All good things …

My time in the Turbine House is coming to an end. It has been an extraordinary time; all things considered.

Including the closing of the Public House nearby, for reasons I know not.

The beautiful historical building had served the town for 150 years or more as a pumping station. I am not sure of its usage (and without internet I cannot check the facts) but enough to know it was an important part of Reading’s rich heritage.

The pumping station and its surrounding buildings became redundant when the machinery was superseded and the site became a museum and a glorious snapshot of a bygone age.

In time the main building became a restaurant, and the other buildings remained a riverside museum and gallery space and attracted many visitors, local and some from further afield.

The restaurant was a popular place almost famous, but its client group was corporate and privileged far removed from those who built, worked, and lived in the locality of the pumping station a century or more ago.

When the restaurant closed, it was taken over by a London brewery and became a public house, one hoped that it might become part of the public domain where locals and visitors could find sustenance and a shared interest in visual and performing art, the museum and consider a bygone age. Be served a reasonably priced pint of beer and seasonal food fairly produced and traded. All this while looking at Reading as it forever grows and meets new technology whether we like it or not.

Sadly, my hopes were dashed, the brewery removed the glitzy fixtures and replaced them with more of the same giving the effect of a costly Weatherspoons with overpriced craft beers, gin and wine etc. and a menu to match.  Nonetheless, it was better than nothing I later learned. The other buildings on the riverside site are used for artist’s events and exhibitions, so the pub did serve as an added incentive to guests and passersby not just the catering facilities but the seating outside and of the ‘comfort break’ amenities all vital for an artist wanting to reach a wider audience. 

Then, a calamity the pub closed! The brewery hasn’t vacated the property, so it has been maintained by a ‘watchperson’ who opens the gates at 10 am and closes them at 6pm each day. This hasn’t so far been consistent, consequently I have been locked out and more seriously locked in. With the pub locked, the toilet facilities are now confined to a Portaloo, that is one step up from better than nothing.  From that point of view my time here has been a little uncomfortable and at times unpleasant.

On the other hand, my space in the Turbine House is kind and familiar, I have spent time here before as an artist and visitor and the joys outweigh the hardships hands down. I have made myself comfortable with a makeshift tea/coffee station with a kettle precariously placed breaking rules of health and safety, I am sure. Notwithstanding a couple issues with filmmaking, the exhibition of my dolls has been more than adequate.

The natural light in the Turbine House is by nature is not stable and the electric sensor was equally troublesome, so the films have some interesting flashes. So, with some newfound knowledge and a reliable producer I/we can repair anything untoward.

When I first realised that the Turbine House is without Wi-Fi, I was a bit perturbed seemingly disconnected with the world. That misconception was short-lived, and I enjoyed the space and time to watch the world about me and connect with the environment I had been reading and writing about during these last few months.

Unfortunately, due to the aforementioned unforeseen locational and social issues passing visitors were fewer. However, those who did make the effort were a joy very welcome. Much progress was made regarding a ‘proper’ film and accompanying books. To prepare for this event was not without concern, working alone is not always preferable but each day has bought an element of delight sometimes miniscule but today my last something more exciting, when someone suggested a source of funding. At a time when artists struggle to finding exhibition space and are running out of ways to exhibit their work in the community, in a world where the owners of empty property are only interested in profit, a little bit of funding goes a long way to widen the opportunities. For this I am grateful.