Our Future is Ancient for 2020 Vision

Macclesfield’s Barnaby Festival will be presenting a digital programme over the weekend of June 20 – 21 to celebrate its tenth anniversary.

Barnaby Festival was due to return in venues and spaces across Macclesfield town centre. However due to the Covid 19 pandemic, Barnaby Festival is not able to deliver its programme as normal.

Artist Simon Buckley who produces the Not Quite Light project and is based in Salford will be presenting his digital commission on Saturday June 20.

For Barnaby Festival, Simon is exploring his connection to Macclesfield Forest with a new piece of work Our Future is Ancient.

Simon has been visiting Macclesfield Forest every month to coincide with the dawn of the full moon, since December’s winter solstice.

He has been documenting his visits with photography and has been keeping a diary to inform the stories that he is going to be presenting.

Simon said: “It’s been quite a journey. It began with me, taking my urban self into the forest in the depths of winter when it was very dark. We all grew up with the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel so, despite it being a place of sanctuary, I actually felt safer on the streets of Salford.

“However, in the past months, I've grown to love being here in the twilight, even feeling disappointment when the light arrives. The call of owls and other creatures is quite magical.

“Lockdown changed our world and during the weeks of confinement, I began to crave the forest, desperate to savour its mysteries and the comfort of the natural world. The virus has caused me to feel very differently about my own life, and creating work around such an ancient place feels very relevant at the moment.”

Simon will be presenting Our Future is Ancient through a series of projections and storytelling on Saturday June 20 via a live stream/digital presentation.

Abi Gilmore, co-chair of Barnaby Festival, said: “We’re so excited about this project. It has become even more relevant since the Covid 19 pandemic. It is such an interesting interpretation of the theme of Vision and Simon has really immersed himself in the forest. Something very beautiful will be created from a very difficult situation.” 

To see the work please follow Barnaby Festival and Not Quite Light on social media platforms Instagram and Twitter  @notquitelight and @barnabyfestival

Barnaby festival will be hosting the work on its website https://barnabyfestival.org.uk/our-future-is-ancient/ after June 20.

Picture courtesy of Simon Buckley/Not Quite Light.