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The Documentary Sculpture Project
Milton Keynes Village - 1986-1989
In 1986 I started a project to represent the character
of a village in bronze. These are extracts from the report submitted
to the funding bodies that supported the initial costs
 I
started by adopting the methodology used by documentary filmmakers
and writers, I visited and talked to people in the community. I
wasn't interested in writing up the experience but it was apparent
as I worked that I was being given insights, and told stories, that
would be shame not to be able to share, either as source material
for other projects or just as a record of part of the oral history
of the village.
So I bought a video camera and set it up in a corner
of the room in the hope of catching not only some of the narrative,
but also the mannerisms and some of the personality of the individuals
involved as well. The videos were returned to the village as the
basis of a village archive and as source material for a Son et Luminaire
project.
I learnt a lot about the history of the village
that had given its name to the New Town threatening on the horizon.
The break up of the farming communities and families unable to afford
the rising costs of homes, the price and movement of land, the change
in the social and religous customs, and the changing heirarchy of
village structure.
Milton Keynes Village, Buckingham
This is a typical English village with modern housing sitting beside
the thatched earlier dwellings. Its behind the facade that the real
village exists and it was obvious where to start.
The Swans  This
was exciting, a fully equipped village workshop capable of doing
anything from pig skinning to coffin-making, lumber conversion to
car maintenance. The two brothers who had been the hub all things
technical and practical, were part of a family also involved in
the life of the church and the pub. Unfortunately they had just
died and the estate was being broken up and sold prior to the aquisition
of the land by the Development Corporation.  Their
home, the centre of village life for several generations, was the
oldest dwelling in Milton Keynes and its cruck timber construction,
having stood for over 600 years has now been converted into a 'desirable'
and expensive residence. The Barn, also a listed building but not
marketable, was allowed to fall into ruin
Community Memories
I was keen to hear the stories of village life as it had been before
the car and TV. I was enthralled by the characters that skulked
in peoples memories, I shared their enjoyment in remembering past
events and relived with them the hard times and the good times.
Success or sadness, mirth or mundanity, the memories all came floating
back and I was the lucky recipient. I merely had to knock on a door
and ask a few questions to be invited in like a guest and be treated
to wonderful stories. My only regret was not being able to stay
with the people longer, or get back to see them again, and again.
The Result
I enjoyed every minute of the work, visiting people, listening,
laughing, talking, exploring, explaining and finally creating. I
didn't know what I would or could make when I started, and I am
deeply grateful to all those who gave so freely of their time and
enthusiasm to help me discover it.
The following brief description was not worked out in sections as
it appears here. I did not divide the community, their philosophy,
work practices, or associations into groups. I just made a sculpture
which encapsulated all I knew and had learnt about the village.
It was only 18 months after having made the work that I was able
to offer this suggestion as to what each section might represent
or mean for the benefit of those who will never see it.
The Maquette, which stands about 20cms high and
some of the early exploratory portraits are housed in St Michaels
Church Milton Keynes Village.
The top section resembles a cross, but only from one view point.
From all other points the sweeping curves echo and enclose the shapes
that support it.
 The
Central Section extends right through the whole sculpture touching
all section and piercing the ground. This could be the spiritual
core of the community touching all aspects of life both private
and public.
 The
many facets of the community, the different groups, ages, interests
and hobbies the wealth and variety of which surround the spiritual
section.
 A
low level spanning section providing two support points and symbolising
the strength and permanence of the earth, the sustenance from the
soil, the growth from small beginnings.
 This
solid structural base section probably weighing about half a ton
has a highly polished facet that would be from 2 to 6 feet from
the ground and at a 60 degree angle. This could be representative
of a growing 
independance and wealth in the community. The above two sections
lock together to provide a cupped support with five points to support
and enclose the upper sections. I estimate the total weight would
have been nearly 2 tons but because of the interlocked and enclosed
forms would have appeared very light.
The documentary Sculpture Project wishes to acknowledge the help,
support and assitance of Buckinghamshire Arts Association, Milton
Keynes Development Corporation, The Open University, Milton Keynes
Village Parish Council, The Living Archive Project, and all the
friends and supporters in the village of Milton Keynes.
October 1995
      
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We are often
able to 'sum
up' a place as
we drive
through it in a
car. This uses
the same
recognitive,
analytic and
predictive
skills we have
developed for
dealing with
our own inter-
personal
relationships.
These are so
highly
developed we
can recognise
a friend
passing in a
car at a
distance of 20
or 30 feet.
So I wanted to try
and make something
that not only
captured the spirit of
the place but was
relevant to, and
formed part of
peoples lives,
something that grew
from within the
community.
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