Fellow Leicestershire artist Jacqui Gallon has invited me to run Garden Mud(ras) sessions during an immersive two-day course set in a private woodland in the local Charnwood Forest. Being Wild: Art and Inclusivity Toolkit ( a two-day woodland based course) “There are no individuals in a forest, no separable events. The birds and the branch it sits on are a joint thing” (Richard Powers, Overstory). Curated by Jacqui Gallon and Dr Miffy Ryan This two-day series of workshops provides an immersive, performative experience in which participants are invited to collaborate. Several ‘toolkits’ will be introduced throughout the process, each comprising different strategies which facilitate artists’ and curators’ interaction with the natural and material world. The course will explore cutting edge methodologies that expand the field of art practice. These methodologies will incorporate strategies such as deep listening, participatory meditation based on the ancient practice of ‘Mudra‘; community building activities; walking and foraging; object making; action-based processes such as building, digging, mark making; utilising man-made, mediating materials; photography, video making; performative interventions in the landscape. The toolkit concept is tailored as a bespoke framework that participants can add to and apply when delivering their own workshops, performances, immersive experiences and practices. The course will enhance professional development, providing a foundation for practitioners interested in developing inclusivity and engagement in the arts within their own practice. Please note: The woodland site is only accessible over rough ground and is therefore is not suitable for wheelchair users. There is an indoor workspace, study area and toilet facilities a five minute walk from the site. Dates: Friday 28th and Saturday 29th July 2023 All enquiries regarding the course to Jacqui Gallon at timeplacememory@gmail.com ![]()
I will be presenting work developed last summer for the art.earth symposium:
Garden Mud(ras) at the BREATHE symposium at Loughborough University on Thursday 29th June At three points, aligning with the solar cycle of the day, i will present a series of mudra meditation sessions in the Fruit Routes Orchard based on the life cycle of fruit bearing plants. Mudra are an ancient Indian practice which uses hand movements in conjunction with the breath to affect systems within the body, linking them to natural elements and processes. Each session will last approximately 45 minutes, and will consist of an introduction to mudra, an opportunity to join and practice mudra, and a live art performance drawing. The Three Garden Mud(ras): Emerge: 8.00-8.45am Venue: Barefoot Orchard, Fruit Routes Bloom: 1.00 - 1.45pm Venue: Barefoot Orchard, Fruit Routes Release: 5.00-5.45pm Venue: International House Garden This event is part of a programme of events during the Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) Annual Theme for 2022-23. all events are FREE but booking is required - please see the link here for booking. Over the past few weeks I have had the honour to co-create a new artwork - RESPIRE with Anne-Marie Culhane, founder of the Fruit Routes project.
RESPIRE marks the transition of care of the Fruit Routes project through a live participatory performance exploring breathing with trees and the continual exchanges between all living systems, playing with the spaces in-between us and making visible these exchanges, bringing individual breath into collective breathing. It has been a rich and joyful experience and I am looking forward to sharing it with the public. On Wednesday 28th June from 4-6pm at Loughborough University campus, we will start with a procession led from departing from James France CC.0.21, the performance takes place in the Barefoot Orchard, followed by Elderflower Teas at International House on campus. The event is FREE and open to all - Booking required book here This event is part of a programme of events during Loughborough University’s Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) Annual Theme for 2022-23. IAS Annual Themes run across the academic year, bringing leading international researchers to the University to work with colleagues in areas of established and emergent research excellence, catalysed by the Theme. Breathe is a timely and imaginative focus through which to engage with issues ranging from the impact of the Covid pandemic, risks around poor air quality, the weaponizing of the atmosphere and the significance of breath to speech, song, communication, creativity and life itself. Going forward, the IAS will be working with the Theme leads in developing a dynamic and interdisciplinary programme that brings international experts to Loughborough to explore the scientific, historical, cultural, sociological and ethical implications of what it means to 'Breathe' and what this tells us about the world we live in today. more details of the Programme can be found here. Pasture To Plate - The Second Leicestershire Food Summit
Monday 19th June 9am-4pm free - booking required Leicestershire Food Summit is back for 2023 with an in-depth look at how we approach sustainable food in our green and fertile county. I've been invited by Gavin Fletcher, organiser of the first Leicestershire Food Summit, and Co-ordinator of Good Food Leicestershire, to take part in the second annual summit being hosted at Loughborough University Campus. As the Fruit Routes artist co-ordinator, along with Loughborough University Gardens Team Arborist Rich Fenn-Griffin, we will take attendees on a tour of the edible campus and introduce them to the Fruit Routes project. more details of the event can be found here All are welcome for a seasonal sensory wander around Fruit Routes – an enhanced habitat on the Loughborough University campus providing free food for humans and wildlife from over 150 fruit and nut trees.
Explore the 1km route of edible fruit and nut trees, learn more about the orchards and share different perspectives on this cultural resource. This event is for students, staff and the local community with Fruit Routes artist/coordinator Mita Solanky & Fruit Routes founding artist/coordinator Anne-Marie Culhane. The walk will leave from the Barefoot orchard at 1.30pm, ending at LAGS (Landscape and Gardening Society) garden for foraged teas from 3pm. LAGS garden and shed is at the back of Car Park 5 on campus. This event is part of a programme of activities at the University to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from 15-21 May. Find out more about LAGS. Rebecca Beinart has generously invited me to present an event for the Nourishment Programme, which she runs at Primary - an artist-led organisation that have transformed a disused victorian school building in inner-city Nottingham into a cultural resource.
Primary are home to an ever-growing garden and the SMALL FOOD BAKERY which is run by Kimberley Bell. The bakery provides sustainable food for the community and advocates for food justice, particularly seed sovereignty. They work with a strong network of UK bakers, millers and farmers towards building an alternative grain economy to the current industrial status quo. Kim will be providing heritage grains for us to sow during the event along with delicious goodies from the bakery. Anyone involved in saving seeds and wanting to learn more is welcome, places are limited and need to be booked in advance.
Along with other artists from LPW and beyond, i've donated a print in aid of the Art auction to raise funds for the DEC, supporting the disasters in Syria and Turkey.
Gartree High School X LCB Art Auction for Action. students and staff have teamed up to to raise funds for those affected by the disasters in Syria and Turkey. LCB DEPOT are working with staff and students from Gartree; students will be helping to run the auction on the night! Date: Thursday 6th April from 6pm-8pm Location: LCB Depot, 31 Rutland St, Leicester, LE1 1RE The money raised on the night will continue to allow charities that work under the DEC to provide shelter, medical support, food and clothing to the Turkish and Syrian people affected. For one night only, guests will have the opportunity to bid on pieces of artwork from big name local artists, such as Bob and Roberta Smith, Florence Lee, Olivier Leger, Jane French, David Maddock, Sarah Kirby...and more! There will also be the opportunity to bid live on 5 special pieces selected by Gartree students! Mrs David, art teacher at Gartree says... “As a school, we have students with connections to Turkey and Syria and on hearing about the earthquakes and the devastation caused, we immediately wanted to do something to support those affected. Along with the generous artists who have donated an amazing variety of art work, our students have also been getting creative in the hope to make the auction and the funds raised as successful as possible.” Jessica David (Teacher of Art & Design – Gartree High School) You can keep up to date with the art, the cause and the event via Instagram at @artauction_foraction. I will be holding a seed planting session and leading a Seed Walk from Belgrave Library for families as part of the Spark Children's Art Festival.
Families can take home seeds they have sown in pots at the end of the day. The session opens at 12pm and runs until 3pm after which there will be a procession and seed planting activity. The activity is FREE and open to ALL. I have been commissioned by artist Pasha Kincaid who is working with local families at Belgrave Library. The children have taken the lead in choosing local artists they want to work with to produce an arts festival. I'll be presenting a live performance and in-conversation event with artist Jo Dacombe who produces the riso-printed IMMINENT zine, exploring the concept of tidal phenomena in relation to climate change through poetry published in the latest 'Red Hot' issue of the zine which features my 'Red Tide' print.
The event is FREE and open to the public, it will be held during the Cultural Quarter Lates night on Friday 27th January at the Leicester Print Workshop. No need to book, the performance starts 6.30pm. There will be an opportunity to purchase the zine directly from the artist and limited editions of the print are also available. Refreshments will be provided. ALL WELCOME 6.30pm-7.30pm Leicester Print Workshop, 50 St Georges Street, LE1 1QG, The final show in The Flourish Award touring exhibition
The Point Gallery, 16 South Parade, Doncaster DN1 2DR Monday 14 November 2022 – Friday 27 January 2023 Selected from open submission, the 12th Flourish Award for Excellence in Print brings together the best of printmaking from across the UK. This year’s shortlisted artists selected by a panel of judges including curators Yasmin Canvin and Grant Scanlan and artist Mohammad Barrangi The exhibition showcases a diverse range of printmaking techniques and themes with a rich mix of abstract and figurative work exploring local and global issues. There are intriguing visual narratives around urban and natural landscape in a time of climate change; personal stories and emotional journeys; migration and memory; flights of imagination and even astrophysics. My Afterglow prints were shortlisted for the prize and can be seen in the show. |
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