Walk in the Woods

On Saturday 6th September I went for a walk in Queen's Wood, North London, as part of the exhibition Take a Walk in the Park. Along my way I secreted matchbox rizla drawings and Pie Napkins amongst the foliage. You can see where I deposited the drawings in the posts for my Day 1 Walk.

On Sunday 7th September I returned, after a night of rain, to attempt to find the drawings, and to see what condition they were in after spending a night in the woods. In the posts for my Day 2 Walk you can see which matchboxes and Pie Napkins I was able to find, and how they had been changed by the wood.

I managed to retrieve some of the drawings and dry them out. You can compare the condition of the drawings after being in the woods all weekend with their condition before going into the woods.

further exercise matchbox - After Woods

further exercise matchbox - dried out after being in the woods all weekend


further exercise rizla - dried out after being in the woods all weekend

See further exercise matchbox on day 2, after being in the woods over night

See further exercise matchbox on day 1

See further exercise matchbox and further exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods

bigger exercise matchbox - After Woods

bigger exercise matchbox - dried out after being in the woods all weekend


bigger exercise rizla - dried out after being in the woods all weekend

See bigger exercise matchbox on day 2, after being in the woods over night

See bigger exercise matchbox on day 1

See bigger exercise matchbox and bigger exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods

in exercise matchbox - After Woods

in exercise matchbox - dried out after being in the woods all weekend


in exercise rizla - dried out after being in the woods all weekend

See in exercise matchbox on day 2, after being in the woods over night

See in exercise matchbox on day 1

See in exercise matchbox and in exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods

keep going exercise rizla - After Woods

keep going exercise matchbox - dried out after being in the woods all weekend


keep going exercise rizla - dried out after being in the woods all weekend

See keep going exercise matchbox on day 2, after being in the woods overnight

See keep going exercise matchbox on day 1

See keep going exercise matchbox and keep going exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods

let go exercise matchbox - After Woods

let go exercise matchbox - dried out after being in the woods all weekend


let go exercise rizla - dried out after being in the woods all weekend

See let go exercise matchbox on day 2, after being in the woods over night

See let go exercise matchbox on day 1

See let go exercise matchbox and let go exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods

more exercise matchbox - After Woods

more exercise matchbox - dried out after being in the woods all weekend


more exercise rizla - dried out after being in the woods all weekend

See more exercise matchbox on day 2, after being in the woods overnight

See more exercise matchbox on day 1

See more exercise matchbox and more exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods

out exercise matchbox - After Woods

out exercise matchbox - dried out after being in the woods all weekend


out exercise rizla - dried out after being in the woods all weekend

See out exercise matchbox on day 2, after being in the woods over night

See out exercise matchbox on day 1

See out exercise matchbox and out exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods

up exercise matchbox - After Woods

up exercise matchbox - dried out after being in the woods all weekend


up exercise rizla - dried out after being in the woods all weekend

See up exercise matchbox on day 2, after being in the woods overnight

See up exercise matchbox on day 1

See up exercise matchbox and up exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods

Pie Napkin (puff) - After Woods

Pie Napkin (puff) - dried out after being in the woods all weekend

See Pie Napkin (puff) on day 2, after being in the woods over night

See Pie Napkin (puff) on day 1

See Pie Napkin (puff) in its original condition before going into the woods

Pie Napkin (pasty) - After Woods

Pie Napkin (pasty) - dried out after being in the woods all weekend

See Pie Napkin (pasty) on day 2 after being in the woods over night

See Pie Napkin (pasty) on day 1

See Pie Napkin (pasty) in its original condition before going into the woods

Pie Napkin (chicken kickers) - After Woods

Pie Napkin (chicken kickers) - dried out after being in the woods all weekend

See Pie Napkin (chicken kickers) on day 2, after being in the woods over night

See Pie Napkin (chicken kickers) on day 1

See Pie Napkin (chicken kickers) in its original condition before going into the woods

Pie napkin (brown food) - After Woods

Pie napkin (brown food) - dried out after being in the woods all weekend

See Pie napkin (brown food) on day 2, after being in the woods over night

See Pie Napkin (brown food) on day 1

See Pie Napkin (brown food) in its original state before going into the woods

Pie Napkin (and peas) - After Woods

Pie Napkin (and peas) - dried out after being in the woods all weekend

See Pie Napkin (and peas) on day 2, after being in the woods over night

See Pie Napkin (and peas) on day 1 in the woods

See Pie Napkin (and peas) in its original condition before going into the woods

Walk in the Woods - Day 2

On Sunday 7th September, the second day of the exhibition Take a Walk in the Park, I walked through Queen’s Woods to find the matchboxes and napkin drawings that I had deposited there the day before. The route I had taken on Saturday when I placed the drawings in the woods had begun from the main clearing, so I started from there on my walk to find them. I was able to remember some of my route and to find locations on it where I had left matchboxes and napkins. I could not, however, remember all of the route or places where I had left drawings. Sometimes I found drawings nearby to where I had left them, sometimes exactly where I had left them, and sometimes they were gone. I did not remember at all where some of the drawings had been, and did not find them. Sometimes I encountered a drawing unexpectedly, having forgotten where it was. I have posted pictures of the matchboxes and napkins that I did find below, in the order that I originally placed them on my route through the woods. You can compare the condition and variety of drawings on my Day 2 walk to those on my Day 1 walk

down exercise matchbox and Pie Napkin (pasty) - Day 2

This is the log where down exercise matchbox had been left on day 1. On day 2 the matchbox was not there.

See down exercise matchbox on day 1

See down exercise matchbox and down exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods





Pie Napkin (pasty) on day 2, after being in the woods over night. This napkin was still attached to the holly bush where it had originally been placed but it had got all twisted up. It was possible to unfold it and lay it back onto the holly bush.

See Pie Napkin (pasty) on day 1

See Pie Napkin (pasty) in its original condition before going into the woods

bigger exercise matchbox - Day 2

bigger exercise matchbox, on day 2 after being in the woods overnight. This matchbox had not moved position, remaining in the hollow at the base of a tree trunk. It was still quite dry and undamaged. The rizla inside was a bit damp.

See bigger exercise matchbox on day 1

See bigger exercise matchbox and bigger exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods

further exercise matchbox - Day 2

further exercise matchbox on day 2, after spending the night in the woods. This matchbox had remained in its original position, on a mossy wall. The box had become very damp and burst open, but the rizla was still inside and in good condition.

See further exercise matchbox on day 1

See further exercise matchbox and further exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods

Pie Napkin (steak and kidney) - Day 2

Pie Napkin (steak and kidney) on day 2, after spending the night in the woods. This napkin had fallen from the tree on which it had been hung, and was now laying on the ground. It was quite crumpled and bits of earth, stick and small creatures had got mixed in with it; it was not possible to rescue it.

See Pie Napkin (steak and kidney) on day 1

See Pie Napkin (steak and kidney) in its original condition before going in to the woods

let go exercise matchbox - Day 2

let go exercise matchbox on day 2, on a treestump. The box was in its original position, but it had burst open and the rizla inside was just a tiny scrap of screwed up paper.

See let go exercise matchbox on day 1

See let go exercise matchbox and let go exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods

keep going exercise matchbox - Day 2

keep going exercise matchbox on day 2, after being in the woods overnight. The matchbox had remained in its position on a railing. The box was a little damp, and had expanded, but the rizla was in good condition.

See keep going exercise matchbox on day 1

See keep going exercise matchbox and keep going exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods

up exercise matchbox - Day 2

up exercise matchbox, in a plant sale box, on day 2. This matchbox had remained in exactly the same position. The box was barely changed, but the rizla was really quite damp. It was possible to unfold the rizla and drape it onto the edge of the matchbox.

See up exercise matchbox on day 1

See up exercise matchbox and up exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods

Pie Napkin (and peas) - Day 2

Pie Napkin (and peas) on day 2, on a bush after being in the woods overnight. This napkin had remained in its original position. It was soggy but untorn and still strong. Some of the colours and dots were still visible. The pie had changed colour somewhat.

See Pie Napkin (and peas) on day 1

See Pie Napkin (and peas) in its original condition before going into the woods

in exercise matchbox - Day 2

in exercise matchbox on day 2, in the crook of a tree after being in the woods overnight. This matchbox was in a good condition, remaining in its original position. The card of the box was quite damp and so the box had bulged open a bit. The rizla inside was damp and had become translucent, but was still strong and complete.

See in exercise matchbox on day 1

See in exercise matchbox and in exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods



Uprooted tree near in exercise matchbox

Pie Napkin (puff) - Day 2

Pie Napkin (puff) on day 2, after being in the woods overnight. This napkin was still attached to the holly bush as originally placed at one corner, but it had come loose at the other corner and twisted up. It was possible to unfurl it and drape it back onto the holly bush. It was damp but mainly untorn. The colours were practically all washed out.

See Pie Napkin (puff) on day 1

See Pie Napkin (puff) in its original condition before going into the woods

more exercise matchbox - Day 2

more exercise matchbox on day 2, on a tree trunk bulge after being in the woods overnight. This one was in good condition - the card of the box was damp but the rizla inside was only slightly damp. It had remained in its original position on the tree bulge.

See more exercise matchbox on day 1

See more exercise matchbox and more exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods


Tree with more exercise matchbox on bulge at base of the trunk

Pie Napkin (innards) - Day 2

Pie Napkin (innards) on day 2, on the ground after being in the woods overnight. The napkin had fallen from the tree and lay crumpled and very wet on the ground. This one was barely recognisable, only a few dots remained. It was impossible to open it out to dry, and it had got mixed up with dirt from the forest floor.

See Pie Napkin (innards) on day 1

See Pie Napkin (innards) in its original condition before going into the woods.

Pie Napkin (chicken kickers) and out exercise matchbox- Day 2

Pie Napkin (chicken kickers) on day 2, on tree shoots after being in the woods over night. The napkin had fallen from the thin tree branches it had been attached to and was laying across some tree shoots near the ground. It felt wet, but although the colours had run some of the original dots were still visible.

See Pie Napkin (chicken kickers) on day 1

See Pie Napkin (chicken kickers) in its original condition before going into the woods




out exercise matchbox on day 2, after being in the woods overnight

See out exercise matchbox on day 1

See out exercise matchbox and out exercise rizla in their original condition before going into the woods

Pie Napkin (brown food) - Day 2

Pie Napkin (brown food), on a tree, on day 2 after being in the woods over night. The Pie Napkin was hanging from the tree by one corner. It was soggy and slightly torn.

See Pie Napkin (brown food) on day 1

See Pie Napkin (brown food) in its original state before going into the woods