Originating from different countries some of our earliest memories revolve around the beech woods. Again separated to different places we are using this connection to form a joint body of work – SYMBIOSIS – using the trees as a starting point to symbolise our relationship, interaction and shared existence.
I have today recieved Louises book! Immediately I was taken back to Croft Castle and started to think of the different things we did and saw there. I particularly remember the small shed full of used books, in which we spend quite some time laughing at some old Blue Peter annuals. The orchard where the children where kicking rotten apples about, the lovely peaceful chapel where we were looking at some fantastic tiles. The walk down hill to the swampy ponds where we were looking for creatures, and not forgetting the constant noise of the ‘small’ boys nattering in the background.
The book is fantastic and I am not yet sure how to respond to it. I just wanted to make a comment here, especially with all the memories that came flooding back. I find it very interesting that the things which has stayed with me in my mind, has been about what we did together as two families, and not about the art exhibition we went there to see.
To me this is becoming a project about staying in touch and how it still is possible to grow together even if it only is by sharing short moments in life.
I think my response to this book should be called ‘A short moment in life’.
Mette
As always the new year is a time for reflection. Thinking about how the project was progressing made me remember a research trip Mette and I took to Croft Castle in November to see the ‘tell it to the trees’ exhibition. On that visit I bought an old used book from the castle, fittingly ‘The Knight of the Burning Pestle’. This book has it’s own history, having been annotated and lent for many years. From it I have created an altered book, to reflect my memories of that shared time, and adding another layer of history. I have chosen not to include images I took on that day but have cut the paper and added thread to form a physical representation of our experience. I hope it will trigger the same memories in Mette, I am sending it to her so she can respond to it.
Louise
The trees are on fire, molten leaves carpet the roads, leaving exposed what was once hidden and nurtured by the tree. Nests and drays, empty of their fragile inhabitants remind me of the essential nature of the tree for me – as a refuge.
When I was small we had a huge oak tree that dominated our garden. In this oak lived my imaginary friend – Monster – I have no idea why he was called this as I was afraid of the dark and anything remotely unsettling! He lived in the branches and I sat in a hollow in the base of the trunk to talk to him. Sometimes I lined this hollow with grass or blankets, but this was my refuge from the world, enclosed by the roots.
I have been weaving willow refuges, I actually find this process more like sewing; from the multiplying willow stitches emerge organic nest like forms of contorted twisted withies that invoke these childhood feelings of safety. It’s a very physical process and I enjoy this. To line these I am also crocheting fungal forms in white wool, primal and comforting at the same time. With practice these refuges are getting bigger, hopefully eventually big enough for me to get in!
Whilst photographing the refuges I have become obsessed with the intertwining shadow s, I am thinking of making huge cut paper templates to ‘dust’ with white pigment like spoor patterns over the floor.
The last week I have been knitting trees! As a research for this project I have knitted small trees using old sheets which I have ripped. They work really well as they are very sturdy and can stand by themselves. For this project though I feel I need a much bigger and less sturdy construction, to illustrate the more fragile side of nature and relationships. Even though things appear fragile they can be very strong.
So I have bought some huge yarns of wool and have started knitting my tree. To follow the progress I have decided to photograph the work every week. It shall be interesting to follow the growth of the tree as well as the shrinkage of the yarn.
Mette
This week, as they say, I have been mostly crocheting fungi!
I love crocheted things, but have never really done much. So I am sitting with a hook and a ball of wall just letting the crochet form itself to reveal organic fungal forms. I am getting carried away, I envisage wading through great heaps of crocheted matter. The wool version is soft and tactile, clinging and hanging, changing it’s shape. I have a go with hemp string, this is much harder to work forming a more rigid structure. It is too hard somehow, so I dip it in paper pulp, not to obscure the stitches but to build another dimemsion. The pulp clings on, its delicate fibres smothering the original form; and strangely as it dries it sucks the colour from the hemp which stains the paper. Now it looks like a fossil. These are experiemental pieces, I buy some more wool – I’m hooked (!)
Louise
