The author explores the intersection of photography, printmaking, and textiles, focusing on using analogue layers to enhance digital images, particularly with historic magic-lantern slides. They are researching home-based printing methods that allow for careful, slow practices, intending to support artists and individuals with old photographs while inviting feedback on this approach.… Read More Exploring New Ways of Printing With Old Images
Handmade objects endure due to the thoughtful process behind their creation, fostering relationships between maker and owner. Unlike disposable goods, they invite care and are designed for longevity and repair. This approach acts as a resistance to fast culture, promoting mindfulness and continuity, leading to a deeper connection with our possessions.… Read More The Longevity of Handmade Things
Somatic language focuses on expressing physical sensations rather than emotional labels. It encourages observation of bodily experiences, promoting self-acceptance and presence. By using descriptive sensory language, individuals can cultivate a deeper relationship with themselves, aiding in creative processes and emotional understanding. Ultimately, it fosters compassion and self-awareness.… Read More What Is Somatic Language?
Somatic language serves as a foundational element in the author’s creative practice, emphasising bodily awareness over conceptual thinking. It aids in making artistic decisions through subtle sensory cues, fostering a connection to emotional truths. This approach values slowness, clarity, and a gentle pace, honouring lived experiences and shaping the work’s essence.… Read More Somatic Language In My Creative Practice
A quiet glimpse of what’s unfolding As I continue the slow work of moving this website to its new home, I wanted to share a small glimpse of what’s taking shape behind the scenes. This transition has become more than a technical task. It’s a chance to pause, to look closely at what I’ve made… Read More A Quiet Glimpse Of What’s Unfolding
The author is meticulously exploring a fragmentary archive of G. Garnett & Sons, a historical worsted manufacturer in Apperley Bridge. Using resources like Grace’s Guide, they are documenting fragile technical drawings and plans from the mill, revealing insights into mid-century engineering and the textile industry’s evolution, while fostering a personal home archive.… Read More Beginning the Archive: A First Glimpse into the Garnett Documents
The writer discusses a rare longcase clock by Thomas Ashton, a clockmaker from Macclesfield, notable for its trilingual dial. While no connection is established between Ashton and the later industrial Ashton families, the clock suggests a scholarly commission. The writer invites further information or photographs to enhance understanding of Ashton’s work and its historical context.… Read More It Began With a Message: Investigating the Clockmaker Thomas Ashton
Living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) challenges individuals, particularly in explaining their fluctuating and unpredictable symptoms. This difficulty, compounded by a fear of not being believed, creates anxiety during assessments. Limited awareness of FND and its complexities perpetuates isolation. Advocating for understanding and visibility is crucial for those affected.… Read More Talking About FND — Why It’s So Hard and What It Reveals About Awareness
Sustainability is often viewed as consistency in output and routines, assuming reliable capacity. However, for artists with conditions like Functional Neurological Disorder, capacity fluctuates unpredictably. Traditional models neglect factors like fatigue and cognitive fog, failing to acknowledge that these variations are not discipline failures, but part of the natural experience of being human.… Read More Sustainability Shaped by Bodies, Energy, and Unpredictability
Trying to explain FND, fear, and the need to be believed One of the hardest parts of living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) isn’t always the symptoms themselves, it’s trying to explain them. FND doesn’t sit neatly inside familiar categories. It doesn’t behave in a consistent way. It doesn’t always show up on scans. And… Read More When Your Illness Has No Clear Language
Rachel Bakewell 