Imposed connections and yearned for relations.
insight
spirits entwining… to be torn,
whirling askew
whisking and flipping
lassoing links
ensnaring and wall breaking.
open
raw
gasping for air
my very being rocked, digested and
spat.
journeying the geography
away and back to my reality
I heal
my wounds quickly
sustained, to grow firm, plough forward
blossom into the new,
knowing
just that little bit more about the
very soul that will
forever
sustain
me
Tags: creative makings, musings, poetry
I spent May 5th and 6th at Arnolfini for my second weekend of Performance Writing, this time as it met Mapping. A whole host of events and activities were taking place and the warm and inspiring duo in collaboration; Melanie Thompson and Christos Polymenakos.
The weekend kicked off with the question and starting point “What do you notice?”. From here all manner of making, discussion and performing unfolded and developed. An intimate group, all perched on vibrant coloured bean bags in the Meeting Room came together to offer insight and support that culminated in a showing of our work on Sunday afternoon. As I have beaten down the internal pressure to know what my ends are and just enjoy the enquiry and play, I found great inspiration here. For the first time I felt truly at home at Arnolfini amongst like minds engaged in a dynamic practice. here is some of the documentation of my work Break Out.
I have been inspired to begin a process focus project that I shall be launching in full this coming weekend, as I come back to myself in my studio and create from where I find myself. But for now here is my documentation of last weekend’s happenings.
What do you notice?
trying not to look like I’m limping
heels on concrete
brightness through cloud
“that’s how they deal with elderly people…”
cold ai
back of throat
beeping alarms from closed venue
there’s a group of men – ignore them
“it’s a chicken, yeah”
orange wig
yellow legs
water fight
laughing faces
open sunny square
peace
my reflection in the silver ball
cold left hand holding my book
feeling safety away from people
checking my phone to look
engrossed as passing people
turn around
sneeze
breath clean air
distant sirens
purposefully ignoring the mass of chain restaurants
feel my chest tingle with irritation
self-righteous
filthy butts
chuckle to myself the dance of the tall, black big issue seller
“no thanks”
the bounce of the bridge
can of tenant’s super
what would it be like to be drunk
now?
heel throbbing
canal barge steam
that patch of grass by arnolfini
never noticed that before
Break Out
With attention to the methodologies and my interest in collection, glass, transparency, the private and the public, moments of engagement and flow, the stitch, memorial, language, heritage, imposed links and commonalities, framing and light.
Tags: Arnolfini, glass, Performance Writing, sewing
Hey there lyrical man
with your card ready written,
information new.
You sway me with your forwardness.
Attention sledge hammered
into my thoughts that dance alone,
soaking it all up.
What did you say, lyrical man?
Change the record for me.
I’m not interested in your
smooth talking,
swift walking,
charm chalking ways.
What interest is it that pulls,
that bring us here tonight.
What does it say inside?
What do you want to express?
Lyrical man, hold it there, yeah?
Hold it there.
Tags: my creative making, poetry, reflections
With thanks to a couple of weekends of travelling by train to see family and friends in deepest, darkest Wales I have managed to read Danny Wallace’s ‘Yes Man’. I just couldn’t put it down and laughed out loud (or indeed LOLed) in public, on my own, on more than one occasion. I find this man inspiring, and I love the way he writes. I think that I shall email him and tell him. He strikes me as the sort of chap who would enjoy hearing that. If he checks his own mail, that is. He may now have a harem of staff who cater to his every need and whim, but we’ll see. I am now going to see if anyone can lend me his Random Acts of Kindness.
So here’s to opportunities and saying yes and positivity!!
I am very much looking forward to getting my own little Artist’s Way group going this Friday afternoon. Lovely people I have met through Light Box and an dear (not so) old friend have all come together and the excited energy about sharing this together is ace.
Also, I have recently started singing lessons with Jules Olsen. This is something I have wanted to do for a few years. I finally found the courage through working with the Artist’s Way, which gave me the opportunity to look at creative elements of my life that I had left hidden away for whatever reason. So now, 2 sessions in, I am feeling more and more confident and open with sharing my voice. I have even been singing with the fella. Bon Jovi’s Always is a favourite…
But here’s to the true soul that makes my insides tingle:
I have signed up to open my front room in the Easton Arts Trail 2012!
How super exciting. The “blurb” for the map and website materialised rather easily: A collection of collections: from found objects and memories to stories and stitches. Focusing my attention on what it is I am creating at the moment, with an end point to make a collection, is proving super energising and inspiring. Yikes!
I am currently sat in bed listening with tea and my stitching listening to Guy Garvey’s Finest Hour. A piece a week is the aim! A Thursday night in the studio for making is booked in.
Holding tight for the roller coaster ride of my first one-woman show… in my own home!
Beach Plastic Colour Wheel.
Tags: Beach Plastic, colour, Easton Arts Trail, found objects, Guy Garvey, Pembrokeshire, reflections, wheel
Today I now sit facing procrastination, fear and a big dollop of motivationlessness (it’s a new word…). When I do not find the time, and ring fence it solidly in my diary, to play and create everything suffers. I am frustrated, listless, fearful and stuck. I see umpteen projects around me that are started but not complete and I find myself doing so much that I feel “should” be done and shifting my desire to play and create to the back burner. I find myself wishing I could just be happy whatever, I am met with confusion and dismay at a lack of focus or clarity. I have completed my meditation for today, I felt wonderfully calm for a while, so why the faff?!
I am going to give up asking why and analysing and find myself an action to shift things along a bit.
Tomorrow evening I shall go for a run and Friday morning I shall go to the studio for a couple of hours to take some photos of my found glass, tidy up and start setting some goals.
I am going to open up my home for the Arts Trail in Easton at the beginning of May, so I have something to aim for. Or I rather like the idea of being involved in showing/selling some things within the Easton Community Centre. I went there today for a cuppa with a friend and it wondered why I don’t go there more often! It’s a great space. This is calling me into action. Even if it just a few cushions and small pieces, I need something to commit to and work towards.
On that note I am going to get sewing. I have been planning some “old school sew and sews” for a while.
At long last I have gotten around to experimenting with short stop motion animations. I have had this bag of sweet letters in my draw for about a year and this afternoon I have made these sweet nothings. One of my many hoarded envelope insides providing the lovely backdrop. It’s getting a bit ridiculous how many I have right now, but I’m not quite ready to chop them up yet. I just like how they make my eyes go funny.
Check out this ace free online gif maker!
Ah… a couple of hours of much chuckling… and so easy to do!
A favourite phrase.
Taking the piss.
Touch my bum! Please…
Rooaaaarrrrr….
Sweet, sweet lurrrrrv.
If anyone wants me to make them a saying do let me know! This is heaps of fun.
Tags: gif, short film, silly, sweets
