Oral histories
I’ve collected oral histories for Essex Record Office (2020-21), and for my own personal projects (2021-).
Earth Work is a short audio documentary I made in 2024. Artist Bill Dilworth is caretaker of The New York Earth Room, an artwork by the American artist Walter De Maria in an apartment in New York City. He has watered, raked and cared for the 250 cubic yards of earth since 1989. On the eve of his retirement, Dilworth reflects on his work – and welcomes visitors inside via the intercom. Recorded and produced by me. Edited by Lucy Dearlove.
Project Annie is a personal project about my late grandmother. Since 2021 I’ve been recording oral histories with her friends. When she was dying of cancer I wanted to record her memories but felt unable to ask her (she was very sick). Project Annie is a way of filling gaps with her community. In 2023 I travelled to Vermont to stay with one of her best friends, Joan.
For Essex Record Office I volunteered on the National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported Marconi Project, collecting histories of the pioneering radio and communications company (also home to the world's first wireless factory) from the people that worked there. Over about 10 hours I interviewed (and sometimes coaxed) former Marconi employees. I also undertook oral history training with historian Rib Davis to better understand the practical aspects of recording, as well as ethics and the subtle power dynamics that can be at play while collecting histories.
Recording in the Vermont living room of Joan, one of my late granny’s oldest and greatest friends. Their friendship lasted from their twenties until my granny’s death.
Project Annie: this pink acetate folder was collated by Joan. It contains printed emails shared between her and my granny, as well as photos, a big flower brooch and the order of service from my granny’s funeral. Joan asked me to take this home with me, she was ready to let go of this particular (physical) memory.
Microphone set-up in the living room as part of my interview with my Dad. I asked him lots of questions about my upbringing in a caravan, and what motivated him to opt for this particular way of living.
On the eve of his retirement after 25 years, I sat and talked with Bill Dilworth, artist and caretaker at The New York Earth Room. We talked about time, ambition and the possibility of agency and pleasure at work. I recorded our nine hours of conversation.
Walter De Maria’s The New York Earth Room. This is the only authorised photograph by John Cliett. De Maria requested that visitors don’t photograph the work. You can see here the richness of the soil as it was back in 1977. For various reasons it’s drier now.
Bill Dilworth, artist and caretaker at The New York Earth Room shows the tools he uses to maintain the earth, including his rakes and his personal favourite: the rotavator.