About
Artists: Freee, Dean Kenning, Annie Whiles, Nicholas Cobb, Freddie Robins, Jay Cloth, Mark Wayman and Gayle Chong Kwan have been invited to make work in response to innovative social health project The Peckham Experiment. With Jonathan Bishop and Ellie Harrison.
The Peckham Experiment was a groundbreaking health centre focussing on wellness rather than the later NHS disease model. It existed from 1926 -1950, founded by George Scott Williamson and Innes Hope Pierce. Central to their philosophy was a belief that if left to themselves people would spontaneously begin to organise in a creative way. Research findings included âwhen people are given resources in a community to enable them to grow they will be active in their community for the benefit of that community'. The Peckham Experiment was based in The Pioneer Health Centre, a custom built modernist building which has since been sold as luxury apartments. It was organised as a club that families joined, with dances, swimming pool, library and farm grown food.
Work in the exhibition will include Mark Wayman's performance outside of the former Pioneer Health Centre, Freee's revolutionary banner attached to the outside of Camberwell College of Arts and Gayle Chong Kwan's work based on methodologies of data collection and analysis used in the Pioneer Health Centre, drawing on myths and histories of the area associated with the senses.
1 October 2009, 6 8.30pm
The Peckham Experiment launch event at Camberwell Space with The Strawberry Thieves Socialist Choir. Camberwell Space, Camberwell College of Arts, Peckham Road, SE5 8UF
9 October 2009, 6.30 8.30pm
The Peckham Experiment Nicholas Cobb opening at Space Station Sixty-Five with Ellie Harrison's 'Vending Machine'. Space Station Sixty-Five, 65 North Cross Road, SE22 9ET
14 October 2009, 6.30pm 8.30pm (booking required)
The Peckham Experiment book group to read 'Macroscope' by Piers Anthony. At Review, 131 Bellenden Road, Peckham, SE15 4QY; booking info@spacestationsixtyfive.com
23 October 2009, 6.30pm
Freee's spoken choir at Camberwell Space
24 October 2009, 11am 3pm
The Peckham Experiment Symposium, with artist's panel, Pioneer Health Foundation, Kit Poulson and others to be announced, at Camberwell College of Arts, Wilson Road, SE5 8LU
1 & 7 November 2009, 3pm
Mark Wayman performance, beginning and finishing outside the former Pioneer Health Centre, St. Mary's Road, Peckham SE15
