answers on a postcard

Joanna Rucklidge invited me to create a lowercase 'y' for Like-Letters, an exhibition at the Sheffield Institute of Arts this autumn. The brief was to respond to the design of the letter before mine (x) using yellow, red and blue. After a couple of false starts I stitched into the early hours and created this!

Reverse of card (hidden when stuck to another postcard for sending)

E11 to S1

PLAY / GROUND - ritual & intention

This workshop provided an opportunity to explore the forest site in considering ritual, consciousness and voicing intention. Participants were invited to hunker down, breathe in the space, to listen, to tune in/tune out and quietly ask, What do I need more of in my life? Using materials found onsite objects were assembled to represent desires and our ritual was completed by writing intentions on rice paper which was buried or placed meaningfully within the holly grove. 

Rice paper, made of potato starch and water would dissolve in the coming days, our written/drawn intentions melting into the forest floor. Our actions retained as memories accompanying us beyond the woods and into everyday life, I wonder if thoughts have returned to the forest site since, mine have.

The Leytonstone Arts Trail 2016 focused mine and Siobhan Davies collaboration, both of us testing ideas and playfully pushing boundaries. PLAY / GROUND is an ongoing invitation for others to invent happenings and adventures in E11.

Invitation

 Path

 Listening & mark making

 Object of desire

Interventions & tweaks within the space

summer term - year 5 at drew primary

My final half term at Drew Primary School was spent with the y5 pupils, so I ended my year as I began, in their classrooms. The city of London inspired our art exploration and Drew's young Londoners studied the iconic Tube map, considered our connections to the rest of the world from London City Airport (situated next to the school) and used memories and experiences to add depth to their work. We drew, painted, mark made, cut, collaged, looked, listened, learned tricks, short cuts and creative techniques, rising to the challenge of each activity.

My two years at Drew Primary have been full of learning, I've enjoyed working with the whole school and it's been a privilege to open the doorway into art/thinking/expressing/connecting with these precious children, the future creators of our city, our world. Thanks for having me!

 The London Eye in vibrant ink

 Firework!

 Tuning into our surroundings

 Mass drawing of London City Airport DLR station

 London landmarks

 Bold painting

dinosaur

Family felt making at The Hepworth Wakefield last Sunday, no photos of felt this time BUT this little lad created a picture on our magnetic wall - a dinosaur! He was one of the politest and clearest children I've ever met. Great boundaries wee one!

hepworth wakefield

Last Friday I had the pleasure of working alongside a group of young people at The Hepworth Wakefield. Our workshop coincided with the opening of Stanley Spencer: Of Angels & Dirt and we focused on his landscape paintings in gallery 9, discussing, writing and drawing in response to the work. Using fabric, rope and finds from the gallery store cupboards we assembled our interpretation on the grass outside the gallery. Focused engagement, playfulness and teamwork resulted in a fantastic day.

 Work Space

 Team work

 Rain stopped play briefly and left its mark

Action

leytonstone arts trail 2016

The Leytonstone Arts Trail runs from 2nd - 10th July. My interview for the trail website was posted yesterday!

 In my hand-made dress at my studio table

My newest work, an as yet untitled embroidery

PLAY / GROUND

During a chat about creativity and its nemesis, the inner critical voice, Siobhan Davis and Karen Logan spoke of childhood play and exploration, of becoming absorbed in process rather than focused on outcome - and the idea for PLAY / GROUND was born. The artists have created two outdoor workshops that compliment each other and consider playfulness, with a sprinkling of mischievousness and a desire to connect with kin.

Part of the Leytonstone Arts Trail our workshops take place on Sunday 3rd and Sunday 10th of July, they are FREE! Join us!