The National Craft Gallery were very kind to invite me to do a week long residency In their space. The only thing they asked of me was that I explored the relationship between drawing and making as a process. What I proposed was that I would spend my 5 days In the gallery, day and night and use the walls of the gallery as my sketch book.With no pre-meditated idea of what I would create within the space I began drawing on the walls the same way I would In a sketch book. I would doodle with no clear thought and record the days events In a visual manner. When I would sketch eventually I would stumble on an image or a rough idea I liked which would begin to grow into an instructional drawing of make and do. I would then use the walls as manual to create a large textile sculpture. The process would then repeat on itself when I would begin sewing as I would find solutions to design problems when making that I could not see or decipher when drawing, this would then be added to the wall as a way of documentation. The walls would interact with me as I went along throughout my residency.Once I came to the end of the week I displayed the work that I had made during my time there with all of my thoughts and daily forecasts on the walls for all to see. I worked intensely from the early hours into the early hours and worked without interruption or delay. I felt pressure of time as I knew I was leading to a public show and felt by habit that work had to be almost framed and displayed In a conventional way but then that defeated the whole purpose of the reasons I was there In the first place. Sometimes I may fill a sketch book and not have a finished product from it and If that was the case with the show so be it but luckily I was really excited to step back into craft and textile art again, something I have been wanting to do for a long time. The week gave me great time to think and reflect on my work and what direction I want to take It In. Heres a selection of images from the show and the week long residency. Feedback and comments would be lovely. Thank you and enjoy.
