A Record of Wishful Thinking

For her Windows project Eleanor Meredith invited passers-by to write their wishful thoughts for Archway on one of the shop windows. Answers revealed a vivid and utopian public consciousness - for roads filled with cornflowers, no advertising on red buses, conversations with dead loved ones, superpowers, sunshine, requited love, to be able to fly, classes for everyone - alongside more immediate concerns such as the price of fish. Over a ten day period Eleanor painted a compilation of these wishes onto the main window, photographing as she worked in order to make a stop-frame animation. This was projected back onto the same window for an evening screening.

Watch A Record of Wishful Thinking here

http://www.eleanormeredith.co.uk/

Artists’ notes

18/03/2013
Busy setting up today, ready to start painting on the windows tomorrow. Come and share your wishes.

20/03/2013
Second day of animation, it's been quite physically demanding working on such a large space. The contributions window is nearly full, the ideas include talking to dead loved ones, green spaces, superpowers, weather and unrequited love!

21/03/2013
It was snowing today, not so many people out on Junction Road. The snow is providing a nice change in texture for the back ground of the piece. I was trying to get as much animation movement done as possible today so can start a new scene tomorrow.

22/03/2013
I'm back at the window, I'm starting to resolve the first thought about an abundance of food.

25/03/2013
I was working the space late tonight, great to see how the animation is transformed in the evening. So many friendly and familiar faces that I see each day, I find it encouraging as I am here each day.

26/03/2013
The first day that there has been any sun in this project, I think that this might have help to drive so many requests for sunshine on the window. There are so many fantastic contributions from passers by.

27/03/2013
Thank you Rose Pickles, who helped me paint thousands of spots on the window today. The end seems to be quite dark.

28/03/2013
Animation screening tonight, can't wait, up late editing last night. The film is very fresh!

05/04/2013
My time in 36 Junction Road has been so positive. Thank you to everyone who contributed their wishful ideas. The ideas surprised me, they ranged from personal and playful. The view out the window was a challenge and genuinely exciting as it changed so frequently, and the animation process has been demanding working on this scale. Thank you to those who came along and watched it being screened, it meant a lot, especially the familiar faces that I had been meeting throughout my time throughout the week.