The SAW point

Up before dawn and the first yellow signs are in place before the golden rays of the new day are upon me. I have a strange apprehension for putting up the Somerset Art Week signs, perhaps it’s just the realisation that the day has truly arrived. Or perhaps it is just show time, the time all the prep has been for, and I am sure all of the Art Week participants feel the same.

But still putting the signs in place feels odd, especially as mine are 'out in the field' so to speak, so I can't just pop one on the window ledge and another down the street.

In some part my walks are easy, I post them and people download - walk - enjoy at their leisure. In other parts thats only the start because my walks are available all year, all the time, and I use SAW to focus the mind and galvanise the will to actually 'do' rather than just talk about doing.

The walks do take some investment of time on the users behalf, I have had people do two walks in a day, and it's possible to do all four (if you're really keen and have good walking thighs!) But they can sandwich in along with regular Art Week venues, and even if you start a walk today you can always return to finish another time. 

But for Art Week this year I will be leading just one walk, which is called 'The Watching Way' in Dulverton. Over the winter (and summer) I have be smartening up this little tale which was live last year but in a rather secret manner. I had left little tickets in the boxes which mark the end of each walk, and with three of those the fourth walk was revealed. 

Since then there have been changes, upgrades and edits, firstly the images have been set up for tablet sized devices as well as smart phones, so you can get your iPad/Galaxy out and into the field to stretch it's capabilities beyond Facebook and YouTube! 

Secondly we have been working hard on a web version of the walks, commissioned by Somerset Art Week with county council LARC funding the idea is to make the walks more accessible to all, and less of a headache with installations and downloads. We have the vision, the capabilities but is the tech really capable of doing what we are asking of it?

If all goes to plan then this new browser based version will be the talk of the town, so if you want to join us on Saturday 22nd September, then you are more than welcome. Bring your smart phone (not essential), bring your wellies (good shoes are out, as we're off into the woods!) bring family and friends, we meet at The Tantivy Dulverton at 10.00

First coffee and cake then a little talk about the storywalks and how they are leading towards the new Coleridge Way works I have been commissioned to do.

See you there.