Exhibition - Portal: 1918 Allotment

Old Fire Station, Oxford (Upper Gallery)

Friday 11 March - Saturday 16 April 2022

Free of charge

This exhibition marks the launch of an artist’s journal of poems by JC Niala entitled ‘Portal: 1918 Allotment’ which comprises poetic, photographic, and narrative documentation of her project recreating a 1918-style allotment in Oxford last year.

The project explores relations between the 1918/1919 (Spanish 'Flu) and COVID-19 pandemics, World War One, and the role of outdoor space and allotments within them.

In the summer of 2021, Niala developed her plot as a living archive and outdoor writing studio, and hosted visitors there for a series of work-in-progress readings and to literally ‘eat her research’.

"Portal: 1918 Allotment the exhibition and book use poetry to bring into conversation voices from the past with those of the present creating a rich reflection on the struggles we have overcome through our connection to the land" JC NIala

Journal posts relating to this project can be found here.

The exhibition will present the publication in an exploded form, reproducing poems and imagery large-scale, alongside the creation of a more intimate space for visitors to read the publication. The window area of the gallery will also be transformed into a greenhouse for the growing of seedlings, which will be shared at an event on the 2 April at Gloucester Green market. The exhibition will also give visitors a chance to see the progression of the 1918 Allotment over the course of the growing season last year. The exhibition has been designed in collaboration with Julia Utreras (Common Books) and Sam Skinner (Fig).

An afternoon talk event on the 19 March brings together speakers to discuss broader contexts to the project, and a range of related topics, including the history of allotments, gardening in the trenches, and growing practices during the pandemic.

Talk: JC Niala – 1918 Allotment
Saturday 19 March, 2pm – 5pm BST
Join JC Niala and special guests for an afternoon of talks discussing her project recreating a 1918 allotment in Oxford – exploring relations between the Spanish 'Flu (1918/19) and COVID-19 pandemics, World War One, and the role of outdoor space and allotments within them. Invited guests will speak on a range of topics, including the history of allotments, gardening in the trenches, and growing practices during the pandemic. Book now.

Seedling Sharing & Tea Performance
Saturday 2 April, 10am – 3pm BST
Join JC at Gloucester Green Market.

This project is supported by TORCH as part of the Humanities Cultural Programme and by Arts Council England.