Five years ago artists Ruth Ben-Tovim and Trish O'Shea took over the disused shop and invited the people of Sharrow to meet them.

They wanted their photos and memories of the area, even bits and pieces found in the streets, and stuck them up on the walls.

Then in 2006 the whole project was shipped over to Italy for the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale of Architecture. Ruth and Trish dumped all the photos in piles on a table and invited visitors to make little collages of them on blocks of wood, with scissors and glue.

"When the blocks ran out they kept on making them anyway," says Ruth. Those photos, now collages, are now back on the walls five years later.

"It's the people of Venice having a conversation with the people of Sheffield," says their PR on the phone – artists have them these days – a little arty-fartily.

Back at Wostenholm Road, where the shop still fits between Charley's Pantry and Cedric's the hairdressers, the Diary thinks that while busily jotting down quotes.

Ruth says: "Someone called us forensic artists and we rather liked that. The official term is relational. To collect the work one has to have a dialogue.

"Its the process of giving people the chance to share their everyday lives and experiences."

The trouble with writing all this is that it sounds so arty farty, puts in the Diary. There, it's been said.

Ruth isn't having it. "It's not arty farty, it's real, it's work! You encourage people to think differently and a process of change happens."

Or as Trish says, it's very personal. It's like meeting a stranger and getting to know them."

Wostenholm Road was their first project. Since then Ruth and Trish have been having Encounters all over England, from Batley to Liverpool.

Right now Ruth and Trish are hoping for an Encounter on Wybourn. Ruth says: "We are asking people to take us on a one-to-one walk through Wybourn showing us their own personal places."

The shop is open twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-7pm until the end of September.

Then they are hoping it can become some sort of public artwork. After September the shop will continue as an art space for people to do what they want.

n If you want to show them your Wybourn way text Ruth on 07870 698333 or email ruth@wearencounters.org.uk


READ MORE
Your letters.
Today's features.
Latest sport.
Main news index.