in case you were wandering or wondering

 i'm still playing out @thelrm www.thelrm.org

new website

Dear Friends and fellow loiterers

We finally have a new website - it is very new at the moment and still needs work - but it is live and you can find it at www.thelrm.org

Thrilled to also be able to announce the first details of Loitering With Intent: The Art and Politics of Walking at The Peoples History Museum http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/loitering-with-intent/

The exhibition opens 23rd July - 14th October.

There will be a full programme of walks, talks, films and more with details to be revealed soon but here are the first three. I am especially pleased as they they feature long term Loitering Inspirations Phil Smith and Robert Douglas Dickinson Please note although these are free events booking is necessary.

Here are the first events:

Manchester Area Psychogeographic: Levitation, Explosions, Exposures

2-4pm Sunday 24rd July 2016

Bob Dickinson, co-founder of Manchester Area Psychogeographic (MAP) talks about the history of Manchester’s first known psychogeographic group. For the first time in 20 years he will show slides taken during MAP’s derives and interventions. These include images taken during their examination of the site of the IRA bomb in Manchester soon after the explosion.

Suitable for all ages but space is limited.

More details and free tickets available here: http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/manchester-area-psychogeographic/

What is Psychogeography? Talk and gallery tour

2-4pm Sunday 14th August 2016

This talk and gallery tour will explore what psychogeography is and how wandering can be an artistic or political act. It maps walks from Paris 1968 to contemporary Manchester with deviations to discuss poets, punks, mystics and everyone who fought for our right to roam.

Suitable for all ages but space is limited.

More details and free tickets are available here: http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/what-is-psychogeography/

Walking, Touching, Lying with Mythogeography

2-4pm Saturday 27th August 2016

Walking, Touching, Lying. Phil Smith will lead an exploration of the wounds, scars, infections, clues and symbols in the texture of the city’s surfaces. The walk will explore different viewpoint levels, how the surface can ripple and trip, and in what particular gutters to look for dust from Mars.

Suitable for all ages but space is limited. Booking necessary

More details and tickers here: http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/walking-touching-lying-2/

Loitering at Manchester Histories Festival

Manchester Histories Festival is nearly here and I am thrilled to be involved again.

First Sunday in June coincided with the festival so we will be going for a walk which explores the histories of walking in Manchester. Details are here: http://metaloiter.eventbrite.co.uk

Unfortunatly tickets have to be limited for logistical reasons, I hope you can understand. However First Sunday is for everyone so there will be a concurrent derive – details to be announced soon (and of course all LRM walks are free).

I’m also facilitating a couple of other wanders for the festival. Theres something in the water! Is the latest in an ongoing of explorations of how water has shaped Manchester and is a collaboration with Steve Millington. Details here:   http://something-in-the-water.eventbrite.co.uk

More about the other projects soon, I just wanted to make sure Loiterers knew about those with a psychogeographical angle before they filled up as Histories Festival events are always very popular.

The full programme is online here: http://www.manchesterhistoriesfestival.org.uk/whatson/

With loitering love

Morag x

Women Walking Manchester: My Phd Research, please help

Hello everyone, I am currently in the middle of my PhD research and would love to find more participants. Your help would be much appreciated

Creative Walking and Women in Manchester: Seeking Participants

I am a PhD student at The University of Sheffield. My current research is exploring walking and women’s feelings, thoughts and experiences of public space and the urban environment in Manchester. I am conducting one-to-one walking interviews in Manchester city centre with women who live, work and/or study in the city. The pace, direction and subject of the interviews are set by the participants. My definition of walking includes sticks, wheels and any other mobility aids and all women over 18 are welcome.

Interviews are scheduled to take place between 14th April – 30th June. If possible I would like to start in Piccadilly Gardens some time between 12noon-2pm but the time and location can be flexible according to your needs and interests. If you would prefer to sit down and chat that can also be arranged. Interviews last between 45-60 minutes and the direction they take is up to you. There will be group walks using creative methods later in the year. (There is no obligation to take part in the second stage but all participants will be welcome to do so). This research has been approved by the ethics committee at The University of Sheffield.

For more information or to arrange an interview please email mltrose1@sheffield.ac.uk or call me on 07974929589

THANKS so much to those who have already walked and talked with me,  it has been very inspiring and interesting and every conversation is much appreciated. Please also do pass this on to anyone else who may be interested

I hope to walk and talk with you soon

Best wishes
Morag

May Day and Other Adventures

Hello dear friends and fellow loiterers

It;s First Sunday, This Sunday and it also happens to be May Day. Due to many loiterers having other commitments, and also because I've had a few requests for a night time derive, we are shifting meeting times for this month only. We will be gathering 8.30pm on Tuesday 3rd May at the main entrance to Piccadilly  Railway Station for a nocturnal wander. We'll end about 10pm with a drink and a blether somewhere. We will be back to having First Sunday on a First Sunday again in June.

There are also various events of interest in Manchester this week:

The excellent 4x4 discussions are back and this time they are focusing on Big Questions (I'm on the money panel this Wednesday 4th May) http://www.4x4manchester,com/

Manchester Left Writers Launchpad Project The Powerhouse Liberation Movement opens on Thursday 5th https://facebook.cm/events/1701004300151855/

The Holden Gallery have an exhibition on landscape with some free film screenings http://holden-gallery.mmu.ac.uk/2016/-scape/

Later this month we will be sharing details of our exhibition at The Peoples History Museum, called Loitering With Intent: The Art and Politics of Walking. It opens on July 23rd and includes a programme of events so psychogeography can blossom all over the streets this Summer

Hope to see you soon

Love
Morag

PS apologies for the illegibility of last blog post, dont know what happened but suspect its related to the new website coming soon

First Sunday and Other Adventures

Hello dear friends and fellow loiterers

Its First Sunday, This Sunday and it also happens to be May Day. Due to many loiterers having other commitments, and also because I’ve had a few requests for a night time derive, we are shifting meeting times slightly. We will be gathering 8.30pm on Tuesday 3^rd May at the main entrance to Piccadilly Railway Station for a nocturnal wander. We’ll end about 10pm with a drink and a blether somewhere. We will be back to having First Sunday on a First Sunday again in June.

There are also various events of interest in Manchester this week:

The excellent 4x4 discussions are back and this time focusing on Big Questions (I’m on the Money panel this Wednesday 4^th) http://www.4x4manchester.com/

Manchester Left Writers Launchpad Project The Powerhouse Liberation Movement opens on Thursday 5^th https://www.facebook.com/events/1701004300151855/

The Holden Gallery have an exhibition on landscape with some free film screenings http://www.holdengallery.mmu.ac.uk/2016/-scape/

Later this month we will be sharing details of our exhibition at The Peoples History Museum, called Loitering With Intent: The Art and Politics of Walking it includes a programme of events so psychogeography can blossom all over the streets this summer.

Hope to see you soon

Cheers

Morag x

April 2016

It's First Sunday, this Sunday

We have a departure from the derive with a special wander exploring the right to roam. Don Lee of the Open Spaces Society is working and walking with me on a tour of contested paths and sites in Manchester. Some of you know Don and how much excellent work he has done over the years and I am so excited that he is sharing his knowledge and experience. The route is somewhat experimental at the moment as this is also a recce mission for later in the year. We will be starting 10am Sunday April 3rd (note the earlier time) on the steps of Manchester Town Hall. All loiterers welcome. The final tour will be one of the special events to be held during Loitering With Intent: The Art and Politics of Walking, an exhibition The LRM are organising at The Peoples History Museum. It opens July 23rd; more details soon.

Hello

The LRM (Loiterers Resistance Movement) is a Manchester based collective of artists and activists interested in psychogeography, public space and the hidden stories of the city.

We can’t agree on what psychogeography means but we all like plants growing out of the side of buildings, looking at things from new angles, radical history, drinking tea and getting lost; having fun and feeling like a tourist in your home town. Gentrification, advertising and blandness make us sad. We believe there is magick in the mancunian rain.


Our city is wonderful and made for more than shopping. We want to reclaim it for play and revolutionary fun….


The LRM embark on psychogeographical drifts to decode the palimpsest of the streets, uncover hidden histories and discover the extraordinary in the mundane. We aim to nurture an awareness of everday space, (re)engaging with and (re)enchanting the city.


On the first Sunday of every month we go for a wander of some sort and we also organise occasional festivals, exhibitions, shows, spectacles, silliness and other random shenanigans. Please come and join us; everyone is welcome.

Please accept our apologies for the rather shabby nature of the blog at the moment; I am in the process of making it lovelier but I keep getting distracted, I'd so much rather be on the street than staring at a screen. I promise it will be sorted soon. In the meantime if you fancy a blether or a beer or just want to find out about what loitering can do for you please get in touch:

Email loiter@hepzombie.co.uk
Twitter @thelrm
Facebook group the loiterers resistance movement

We hope to see you playing out with us soon xx

March First Sunday

Hello dear Loiterers

Its First Sunday this Sunday and so time to loiter. We'll be meeting at 2pm in PIccadilly Gardens (near the Queen Victoria statue) on 6th March. Because its mothers day, and we are in the midst of the wonder women festival we we will be exploring gender, rules, roles and rebellion and how they are reflected, created, restricted and performed in the environment. Our wander will be fluid, participatory and open to anyone, of all genders and none, who wants to join in. There will probably be swearing, possibly frank discussion of bodies and doubtless minor epiphanies in convivial company

I do also bring news of two more walks which may be of interest the following week.

Don Lee of the Open Spaces Society is working and walking with me on a tour of contested paths and sites in Manchester. Some of you know Don and how much excellent work he has done over the years and I am so excited that he is sharing his knowledge and experience. Don and I will be practising the tour on Saturday March 12, starting 10am (location tbc, it will be central Manchester, please let me know if you want to come and we can let you know details). The tour will be one of several events during Loitering With Intent: The Art and Politics of Walking, an exhibition The LRM are organising at The Peoples History Museum. It opens July 23rd; more details soon.

We also have an invitation from the NW C20th Society for anyone interested in twentieth century buildings. "Last year we held our first semi-planned sortie trip as a mooch round Stafford. This year we are going closer to home, in Oldham on Saturday 12 March. We meet at 10.30 by the town centre exit of Oldham Central Metrolink station. This station is served by the G, H and I trams. After this we shall have a visit round the Queen Elizabeth Hall of 1977, with its wonderfully intact interior (little open these days), as part of the Oldham Beer Festival, where we can enjoy some lovely modernist architecture with some real ale. Also included, we shall visit Gallery Oldham with its current exhibition, Sculpting Stories, We will also look at the Civic Centre, former Magistrates Court- St Mary’s Church (if we can get in) and whatever else we discover- this is an expedition more than a tour. No need to RSVP or book a place. Free of charge, just turn up at the right time and place."

if you are on twitter there are frequent updates @thelrm and I hope to see you on the streets soon

love
Morag
PS thinking about the subject of this months derive I recommend looking at Manchester Womens Design Group.

February First Sunday

It’s First Sunday this Sunday and we’ll be gathering outside urbis (I believe that’s still the name of the building anyway) at 2pm on Sunday 7^th February for some kind of game that wont be related to football. If anyone has any suggestions for future meeting places or wanders do please get in touch. Friends at the womens design group have suggested possibly doing something in March as first Sunday then will be Mothers day and very near international womens day. Ideas would be very welcome

First First Sunday of 2016

It's First Sunday this Sunday - and January's loiter is usually very special as we shake off the festive cobwebs and and get aquainted with the new year. Please come and join us for a psychogeographical wander.  We will be meeting 12noon Sunday 3rd at The Britons Protection Great Bridgewater Street  We'll be playing out by 12.15 all welcome

december news

Greetings dear friends and fellow loiterers

as you know Decembers group loiter was thwarted by the elements and the vagaries of public transport; although this is frustrating it is also a helpful reminder that the derive is not just for First Sundays. A psychogeographical adventure can be embarked on anywhere at any time, on your own or with companions. We went for a wander in glorious Glasgow using this method, as suggested by John Hawes

"A game of two dice. The red one determines direction, odds go left and evens go right. The white one determines distance, odds for one block and evens for two. If the red chance alternates between odd and even and the white all even you can quickly end up a long way from your start point. If red is all odd or even and white all odd you will just go round the block.This worked well in Glasgow's grid system and, miraculously, ended up in a pub."

Some of the very first LRM events were on solstices so it would be lovely if anyone wanted to try this today in your own way; i'll start dice throwing at around 5pm in a busy shopping centre I think. Any field reports would be very welcome.

First Sunday will be back on January 3rd, time and place tbc but its a great way to start the year. 2016 promises to be a very special one for The LRM as we celebrate our 10th birthday with our exhibition at The Peoples History Museum. Interest in this has been overwhelming and the panel are going to have to make some tough choices - but it will be wonderful I'm sure. Thanks everyone for your ideas and support.

I hope to see you on the streets soon, in the meantime my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has loitered, inspired, argued and engaged with The LRM this year. I wish everyone luck, love and joyful ramblings whatever this season means to you

M xx

December loiter change

Hello everyone
Huge apologies - today's loiter is going to be postponed (first time in ten years!) I spent the weekend in Glasgow and the floods have led to travel issues which mean I won't be in Manchester in time. Sorry for any inconvenience caused, will update re replacement soon xx

Decembers Derive

Dear friends and fellow loiterers

Ahoy there dear friends and loiterers,

its first Sunday this Sunday, but its going to be a time shifting loiter. This is due to other commitments and the deadline for applications for our Peoples History Museum exhibition* being on Monday December 7th. Therefore we will be gathering on Tuesday December 8th, 6pm at The Britons Protection, Great Bridgewater Street. All welcome for a celebratory Wintery derive. Be lovely to see you

best wishes and happy wanders

Morag

*A quick reminder for anyone interested in participating in our exhibition at The Peoples History Museum next year. The deadline for applications is next week – Monday December 7^th. Thanks so much to everyone who has been in touch so far. A panel will be making decisions about applications, but I think it’s safe to say its going to be a very special show.

Guidelines and an application form for Loitering With Intent can be found in the files section of our facebook group, or more details are here: http://nowhere-fest.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/the-lrm-at-peoples-history-museum-call.html

phm exhibition final call

Dear friends and fellow loiterers
A quick reminder for anyone interested in participating in our exhibition at The Peoples History Museum next year. The deadline for applications is next week – Monday December 7th.
Thanks so much to everyone who has been in touch so far. A panel will be making decisions about applications, but I think it’s safe to say its going to be a very special show. To celebrate the deadline Decembers First Sunday is going to shift to an evening next we...ek – more details tomorrow.

Guidelines and an application form for Loitering With Intent can be found in the files section, or more details are here: http://nowhere-fest.blogspot.co.uk/…/the-lrm-at-peoples-his… you can also get in touch by email: loitering2016@gmail.com
Best wishes
Morag

November News

First Sunday, this Sunday, and The LRM will be gathering 2pm outside the Crown and Kettle Oldham Road (top of Oldham Street). We'll be exploring the rapidly changing Ancoats environment using some sort of a game - much more DIY ramshackle fun than last months performance tour! All welcome.


On Friday I am also organising a gig, this isn't psychogeographical but I put on occasional gigs for bands I really love and it would be splendid to see lots of loiterers there for Case Hardin with Quiet Loner and Steve Roberts (Quiet Loner joined us on the streets for our We Shall Overcome wander) more details and tickets here: tinyurl.com/pw64xoe 


PS The call for participation in our forthcoming exhibition / festival at The Peoples History Museum is open until 7th December and more than happy to discuss ideas with anyone interested

New adventures in music

time for a night of wonderful music, brilliant storytelling and all around good times. Not psychogeography but I hope you will forgive me - I only put on bands I really, truly love and there wont be another gig organised by me for ages now - so please, do try and come to see Case Hardin on Friday 30th October at The Britons Protection. Tickets here: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/332281

First Sunday This Sunday

Hi everyone,

FIRST SUNDAY THIS SUNDAY and as mentioned its going to be a bit special. We are dedicating our walks to 'WE SHALL OVERCOME' WEEKEND OCT 2/3/4 2015​ and will be sharing stories of public/private space, radical history, community resistance and more

Join us 2pm Wilmslow Railway Station on Saturday
10am Outside the People's History Museum with special music accompaniment from Quiet Loner​ and Steve Durrant

Please bring donations to the walks for FoodFriend (local food bank in Wilmslow) and The Booth Centre (Manchester) http://www.boothcentre.org.uk/  We have also been given some rather nice badges and suchlike to sell

More details of the Peoples History Museum Call Out

Hello everyone
I’m thrilled by how much interest there has been in our call for contributors to our People’s History Museum exhibition next year (the guidelines are pinned above if anyone missed them).

I know lots of loiterers have taken some wonderful photographs of First Sunday dérives over the years and we want to include some of them in the exhibition (we will cover printing costs of digital photos). Please watch out for more details, and in the meantime think about which pictures you would like to share.

There have been a few FAQs so thought I’d answer them here as well in case they are useful to anyone else

We said we want “original” artwork and perhaps we should have said contemporary, as it does not have to be created just for the exhibition, although it can be. To clarify it should be your own original work and relevant to the exhibition themes. If it has been shown / published before that is OK, if it has never been seen by anyone before that is also OK.

Everyone has to fill out an application form because we feel that is the fairest and easiest way to assess entries.  I hope you understand that we can not let friends sneak in as that wouldn’t be right. We want to encourage as many applications as possible and to be transparent in how we deal with them.

If anything in the guidelines is unclear, or you would like to discuss a particular idea do please get in touch with the curatorial team  (loitering2016@gmail.com) or we can have a chat on either of the walks we are organising this weekend for We Shall Overcome (2pm Wilmslow Station on Saturday, 10am Peoples History Museum Manchester on Sunday)

Please do get applications in before the deadline – 7th December - and I'll post details of the First Sunday photo call out very soon

Cheers and thanks as ever for your support

Morag

The LRM at The People's History Museum: Call for Contributions

Loitering With Intent (working title)
Call for Submissions

We are delighted that between July-September 2016 The LRM (Loiterers Resistance Movement) will be curating an exhibition in the community gallery of The People’s History Museum. We want its content to be exciting, inspiring and diverse, reflecting the nature of psychogeography, and so we are inviting applications from anyone who wishes to take part.

We are looking for original art work and archive material that explores any of these themes:

O  Psychogeography (however you choose to define it)

O  Creative walking, walking art and walking as a cultural or political practice

O  Public / private space and the right to the city

O  DIY, creative, activist and other interesting maps and map making

O  The LRM (Loiterers Resistance Movement) and our events

O  Radical, emotional and hidden histories, especially of or linked to Manchester

O  The Situationist International and their legacy

O  Critical geographical responses to urban issues and inequalities such as surveillance, gentrification, homogenisation etc.

Any kind of art or artefact is welcome – photos, prints, painting, drawing, film, audio, sculpture etc. We also have some capacity to include events, performances and walks etc. There will be an accompanying blog and possibly other literature so we welcome writers who wish to contribute as well.  We are very open to new ideas so please do get in touch.

Things to consider:

The Peoples History Museum is family friendly and all work must be suitable for a wide audience. There are also some logistical restrictions due to the nature of the space, more information about this will be provided where relevant.

The majority of the material in the exhibition will be focused on Greater Manchester and the North West but we hope to include some work from farther afield.

You do not have to be a professional artist, and applications from groups / collectives are also welcome.

Previous involvement with The LRM isn’t essential, but we envisage the majority of work featured will have some link, however tenuous. This can include attending, or reacting to, any of our walks or other events or contributing to an online conversation via facebook or twitter.

The LRM is a not-for-profit collective and everyone gives their time for free so we are unable to pay anyone to exhibit. However, we don’t want anyone to be out of pocket or unable to contribute because of expenses so if you need any resources to participate (eg transporting work to the exhibition or to meet access requirements) please let us know and we will do our best to help. We currently have a small budget from previous fundraising and will actively seek more if necessary. Please don’t spend any money on this application without checking with us first.

Please be aware we have limited space so decisions will be made by a panel. We will consider the quality, intent, originally and relevance of every application as well as how it fits within the overall exhibition. We will let applicants know our decision as soon as possible after the closing date.

Background Information

The LRM (Loiterers Resistance Movement) is a Manchester based collective of artists and activists interested in psychogeography, public space and the hidden stories of the city. Formed in 2006 we still can’t agree on what psychogeography means but we all like plants growing out of the side of buildings, looking at things from new angles, radical history, drinking tea and getting lost. We believe there is magick in the Mancunian rain. Our city is wonderful and made for more than shopping. We want to reclaim it for play and revolutionary fun…. On the first Sunday of every month we go for a wander of some sort. These derives, or drifts, help decode the palimpsest of the streets, uncover power structures and discover the extraordinary in the mundane. We also organise occasional festivals, exhibitions and other random shenanigans. These have included building cake maps, playing CCTV bingo, tracing lost rivers and collaborating on projects like Manchester’s Modernist Heroines. Our events are always free and open to everyone.

The People’s History Museum in Manchester is the national museum of democracy.  They aim to engage, inspire and inform diverse audiences by showing ‘There have always been ideas worth fighting for’. This exhibition will take place in The Engine Hall.

How to apply

To apply please complete the pro forma – do not send us your work. You can download the form from http://tinyurl.com/q4dko4m  or you can email loitering2016@gmail.com

The email address to send applications to is loitering2016@gmail.com
The deadline for receipt of applications is noon on Monday 7^th December 2015

For more information

contact Morag Rose  
Email loitering2016@gmail.com  tweet @thelrm or call 07974929589