In November 2016, Jimmy Cauty’s ADP Riot Tour came to Macclesfield. The ‘Aftermath Dislocation Principle’ was a post-riot miniature landscape, housed in a 40ft shipping container, and viewed through peepholes. The installation toured around historic riot sites around the country.
Macclesfield qualified because of its Potato Riot on 13 April 1812, which erupted against a background of low wages, food price rises and Luddite protests. The marvellous Jane Munro secured the visit and organised the fundraiser. I wrote the historical background for the Macclesfield ADP information leaflet. You can see a film of the opening, attended by Jimmy Cauty himself, on Tuesday 15 November here, made by Travelling Simon Photography.
On Saturday 19 November we staged a day of events around the container. There was poetry; a new miniature world, led by Becca Smith; a wall of donated food for the local foodbank. I ran placard-making workshops all day, asking people: ‘What would you like to write down and put on a stick? What would you like to say to the world?’ The people of Macclesfield made hundreds of placards which were displayed in Exchange Square and then became part of the rave that night.
You can see a film of Saturday’s events, made by Travelling Simon Photography, here.
