Via Vaudeville!

Hinterland Residency
Wilford Village, 2006-8

In 2006, Hinterland selected artist duo Tomas Chaffe and Blue Firth, known collectively as Via Vaudeville!, to take part in a residency for Hinterland. This process was funded jointly by Future Factory at the Bonington Gallery and Greater Nottingham Transport Partnership. Ongoing collaboration and discussion between Via Vaudeville! and Hinterland led to the sharing of studio space in Nottingham and the founding of The Reading Room as a facility for local artists; in 2007 Via Vaudeville! was selected to take part in ‘Extreme Crafts’ at CAC Vilnius and presented a new installation, ‘Transitional Thatch’, which fostered collaboration between craftsmen from East Anglia and Lithuania.

Via Vaudeville! presented their new work amongst the tangles of wildflowers and shrubbery which overlook the River Trent behind St. Wilfrid's Church, for the culmination of a Hinterland Residency project in the picturesque Nottinghamshire village of Wilford. The new work, ‘Via Vaudeville!’s Folly’ was revealed at the Benjamin Carter Hall in Wilford Village on warm summer’s afternoon in August, 2008.

A red, double-decker Routemaster bus launched the afternoon by appearing in the village bringing people from central Nottingham to Wilford. This commenced a guided tour around St.Wilfrid's Church and it's surroundings with Wilford local History expert and enthusiast David Miller. David and his ancestors have lived in Wilford for generations, and his tour helped to highlight a history of the village and place the folly- from a personal and local view.

Once inside the hall people were greeted by a large black, four-door ‘altarpiece’ clad in rubber shingles. This initially revealed a panoramic view of the folly site including both sides of the river Trent, and when explored revealed architectural drawings and research material within. The ‘altarpiece’ was supported with soil and plants from the actual site of the folly and a model with plinth and case was placed behind it.

An interview between Via Vaudeville!, Jennie Syson and designer Guy Brown, (featured in Volume I of the Hinterland Publication) began the second part of the afternoon, followed by questions from the audience. This preceded an enthralling and amusing visual presentation by Andrew Plumridge, Founder and Trustee of The Folly Fellowship, who gave an overview of the fascinating world of follies. The event concluded with Director of the Museum of Garden History, Christopher Woodward's passionate and captivating presentation on the history of ruins, with a leaning towards art history.

A wax sealed fold-out was freely available on the day which incorporated various visual and written material relating to the folly. This limited edition is still available by request, disbanding and continuing the myth of Via Vaudeville!'s Folly.