Our Storeys: Art and Poetry in Health Care

In 2011, a major rebuilding project was completed at North Middlesex University Hospital (NMUH). Artist Sue Ridge and writer and poet John Davies (aka Shedman) were commissioned to create a public artwork using photography, new writing inspired by the hospital, its history and neighbourhood, collaborations with other artists and poets, and through the responses to social engagement questionnaires. Sue and Shedman then created a hybrid artwork incorporating text and image to be displayed on the walls of the new atrium lift lobbies. Our Storeys documents the project, including images from the artwork, critical appreciations, articles and interviews, and - most importantly - the poems that contribute to such a beautiful display. Poetry was the logical inspiration for the project, since the local area of Edmonton and Enfield has strong poetic connections with, amongst others, John Keats, Thomas Hood, Thomas Hardy, Bob Cobbing and Carol Ann Duffy. The poems and excerpts on the walls engage with the local community to create a layering of history, inspiration and experience. The artwork now lives alongside the community that gave rise to it.

Table of Contents:
Forewords; Introduction; You Are Here; These are our storeys; -1; The Chase Begins; A game of catch; Virgil's Bees; Mum!; Codepome; The North Mid A-Z; The Architecture of Caring Places; 0; Edmontosaurus; Keats; Imagine; Interview with Sue Ridge; These Are The Hands; Interview with John Davies; 1; Kwangju; Injury Room; Ariel; Ceramic; Charm; Heartwood; Life Monitor; Weaving art into the heart of a building; 2; The Old North Mid; Angel Road; SEAS; Poems from Blue Rock; Let us; The art of poetry: chasing the hospital community with words; Waiting Areas; Spring; Summer; Autumn; Winter; Profiles; Acknowledgements.

About the Author :
John Davies is a poet, publisher, and master of the flat-pack shed. Born in Birmingham, he's now based in Brighton where he founded Pighog Publishing and has devoted himself to discovering and supporting other poets, and spreading his love of poetry, writing and storytelling through Shedman; his festive alter-ego. Sue Ridge has worked as an artist, an art consultant and a curator in numerous hospital environments. She also teaches as a visiting lecturer of fine art at Chelsea College of Art. She is a member of the executive committees for London Arts in Health and the Public Monuments and Sculpture Association.

Review :
'Our Storeys is a great example of arts in health in practice. It brings to life the voices of staff and patients. Their thoughts and feelings are transposed with sensitivity by artist Sue Ridge and poet John Davies and in doing so the building comes to life.' Damian Hebron.