I can't breathe

I can't breathe, Alison Carlier, 2021, wax, plater of Paris, resin 5cm x 5cm 

This small torso by Alison Carlier is sheltering on the facade of St Mary's Church. The writers for groving respond purely to the objects, and see them just as members of the public do, who come across the monuments when they are going about the town. In this instance, the writers are David Dougan and James McDermott. 

Broken in body but still unbowed,
Your spirit lives on
In the memories of those who loved you.
 
You are still the boy of dreams
And the man who aspired to be the best
To the family and friends who knew you.
 
If your memories are our memories
Then your life is ours and you live on through us
In an endless thread of life.
 
We have no need of monuments to you
Since you are deep inside us
Where you cannot be defaced.
 
 David Dougan

DISMEMBERMENT

I don’t stare at you like an exhibit 
I see you   your queer body
how they’ve made you faceless 
to deny you   your vision  your voice 
how they’ve disarmed you
to halt you from holding   giving  taking
how they’ve made you groinless 
to wipe out your wanting 
how they’ve made you legless
to stop you from rising   running
 
I see me   just a head 
the world on my shoulders 
 
a heart   in a taut self inflated chest
 
you show me   we survive dismemberment 
 
James McDermott

Alison Carlier has an MA in Drawing from Wimbledon College of Arts. Her practice is wide ranging, informed by her experience working in occupational therapy and with a particular interest in voice - she won the Jerwood Drawing Prize in 2014 for a sound piece. She was nominated for the Max Mara Prize for Women 2016, she was the grove artist in residence in 2015 and the Alexandra Reinhardt Memorial Award Artist in 2016.
Instagram @alisoncarlier Twitter @carlier_alison Facebook alison.carlier.5  www.alisoncarlier.com

David Dougan had a career in journalism, television and arts management. He now concentrates on writing and lecturing, on history and art history. He is the author of a dozen books, including Bury St Edmunds: A Rebellious Town.

James McDermott is a writer based in East Anglia represented by Independent Talent. He is an Associate Artist at Norwich Theatre Royal and Norwich Arts Centre. His play 'Time and Tide' was nominated for two Off West End Theatre Awards (Offies) including one for Best New Play. James has recently written new plays for a number of regional theatres, and is one of the writers on EastEnders.

As a poet, James is widely published in poetry journals and magazines. His debut spoken word poetry collection 'Manatomy' is published by Burning Eye Books and was longlisted for the Polari First Book Prize 2021. James has pamphlets forthcoming from Polari Press and Red Ceilings Press.  Twitter @jamesliammcd 
Instagram @jamesmcdermott1993 Facebook James McDermotthttps://jamesmcdermottwriter.weebly.com