A UNIQUE ‘soundscape’ capturing all the sounds that make Greenfield special has been premiered in the village by its student creator.
Aby Watson, 22, who is in her final year at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, unveiled her art piece ‘Grinfilt’ to the public over the tannoy system at the village’s Tesco superstore.
The student was tasked to create an art piece that happens outside a theatre space and immediately thought of returning to Greenfield, where she grew up and remains close to.
The project’s name ‘Grinfilt’ comes from the 19th century dialect of Greenfield and Aby said she wanted to share the area’s background with others.
She added: “Greenfield feels very special, unique and important to everyone that lives there. It is a place full of history and heritage, and has a beautiful landscape surrounding it.
“I have always been aware of this, and I have always been aware of the pride of the community in where they live.”
The ‘soundscape’ included recognisable noises unique to Greenfield, such as interviews with Saddleworth Museum’s curator Peter Fox and Parish Council chairman Brian Lord, who spoke about their views on the changing landscape.
Other sounds were layered with the interviews, including noises from mills and Boarshurst Band club playing Whit Friday favourite Slaidburn.
Aby said: “Within the soundscape was also the sound of mill machinery, a sound important to the area’s history and heritage.
“Gledhill Mill in Delph was very helpful and kind in letting me pay a visit to their working mill to record the sounds of the machinery.
“I was interested in what it would mean to place mill sounds in a site where a mill (Wellington Mill) had recently been demolished and whether that resonated with anyone.”
If anyone witnessed the event and would like to pass their thoughts onto Aby she can be contacted via email at grinfiltsounds@gmail.com. She is hoping to create more pieces of theatre and art for the community of Saddleworth in the future.
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