Sunday 20 December (2)

A closed round table discussion about Play is being organised to take place at South London Gallery in January, participants to include artists and playworkers, Gallery staff, and Tim Gill.

I have been asked to devise some games / instructions as part of this event.

Sunday 20 December (2)

PLAY |plā|

VERB

1 [intrans.] engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose: the children were playing outside / her friends were playing with their dolls.

• [trans.] engage in (a game or activity) for enjoyment: I want to play Monopoly.
• amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretense: the boys were playing cops and robbers.
• (play at) engage in without proper seriousness or understanding: you cannot play at being a Christian.
• (play with) treat inconsiderately for one's own amusement: she likes to play with people's emotions.
• (play with) handle without skill so as to damage or prevent from working: has somebody been playing with the thermostat?

2 [trans.] take part in (a sport) on a regular basis: I play softball and tennis.

• participate in (an athletic match or contest): the Red Sox will play two games on Wednesday.
• compete against (another player or team) in an athletic match or contest: the team will play France on Wednesday.
• [intrans.] [usu. with negative] figurative be cooperative: he needs financial backing, but the bank won't play.
• [intrans.] be part of a team, esp. in a specified position, in a game: he played shortstop.
• strike (a ball) or execute (a stroke) in a game.
• assign to take part in an athletic contest, esp. in a specified position: the manager will want to play the right-handed Curtis.
• move (a piece) or display (a playing card) in one's turn in a game: he played his queen.
• bet or gamble at or on: he didn't play the ponies.

3 [trans.] represent (a character) in a theatrical performance or on film: she played Ophelia.

• [intrans.] perform in a theatrical production or on film: he was proud to be playing opposite a famous actor.
• put on or take part in (a theatrical performance or concert): the show was one of the best we ever played.
• give a dramatic performance at (a particular theater or place).
• behave as though one were (a specified type of person): the skipper played the innocent, but smuggled goods were found on his vessel.
• (play someone for) treat someone as being of (a specified type): don't imagine you can play me for a fool.
• (play a trick / joke on) behave in a deceptive or teasing way toward.

4 [trans.] perform on (a musical instrument): we heard someone playing a harmonica | [intrans.] a pianist who will play for us.

• possess the skill of performing upon (a musical instrument): he taught himself to play the violin.
• produce (notes) from a musical instrument; perform (a piece of music): they played a violin sonata.
• make (an audiotape, CD, radio, etc.) produce sounds.
• [intrans.] (of a musical instrument, audiotape, CD, radio, etc.) produce sounds: somewhere within, a harp was playing.
• [trans.] accompany (someone) with music as they are moving in a specified direction: the bagpipes played them out of the dining room.

5 [intrans.] move lightly and quickly, so as to appear and disappear; flicker: a smile played about her lips.

• (of a fountain or similar source of water) emit a stream of gently moving water.
6 [trans.] allow (a fish) to exhaust itself pulling against a line before reeling it in.

NOUN

1 activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, esp. by children: a child at play may use a stick as an airplane.

• behavior or speech that is not intended seriously: I flinched, but only in play.
• [as adj.] designed to be used in games of pretense; not real: play families are arranged in play houses.

2 the conducting of an athletic match or contest: rain interrupted the second day's play.

• the action or manner of engaging in a sport or game: he maintained the same rhythm of play throughout the game.
• the status of the ball in a game as being available to be played according to the rules: the ball was put in play.
• figurative the state of being active, operative, or effective: luck comes into play.
• a move or maneuver in a sport or game: the best play is to lead the 3 of clubs.• archaic gambling.
3 a dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast: the actors put on a new play.

4 the space in or through which a mechanism can or does move: the steering rack was loose, and there was a little play.

• figurative scope or freedom to act or operate: our policy allows the market to have freer play.
• light and constantly changing movement: the artist exploits the play of light across the surface.

PHRASES

make a play formake (great) play of not playing with a full deckplay ball play both ends against the middleplay something by earplay it by earplay by the rulesplay one's cards close to one's chestplay one's cards rightplay ducks and drakesplay fairplay someone falseplay fast and looseplay the fieldplay for timeplay the gameplay Godplay havoc withplay hellplay hookeyplay into someone's handsplay it coolplay the marketa play on wordsplay it safeplay to the galleryplay truantplay with oneselfplay with fire

PHRASAL VERBS

play around play alongplay someone alongplay something downplay someone offplay offplay onplay something outplay something upplay up to

DERIVATIVES

playabilityplayableORIGIN Old English pleg(i)an [to exercise,] plega [brisk movement,] related to Middle Dutch pleien ‘leap for joy, dance.'

Sunday 20 December (3)

An email from Joanna McCormick, a follower of the blog:

Just caught up with your blog and found the thing about choice very interesting.

As a parent the choices are simple but confusing - to wash up or interact with your child through play.

There is also something about messiness as well and I've talked to Caroline about this, how one is constantly tidying up to try and keep on top of things and how this must feel to a child - that they are constantly being tidied away, maybe emotionally as well. I think an element of messiness is really important in play, I was playing catch on the kitchen floor with my two children earlier today, which turned into a game of fork tennis because the discarded cutlery from a meal earlier was still lying around on the floor.

Sunday 20 December (4)

So ... the last day of my residency, and the children's Christmas party, and staff party at Charlie Chaplin.

As I arrived one of the children, who had previously written stories with me, asked for some paper to write some more. During the morning she wrote:

The Party At The Queens Hotel

Forgetful Harry

and

Hair

The theme / dress code of the day was HAIR, so lots of wigs, adornments, and also shaved heads.

I spent the morning in the kitchen with several staff preparing food for the children's party, and for the staff Turkey Dinner in the evening. Whilst chopping onions and peppers I had a great conversation with one of the playworkers about comedy film and radio. In particular, the black and white films of Will Hay, and Peter Sellers, radio shows Round The Horne, and Hancock's Half Hour, and her particular favourites Flanders and Swann, and mine, Spike Milligan.

Later on, whilst outside, I heard some shouting, and ran over to the football area where two young men were squaring up for a fight.

I managed to separate them, sending one away, and restraining the other, who was very very angry - this, I admit took some effort. Eventually, he calmed down a little, and we made our way to the central area - I wanted staff to now deal with the situation - and two playworkers 'took over'.

The young man didn't want to talk about what had happened, he was now enraged and struggled to get away, saying he wanted to thump the other boy.

The playworkers wanted him to explain what had happened, so they could start to sort out the situation, and said how his behaviour was not helping them to do this.

I spoke to the other young man, who, by now was standing nearby. He said that in getting a football, which had gone behind the goal, there had been a bit of mutual pushing and shoving, that he had pushed the other boy, who had fallen on a bike, hurting himself (he hadn't intended this), and that he was sorry.

Later, they explained that the young man often got very angry, and that his level of anger often seemed to be disproportionate to the situation he was reacting too.

I reported what the other boy had said, also what I had seen, and since there was no reason for me to remain, I returned inside as the party was beginning.

A short while later, the young man joined the party, the matter now having been dealt with.

Of Course (DJ) Father Christmas made his apperance

handing out presents to every child at the party (each one receiving a present carefully chosen for him, or her).

Pass The Parcel was played, a Best Dancer competition was held, and the mountains of food rapidly enjoyed.

Towards the end of the afternoon the children departed, tables were laid out (lengths of greengrocers grass served as an impromptu table cloth - Le Dejeuner Sur L'Herbe), and the staff party began.

The food was beautiful.

Taking a break outside a final and chilly game of football was played with several playworkers and the children of staff.

I left, early in the evening, saying goodbye to staff wishing everyone a Happy Christmas.

Thursday 17 December

Just a small thought about play . . . for me, its something about choice . . .

This comment arrived earlier in the week, emailed by Caroline, who has been following this blog. Her comment reminded me of a conversation I had with one of the play workers several weeks ago - nearby was a young man, with profound autism, who was repeatedly making rocking movements with his arms. I asked the playworker if he thought the young man was playing - we had been talking about 'solitary play' as opposed to 'playing with others'. The playworker (who knew the young man well) said he thought not, rather, it was only a repeated movement. For this young man, he thought that he was playing when he CHOSE to make contact with others, which often did, that PLAY was a self chosen activity, not a reflex activity.

Yesterday morning when it was snowing, I wanted it to snow for longer so that the playground would be covered in white when I arrived later in the afternoon, but only very small patches of snow were on the ground when I got there.

On Saturday, the last day of my residency, there is the big Christmas Party for the children, followed by the Staff Party and Roast Turkey Dinner 'with all the trimmings', to which I have been invited - I was also and asked how good I was at cooking !

It has been suggested, that I might have some further involvement with the playground, this might be, for instance, working with the staff in some way. My initial thought about this (and not considering the practicality of this at all), would be to present a 'framework' for playworkers to consider before make site-specific artwork:

1.

You can only use existing objects, equipment, or play-structures at the playground. Nothing else can be made, constructed or bought.

2.

You may chose to work by your self, or with as few, or as many, of the children and fellow staff.

3.

You do not have to fully understand, or justify, what you do, only agree to answer questions about whatever work you make.

Sunday 13 December

This programme might be of interest?

Tuesday 15 of December, 9pm, BBC4 - Hop, Skip and Jump:The Story of Children At Play

Prior to the late 1950s, Britain's children largely played outside in the street. Today, it sometimes seems as if many never leave the house except under protest. What happened ? First, growing car ownership made the streets more dangerous. Then, the Moors murders terrified parents so that kids became closely supervised. With shows such as Crackerjack and Blue Peter, television began to exert a greater pull on children's time and attention. The concluding part of a two -part documentary tells what in some respects is a mournful story in fine fashion via a mix of archive footage and interviews.

Saturday 12 December

Below is a photograph of Daniel (one of the playworkers) taken about 6 years ago with one of the boys at the playground.

I love this photograph.

I re-took the photograph today with the same two people. The boy in the photograph is now a young man, who is a volunteer at Charlie Chaplin.

At the staff meeting today, I told the staff that next saturday would be the last day of this residency - later I was asked what I would do now on Saturdays, I said I wasn't sure, but I would now be able to go out on Friday nights !

I was given answers from Brendan - one of the playworkers - to my question "What is play?"

Play is trying stuff out.

Play is testing and pushing it.

Play is courting danger then going too far.

Play is having fun but always striving to win.

Play is seeing how fast you can run.

Playing is jumping from height and midnight snacks.

Play is climbing to the bendy branches at the top of a tree and watching my Gran be scared for me.

Play is also technic lego.

Work ...

and play ...

Playground Words ...

Ester, are you doing the lunch ?

Oh, I'm afraid of it !

Who's in my team? No one's in my team!

GOALKEEPER!

Daniel!

She's a girl!

That's sexist!

Still no goal

I've broken my shoe!

Do you want to have a bike?

You can wash it, I'm not washing it though

Let's go inside, and get a drink

You're jamming, put it on the top

Some new additions to the blackboard wall . . .

SARAH, YOUR BOYFRIEND IS HERE!

one boy shouts teasing another about liking a girl who has just arrived at the playground.

Bev, the manager at Charlie Chaplin, told me a memory she recently had of when she was about 12 years old. She was playing with her friends where a concrete tunnel was being constructed. They entered the tunnel, till they could not see the light from wither end of the tunnel, and Bev wanted to turn back as she felt claustrophobic, and frightened - but I wanted to go forward with my friends.