christopher
jelley
poet
technologist
What is Taunton-ness ?
Arts Taunton
residency commission
May-June 2017
The commission was to ascertain the concept of Taunton-ness and over a couple of months I set up a few investigations to try and round this up. ​
​
Initially these works started with some cheeky teasing surveys, but rather than ask the question directly 'What is Taunton-ness' I have tried to come at it with a little more playfulness.
​
The second element of the commission was to capture some words through Poetry Boxes left across the town during June.
Image from Cecil Sharp's photographic exhibition at The Museum of Somerset, Taunton
This image was taken by Cecil between 1904 and 1909 when he was actively capturing folk songs across Somerset.
​
Is Taunton more pie than flan?
Is Taunton more pie than flan
More sweet than savoury or sour
What shape of bloom is the Taunton flower
Is it more soup than stew
More seven up than iron brew
More morning, evening or gathering dusk
More slow burn than boom and bust
Is it more Super Dry jackets than sandals with socks
More power dressing trouser suits than blokes in frocks
Is it more signalling left then turning right
More crochet blankets than romps in the night
Is it more glove on the railings than teddy in the gutter
More rambling punters than gamblers flutter
More greek myths than martial arts
More the Haynes manual than the sum of its parts
More carrot than parrot
More passenger than poet
More Cava than Moët
More pigeon pie than hedgehog crisps
More packed lunches and lists of lists
More early riser than morning sickness
More boasting of girth than assessing the thickness
More alphanumeric than alpha male
More esoteric than economies of scale
Less the Cathedral more about the willow
More about company than the pillow
More the mate than the captain
More the plate than the platter
More the rabbit than the hatter
More the dentist than the decay
More the lead actors than the play
More quiche than niche
Or obvious pastiche
But more or less
It's so hard to assess
That elusive concept of Taunton-ness