I connected with these words, “The perfect new cloth is an alien landscape but this mess and tangle of broken uneasiness? This I know.” And then was jolted to hear of your husband’s death. You grabbed me in two way and left me, at the end, connected to the cloth comfort, magic and wonder of cloth.
Me too! Thank you, Don. It's interesting to explore how beauty and sadness go together. I have resisted 'pretty' in my work as it seems a superficial quality, but 'beauty' is always welcome.
Thanks so much, Maia. I'm a big believer in hope (have you read Rebecca Solnit Hope in the Dark?) I think art making has been the good that has emerged from the pain. While I don't like over-sharing, it's maybe good to put it out there that there can be a way forward even from dark times.
So much to unpick here (and there is another material metaphor)Thank you for sharing your words, your work and the tragedy that lead to your work through cloth and its manipulation. The tearing being something primal and animal , a release indeed. I too am studying textiles with a particular interest in the healing power of the making and the tearing down. I work in mental health and recovery work and the people I support prove to me daily that material and the slow presence can enable in the maker or manipulator is not to be underestimated in its therapeutic capabilities.
That's so interesting, Eleanor. I'm no expert in the area but have been reading around this for a while now. I started my degree trying to escape, I think, but in the end the work took me deeper rather than away from the self. In my previous project I looked at the therapeutic and expressive qualities of the act of stitching and 'slow presence' was especially important there. I am in awe of those of you who lead the way for others.
Thanks for your response Julie. I will read and look at more of your work with great interest. I need to make more time for my own work. The recovery work is a little all consuming at the moment - the irony being I feel a lot more grounded and present when I am in the act of making so I am keen to maintain my own practice of that to balance out and enable a richer engagement with the recovery work.
For me it is so beautiful and moving to witness how that personal integrity and wisdom, which was always there, is now spoken. It feels so right. <3
Thank you so much, Inger x
I connected with these words, “The perfect new cloth is an alien landscape but this mess and tangle of broken uneasiness? This I know.” And then was jolted to hear of your husband’s death. You grabbed me in two way and left me, at the end, connected to the cloth comfort, magic and wonder of cloth.
Thank you so much for these kind words, Lesley.
You express beauty and sadness so well. I'm glad you're writing.
Me too! Thank you, Don. It's interesting to explore how beauty and sadness go together. I have resisted 'pretty' in my work as it seems a superficial quality, but 'beauty' is always welcome.
Me too.
Thanks so much, Glen.
Thank you for putting this into words, Julie. The trauma you experienced is heartbreaking, and the path to healing you are taking is hope-giving.
Thanks so much, Maia. I'm a big believer in hope (have you read Rebecca Solnit Hope in the Dark?) I think art making has been the good that has emerged from the pain. While I don't like over-sharing, it's maybe good to put it out there that there can be a way forward even from dark times.
So much to unpick here (and there is another material metaphor)Thank you for sharing your words, your work and the tragedy that lead to your work through cloth and its manipulation. The tearing being something primal and animal , a release indeed. I too am studying textiles with a particular interest in the healing power of the making and the tearing down. I work in mental health and recovery work and the people I support prove to me daily that material and the slow presence can enable in the maker or manipulator is not to be underestimated in its therapeutic capabilities.
That's so interesting, Eleanor. I'm no expert in the area but have been reading around this for a while now. I started my degree trying to escape, I think, but in the end the work took me deeper rather than away from the self. In my previous project I looked at the therapeutic and expressive qualities of the act of stitching and 'slow presence' was especially important there. I am in awe of those of you who lead the way for others.
Thanks for your response Julie. I will read and look at more of your work with great interest. I need to make more time for my own work. The recovery work is a little all consuming at the moment - the irony being I feel a lot more grounded and present when I am in the act of making so I am keen to maintain my own practice of that to balance out and enable a richer engagement with the recovery work.
It must be a difficult balance to maintain.