12/09/2019 Shipsides and Beggs - WABASH CANNONBALL - Granite, Quartz, Iron.

www.danshipsides.com/DshipsidesWeb/Wabash.html 1/5

ShipsidesandBeggsProjects-WABASHCANNONBALL-Granite,Quartz,Iron.

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12/09/2019 Shipsides and Beggs - WABASH CANNONBALL - Granite, Quartz, Iron.

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WabashCannonball:Granite,Quartz,Iron.ImpactStudy/TallTaleoftheMourneMountains

Apata-perceptualexplorationofmaterialityandculture.

ShipsidesandBeggsProjects2019Performance;spokenword,image,audioandvideo.Approx70min.

Audiovisual,spokenwordperformanceintheT5FieldCinemaformatatBouyPark,BelfastcommissionedbyBbeyondin2019aspartoftheCitizengageprogramme:InternationalPerformanceArtFestival,Feb21st,2019

WABASHCANNONBALLvideoedits:Videodocumentationeditedintonewvideoworks:Thisgivesagoodsenseoftheperformancebutworksbetterasfourshortstand-aloneeditedartworks.Thelivematerialhasbeeneditedwithrehearsalmaterialandfullimagestogenerateacoherencythatmitigatesthesoundissuewithrecordingaliveperformance.

Credits:Livevideoandaudiofootage:BbeyondAllotherfootage,audioandediting:ShipsidesandBeggsProjectsoraslistedoropensource/publicdomain.

Part1:ImpactStudy/TallTale.13.08minPart2:GraniteIntrusions.24.41minPart3:CrystalFallout.18.15minPart4:GravityAccounts.14.13min

Thestartingpointfortheexhibitionisarock-climbingrouteintheMourneMountainsinNorthernIrelandcalledtheWabashCannonball.TherouteisrarelyclimbedbutisaclassicofIrishclimbing–80metersofsteep,hardgraniteclimbinginthebeautifulandremotesettingofSlieveBegneartothenotoriousgullyofTheDevilsCoachRoad.ItwasfirstclimbedandnamedbythenotedBelfastclimberCalvinTorransin1974,whohadandhasapassionforthepoliticisedfolkmusicsceneofthe1960’stowhichtheWabashCannonballconnectsasthetitleofanAmericanfolksong.

ThenomenclatureofthisrouteanditssettingsetsusonajourneyfromIrishlandscapeandmythologytoandthroughAmericanFolktraditionandmusic,particularlyoftheAppalachianMountainareas,andthehistory,politicsandcultureoftheAmericanrailroadexpansionandthenbacktotheculturalandtopographicallandscapeoftheMourneMountains(whichinturnmarktheeasternendoftheUK/ROIborder).

Thenarrativeoftheperformancefromherethenexploresotherlinksandmaterialconnectionsreflectingatwistingand,attimes,strangejourneythroughtechniquesofpata-perceptionlateralpractice(Shipsides2011)andmakesupfourdistinctsectionswhichdealwithdifferentmaterialsfoundorencounteredintheMourneMountains.

WABASHCANNONBALL:ImpactStudy/TallTale:EditPart1.

12/09/2019 Shipsides and Beggs - WABASH CANNONBALL - Granite, Quartz, Iron.

www.danshipsides.com/DshipsidesWeb/Wabash.html 3/5

HDvideo.13.08min

https://vimeo.com/359306673

Sectionone,ImpactStudy/TallTale,isanintroductorysectionbeginsbyembracingtheT5FieldCinemaframeworkasalineageoftheGospelWagonwithadescriptionofitsformatasanImpactStudy/TallTale,withbothgenresdescribedandexplored.TheTallTalegenreallowsustounderstandculturalthemesandmemesascarryingimportantgeographicalandtopologicalknowledge.Thissectionthenlaysoutthegeographic,politicalandmineralogicalcontextofthisareawhichincludesrecentnewsofgovernmentfeasibilityplansforGDF(GeologicalDisposalFacility)fordumpingnuclearwastefromtheUK’snuclearindustry,nopartofwhichislocatedinNorthernIreland.

WABASHCANNONBALL:GraniteIntrusions:EditPart2.HDvideo.25.41min

https://vimeo.com/359309630

ThesecondsectionGraniteIntrusions,setsouttoexplorethenomenclatureofCalvinTorran’srockclimbanditsgeographical/topologicalroots.IttakesustoAmericanfolktraditionsexploringthemythandcultureofthehoboandidentifiestheWabashCannonballasacodedsongaboutthelabour

13:08

25:41

12/09/2019 Shipsides and Beggs - WABASH CANNONBALL - Granite, Quartz, Iron.

www.danshipsides.com/DshipsidesWeb/Wabash.html 4/5

conditionsofmigrantworkersinlate18thtomid19thCenturyAmerica(thesongisaboutamythicaltrainwhichcollectsthesoulsofdeadhobos).ManyofthesemigrantworkerswereIrishimmigrantswhohadfledtheFamineofthemid18thCenturyandsoakeylinkismadeherewithastrongempathytowardssocialandlabourrights(UtahPhilipsananarchistlabourerandmusicianhasdocumentedsuchcodedfolksongs),andconnectwithcontemporarylabourdynamicsandwildernessmythsofSiliconValleyventurism.Thecodedtrainthenappearsasaharbingerofdeath,connectingwiththeGospelWagon,theUndergoundRailroadandtheCóisteBodhar(Coach-a-Bower)Irishmythofthedeathcoach.ThedeathcoachmotifbringingusrightbacktotheDevils’CoachroadintheMourneMountainsandthenomenclatureofTorran’sclimbingrouteandotherroutesonSlieveBeg.

WABASHCANNONBALL:CrystalFallout:EditPart3.HDvideo.18.15min

https://vimeo.com/359313483

Thethirdsection,CrystalFallout,furtherminesthegeologyoftheMournesanditsrockclimbingprominence,groundingitwiththegeologicalmake-upofgraniteandalargesmokyquartzcrystalfoundintheMournesbynotedclimberRickyBell.Exploringunorthodoxideasandbeliefsfoundincrystology,combiningwithcreativefiction(FlannO’Brien)andsomebasicthissectionre-contextualisessignificantclimbingfootageofRickyBellusingsiliconedioxide(glassandquartz)aspata-perceptualfilters.FootageofextremeclimbsMushroomBoyz(E76a)andCrystalMethods(E86c)isutilisedtoexplorethepossibilitiesofprotectioninclimbing.

WABASHCANNONBALL:GravityAccount:EditPart4.HDvideo.14.13min

https://vimeo.com/359317471

18:16

12/09/2019 Shipsides and Beggs - WABASH CANNONBALL - Granite, Quartz, Iron.

www.danshipsides.com/DshipsidesWeb/Wabash.html 5/5

ThefourthandfinalsectionGravityAccount,beginswithaShummitinterludeandthenreturnstothegraniteblockasaballisticmissileandseesitweaponisedinthemythological,talltalewhereFionnMacCumhaillslayedtheIceGiantbyhurlingtheCloughmoreStonefromacrossCarlingfordLough(whichisalsotheUK/ROIborder)TheCloughmoreStoneisaprecedenttotheWW2erawiththeUSNavyusingthesouthernMourneMountainsasanartilleryfiringrangewheretheytargetedcertaingraniteoutcropsasenemyshipsfortargetpractice.Alargepieceofironexplodedshellfragment,foundintheboulderfielddebris,presentsthematerialbasisforthissectionwhichthenlinkstotheIronWay(ViaFerrata)WW1miningwarfareintheDolomiteswhichformsaclosingtoperformancewithanewrenditionoftheShipsidesandBeggssongFrontierSoldier.ApostscriptcelebratestheeffortsandtenacityofenvironmentalactivistCormacMcAleerongoingbattleagainstDalradian’s(aCanadiancompany)environmentallydisastrousplansforgoldminingintheSperrinMountains.HeisacontemporaryFinnMcCool...

Theworkisanopen-workandwillbere-developedandre-performedtoexplorespecificthemesorresearchindifferentcontextsanddirections–eachtimegeneratingnewmaterialforfurtherresearch.

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