Päivi Raivio. Sense+Place, 2014

The Union of Rural Culture´s project Paikan tuntu – paikan identiteetti (Sense of Place, Identity of Place) explore the meanings of local environments, landscapes and public spaces using community- and environmental art, exhibitions, interventions and discussions. The project focuses also in new ways of adopting, using and activating disused spaces and “non-places”.

Päivi Raivion´s site-specific installation Sense+Place in Rauma was the first in the series of three installations. It was carried out in collaboration with RaumArs, whose long-term interest has been to develop the use of Seppä House. The installation aimed to bring life and visitors to the site, and through that make the space more visible and bring the topic to public discussion. The abandoned pavilion-like elements of the installation reminded users of the once actively used garden, invited visitors to pause in the garden to read a book, have a picnic or use it for small events. The installation aimed to be a starting point for a new, updated identity of the unused house and garden.

For the installation´s plants Päivi Raivio carried out gardening workshops with local school classes (Rauman Normaalikoulu, Rauman freinetkoulu). The edible greens were later planted in the garden, as a part of the installation. RaumArs-artist Nikolina Butorac´s land art piece was integrated in the project and planted in the Seppä House garden too. The watering and tending of the plants was carried out by VALO-workshops participants from Rauman Seudun Katulähetys. The gardening expertise and greenhouses were provided by Seminar Garden.

In July RaumArs residence artists Pouk Theater organized two performances in the garden, one at dawn and one late in the night. Sense+Place installation culminated in August when the harvest party took place during the Pop Up-event weekend. The event also included small concerts, Restaurant Day, workshops, performances and a widely attended public discussion about the future use of the Seppä House. RaumArs artists clarinetist Samuel Berthod played a Klezmer-music concert and community artist, Bethany Mitchell facilitated open workshops on French knitting techniques.

Päivi Raivio´s project was funded by the Kone Foundation and Biolan sponsored the soil for the garden.

Päivi Raivio is a freelance designer, artist and producer working in the area of public spaces, service design and place making. She has Ba Hons degree in Design and Public Art in Chelsea College of Art and Design in London and she completed her MA studies in Applied Art and Design in the University of Art and Design Helsinki in 2009.

Her works are mostly situated in public space utilizing human presence (or sometimes absence), and are either interactive or site-specific. Works mostly consist of built installations and often waste or found materials. Raivio also implements social experiences and interventions with themes relating to the use of public space and communicating in public space.

Raivio has worked for example for Kaapelitehdas and Suvilahti, British Council, City of Helsinki (Youth Deparment, Social Services), Helsingin Energia and City of Pori. She is part of the working group in the Sense of Place, Identity of Place -project by The Union of Rural Culture working on a series of site-specific installations. She is also working as a curator/producer for Grey Cube Galleries in Korkeasaari Zoo.