SATURDAY AUGUST 29TH - Publicity

From York Press:

York women take their places on fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, London

9:32am Saturday 29th August 2009

By Richard Catton

VISITORS to London’s Trafalgar Square got to hear about the delights of York when the empty fourth plinth played host to an enthusiastic resident of the city.

Lynn Harper, 67, took to the plinth as part of the ongoing art project by sculptor Antony Gormley, where people are given an hour to perform in front above the crowds of the famous square.

Lynn used her hour of fame on Thursday morning to tuck into a breakfast of Yorkshire produce before telling visitors about all the free things they can experience in York, such as the famous walls, art gallery, parks and the Minster.

The former Minster tour guide said she wanted to be part of an art project and has previously worked with Mr Gormley on a project in Newcastle.

She said: “I decided to spend some time talking about the wonderful things visitors can experience in York for free, as my slot on the plinth comes at a time when people are watching what they spend, and in particular for families, it’s important that they feel they can still enjoy a day out on a budget.

“I think York is a great city to visit and I’m keen to share this with others.”

In all, 2,400 applicants have been randomly selected to stand on the plinth for an hour over the 100-day period, including York dancer Sam Lawrence, who performed Island Time yesterday, at 5pm.

Following their performances, next month will see 60-year-old York resident Rita Leeman take to the plinth on September 26 at 4am. As founder of the York Human Givens Centre, Rita’s hour will be a “celebration of families”, when she will talk about the different “families” in her life, of which York plays a big part.

The two women have appeared with the backing of Visit York, the city’s official tourism body.

Visit York chief executive Gillian Cruddas said: “We’re delighted to be supporting both Lynn and Rita as they take part in this fantastic project, and we’re proud of the fact that both women wanted to talk about York as part of their performance. “This is an excellent example of the modern and creative opportunities we have available to spread the word about what our fabulous city has to offer.”

FRIDAY AUGUST 28TH - Another recce

Back to London from Dorset. I manage another fleeting visit to the plinth.

It's so noisy in the daytime. There's another event going on the in square. Not as big as the FreeRunning one last time, but a collection of acts/mini shows, in front of people in deck chairs. While I'm there, it is a send up of Wimbledon, including the TV music.

I may be wrong, but I've noticed that the online plinth coverage doesn't seem to include pictures of other events going on in the square. You can hear the sounds, but I think it gives a false picture of the plinth in full context. Coverage includes film of the plinth side of the square, but leaves out the other half. Legal reasons maybe?

As a result it is completely impossible to hear the music that the plinther is playing or what he is saying. I was amazed when I watched the film at home, how much the plinth microphones pick up. Plinthers definitely play to two different audiences - in the square and on the internet. I'm going to have to consider that though I will be talking mostly to an internet audience, it's going to be pretty boring for anyone standing below, if they can't hear what I'm saying. (May be boring anyway!)

The different experiences that plinthers have according to the time of day and to a lesser degree the weather, must be very wide. It's started to get gusty today and Trafalgar Square seems designed to hold the swirling wind. I thought outside York Minster was one of the windiest places in the UK, but I can now imagine that it could get very blowy in the square too. If it's this gusty for my hour, I think I may use the pole they offer, for some stability. A plinther earlier in the week took huge boards advertising The Samaritans up with her and they acted as sails. I thought she was going to take off.

I don't mind London at all, probably because I was bought up there and feel at home, but I'm writing this on Saturday, on a train travelling from York to Scarborough and I know which I prefer. Certainly early morning in cities, towns and countryside can have very special qualities, due to the light and lack of people. But this morning (Saturday) the fields, rivers and hills look stunning in the golden, early morning sunlight. The straw bales piled up in the fields make a canvas of the fields. A photographer's dream.

I've always preferred early mornings, so maybe a 4am plinth spot is right. I feel the dawn hour must be special and I just miss that in late September

The plinther, while I'm there is a man called Chris - www.oneandother/participants/LEGO. He is using a children's colouring book. He scrumples up the first picture, an incomplete bear, and throws it to the ground. It lands at my feet. So I'm now the proud owner of a piece of plinth art. When you're famous Chris, let me know please.

Change of artist's costume

I haven't heard anything back from York Water Aid, so leave them a message.

THURSDAY AUGUST 28TH - York

Lynn H was on the plinth this morning. She laid a table full of Yorkshire goodies. Then she proceeded to promote all the free stuff going on in beautiful York. Visit York will be pleased. www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/Lynn_H So that's another of my plinth tasks done!

Adrian was out (of course) when the delivery company came with my recycled prop from Silent Night. He's going to pick it up tomorrow for me. I won't tell him what I'm doing, as I want it all to be a surprise when he's watching with friends in Sydney.

I've checked with National Express and I can put the props in the guards van, when I go down to London. Storing them for up to 48 hours could be interesting.

I'm getting into loss of sleep training, as Richard Bacon is back on Radio 5. 10.30-1pm. Mon-Thurs. Hi followers!

TUESDAY 25TH AUGUST - Props

I was catching up with Monday's plinthers and there it was. A prop I'm using, but one I haven't seen so far. Bother, I thought. But that was silly. The item won't be original, but it will be in a different form and used for a different purpose too.

Meanwhile, I received an e-mail, telling me that " the Hippo and Duck team will be delivering soon..." The other prop I asked for. The one I'm recycling from the plinth two weeks ago. The company have been so helpful, I will definitely be thanking them from the plinth.

Patsy's early Christmas party on the plinth last night was fun - with a lot of support and action from below in the square. She made a relevant point that the plinth appearance is only part of a larger project, that will play its part in the history of London. That's one of the reasons I was attracted to it. Something to leave the grandsons and future generations.

I'm also interested in how history will look back at some of the charity and awareness campaigns being promoted. Will these groups still exist? Will help and money still be required? Will future generations wonder at what was important in the summer of 2009?

I've been reading the One and Other official blog. As I've said, it's all much larger that just one hour on the plinth. A community of plinthers is building. There are a number of plinthers who are going to be in the square at the finish of the project at 9am on October 14th. I will be there too, though I may have written that before.

SUNDAY 23RD AUGUST - Phone call

One and Other telephoned again. This time they reached me.

Actually it was Kate from an agency phone company, working in Oxford. She hasn't seen the plinth yet. Her job is just to check all the details with the prospective plinther and repeat the few rules and regs that are in the booklet. She also asks whether I will have someone with me and my travel arrangements.

Kate tells me that a few people have reported being unwell at the last minute, which is to be expected, but a few have 'bottled it' too. I wonder if those people will regret doing that over the years?

She tells me the next call will be two days before the event.