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New nature-led “Blood Memory” app launches in Central Park, Plymouth this winter as part of Mayflower 400
17th November 2020
A new Indigenous Artist led app is launching as part of the Mayflower 400 ‘Settlement’ project that will enable ‘Blood Memory’ app users in Plymouth the opportunity to discover more about nature and ancestry within Central Park, Plymouth – a great way for individuals and families to connect with the outdoors especially during lockdown.
Other app locations across the globe including the Southwest, West Coast and East Coast of America including New York City where stories can be accessed by a mobile device in Central Park, Prospect Park, Ft. Tryon Park, and Inwood Hill Park.
Image Credits: Blood Memory Illustrations by Chief Lady Bird, 2020
Not only will the ‘Blood Memory’ app experience enable users to discover stories at set locations in geocaching fashion, it will offer opportunities for people to submit their own ‘Blood Memory’ nature-based stories from their own locations – helping to build a library of land based stories and memories from peoples’ own perspectives across the globe.
The ‘Blood Memory’ Experience is an ethnographic, cultural storytelling project that uses virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to explore how people interpret the concept of ‘Blood Memory’. The phenomena of ‘Blood Memory’ can be described as the experience of humans holding both ancient and recent memories in our bodies that can be triggered and awakened to reveal both knowledge and trauma.
Co-directed by Indigenous artists Stina Hamlin and Jade Begay, Blood Memory XR aims to connect Native and non-Native people to stories of the land, language, songs, and teachings from Indigenous perspectives. Through these, the artists hope to invigorate a sense of responsibility to protect land, water and the climate.
Blood Memory Artists, Stina Hamlin and Jade Begay, say of the Blood Memory app:
“I am excited for this iteration of our project, that can withstand the pandemic, while also inspiring and healing our audience and us as artists. Using this app will allow us to still ‘occupy’ spaces sonically when our physical presence isn’t possible. We wouldn’t have thought of this in this way if we weren’t in quarantine, so I feel energized that something beautiful has come out of these hard times.” Stina Hamlin
“While I am saddened that we are not able to showcase the VR portion of this project to the community of Plymouth, this audio version enables us to engage with Plymouth and countless others across the globe. I am thrilled at the idea that people from the UK can hear how my people from the Southwest relate to the land and vice versa. My hope is that these stories advance visibility and empathy for why we fight to protect our sacred places”. Jade Begay
The Conscious Sisters CIC say of the new Blood Memory app:
“Mulling over our connection with nature has become a national obsession during the pandemic and so it feels very timely that this project has come to Plymouth during our second lock-down. Giving us a rare opportunity to hear how indigenous people from North America connect to the land just by walking in Central park and using an app. How lovely that we too can add our voices to theirs and record our feelings and stories about our connection to those lost wild landscapes under our city.”
Blood memory has been created by Artists Stina Hamlin and Jade Begay, produced by Tracey Rector and illustrations by Chief Lady Bird, 2020.
The Blood Memory app featuring Central Park, Plymouth, goes live from 17 November. To download click here
Go to www.mayflower400uk.org/settlement for the latest information on the Mayflower 400 Settlement project. You can also discover more about Blood Memory directly on the Settlement platform here.