Poet In The Garden
An exploration of Vauxhall Gardens from the perspective of those who use the park everyday.
The exhibition is the result of a project produced by curators Max Jones and Ryan Blakeley, which aims to start a dialogue around the nature of our relationships to the urban gardens and green spaces of the city. They chose Vauxhall Gardens as the focus of this project for its rich history and connection to our cultural heritage. It was first opened in 1729 as Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, which was a public space for the viewing of the arts. It played host to the likes of Handel, Dickens, Roubiliac and many other influential figures from within the artistic, literary and musical worlds.
Vauxhall Gardens Public Park, London (2018) by Damian WalkerGarden Museum
The poet Jackie Wills is a widely published journalist, writer, and poet who has forged a career exploring relationships, female experience, memory and place. Jackie Wills created poems based on conversations she had with participants in the park. As such, this exhibition exhibits a unique and contemporary picture of Vauxhall Gardens as they exist today.
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Arpita
Free space, fresh mind, relaxation!
I come for calm, for quiet, for silence,
soundlessness, for hush, for stillness,
I come for serenity, tranquility,
for ease, nirvana, joy and harmony,
I come for repose, bliss, respite,
for ceasefire, a lull, for cordiality,
for truce, for armistice, reconciliation,
for treaty, goodwill, friendship, peace.
Horse Riding at Vauxhall City Farm, London (2018) by Damian WalkerGarden Museum
Liene, Adel, Kieran
I can't know what this park will mean
to my children, Adel and Kieran,
if its trees will make shadows in their dreams
whether its paths will answer their questions
or what, in its endless tones of green,
in rain, in mist, in cloud, in sun,
he will sing - my prince of wrens -
how far she'll soar - my princess of falcons.
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Ryan
a garden's never been a garden
always something other
a pirate ship, another planet,
a football field or larder
for me a garden happens
into a romp, crusade, adventure,
a place to shape a vision
out of wood and leaf and weather
Jackie Wills, Poet in the Garden, Vauxhall Gardens (2018) by Damian WalkerGarden Museum
Roz Price
You never said where you found the cups, Roz,
five or six a week for the Teahouse.
Maybe the willow will tell us as it weeps
its golden threads,
as it bows to the River Ephra, far below,
as it moves to the sound of Carnival.
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Chelo
When I came, I was 21
I had no English,
Franco was overthrown.
I love the view here, the mix of old and new
I love the trees, glittering light
I love the noise of trains
I love the river smell
I love the churches, St Mark's, St Anne's.
And soon, intrepid Olli, Norfolk terrier
mixed with Yorkie, will be 13.
Like me, his sight is going.
Tree Planting in Vauxhall Gardens, London (2018) by Damian WalkerGarden Museum
Candice
When Unity releases the young clubbers
into drizzle or sun, restoring their limbs
to the outdoors like bare branches
on the brink of new leaf, I'm going to work -
my day starting as their night ends -
and they make me young again, like the morning.
Vauxhall City Farm, Vauxhall, London (2018) by Damian WalkerGarden Museum
Antoinette at Vauxhall City Farm
Praise moss
which records ice ages and extinctions
which insulates rooftops and boots
which heals wounds and puts out fire
which can make bread and flavour whisky
Praise moss
for how it brings silence to a garden
for how it softens Wimbledon Common
for how it holds peace within it like water
for the mattress in my log cabin
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William, Katie and Emily
Grandma's park has a jungle in the corner
no-one else can see
Grandma's park has a herd of zebra
hiding in the trees
Grandma's park has an Asian lion
and it only roars for me
Vauxhall Gardens Public Park, London (2018) by Damian WalkerGarden Museum
Fran
this small park is an oasis
in the hubbub of the city
its endless offices, dry as deserts
this grass growing above fossil water
these trees heavy with dates and peaches
these birds on their endless migrations
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Oriana
If every plant I've bought and snails have eaten
were to return, my London patio would be Vita's
white garden at Sissinghurst, hushed and drowsy
with jasmine and daphne, white hearts of dicentra
among snow goose delphiniums, tulips dreaming
of milk, and white veronica growing tall into winter.
Jackie Wills, Poet, Vauxhall Gardens, London (2018) by Damian WalkerGarden Museum
Damian
It's here I think of Veronique
mother of our triplets, garden-lover,
bereavement-counsellor,
sales woman, speaker of Chinese.
It is here I think of Veronique
the best decision of my life -
who makes all ends meet.
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Kathy
Born into red, I looked up towards cherries
and imagined myself with the birds, scrumping.
I learned to climb past runner beans' scarlet
flowers, waving their promises of lunch at me.
I stained my hands with raspberry pulp as I ate
from the cane. For twelve years I lived with red.
I was red as sunset, the ochre inside caves, red
as a wall in Pompeii, as revolution and blood.
We would like to thank Damian Walker for his support with this project.
