The Sticky Silver Track – Anna Best Archive

“The Barbican became a metaphorical setting – a fortress or labyrinth in a children’s fairy tale – through which visitors are invited to make a journey. Fascinated by the arcane bye-laws that govern life on the Estate, Best attempted to introduce incoherency and elements of the absurd into this carefully controlled environment”.

“Come to the central point of disorientation, sculpture court, level 3, to start your journey, or collect a map from any of the points of disorientation at gates 1,3, and 9. Pick up a copy of The Sticky Silver Track, a board book for children and a guide to the weekend’s events.”

“As part of the 25th Birthday celebrations, Barbican Art Gallery commissioned artist Anna Best to work within the unique context of the Barbican Estate. Intrigued by the collision of private, residential and public space that is very particular to the ‘citadel’ of the Barbican, Best stages an ephemeral ‘gallery’ of images inspired by the landscape and life of the Estate. These ‘images’ – momentary, moving events – unfold on the public walkways and on the Sculpture Court. Happen upon a wandering pantomime mule or find an unusual stash of treasure where chewing gum sparkles silver. Catch the sound of farmyard animals and snatch a glimpse of strange long-haired people. Dodge a crowd of toddlers setting off on a mass rally and enjoy the spectacle of a group of babies tucking into a three course meal at a very special restaurant.

The Sticky Silver Track
A full-colour children’s board book is published alongside the performance event, documenting the work and offering a tale which captures the odd, enchanted world of the Barbican.

Weekend Programme:
Central Point of Disorientation
Sculpture Court, Level 3
Further Points of Disorientation:
Gate 1 (Silk Street – Main Entrance)
Gate 3 (Moorgate Tube Entrance)
Gate 9 (Barbican Tube Entrance)
Collect a sheet and map your experience as you navigate the Barbican.

In collaboration with Barbican Resident, David Rosenberg of Velorose

Network Stations Mobile computer structures, powered by wind, and roaming human webcams will be relaying a continuous stream of images of the events taking place over the weekend. Connect to the network with your wireless laptops and PDA’s and download the images from the free wireless Hive network. Screensaver animations by students at City of London School for Girls. www.hivenet.org/barbican
Pantomime Mule
A wandering mule wears a coat of Barbican Bye-Laws
Restaurant for Babies
The Terrace in the Conservatory, Level 4
Recommended age group: 6-12 months. Come along and treat your baby. Enjoy them tuck into a gourmet meal, specially designed by Quentin Fitch, Searcy’s acclaimed chef, complete with silver service, waiters and pristine white tables. First come, first served. Created in collaboration with ClubMum
Falling Flowers
Entrance to Shakespeare Tower, Level 2 (next to Frobisher Crescent)
Watch balloon powered flower pots float from the 28th floor of Shakespeare Tower. Retrieve them and sow the seeds tucked in the pots. In collaboration with Barbican Resident, Judith King.

Waiting for Rose
Defoe Place steps (Beech St). A larger than life figure dressed in a specially made costume parades through the Barbican Estate.
Solitude Seven Eleven
A short play by Jenny Plastow and Ron irwin, exploring ideas of solitude and community and written in response to the Barbican, staged in a private flat in Willoughby House. For details and tickets (17 spaces available) visit www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery and box office 0845 121 6825.
Toddler Rally
Meeting Point: Sculpture Court, Level 3 (adjacent to Barbican Art Gallery)
Finish Point: Gate 8, John Wesley Highwalk
Recommended age: 1-3 years old
Bring your Toddler. Join us for a mass rally of youngsters along the Barbican Estate highwalks. Bring their push-along, pull-along and sit-on wheeled toys. Anything goes.

Aknowledgements

AA Casting, Alex, Alice, Amy, Andrea, City of London School for Girls Art and ICT departments, Adam de la Cour, Cordelia, Margaret Douglas, Gabby, HiveWares, Oliver Hogan, Judith King, Katie, Melanie Lenz, Lucy, Live Art Development Agency, Alona Pardo, Roland Ross, Angela Starling, Siriol Davies, Emma Smith, Taeko, Theo, Tomoko Takahashi, Annie Toop, Wimbledon School of Art BA Print and Digital Media…

Children’s board book. Story by Anna Best, illustrations by Vera Eggermann and rhyming by Sophie Herxheimer. Published by Barbican Art Gallery.

Photographs by Simon Steven.