Car boot sale's 'unique counter-culture' captured

A car boot sale's "unique" and "heartfelt" community has been celebrated in an interactive arts project.

Paul Blakemore spent six months capturing conversations with punters and traders at Hempsted Meadow car boot in Gloucester.

Now, he will return on Sunday to present Car Boot Soul, his interactive community arts project showcasing what he describes as the event's "unique" and "heartfelt" character.

He said: "What's so different is how you watch the person walk away with the thing that you used to have...There's a real communication between the objects and the people. We all know the high street is dead so this is a bit of a counter-culture."

Blakemore said, as his flat was filling up with items bought from car boot sales over the years, he decided to start collecting stories instead.

All conversations have been documented using equipment sourced from the car boot, including old cameras and film.

"All the themes are around repurposing, reusing, recycling.

"Talking to people has given me such an insight into my own feelings and sense of attachment," he added.

"What has been wonderful has been the amazing community at Hempsted Meadow," he said, adding the process had been really "fun" and "co-creative".

"I've met so many great people: activists, artists, families, regulars, the organisers and really done a spectrum of interviews," he added.

One is artist Juice, who spoke to Blakemore about selling her artwork for the first time there along with clothes, furniture and even old games consoles.

"People are buying and they don't know how happy they're making me because it's stuff I've held onto emotionally for such a long time," she said.

Blakemore he loves the conversations people have as haggles take place.

He added that sellers might lower their price if they know their old belonging is going to a good home or cause.

Some buyers even hit the jackpot, including one man who bought a clock for £10 and later discovered it was worth £1,000.

As part of the project, visitors will also be able to view objects and listen to audio recordings and poetry.

The project will also go into the Gloucester Archives and travel to Blakemore's local car boot in Cheddar, Somerset, at the end of August.

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