Hannah Lamb

A New Journal for Paris

2012-01-18T15:52:00.000Z

Tomorrow I will be off to Paris with my students for a study trip, and I just hope we have time to do everything we have planned. I am really excited about the arrival of my Moleskine Paris notebook. A piece of pure genius and an object of exquisite design. I can't wait to use it...

Busy Stitching

2012-01-15T20:30:00.000Z

The last couple of weeks have been pretty busy, and it's been hard to find the time and space to get my work done. However, as always, a deadline does help to focus the mind and two deadlines even more so. I have been working on some new work (towards applying for a couple of things) and after many weeks of waxing, cutting, stitching and pondering, I finally feel like I might be getting somewhere. I had a big breakthrough today when I took the plunge and decided to use the back of the piece. I feel as though I have moved on enormously as a result.

Below are a few images of my stitching, which is more embroidery than I have done for a long time. These are just details but I will show some more once it is 'finished'.

Whetting the appetite

2012-01-07T22:23:00.001Z

The last couple of days I have been grazing the net researching our imminent study visit to Paris and Maison et Objet in a couple of weeks. Just browsing has whetted my appetite, I can't wait! If anyone has any hot tips for shops, galleries, etc in Paris, especially the more obscure ones, I would be really grateful for your suggestions. It's always great to have some personal recommendations so please a comment.

I also just came across trend guru Li Eidelkort's Trendtablet website. As you would expect if you are used to Li's publications, it showcases a wealth of textile related gems, inspirations from art, design and crafts.

In the meantime I have a huge amount of work to do before submitting a couple of applications before I go.

Making Things

2011-12-23T17:30:00.002Z

You might be excused for thinking I haven't been doing much lately... but you would be wrong! I have been quietly working away on a couple of ideas and it has felt great to be making again. But first in a little homage to Nancy Holt's Sun Tunnels I was playing about with my camera taking these shots of my waxed materials:

It also felt nice to be choosing my threads and playing with stitches, looking for just the right mark.

Night Night

2011-12-22T11:00:00.001Z

In case you missed it last night BBC 4 had a series of excellent programs on the theme of Night, it being the longest night or shortest day. The main event of the evening was The Art Of The Night in which Waldemar Januszczak explores the influence of night time on artists ancient and modern, and I thoroughly recommend watching it. I was particularly struck by Nancy Holt's Sun Tunnels in Utah for it's simplicity yet other worldliness. This modern day Stonehenge could only be sited in the epic landscapes of the American west, it needs the space to exist without interruptions. Below is a video of the Sun Tunnels from You Tube by Andy & Lance Olsen although not as spectacular as watching it at sunrise or sunset.

Scratching the Surface - Ephemeral Decay

2011-12-17T21:13:00.000Z

Check out the street artist Alexanda Farto A.K.A Vhils. Hewn from plaster, brick and stone, he brings the soul of city walls alive. I find them beautiful and deeply moving.

I also recommend Street Sketchbook Journeys by Tristan Manco.

Circling a Beech

2011-12-17T17:13:00.000Z

In Hirst Wood, a circlet of beech, laid as a hedge around a single forking beech sapling. I wonder who made it?

It takes space to get to simplicity

2011-12-12T22:53:00.000Z

I had a really productive day yesterday, clearing space on the kitchen wall to finally pin up some ideas that have been whirring around my head. It is quite stunning the difference it makes just having the space to put things out and step back. I felt this unfolding of ideas as I tested out different forms and shapes on the wall; pinning, re-arranging, stepping back, scribbling, applying shapes and stencils.

Paper pieces

I want to start working in a much more abstract and symbolic manner, which I have always found difficult previously, but now it seems like something I need to get out of my system. I am also keen to work on a large scale on 2D work. While I was working I was thinking about work I have seen and found inspirational over the years: Jo Budd, Mark Rothko, Polly Binns and many others, scale and simplicity in abstraction feel important to me right now. I also enjoyed this blog posting from Judy Martin.

Having the physical space to work really helped me find some mental space to zone out and allow thoughts to drift in as I worked. Words of wisdom from all kinds of people seemed to bubble up and connect me with different times and places, a good feeling to have the presence of some brilliant, creative minds with me as I worked.

It takes time to get to simplicity

2011-12-10T22:50:00.000Z

It's somehow good to know that a kind of clarity of purpose and execution takes others a long time to achieve too. Gwyneth Leech's hand-painted coffee cup installation 'Hypergraphia' at the Flatiron Building in NYC has just that quality; the resolution of years of investigation, distilled into a fabulously striking work with the power to engage with everyone. Read more here.

Convalesance

2011-12-05T11:43:00.000Z

I have been out of sorts for a while, but for the last week I have been feeling really sorry for myself. The upside of being ill is that I have finally got around to reading some books I meant to read ages ago. The first being the wonderful 'Quilts 1700 - 2010 - Hidden Histories, Untold Stories' accompanying the V&A exhibition of the same name. As I missed out on the original exhibition this is proving to be an excellent alterntive, and whilst nothing can substitute for seeing 'the real thing' it is a pleasure to really take your time. Although I am still nibbling my way through this book, it is a really fascinating read from a very fresh perspective with beautiful images too.

The other book I have been enjoying is Rebecca Crompton's 'Modern Design in Embroidery' (pub.1936). Now I have to confess this has been on my shelves for several years and I haven't got around to properly reading it until now. I now fully appreciate why her ideas created a quiet revolution in the world of embroidery. Although the writing could be seen a slightly vague, her examples demonstrate fully the 'new' way of working she extoles. Exploring line qualties, balancing tonal values and working with blocks of colour, her approach could still teach us all a great deal now. This is definitely a book worth searching out.

Rebecca Crompton, The magic Garden

Knitting & Stitching Show

2011-11-24T21:04:00.000Z

If you are visiting the Knitting & Stitching Show in Harrogate this weekend please drop by the Bradford School of Arts stands at TG102 at E1 (downstairs). My students will be selling lots of lovely goodies on E1 as they raise funds towards their final shows at taking their work to London for New Designers. Tell them Hannah sent you!

Dotting the i's and crossing the t's

2011-11-08T17:48:00.000Z

Since the weather wasn't right for the work I planned to do today I returned to the techniques I learnt with Rosalind Wyatt at the V&A. I think I am making progress, but it's odd because I'm not used to finding it difficult to learn something like this. When it works though it looks lovely, so I think it's worth practising.

I have also updated my website with lots of new information and images. If you would like to hop across the link is here.

Greening the urban landscape

2011-11-04T16:17:00.002Z

Or perhaps this posting could be titled 'things to do in Tesco car park'? Looking at nature's reclamation of urban surfaces; first on the ground with these mossy 'carpets' ...

... and then on magical stickers/patches that grow algae on lampposts.

Colour & Surface

2011-11-02T16:38:00.000Z

I just came across the work of Barbara Wisnoski, a Canadian textile artist creating sumptuous pieced cloths, while pottering about the web. Her work is beautiful and celebrates textile as pure artistic medium. It made me think perhaps there is nothing wrong about creating an artwork t that simply gives joy and satisfaction by it's pure texture, colour and surface. I wonder if I try to over-complicate matters sometimes? I think I could sit and stare into her pieces for ages they are so sumptuous.

Barbara Wisnoski - Earth - repetition of an act of mourning - 193 x 173 cm

Please watch this and register your views

2011-11-01T17:38:00.000Z

Friends of the Earth petition

Finding patterns and the power of slow

2011-10-25T21:13:00.000+01:00

I am a little bit obsessed with geometric patterns at the moment. Today while clearing rubbish from our garden I came across a strange combination of man-made pattern and organic textures. A roll of bubblewrap had been squashed in amongst old logs, timber, scrub and soil; slowly embossing surfaces and providing unnusual root runs. The power of slow.

... gives me a few ideas.

Sticker Project

2011-10-21T21:34:00.003+01:00

It's was a relief this afternoon to submit the work I have done for the sticker project at Bradford College, having beavered away all this week. I have been making a series of six handmade textile and paper 'stickers' titled 'Enter the Woods' based on a found verse (I think from an old hymn). If anyone knows who wrote this please let me know.

I think God gave the woods to us,

That we might steal away,

Alone to those green solitudes,

From all the noise of day,

I think God gave the woods to us,

To teach our souls to pray.

Each sticker includes a line from the verse enclosed within a folded piece of plant dyed cloth. I have used fine silk and metallic fabrics in subtle colours that seemed to mimic the colours of weathered concrete, wood and metal. This work aims to entice the viewer to explore green spaces, escaping the noise and bustle of city life. I imagine the stickers positioned around the urban environment, to be found in an intimate encounter with an unexpected artwork.

Below are some photos I took to see how the stickers might look in situ.

The stickers will join a large number of self-adhesive mini artworks by fellow Bradford staff and students, in locations in Spain and England to coincide with the Bilbao Art Fair. Rather than exhibit work in a gallery or art fair the project seeks to explore alternative, temporary locations for art by placing stickers outside the gallery, in urban spaces, on walls, pavements and unexpected public places. If anyone manages to see one let me know!

You can look at more fabulous sticker inspiration here.

A Golden Leaf...

2011-10-18T21:32:00.000+01:00

... caught my eye as the October sun lit it on fire high in the sky. I followed it as it fluttered down and it became my prize!

Bundles from Shipley Glen

2011-10-18T21:24:00.000+01:00

Wandering, exploring, stumbling along

2011-10-07T21:32:00.000+01:00

A productive day today; walking and thinking, testing out ideas.

I made the most of the autumn sun, first exploring a very short way along the river, but exploring a little way off the path. It was notable that a more substantial path is being put in place to help walkers navigate the slippery patch of riverbank that is riddled with springs. It made me wonder whether making wild places safe and risk free this takes away from our experience; removing the sensation of mud sucking my boots deep down into the sodden ground.

I experimented with stitching some text outside, but I was not satisfied with the results. By the time I had embroidered the words my mind had moved onto other things. I want to make work of and in the moment. I decided to make some bundles, with the newly fallen beech and oak leaves. Finding a small fragment of broken pottery amongst the smoothed stones of the busy stream I picked it up to include with the bundle I was making. I feel this is starting to get interesting as the bundle is taking on a significance as a piece of work in it's own right.

Submerged bundle

Later this afternoon I went out exploring, visiting Shipley Glen (for the first time I am ashamed to say) and having a good wander about. I thoroughly enjoyed myself in the late summer sun, scrambling and strolling through the glorious landscape of giant tumbling boulders and crooked oak trees.

A fairy house?

Time and space

2011-10-06T23:30:00.002+01:00

Being home alone this week I have had a little more time and space to myself, which has encouraged me to to reflect a little bit. I am realising that I find it useful to have some solitude in order to think and work. I know I am easily distracted and somehow need to remove myself from the temptations. My other realisation is that I also need some outside creative input; something to fill the gaps left by tutorials when studying on the MA. I need a network of peers to motivate, encourage and critique.

Sooooo... this week I have taken the plunge and started looking for a studio space to rent - I'm still looking if anyone knows anywhere appropriate and reasonably priced. Another option I may consider is looking for a local residency.

Also I wonder if anyone else is also looking for similar support? Perhaps there could be the possibility of a small artists group of like-minded people. Let me know if you think you might be interested.

Thanks folks!

Text and textile

2011-09-25T21:56:00.000+01:00

I was fortunate to be able to drop into a lovely free workshop run by Rosalind Wyatt at the V&A last Friday. Run in conjunction with the London Design Festival the workshop introduced Rosalind's approach to translating handwriting into hand embroidery. Because of Rosalind's training as a calligrapher her technique is more concerned with capturing the rhythm and character of the original hand than it is about creating a rigid copy. Her technique encourages the thread to lay fluidly on the surface of the fabric as if as a line of ink. I only wish I could master her sensitivity of stitched mark.

Rosalind Wyatt 'Stitch Love Letter'

An article from the Guardian on Rosalind's work can be found here

From the Garden

2011-09-21T20:27:00.000+01:00

A few weeks ago I made a bundle of cotton gauze using leftovers from the garden; sage leaves, onion skins and a piece of old copper pipe.

Dreamscape

2011-09-21T16:52:00.002+01:00

Foraging

2011-08-31T22:44:00.000+01:00

During the last couple of days I have made it my mission to collect as much of the season's bounty as possible. Despite it being not quite September I think Autumn has been upon us for a while already and I want to make sure I don't miss out.

Going out looking for hedgerow fruit reminded me just how much foraging has been responsible for me discovering and exploring new places. I have a habit of just setting out with a carrier bag in hand and roaming until the bag feels heavy. Exploring on foot (I can't drive) I probably have a much smaller area of knowledge, but I think the scale of that knowledge means I can observe the details - plus I would never have come across the topiary Scotty dog leaping out of a garden hedge today, although I do wish I'd taken a photo!

One other thing that has occurred to me is just how much fruit goes to waste in gardens all over the country. Sometimes this is lazyness but I have also found a lot of people just aren't aware of what is growing in their gardens and what can be done with it. One lady I spoke to yesterday had no idea she had crab apples, damsons, elderberries etc. all growing about 10 steps from her front door! I wonder if anyone has come up with any ideas for mapping local fruit, crop sharing etc? Let me know if you have come across anything.

So my recommendation for this weekend (although I am probably preaching to the converted) is to get out there, wander along the back roads, chat to people along your road, explore the boundaries of school playing fields, railway verges and canal towpaths. You know you have had a good foraging expedition when you come back with stained fingers and matching tongue! You might even like to squeeze some windfall juices through some cloth.

Home Sweet Home?

2011-08-28T21:17:00.000+01:00

When both my husband and my Mum are asking me why I haven't posted anything recently I realise that it must be far too long since I put anything here. The real reason is that I don't feel I have done anything worth writing about. Yes I have been away on holiday and seen some wonderful things, there are beautiful things growing in the garden, and any number of other lovely things I could mention, but really this isn't that kind of blog. This blog is supposed to be my way of putting down my thoughts, questioning and debating the progress of my practice... and here lies the problem! Just what is it that is holding me back from progressing with my practice?

If the truth be told, it is just over a year since I really felt fully engaged with my work. Is it any coincidence that it is just over a year ago that we bought our first house and started making a proper home? It is such a cliche that the best art comes from misery, and I'd love to disagree but it does seem that dissatisfaction with life leads us to ask questions of ourselves and our situation. With the benefit of hindsight I realise that the project I worked on throughout my MA was a way for me to locate myself during a period of feeling detached from my surroundings. So the question for me now is what is the purpose of my practice? Who is it for? ... and since I have been struggling so much to actually do any work, how do I find the motivation and head-space to focus myself?

So anyway what have I been doing with all my time? I have spent a lot of time teaching, gardening decorating and generally being at home. All of which (it could be argued) are very creative, and yet I do feel I have been neglecting the thing I am supposed to be doing. I feel a fraud! I don't want to become one of those people that says "yes I really should do some of my own work again but it's years since I did anything and I don't know where to start".

Perhaps the answer is to find a space (mental or physical?) where I can't be distracted. I think set deadlines or projects would help too. Any help or advice on either of these would be gratefully received.

Oh, and for reading to the end of my boring rant, here is a little treat - my holiday photos of Gertrude Jekyl's garden at Lindisfarne Castle, Northumberland (sometimes it can be 'that kind of blog')!

An example of authentic recycling - sheds on Holy Island

Kingfisher walk

2011-08-04T22:18:00.000+01:00

A short walk on my own after dinner; sun just setting.

Walked along the riverbank.

Saw a kingfisher in flight above the water.

A joyful flash of brilliance.

A moment later I stumbled and was stung by nettles.

Searching around for dock leaves and wondering about this old remedy.

Clutching dock leaves to my arm I wandered the other direction, through the boggy area and under the by-pass.

Making a bundle of the spent dock leaf and wrapping a long piece of grass around it.

I wondered if this was a good memento of the kingfisher sighting, or perhaps the lumps on my arm from the nettle sting?

Then spotted my first ripe blackberries of the year - ate one and brought one home as a souvenir.

Several things to mark this short walk, some fleeting, others more lasting.

Memories, marking moments with mementos?

Passed herons, also returning home.

Jaume Plensa

2011-07-25T23:33:00.001+01:00

Visiting the Jaume Plensa exhibition at Yorkshire Sculpture Park I found myself immersed in a moving sensory world of meaning. I enjoyed the way the work provoked multiple senses, tracing the letters with my fingers and listening to the deeply resonant sound of the brass gongs.

I was most deeply moved by the room filled with massive alabaster heads and it hit a note of deep spirituality in me. The notes in my journal were my thoughts there and then...

alabaster heads

tomb-like asleep or dead?

memorial, meditative

calm but not sleeping?

subtle shading and smooth texture like a black and white photo.

Listening to deep resonance of a gong

soft light of tinkling metal letters

sublime, spiritual, moving

deeply affecting

Words that drift away

2011-07-21T20:57:00.000+01:00

I finally took the plunge and decided to fully dissolve the embroidered text piece I made for Art in the Woods. Carefully trying to wash away the residue in the bath and tease apart the tangled words met with varying degrees of success. But certainly worth doing to record the stages of disintegration.

The disintegration of the text into something illegible has a sense of fragility to it; making and unmaking, allowing something to be undone. It reminds me of the idea of wabi sabi.

Pick of the bunch

2011-07-03T22:55:00.001+01:00

New Designers in London is always a highlight of the year, with so many talented creative people all jostling for attention. Picking anything particular out is always tricky but here are a few of my favourite 'new designers' to watch...

Julia Jowett from Staffordshire University describes herself as an illustrator, but creates her beautiful drawings using wire and needlepoint stitching. It was a pleasure to meet and chat to Julia and hear about the background to her work.

Lynette Miller's installation was scaled down from her original show at Carmarthenshire College, yet still retained a really special subtle quality. Her work uses various media including, drawing, photography, natural dyes and stains to create beautiful botanical drawings and constructed pieces.

The exquisite lace collars of Kerry Howley from Middlesex University look at first glance to me made of fine antique threads. On closer inspection the viewer realises they are made of hair. Some might be repulsed but there is also a great sense of wonder at the craft of making something so delicate.

No more time tonight but perhaps all add some more another time.

Theft... again!

2011-06-27T22:15:00.002+01:00

Sadly my stalker / personal art thief seems to have stuck again. Almost a year since most of my MA work was stolen, some of the pieces from Art in the Woods have been taken. Fortunately this time it seems the thief was interrupted mid-way through the dirty deed, so only one and a half banners were taken. I am trying not to take it personally but it is strange when it is only my work targeted. So annoying that someone would actually damage the work removing it - clearly not an art lover!

Anyhow, Art in the Woods has now finished. Despite this nasty twist I have really enjoyed being involved and hope to do some similar projects in the future.

Beautiful Gifts

2011-06-21T22:35:00.000+01:00

From the woods we found beautiful treasure.

An empty windfall nest on the ground and a bounty of dark jewel like bilberries. This beautiful nest was found on the path and clearly not in use. It is made of sheeps wool, moss, lichen and a tiny bit of synthetic twine and shaped like a snug little bowl. I wonder what kind of bird it belonged to?

If you visit Art in the woods be sure to collect some of these dainty berries hidden among the leaves.

Dancing in the Rain

2011-06-21T22:15:00.000+01:00

At first glance there did not seem to be much to look at, but as we stepped around the tree we could see the dissolving embroidered lettering, clinging to the crackling bark. I was thrilled to find that some thing exciting had evolved.

John and I had plenty of time to contemplate the words of Vivian Greene as we trudged through the rain "life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain...". Despite the deluge we enjoyed our trip around the trail and saw a few things we hadn't spotted before. I will upload some photos of the other artworks soon. If you would like to visit, Art in the Woods continues until the end of Sunday.

Art in the Woods - as it changes

2011-06-16T21:03:00.000+01:00

Photos kindly provided by Sarah Branson. The first photo shows the work last Saturday (the day after installation), the last photo shows the work after Sundays rainstorms.

Art in the Woods

2011-06-11T13:29:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was installation day for Art in the Woods and despite very changeable weather we succeeded in putting up all my work (thanks John!). The art trail circles through a pine plantation which starts on the edge of Home Styles Reservoir. Walking up a steep track with ladders and all our paraphernalia we trekked to the site and then worked through sunshine and downpours to hang six long textile banners as well as the water soluble piece.

I happily managed to dodge the worst of the rain to put up this piece (below) which comprises cornely chain stitch embroidered text directly onto water soluble fabric. As you can see (further below) a few drops have started to dissolve the piece, which should change throughout the period of the art festival. I would love it if anyone can take photos of this piece if they visit the trail, it would be really lovely to have a record of how it changes. Please email me any of your pictures.

Stitches and Sunshine

2011-06-08T23:01:00.001+01:00

I have been so busy lately that my blog has taken a back seat. My students have finished putting up their degree shows but I am still putting the final touches to my latest project. You will be able to see the results of my hard work from Saturday onwards in Art in the Woods.

Practice makes (almost) makes perfect with the cornely machine, but I am very pleased to have finished my machining. Walking out of the building to find the world lit by golden sunlight drenched by a recent shower I felt light with relief. There is something quite magical about the world after a sudden shower.

Marks From the Land

2011-05-30T21:26:00.000+01:00

Recently on a short camping holiday we walked across the moors near Birchover in the Peak District. The alien, almost industrial look of the wasteland left from controlled burning was startling yet fascinating. These scorched heather skeletons yielded impromptu charcoal drawings in my journal.

Perfection and Eloquence

2011-05-17T23:34:00.002+01:00

Having the privilege to be a lecturer I benefit from learning not only from my students but also learning about myself, reflected back to me through my own teaching. Recently I have found myself repeatedly apologising to students for being a perfectionist, but perhaps I should worry less about nagging them to trim the edges of the pages to the same size or remove dangling threads. It isn't that I have an objection to scruffiness, but rather it is more about getting things right. By this I mean if something is intended to have beautifully distressed surfaces or messy edges as an important part of the idea you want to convey, then do it with conviction.

Fortunately I came across the words of Audrey Walker, who is so wise and much better with words than I can ever hope to be:

"Craftsmanship is essential for eloquence in any medium and many tediously worn out arguments about 'fine art' or 'craft' might be set aside if it could be agreed that we are engaged in a common endeavour to make things with as much conviction -eloquence- as we can manage." Audrey Walker

For me getting the finishing quality of something right is so important, it completely transforms how that artwork or object is understood by people. I suppose it is about fulfilling the artistic vision; realising your goal.

Is it good or bad to be a perfectionist artist?

Do I set myself up for failure by having high expectations that can never be realised?

Is craftsmanship still relevant in the digital age?

It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on this; please leave a comment.

Art on the Line

2011-05-17T21:59:00.000+01:00

Hanging on the washing line, some of my recent experiments.

Handwritten Stitches - Handstitched Words

2011-05-15T22:32:00.000+01:00

I am still working out how to make words float in space. Here are some amazing pieces to inspire:

Donna Rumble-Smith

Tabitha Kyoko Moses

How to Float Words

2011-05-09T21:55:00.003+01:00

Looking at ideas around how to make text float in space...

(click on the names to link to artist websites)

Liam Gillick

Gunvor Nervold Antonsen

Jaume Plensa

Fred Eerdekens

I like a challenge

2011-05-06T19:51:00.002+01:00

During the last couple of weeks I have realised just how much I need a project to work towards. I find I have so much more motivation when faced with a particular challenge. So Art in the Woods is really helping me find my focus and generate ideas.

I am also finding that having a project in hand jolts me out of my usual methods of working and reminds me of other processes I have overlooked. When I visited Home Styles wood to research for the project I took my old SLR camera with me (after blowing the dust off it) and really enjoyed the technical challenge and the sense of mystery involved in taking photos on film. It was just such a different experience. I am so grateful for being forced to learn how to use a camera properly during my BA course and this has reminded me how much I enjoy the process - digital is just too easy, there's no challenge! So from now on I plan to use my digital camera for recording things quickly but my SLR film camera or a pinhole camera for anything with meaning. The quality below might be slightly dodgy as I have scanned from the printed photo.

taken in Home Styles Woods with my Ricoh KR-10 SLR camera

Fresh Ideas

2011-05-05T22:43:00.000+01:00

I could smell the rain before I saw or heard it; transforming and refreshing the landscape. Rain at last after almost no rain for two months here. It seems the refreshing rains have seen some transformations and fresh ideas.

The textile pieces I am creating for Art in the Woods are going well with images being built up on the surface. The final part I had planned was a layer of stitched 'handwritten' notes from my observations of the site... but then it dawned on me that the text is perhaps the most important element; what if I just used the layer of text on it's own? Could the text be seen to float between the trees? I was immediately excited by the idea of creating something more refined, less cluttered and a completely new idea to me. I was worried about abandoning the pieces I had already started but think I will complete a few of these as well as working on my new idea.

This evening I have also been discussing ideas for a great little collaborative project. Working alongside other creative people on a project venturing into drawing, stitch and marks will get the cogs moving and I like the idea of working towards something undetermined. Exciting times!

I find my best ideas emerge on the cusp of waking and sleeping and I wondered how or where other people get their thunderbolt breakthroughs and ideas. I'd love to hear from you.

Parish notices

2011-05-04T21:51:00.000+01:00

In case anyone in the Yorkshire area is looking for a little creative stimulation take a look at the lovely and very creative Fiona Wilson's blog for details of some two day courses she is holding at her studio in Huddersfield. There are still a couple of places available... but be quick!

Laying Things Out

2011-04-30T15:21:00.000+01:00

I have always been a slow worker. Not deliberately; it just always seems to take me time to sort things out how I want them. Setting things out like this is more about organising things in my head than the physical organisation it appears to be. I think this is just one of my methods of working.

Preparations

2011-04-25T12:14:00.001+01:00

Over the last week I have begun preparations for a body of work to be exhibited as part of Art in the Woods 2011. The event will show work by 20+ artists in a wide variety of media set in woodland near Holmfirth, West Yorkshire ('Last of the Summer Wine' country to those not familiar with the area). The woodland is mainly made up of coniferous plantation next to Holme Styles resevoir in Hade Edge

Art in the Woods will take place 11th to 26th June 2011, to coincide with Holmfirth Arts Festival but in the meantime I have lots of work to do in order to get my pieces ready in time. So I thought I would share my preparations towards creating a series of long fabric pieces (banners if you like, but I'm not keen on that word), which are inspired by my observations of the woods.

When I set out for the woods last week I had planned to do a series of timed observations of the site, using a piece of fabric for each hour, but due to some personal issues I had to change the way I approached this. Perhaps the rigid constraints of the clock are not appropriate for recording and observing a site in this way.

Bundles and scrolls of cyanotype coated cotton ready to take to the woods

Towards the woods

Exposing the cyanotype photogram

Sticks and stones and fir cones

As time went on I found the fabrics were heading off into the undergrowth more and more...

Until it felt like they were trying to escape into the woods.

These cyanotype prints will form the background for further print and stitch, which will form a montage of different observation and notes. Some of the prints were not very successful and I think might be due to some kind of alkaline residue on the fabric (old cotton sheets). But I'm taking this as all part of the process, it will still form an interesting backdrop for other images and words.

Back to work for me!

Oh Happy Day!

2011-04-24T21:04:00.001+01:00

Such a sweet day

Joyful praise

Kingfisher in flight

Delicate fragility of a broken bird's egg

Sunshine on sleepy body

Spiritually uplifted

Phenomenological Perspecitives

2011-04-16T22:01:00.000+01:00

In preparing a proposal for an art festival I have been referring back to the wealth of material I collected for my MA research. I hadn't appreciated what a valuable resource this is and just how much I had accumulated. One of the things which really resonated with my current ideas and projects was Sandy Gellis' 'New York Rainfall: 1987', which I first read about in 'Earth Mapping: Artists Reshaping Landscape by Edward S. Casey. In this work Sandy Gellis responded to a specific site (just outside her window) where she placed an etching plate, coated with a water sensitive medium, each day for a year. Each square plate was marked by the amount of rainfall that occurred on that day. The entire work was created as etchings and also as an installation of the plates themselves - both beautiful and eloquent. I am interested in how these works respond to and record the essence of a space and time. I think I could learn a great deal from the simplicity and directness of this vision.

Although Sandy's website is rather light on text, if you want to read more take a look at Jonathan Novak gallery website.

Transition & Influence

2011-04-16T21:30:00.000+01:00

I just found out about Lesley Millar's Transition & Influence online textile gallery, which profiles the work of international artists that have been involved in Lesley's past projects. I really recommend taking a look.

Infinite Variety

2011-04-04T09:37:00.000+01:00

Probably one of the most amazing exhibitions I have ever seen, Infinite Variety nearly brought me to tears as I stepped into the 55,000 square foot Wade Thompson Drill Hall of Park Avenue Armory. The vast space was hung with 650 red and white quilts spanning three centuries or American quilt making. The show was created as a true visual spectacle, making you feel as a tiny Alice might have done with a whole pack of playing cards falling around her. Despite being the stars of their own show the visual impact of the quilts relied upon their display; contrasts of pattern juxtaposed in such diversity. To see so much pattern in one glance is a very rare thing indeed, and completely joyful. As one lady commented 'everyone is walking around with smiles on their faces, I've never seen that before at an exhibition'.

Organised by the American Folk Art Museum, Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red & White Quilts showed just part of the vast quilt collection of Joanna S. Rose. 'While the idea of hundreds of quilts is impressive in the abstract, in actuality it is an unprecedented and immersive experience, both visually and physically.' The exhibition was designed and installed by New York company Thinc Design and is an absolutely inspired creation. 'This magical but ephemeral moment will ultimately be captured in the pages of a fully illustrated catalogue'... I can't wait, but I am so glad I was able to experience this phenomenon for myself. I will cherish the memory.

If you would like to see further photos or read more about the exhibition design take a look at this blog.

In-form

2011-04-02T22:40:00.001+01:00

Just a quick post to let people know about a great little exhibition in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The exhibition is called 'in-form' and is by a group of four artists calling themselves Material Space. Pippa Andrews, Barbara Cotterell, Jane Neal and Debbie White have created some works of incredible beauty using textile and fibre, with a loose theme around communication. If you are nearby take a look as the exhibition finishes Sunday 3rd April 2011 at High Wycombe library, mezzanine floor.

There and back again

2011-04-01T21:27:00.000+01:00

I have been away in New York City on a study visit with my students, and thus, off the radar. So now I feel I have a massive catch-up to record my experiences, images and ideas. Here goes!

We took a group of 20 undergraduate students from Bradford School of Arts & Media for a 5 day trip across the big pond. They all loved it and everyone was exhausted when we got back (and most of us still are). So here I am going to post some of my highlights, rather than bore you with all the hundreds of photos I took...

Garment district... dribbling over oodles of fabulous fabrics, trimmings and buttons. We also had appointments to visit a couple of wonderful design studios; Tom Cody in the garment district and Eyedazzler in Brooklyn. Both were truly inspirational and we were so grateful for their generous time.

Having never visited Brooklyn before we spent a short while perusing some great little vintage and antique stores and funky gift shops in the Williamsburg area. The vintage shop below did not seem to have a name but has lovely staff! We also went in MeMe Antenna, a little music and gift shop with some really unusual design-led items.

A trip to Habu textiles was a treat of delicious yarns and exquisite artisan fabrics. Some little bundles of joyful textures and fibres have accompanied me home.

Just around the corner The Museum at FIT was showing some beautiful Japanese fashion in 'Japan Fashion Now'. Oddly most of the pieces I found most interesting were pieces from the 80's and even an exquisite patched and darned 'Noragi' jacket from Meiji to early Showa period.

Opposite the museum, students had created a stunning exhibition to commemorate 100 years since the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire which killed 146 garment workers in the worst industrial accident in New York.

At the Metropolitan Museum of Art I was so overwhelmed with the scale of the museum and the numbers of visitors (a million at a time, so I was told), I crept into a little corner and spent over an hour sketching small fragments of precious Byzantine Egyptian textiles. I watched so many people frantically trying to scan as much as possible, but I really enjoyed taking the time to really LOOK at something in depth.

ABC Carpet & Home showed me that department stores can be palaces of beauty and serene femininity. Although I didn't have time to explore properly I fell in love with the luminous, lustrous and tactile effect of the ground floor. Chandeliers like dripping dew drops, delicate cobweb knit throws, embroidered cushions and kantha quilts - yummy!

Hells Kitchen Flee Market was a great rummage: old brass stencil numbers bought for my house number, a silk souvenir scarf from Florida and an old celluloid button for free! I also loved the old type blocks in their printers trays.

This blog post seems to veer from the sublime to the ridiculous, from tasteful design to kitsch and over the top. Macy's Flower Show on Sunday was part beautifully designed garden and stunning botanical specimins, and parts theatrical overstaging. All the same it was a spectacle and as for the accompanying dog show the phrase 'only in America' springs to mind!

There seemed so much to mention I feel I need a whole post to discuss my favourite event of the trip. So 'watch this space'.

Fragments

2011-03-06T21:15:00.001Z

Visiting the Manchester Antique Textile Fair today, it felt strange not to be looking to buy anything. I still remember the first time I went to the fair as an undergraduate student (living just round the corner) and my shock at the way people rummaged through these antique treasures like it was a jumble sale!

Anyhow I made a valiant effort today and still managed to come home with some of my own treasure; buttons and scraps of old French patchwork. On the way home I was thinking about the nature of 'fragments'. What is it about a fragment of something that makes it so desirable and precious?

I was disappointed to find out that I had missed the exhibition 'Threads of Feeling' at the Foundling Museum, but you can still see the poignant textile tokens on the exhibition website .

Created and destroyed

2011-03-05T12:51:00.002Z

I realised that I have never uploaded the images of the other shop window I worked on for the Keighley Green Trail. For this window I collaborated with two of my Bradford College students (thanks Dawn and Alice) to create a series of 'banners' as a backdrop for Louise Fyffe's upcycled fashion garments. You can see more about creating the eco-print fabrics here.

I think the display worked really well; combining the subtle marks and colours of the natural dyes on recycled fabrics, and they complimented Louise's garments really well.

The unfortunate ending is that due to some mis-communication all of the fabric banners were lost or thrown away at the end of the Keighley Green Trail. Although I was pretty upset when I found out they were gone, I am now more philosophical about it; some things are meant to last only a fleeting moment... plus I still have the photos to share.

Stains

2011-03-05T12:36:00.000Z

Teabag colours...

Time to Upload

2011-02-24T23:18:00.001Z

Finally squeezing some time to set my thoughts down. Yesterday I spent some time re-exploring some eco-print bundles I made in north Devon last June. They allowed me to reflect on the processes and objects in a slightly more removed manner. Enjoying tactile responses to cloth, stone, thread and plant material.

Cloth bound in stone, stone bound in cloth...

Once again I was given the dilemma; to unwrap or not to unwrap? I wondered about the potential wrapped inside each bundle, something which is lost as soon as it is opened.

Unwrapping fossilised fabric...

More to follow...

Feeling Frustrated

2011-02-23T20:59:00.000Z

Every time I think I am finding some time and mental space to do some work something else comes crashing in. For some reason I find external deadlines and projects exert much greater pressure and seem to take precedence. So I have lots of lovely photos to upload but now I haven't got time to do it... Feel like sulking!

Found Again!

2011-02-02T22:10:00.000Z

I have been out of sorts since November after loosing my precious journal... again! But fortunately this time I have found the little black bound book at the bottom of a black hole (shopping trolley). A very joyful discovery this morning.

Now we are re-united I hope to be publishing some more images of my work very soon.

The last week has been a curious time, with some new things starting that were entirely unexpected. Almost overnight I have become a freelance materials and surface design trends writer. An odd but fascinating development. Interestingly it seems to tie together a good deal of accumulated knowledge I was unaware of.

The downside to this is that I may have less time for my own personal artwork, but then this is never an easy juggling act.

Bat For Lashes - Daniel

2011-01-25T18:08:00.000Z

Running through twilight

reflections in water

smoke mixed with rain

uncertain terrain

... and this is what I was listening to

Nocturne

2011-01-20T18:34:00.003Z

Feeling the pull of the enchantress.

Awe and reverence for the moonlit landscape.

Feeling captured in a moment.

... and this is what I was listening to

Moonlit River

2011-01-17T21:36:00.000Z

Walking home tonight, noticing a eerie blue radiance on the illuminated river, I wanted to linger and capture it.

Now I fully appreciate the beauty of Susan Derges' river Taw photograms.

This evening John briefly mentioned something he had read about Budhist thinking, about being present in the moment. So often I find myself doing one thing but thinking about something else. Food for thought.

Motivation please!

2010-12-14T21:42:00.000Z

I have been unwell over the last week and more and just feeling a bit out of things. I really need to find my focus and get on with some work but finding it very difficult at present. Any suggestions for finding motivation would be gratefully received. Thanks.

Welcoming a bright new world of inspiration

2010-11-29T20:59:00.000Z

I am sure the bloggersphere is full of snowy pictures at the moment, with our premature mid-winter weather, but I couldn't help be inspired by what I have seen. On Saturday I was due to attend the Textile Society AGM conference but the weather did not allow it. Instead we were up early, fed the birds and had a wonderful wintry walk. Perhaps because snow is usually scare in England it allows me to see the landscape in a fresh new way; picking out details I would not normally notice and highlighting contrasts and textures. I have seen so many interesting marks and stitch-like qualities in the landscape; here are a few of my photos:

I came home and felt inspired to draw (a rare activity unfortunately) and created some simple but satisfying marks on paper (images to follow soon).

I also visited the Knitting & Stitching Show in Harrogate on Friday and Sunday. I was very proud of my students work in creating the displays for our college stands (well done girls!) and felt very inspired by the show in general. I came away with lots of scribbles in my notebook; ideas for surfaces and stitches as well as some wonderful artists to research in more depth. My favourite stand was the Alice Kettle & Jane McKeating stand promoting their new book Machine Stitch: Perspectives. The stand featured some beautiful work illustrated in the book and it was a joy to see the work in reality. There are too many other wonderful exhibitors to mention here but I found the show really uplifting and it has helped to re-charge my creativity.

Authenticity and the search for perfection

2010-11-25T22:50:00.000Z

In recent weeks I have been feeling very lost and distracted from my practice. My students and my garden have taken priority and I haven't really been thinking about where I want to go next with my practice. I enjoy the interaction and challenge of working with my students and I gain so much from the experience, but I do struggle for head-space.

I haven't been making, walking or looking, and my journal writing has been infrequent... but I have had a little time to let a couple of things mull around in my head. In particular AUTHENTICITY is a word that came to the forefront. I have often been told that perfection is impossible, but I realise there is something very important to me about getting things right; not perfect, but right. By rightness I think I mean fulfilling the vision of the artist, artwork or project. I think this is something most artists strive for in different ways. How often do you hear an artist say 'that will do'? That is not to say that artists always feel happy with the results of their labours but that we are constantly trying to achieve our vision and stay true to our ideas and ideals. So I have acknowledged this need in myself and realise I should try to maintain authenticity in the work I make, how I make it and the projects I choose to commit to. This also means working with people who share my standards and vision wherever possible. Not easy but worth pursuing.

Other goals will be writing my journal (and blog), walking more and observing the world around me.

New Website

2010-11-01T21:45:00.000Z

I'm not sure if I remembered to say... but I have a new website you might fancy a look at: http://hannahlamb.co.uk/Home.html

Let me know what you think...

Keighley Green Trail - unveiled

2010-11-01T21:21:00.000Z

Saturday was the launch of the Keighley Green Trail and the window displays were finally revealed. It has been an interesting project which has introduced me to working on public commissions. At times it has been frustrating and stressful but I have learnt a great deal about the process and met some lovely people in the process. Below are some images of the 'Wild About Keighley' window I created with Liz Melling. I created the large map piece and Liz created the large willow and tissue paper flowers and bugs through children's workshops.

Installing the work

The finished display

I chose to use tissue paper backed onto cloth for the map to compliment Liz's sculptures. I was also inspired by a recent tutorial with one of my students were we discussed cloth backed maps... funny how things come together!

There was something interesting about the work as seen from the inside looking out; by using tracing paper my work gains transparency and luminosity. I think this might be something to explore further.

Surfaces for Keighley Green Trail

2010-10-28T22:31:00.001+01:00

A few images here from a session of collecting and dying on Saturday. Many thanks to Dawn, Betahny, Alice, Jo and Hazel for their helping me collect and cook up this lovely collection of fabrics to be used as a backdrop, coming soon to a shop in Keighley...

Dawn & Bethany unwrapping the fruits of our labours

We collected windfall berries, leaves, seeds and metal litter and wrapped them in different cloths. Lots of lovely surprises!

Navigating Landscapes

2010-10-27T21:56:00.000+01:00

I just read a great short article from the Sensory Trust about the use of Sat Nav creating a barrier to experiencing environments. I thought you might be interested to read it so here is a link to Sat Nav- the end of hope?

Map making in Keighley

2010-10-25T18:14:00.000+01:00

Working on a piece for Keighley Green Trail. I thought I would share a few pictures of the work in progress. This is tissue paper dyed with windfall leaves from Keighley town centre.

More pictures to follow...

Trailing Around

2010-10-19T22:45:00.001+01:00

While researching for my current project for Keighley Green Trail I found a few interesting things on my own personal trail around Keighley.

Magical moments in a mundane urban environment. I need sleep now but will upload some pictures of the work I am doing soon.

MA Exhibition

2010-10-17T22:50:00.002+01:00

Apologies for the lack of postings recently. The days and weeks have flown by recently while completing my MA course, preparing my MA exhibitions and with the beginnings of new projects. For now here are some images of my MA show. The show continues until Thursday 21st October if you fancy a closer look... and thank you to those of you who have already visited.

You are cordially invited...

2010-09-29T21:43:00.001+01:00

... to my MA show from 15th to 21st October (closed on Sunday). It would be great to meet anyone who can make it to the Private View on the 14th October from 6pm. See you there!

The Holden Gallery and directions

Thank you

2010-09-28T23:08:00.000+01:00

While I have been studying I have tried to stay fairly focussed on using my blog as a reflective journal. While doing this I have not particularly thought about who might be reading it and whether what I have to say is of interest to anyone else. So I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone for the lovely comments and support I have received.

Even though I have finished my course (and just found out today I have passed with flying colours, hurray!) I aim to continue using this blog as a journal. I think one of the most useful lessons I have learnt during the past two years is the value of continual reflection and 'talking to yourself'. I will be continuing to ramble on these pages so feel free to pop by and add a few words of your own.

Here are a few more images of my final assessment work:

Past the last hurdle

2010-09-16T19:36:00.000+01:00

I had my final MA assessment today and I now feel I can take a breath. There are things that could be improved in the work but over all I am happy with how it has developed. In particular I feel the embroidered piece with bundles placed on it is much more resolved in terms of combining the making process with a sense of place and time. Anyhow, enough reflective practice here are the photos!

Labelled with Love

2010-09-10T21:22:00.000+01:00

During the last couple of days I have been experimenting with different kinds of labels for my woodland bundles. Also considering how best to combine the different elements of the artwork with consideration of place, time and making. John has come up with some really insightful (and practical) ideas that have helped me to move things along.

Pulling My Socks Up

2010-09-08T11:33:00.001+01:00

The house move went very well and I have found myself utterly absorbed in homemaking. At any other time this would be wonderful but loosing my thread at the end of my MA course is really not ideal. I feel as though I have entirely lost momentum with my practice ever since my work was taken and I haven't really been back on track since. However with deadlines there is no choice, I must 'pull my socks up' and get on with it.

Writing on here today is an attempt to get myself back on course and finish some things off, since I only have a week left until my final assessment of the MA.

So here are some images of some of the work that has recently been unwrapped or unpacked... with varying degrees of success and including a few shots of my lovely new garden.

... and for my own benefit, here's my to do list:

iron embroidered map
try out laying different bundles on the map (photograph ideas)
finish cyanotype long fabrics - or decide if these are no use
finish making bundles
test out different ideas for labels and whether these need to be added to all pieces
decide if I want to add anything to the massive canopy fabric
finish off research files
produce portfolio 'Mapping Hirst Wood'
plan how to put up installation: lighting, fixings, paint, filler
how do you want viewers to experience the installation... layout
plan for the assessment presentation; keypoints written down as prompts
If I have time put together artists statement and professional package

After assessment I need to do the following:

Get business cards printed
Finalise promotional materials, artists statement etc.
Update / redesign website

Back in the modern world

2010-09-01T21:39:00.002+01:00

I have made it through the dark ages and am now back online. Updates to follow very soon!

Looking backwards and looking to the future

2010-08-16T23:02:00.000+01:00

This is a brief extract from part of my Learning Record I wrote today:

Currently I am preparing for a house move, and as I sift through my possessions and pack boxes I realise the connections between my current ‘new’ area of practice and threads of ideas going right back to old school projects. I can see how my interests in woodland, collecting, walking, documenting, nature, looking and making run back throughout my life. They are elements instilled at a very young age but are clearly of great relevance to me now. In previous college and university projects I tried to pin down the substance of my ideas but struggled to define them. Inevitably a tangent was found that I could pursue without getting to what I really wanted to express. So what is it that I want to say, just what is it that I want my work to do? While I still feel I am searching, what I now know to be true is that fundamentally art is a declaration: I WAS HERE! From ancient cave paintings to Tracy Emin’s unmade bed the underlying primitive urge is to leave our ‘mark’ on the world. I realise this could be viewed as a simplistic rationale, but I think this is what I was looking for, the essence or bare bones of what it means to be an artist. My work then shows my way of leaving a mark; this is my way of stating it, my way of viewing this place at this time.

As I am moving house (finally) this week I will be without internet access, so blog postings are likely to be few and far between. Wish me luck!

Busy... doing too much?

2010-08-10T22:06:00.000+01:00

I have been away on holiday and generally busy. House moving plans are hampering my efforts to get work completed for my final MA assessment in September. Things are getting pretty urgent on both fronts and I am feeling stretched. My brain can't seem to settle on any one thing with so much that needs to be done.

Wood Sorrel and sweet wrappers

With a deadline and the immense pressure arising from this, comes a sense that something significant must be produced and I worry that I become an art making machine. I feel as though I am going through the motions and ticking things off the 'to do' list but am I making the thoughtful, personal work I set out to make? Would it be better to make one tiny thing made in a moment of inspiration rather than a vast installation produced without thought or authenticity? I already know the real answer to that, but I can't quite bring myself to sit back and wait for lightening to strike when I know the exhibition looms ever closer. Perhaps I should give myself a good talking to.

In the meantime here are a few images of the work I have been slaving over.

These images are details of a really long embroidery on wool, a bit like the one that was stolen, only this one has taken me ages longer and I had to cut it up to dye it (another drama!). I hope it works out okay as I have planned for this to be a map you can walk on. The way I feel at the moment I'm not sure what it might become.

2010-07-26T22:29:00.000+01:00

A visit to Hirst Wood with John to make the giant fabric. It was raining but lovely.

I hope I get some good colours and marks. The waiting begins.

If you go down to the woods today...

2010-07-24T20:18:00.001+01:00

A lovely day spent doing the 'Mapping Hirst Wood' event, with good weather and lovely people. If you would like to see more of what we did take a look at the photos on the Mapping Hirst Wood blog.

Many thanks to John, CarolAnn, Alice, Joe and Hazel for helping me.

Mapping Hirst Wood

2010-07-21T09:31:00.000+01:00

On Saturday 24th July I will be running the first 'Mapping Hirst Wood' event. The event will take place in Hirst Wood, near Shipley, West Yorkshire from 12 noon. I will be running creative activities aimed at all ages to encourage playful creative curiosity in the woodland environment.

Please come along, say hello and see what we are doing. Bring the kids, bring Grandma, bring the dog, wear your wellies!

Parking is available at the Hirst Wood car park. Look for signs from all the main entrances to the woods. The event will take place regardless of the weather, unless rain is torrential.

The activities are being run by me on an entirely voluntary basis and are not affiliated to any groups or official organisations. It is hoped that if this event is successful I will run further activities in the future. If you would like to follow these events in the future you can find more at the Mapping Hirst Wood blog.

See you there!

Stitching for the Soul

2010-07-18T21:19:00.001+01:00

Thank you all for your kind thoughts, you have made things a bit more bearable. I am now focusing my energies on creating new work in time for my assessment in September.

I have spent the past couple of days stitching together 12 metres of silk habotai by hand. It was good to have a big project to work on. Yesterday I sat and finished the last seam while watching Brightstar. Thanks to Bridget for reminding me I hadn't seen it yet (you can see the trailer here). There was something very soothing about sitting and stitching, a meditative action.

I am really enjoying the massive scale I have started working at, it seems somehow liberating. Yet I am keen to retain an attention to detail I can only achieve with hand stitch. Stitch is good for the soul.

Lost...

2010-07-15T17:40:00.000+01:00

or stolen...

1 student art installation in progress.

Almost all my work displayed for testing time has been stolen, literally ripped from the walls. I feel winded and am struggling to come to terms with the loss of so much intimately personal (and completely unrepeatable) work.

I find it impossible to understand why someone would do such a thing. Please don't say I should be flattered, I am not. I am wounded.

Any kind thoughts would be very welcome.

Decision Time

2010-07-11T22:58:00.000+01:00

Testing Time has now finished and the serious business of deciding what I will produce for the final assessment is pressing. I took part in four crits in total, all with different points of view expressed. So now I need to unpick all of this and devise a plan.

The main areas to sort out are:

labels and documentation - are these integral to the work, or do they have a different function?
do my fabrics appear to be art or fabric samples?
how can I create a poetic space that speaks to the audience?
which items should I leave out?

Cherry Ripe

2010-07-11T22:20:00.000+01:00

Some particularly vivid colour from cherry leaves.

Speaking in Silence

2010-07-06T21:04:00.003+01:00

Today I was part of a crit group led by internationally renowned textile artist, Alice Kettle. I have been finding these crit groups incredibly helpful, having a dialogue between groups of people I wouldn't normally hear from is so useful. Sometimes we get too stuck within our own ideas, so this has been helpful to shake out the cobwebs. There is a certain degree of divergent opinions, but I feel this is also helpful in showing me areas that are less resolved.

In this morning's crit I chose to use a 'Silent Crit' format to start with. In this I did not introduce the work, but listened while the group explored, investigated, looked for clues and discussed how they felt about the work. Through this process I learnt that my work largely communicates what I want and that people are responding to the space through emotional and sensory means. There seems to be a primal, instinctive understanding of the work (yipppeeee!). The work certainly seems to translate my own emotional position. People seem particularly taken with the large 'canopy' piece, although they perhaps talk about this less. I don't mean to sound smug, it's just that I feel like it's been such a struggle at times and I really wasn't sure if my work was able to communicate my ideas successfully, so it's a big relief to know I am making progress.

One thing that is clear to me is that I need to review all the different elements, considering how the different pieces might form a dialogue. Alice picked up one of the bundles and placed it on the embroidered woollen piece, and I began to see how this is something that can become much richer and rely less on my pre-conceived ideas of display.

So much to think about and more crits to come...

Playing with Space

2010-07-03T21:45:00.000+01:00

Another busy week, including exciting events for my MA at MMU. During Testing Time everyone is invited to put their work up and take part in critiques with lecturers and invited guests. I felt rather rushed in putting up my work, and it was particularly difficult doing it on my own but somehow I got there. The idea is to try out the work in different ways or find different ways to 'test' the work. For now I have used the big found fabric as a canopy and the smaller fabrics are suspended or 'floating' in air.

I had a brilliant crit with Tabitha Kyoko Moses on Thursday morning and it was really helpful to have Sioned in the same group as we learnt a great deal from each other's work.

From the crit I have begun to realise that I do not need to recreate the whole atmosphere of the woodlands, my work can act as souvenirs of my own experiences. Furthermore I had been trying to find a way of putting my own image into my work; during the crit Tabitha, Sioned and Magdalena pointed out that my work already includes a trace of me from the making process and in my handwritten labels etc. It was a wonderful revelation that might have taken me years to come to on my own!

Everyone seemed to feel the space worked really well and achieved a certain calm, soothing feel. I think I now need to be more adventurous with the scale of my work. I think I can use a much bigger space if I am adventurous. It's now or never!

I am very much looking forward to further critiques next week, including one with Alice Kettle.

Self Portraits

2010-07-03T20:41:00.000+01:00

Not sunbathing, but making a cyanotype a couple of weeks ago. I was thinking about ways of putting a trace of me within nature. Although the result is startlingly clear and very romantic, the idea still requires much further work to achieve what I am aiming for.

How to Create an Installation...

2010-06-27T21:50:00.000+01:00

Thinking and planning towards testing time I have been considering how other artists tackle the display of objects. How objects are displayed can influence our perception and how we interact with the artwork.

I think it might be useful to consider the qualities I want to express within my own work. I do not just want to transfer elements of the site to the gallery space; for me it is very important that the work is transformative and speaks of my own transformation within the woodland space. A brief list that might encapsulate this:

space

light

sensory stimulation

tranquil

atmospheric

encompassing
intriguing

So how can I make sure this comes across in my work? Perhaps by looking a little at some examples of artists creating a similar mood, I can unpick what it is I am looking for.

Ruth Moillet - Bluebell, installation at Hebden Bridge sculpture park

light, airy, vast, encompassing...

...but does the work have greater resonance in photographic form?

Dome d' Ombre - Source, installation in the crypt of St-Martin-on-the-Hill, Scarborough

eerie, cool, tranquil, sensory, space, particular to place...

...but both of these works rely upon being in a specific site...
...how can this experience be translated to another location?

Henny Burnett - Uncle Eric's Box, 2001

atmospheric, intriguing, detailed, textured...

The Shoemaker's Shrine, 2008

light, luminosity, sensitivity, detail, space

Chika Oghi - Floating Grass

light, space, tranquility, gentle movement

Andy Goldsworthy - Wood Room and Leaf Stalk Room, 2007

...weightiness, space, light, enveloped, atmospheric, textured, scented, physical

...awareness of light and space, vast, delicate

Jorge Otero-Pailos - The Ethics of Dust: Doge's Palace, 2009

...traces, light, space, illumination, presence

So where does all this get me? Having spent hours on this I must now sum up and consider what I can learn from my research; the things that speak to me have the following characteristics:

LIGHT is an important media - artworks are illuminated, often from behind, showing transparency/translucency
I need to use a big SPACE to give my work the chance to speak on a larger, landscape scale. I also need to make sure I am adventurous with the space
Weightiness/weightlessness can convey a sense of tranquility, air and movement - several of the works above are SUSPENDED and appear to almost hover in the space
TEXTURE & DETAIL create interest on a minute scale and add to the sensory quality of the work
I need to consider elements that might stimulate more than the visual sense; SMELL, TOUCH, SOUND... but without creating a corny woodland themed space.

Plenty to be getting on with then!

Sand Between My Toes

2010-06-26T21:42:00.000+01:00

I have been away in North Devon building up my energy, while still finding time for a little work. Thank you John & Phil for putting up with my experiments and providing the best company for beach excursions and evening walks across the fields.

Sights and smells of the sea, cool water licking my toes, the smell of elderflowers, watching a mole... and a snake eyed skink...

Hanging Around

2010-06-19T22:18:00.000+01:00

Experimenting with hanging the large cloth I found in Mum's garden.
Transformed into something more.
Words that spring to mind: shroud, veil, vestment... (your thoughts would be useful too)
The pointed shape was a (very) happy accident, just the way the cloth fell.

I prefer it when the light shines through it from behind, although the pattern is more obvious with light shining onto it. We briefly discussed the discussed the different responses created from this;do I want to show it as a solid object or should it describe a space illuminated, an experience you can move through.

There are lots of possibilities for different methods of hanging and lighting this piece. I shall be experimenting further during Testing Time. As the cliché goes; watch this space!

Books and Walks

2010-06-19T18:20:00.002+01:00

Due to some heavy duty assessment, the resulting RSI and general end of semester madness, I have regretfully neglected my blog. So there are a few things to catch-up on.

Trying out ideas for little books to put my photos in...

Walking and collecting...

... including windfalls and the remains of civic tidying (decapitated botanic beauty)

The language of objects

2010-06-12T23:45:00.000+01:00

While making some plans for Testing Time I have been doing a little playing in preparation.

Thinking about how things are put together/displayed and finding the right context.

These images are interesting but not right. The bottom image shows ideas with some potential.

The elusive nature of the poetic

2010-06-07T16:09:00.001+01:00

I was watching the Narrative Threads DVD's of an interview with Polly Binns yesterday. While it is rather lengthy, the interview provides a very interesting insight into a well regarded artist's practice and methodology. The thing I found most helpful were her last sentiments that seeking the poetic is as elusive to her as it has ever been. After hearing so much in-depth analysis it was comforting to hear that someone with such a highly regarded practice still does not feel she has resolved the thing she sets out to do.

It makes me aware that we are all searching and should embrace the quest. Although perhaps we get closest when we are not trying so hard...

Like when I try to find the dream/daydream I have had all my life. You can only see it out of the corner of your eye. I think I read somewhere this is a recognised idea within Buddhism - anyone care to expand?

More on Valerie Hammond

2010-06-05T22:10:00.000+01:00

If you are interested in Valerie Hammond's work there is a good interview and more images at Design Sponge.

The penny drops!

2010-06-05T20:40:00.002+01:00

I am having a good few days, feeling closer to understanding what I am trying to do.

I noticed Abigail Doan's posting about an exhibition called Propagating Eden: Techniques of Nature Printing in Botany and Art. The exhibition looks fabulous, I wish I could go, but Wave Hill gallery have kindly made the exhibition catalogue available online.

Michele Oka Doner

The images are exquisite, including historical and contemporary examples, and I was busy appreciating the wonders of the natural world when I suddenly wondered why Richard Long's 'Mud Hand Prints' were included? They seemed out of place amongst the mainly botanical images.... AND THEN THE PENNY DROPPED... the artist IS nature!

I found two other artists in the catalogue exploring themes of self within nature or self as nature and they also had in common a very primal response to nature. My favourite are the works by Valerie Hammond (below), which have an instant attraction along with a spiritual richness.

This all starts to give me ideas about how nature, self awareness, place and process might all come together.

Making Spaces

2010-06-03T22:17:00.001+01:00

An afternoon spent by the river. Thinking about making space. Sitting for a couple of hours, noticing the details, different speeds of river, insects, my breathing, a dog...

Making as a way of slowing down and observing; taking part in the landscape.

... and thanks for all those who take a look at my blog. I have just noticed I have 50 followers, so thanks for coming along on the journey.

Green spaces

2010-05-31T20:57:00.001+01:00

Hedgerow fibres; twining, twisting, coiling, wrapping, tying

Round like a circle...

2010-05-31T14:05:00.002+01:00

holes, cycles, simplified nests, vortex, revolution, minutes, hours, days, months, seasons, years, lifetimes, voids, spaces, defined limits, circumference, eternity...

coiled, braided, woven, wrapped, twisted, soldered, thrown, carved, wound, looped