CROSSINGS

CROSSINGS: 2022

In summer 2022, Hebden Bridge Arts proudly unveiled Crossings, a vibrant, community-led photography exhibition that toured venues across the region. Featuring over 300 striking photographs, the exhibition showcased the creative responses of local residents and workshop participants to an open call that invited them to explore and document our shared landscapes.

The project came to life through six photo walks and hands-on workshops held in March and April around Hebden Royd. These sessions welcomed adults, children, and people with access needs to take part in a creative exploration of our environment - whether alone or alongside others.

With contributions from over 110 local photographers, Crossings built a powerful, visual archive of the places that connect us - stiles, gates, cobbled paths, tunnels, bridges, and hidden tracks - all etched into the story of our shared landscape. This project is a celebration of community, creativity, and the joy of discovering new perspectives - just by stepping outside.

WHAT ARE 'CROSSINGS?

Crossings are all around us. They’re the quiet moments in the landscape we often overlook--stiles and stepping stones, gates and footpaths, bridges, tunnels, and zebra crossings—each telling a story of movement and connection. From rural trails to urban walkways, these features link us to generations past and guide our journeys today.

This project was made possible with the support of talented local creatives:
Lizzie Lockhart
Clare Danon
Amanda Dalton

As well as enthusiastic volunteers from the Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd Walkers Action groups, who helped lead photowalks and inspire creative participation.

We hosted a variety of experiences:
Open walks for the general public.
Tailored walks for those with access needs.
Child-friendly walks for ages 4 to 8.

Each walk encouraged participants to look at their surroundings through a new lens - literally - capturing unique interpretations of the Crossings theme.

Hebden Royd Photo Map

The Exhibition ExperienceVisitors to the exhibition enjoyed an immersive experience, including:

A photography slideshow featuring community submissions
Creative writing inspired by the walks
Field recordings from local sound artist Jo Kennedy
A beautifully illustrated Hebden Royd Photo Map by Kerith Ogden
Cyanotype prints created by young people from Calderdale

CROSSINGS SOUNDWALK

"This soundwalk is inspired the photographs people took for the Crossings project, and by time spent listening and recording in six Hebden Royd locations. We start by Hebden Water and walk into town, making our way up to the station and Mayroyd. A gate takes us into Nutclough woods and another one returns us a little while later to centre of Mytholmroyd. From here we venture up to the quieter slopes of Cragg Vale, and finally make our way (maybe on horseback?) to Midgely and the moor.

Crossing the neighbourhoods of Hebden Royd my thoughts wandered onto wider interpretations of 'crossings'. Responding to the photographic images as my initial starting point, I stood in, walked through and listened to the spaces, and came to consider the migratory crossings of birds and people; watery insects becoming air-born (metamorphosis as a type of crossing); the momentary snatches of conversation heard when crossing paths with people, and the cross-fading of sounds as you traverse a bridge or turn a corner, passing from one acoustic space to another. The piece therefore is maybe a mediation on the essence of a ‘crossing’ from one state or place another." Jo Kennedy

Artist: Jo Kennedy

Composer of the Crossings Audio Journey

BACKGROUND

Jo Kennedy lives in Todmorden, West Yorkshire. She works in a freelance capacity as a sound designer, sound artist and sound editor. Her creative work often sits at the intersection between art and environmental science, responding to questions about our relationship with the living world.

current work

She co-produces a podcast (Nature Tripping) with episodes often recorded in the Calder Valley and is a co-director at Yorkshire Sound Women Network.

website

https://www.jokennedysound.com/

Artist: Kerith Ogden

Creator of the Illustrated Crossings Map

Background

I'm a maker and illustrator based in Hebden Bridge. I like to draw pictures of interesting creatures and places,

I love high contrast, interesting, complicated patterns, hard lines, layers, and the edges of things. I work both in pen-and-ink or digitally, or a combination of the two – I really enjoy both ways of working.

Current work

I also make giant puppets and lanterns mainly out of withie and paper and recycled materials – I love the natural lines and shadows that withies make, and the quality of light through paper.

socials

https://www.instagram.com/redant_art
https://www.facebook.com/redantartstuff