"Driving back from the festival, sun blazing down through Lil Eric’s windscreen as we lurch through the countryside. Two sisters bumping along in our little blue van. Coasting along the dual carriageway, top speed’s carrying us at a cool 60mph. Sister sledge is ON!
The dashboard’s coming alive in the sun, mini trinkets glittering like gemstones, the golden glint of the Chinese cat’s arm waving with the rhythm of the road. The air freshener is bopping about on the rear mirror. This is the life.
I move into the fast lane to let in some cars into the dual carriageway. They speed away, luminous in the sun. Open road ahead of us. I cast a glance in my mirror as I prepare to move back to the slow lane. Woops, car closer behind than I thought, I readjust and swerve back, woops again, that was unnecessarily agitated, and I overcompensated.
I grapple with the wheel, yank it left to straighten it. The van veers left and then right again. Why isn’t it going straight? I’m wrestling the wheel but I can’t seem to stop it. The van veers, left, right left right. I’m driving but I am powerless.I have no control at all.
As I realise this I look at Zoe. She is looking at me. I can’t get control I say although her eyes already know it. Pure panic. Helpless. The van has followed my gaze and swerved left, We career towards the grass verge, my wheels are off the ground now. Zoe’s side hits the road. Momentarily I’m upside-down as the van attempts another roll. Crash on the ceiling. Bang as we fall back down, screeching towards the verge, clattering across the ground. One side up then the next.
The verge’s pavement must have finally stopped us. Suddenly the crashing has stopped but I’m still wailing. Zoe is climbing out of the windscreen and pulling me with her, we are out of the van, gasping in the sun…
Ambulance, police, fire brigade. You should buy a lottery ticket you’re so lucky. Rolled old campervan? Tin can. We were dreading getting here.
They cut the engine. They pull him onto a trailer. He’s a write off they say. We bag what we can and stand by the side of the road. Two sisters and a few bags, holding our life at the weekend."
After being told that he was a write off, this Installation seeks to give beloved Eric, my crashed campervan a new lease of life. A space to come dance, hang out and celebrate the silver linings in life.
When life gives you lemons right?
Zoe Gillett- Creative Director / Producer
Owner of Eric the campervan and creator of the project. After hearing about a competition at Latitude Festival to create an installation out of an old vehicle, she created Silver Linings and soon won a place. Working as a Filmmaker, she brings her knowledge of production and the varied connections she has made through the industry to put together a multi-skilled production. She has directed numerous film projects into fruition, working from initial concept, to designing, filming and editing.
Harriet Gillett - Set Designer
Crasher of Eric but beloved sister and artist saves the day to help design the installation. Harriet has worked professionally as an artist and set designer for five years. She has exhibited extensively in shows and had her work in private collections worldwide. Aside from painting, she's worked on various large-scale murals across London and trailers in the countryside, been set designer for independent events, music videos and plays. She also worked at The Rabbit Hole stage at Glastobury 2023.
