We’ve had a couple of fact finding tours around the mind blowingly huge Sunderland car plant in which we took over 3 hours to walk 3 miles and even then we didn’t see everything! Accompanied by a guide, who was a retired employee, I looked for things to explore through writing.
Rachel in Reception at Nissan Sunderland
Aerial View of Nissan Sunderland Plant
Cutaway Nissan Leaf model
Robot Nissan Sunderland
Manufacturing Nissan Qashqai Sunderland
James Sebright at Nissan Sunderland
With all the activity and bustle and the sheer scale of the place, it wasn’t hard to find plenty of inspiration, in fact I was in danger of sensory overload!
There are 5 areas in the building of a car: Press, Body, Paint, Trim and Chassis. To enter them is like stepping into another world: dancing robots, miles of cables, gigantic machines with foundations as deep as a 3 storey building, a constant stream of part built cars floating above your head. With all systems planned to the last microsecond for absolute efficiency, it would be easy to see the workers almost as robots. And this is where our project comes in – to look at the humans and the humanity behind the machines. In the coming months, I’m looking forward to what unfolds.
https://rachelcochrane.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Nissan-ext-night-400.jpg300400Rachel Cochranehttps://rachelcochrane.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Rachel_cochrane_logo_hori_2.jpgRachel Cochrane2015-01-15 15:05:362015-06-26 12:06:48Fact finding and inspiration at Nissan
Where: Meeting Room, Clayport Library, Durham City
Using the art installation HOPE by Aether and Hemera as an inspiration (which will be in Millenium Place during the week of Remembrance), writer Rachel Cochrane will be hosting an afternoon of writing at Clayport Library.
Looking at the local accounts featured in the art work taken from Durham County Records Office we will look at the hopes and aspirations of local people at the end of WW1 and in the present day.
Suitable for complete beginners or those with a keen interest in creative writing and/or history.
I was thrilled to be invited to the recent launch and reading of the anthology Talking Threads, the most recent publication from the talented North Pens. The writing group is based at Stanhope Community Centre in the heart of magnificent Weardale. Their stories, poetry and memories are largely inspired by textiles with a diverse and fascinating interpretation from each writer.
I have been privileged to work with North Pens in the past, most recently for the We are Weardale project in Summer 2017 in addition to recording their work for listenupnorth (CLICK HERE)and can heartily recommend their book for a cracking read.
Fact finding and inspiration at Nissan
/in Exhibitions, Nissan, Nissan, Rachel Cochrane Writer /by Rachel CochraneI am very pleased to report that photographer James Sebright and myself have begun working creatively on our project with the Oriental Museum and Nissan Motors UK.
We’ve had a couple of fact finding tours around the mind blowingly huge Sunderland car plant in which we took over 3 hours to walk 3 miles and even then we didn’t see everything! Accompanied by a guide, who was a retired employee, I looked for things to explore through writing.
With all the activity and bustle and the sheer scale of the place, it wasn’t hard to find plenty of inspiration, in fact I was in danger of sensory overload!
There are 5 areas in the building of a car: Press, Body, Paint, Trim and Chassis. To enter them is like stepping into another world: dancing robots, miles of cables, gigantic machines with foundations as deep as a 3 storey building, a constant stream of part built cars floating above your head. With all systems planned to the last microsecond for absolute efficiency, it would be easy to see the workers almost as robots. And this is where our project comes in – to look at the humans and the humanity behind the machines. In the coming months, I’m looking forward to what unfolds.
HOPE: a WW1 creative writing afternoon Durham Saturday 10th November 2018
/in Get Writing!, Writing Events, Writing workshops, WW1 /by Rachel CochraneWhen: Saturday 10 November 1.30pm – 4pm
Where: Meeting Room, Clayport Library, Durham City
Using the art installation HOPE by Aether and Hemera as an inspiration (which will be in Millenium Place during the week of Remembrance), writer Rachel Cochrane will be hosting an afternoon of writing at Clayport Library.
Looking at the local accounts featured in the art work taken from Durham County Records Office we will look at the hopes and aspirations of local people at the end of WW1 and in the present day.
Suitable for complete beginners or those with a keen interest in creative writing and/or history.
£2 per person please book at the library desk
Please book in person or ring 0300 026 5524
Talking Threads
/in blog /by Rachel CochraneI was thrilled to be invited to the recent launch and reading of the anthology Talking Threads, the most recent publication from the talented North Pens. The writing group is based at Stanhope Community Centre in the heart of magnificent Weardale. Their stories, poetry and memories are largely inspired by textiles with a diverse and fascinating interpretation from each writer.
Here are the places where you can buy a copy:
STANHOPE
Durham Dales Centre tourist info. shop
Weardale community hub
Woodhall’s greengrocers
Weardale Gazette office
ST JOHNS CHAPEL
Chatterbox cafe
WOLSINGHAM
Bradley Burn Farm shop
BISHOP AUCKLAND
No. 42
CORBRIDGE
Forum books
Agatha Christie – Greenway
/in blog /by Rachel Cochrane