Just found out that my application for a research and development Grant from the Arts Council was successful.
Stunned, tears of delight and overwhelm.. I didn’t realise just how much I’ve been metaphorically holding my breath awaiting the result since I submitted my application at the start of February.
I spent the whole of January writing the application. I couldn’t and perhaps wouldn’t have done it without the incredible support from my creative business mentor and friend Rajni. He is amazing – check him out here – the art of possible.
I’m so looking forward to this year, working, playing and studying with the following artists and artisans.
Tim Johnson – Artist and basketmaker Tim Johnson has explored the relationships of material, place, nature. and culture for the past 25 years. He combines a vast knowledge of traditional basketmaking with innovative practices of his own applied to a wide variety of materials and techniques gathered on his international travels for exhibition, research and teaching.
https://browngrotta.com/artists/tim-johnson
Tim Johnson brings his expertise in fibre arts. With him I will explore a range of soft fibres and techniques of looping, knotting & netting. Adding skills for invention and construction of form as well as material knowledge.
Peter Lanyon – Peter Lanyon is an award-winning furniture maker renowned for combining coppiced, unseasoned wood with other materials. He champions the use of sustainable, home-grown British hardwoods. https://www.peterlanyonfurniture.co.uk/
With Peter I will explore greenwood jointing techniques and transformation of different woods by steam bending to create robust, balanced and functional pieces of art.
Isabel Coulton has experience of several decades as a professional artist and tutor. She brings her wealth of knowledge as a well established international artist and particularly her expertise in carving wood. Her work and methodology is inspired by nature.
https://isabelcoulton.com/
With her support I will discover how to shape and enhance the features I see in found and foraged wood.
Elizabeth Benson has extensive knowledge of traditional brush making. With her I will investigate the techniques for bonding and inserting a wide range of natural fibres into natural wood. Inviting many possibilities in expression in organic forms. https://www.coppiceandcolour.co.uk/
Flora Pearson is a fine artist specialising in glass. She is Exhibitions Manager for MAKE South West and brings her 15yrs experience of supporting artists to exhibit and curate their work. She brings extensive knowledge of contemporary arts practice and practitioners crossing over from craft into fine art practice. As a mentor she will provide critical curatorial knowledge for developing exhibition-ready outcomes that engage diverse audiences.
Collaborative support will provide focused challenge, broaden possibilities, offer fresh perspectives & mutual support and encouragement. These specialist fine art practitioners bring their unique skills to the six days and three retreats scheduled over the seasons of the year as we gather in Moorland/Coastal/River valley locations.
Kara Chambers brings her skills as a Fibre artist and psychotherapist
Specialising in nature based art, promoting connection and mindfulness.
Beth Heaney is a visual artist, researcher and educator with an expanded drawing practice. Over 30 years experience of exhibiting, collaborative projects, curation, event organisation and artist led collectives. www.bethheaney.co.uk
Her collaborative project experience, and artist-led collective expertise will —vital for documenting process and facilitating group dynamics across our seasonal retreats
Multidisciplinary artist Ella Whittlestone brings an environmental arts therapy background and process-driven drawing practice, She also explores themes of nature and human relationship through poetry and song-writing, supporting my investigation of unconscious creative responses to landscape.
This diverse specialist group provides reciprocal skill-sharing, critical dialogue, and fresh perspectives across our six workshop days and three seasonal retreats in varied Devon landscapes.
If any artist becomes unavailable, I have established connections within the Southwest’s art community to source comparable expertise.
Feeling blessed and deeply grateful to the Arts Council for making this possible.
The project begins on 8th June and if you would like to follow my journey I’ll be posting highlights on Instagram and more detail here on my website.
I’ve called the project “the Breathing weave”
I’m so ready for a year to feed, nourish and replenish myself through my creative practice and give myself the space to invent, skill up and experiment with the new techniques I will be learning and merging them with the old ones.
