be planted in February 2020. A small number will be available in large pots for those with paved garden spaces.

Rosy Naylor, producer and founder of Art Walk Projects, said: “We are delighted at the Art Walk to bring together these two new projects which connect to so much of the current mood relating to our sense of neighbourhood and collaboration, wherever we may be, particularly pertinent at these times.

“It is exciting to be able to announce these projects at this time and to still be able to deliver, what we hope to be innovative, contemporary work, at what is such an uncertain time for so many artists and art organisations.”

Both projects are funded by Creative Scotland and the National Lottery Awards for All Fund.