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Exploring Ceramics and Colour: A Journey with GF Smith Papers
After months of research and development focused on glazes made from kaolin (1) and materials sourced from local wetland and woodland sites impacted by climate damage, I had thirty small wheel-thrown, ceramic pieces ready to be passed on to Josh […]
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Using kaolin to explore Surface
During my visit to the GF Smith Factory in Hull with the Feral Re-wilding Practice program, I was amazed by the wide variety of paper surfaces, textures, and colours. The tactile, sound and visual nature of the papers was truly […]
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The Importance of Clay in Paper Recycling
The process of paper recycling is essential for the environment, as it helps to conserve natural resources and reduce waste. However, the production of recycled paper requires a careful balance of old and new materials, and this is where clay […]
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Transforming recycled materials into hand-made paper
I am interested in finding ways to make paper using reeds from a local wetland area planted to help filter polluted mine water. To begin, I followed the methods outlined in my previous post and attempted to make paper by […]
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Exploring the Possibilities of Paper-Making with Eco-Friendly Materials
Recently, I have been studying a reed bed area planted to purify drainage water from a disused coal mine. Inspired by GF Smiths NotPla’s seaweed paper (1), Gmund Bier paper made from hops (2), and the artwork of Jane Ingram […]
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Seaweed Paper: The Next Sustainable Paper Solution?
During my recent visit to the GF Smith paper factory, I was impressed by the community and hand-made processes that underpin their work. I saw firsthand the skills and processes involved in creating bespoke products from a huge variety of […]
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Testing GF Smith Papers: A Review of Eco-Friendly Papers for Artwork
GF Smith produces eco-friendly papers used by artists, printmakers, illustrators, and graphic designers. I recently visited the G F Smith paper factory, thanks to the Feral Art School’s re-wilding practice programme. During my visit, I was impressed by their commitment […]
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The Fascinating World of Paper: History, Manufacturing, and Sustainability
First invented over 2000 years ago in China, paper is one of the few entirely sustainable products manufactured (1). The main components of paper are Cellulose and Lignin (both sourced from plant fibres such as trees or cloth) along […]
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into the wild…
Re-Wilding Practice: A Year-Long Program for Art and Environmental Sustainability Re-wilding Practice is a year-long intensive research and practice-based program developed by Feral Art School in collaboration with an industry partner, G F Smith (a paper manufacturer). Together with nine […]
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‘Resilience is Futile…’
It’s been over a month since the fruit factory trip to Sheffield, and in the intervening weeks I’ve had time to reflect on many aspects of resilience in my own life and arts practice, not to mention assimilate the learning […]
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Artists making Spaces…
Yesterday’s trip to Leeds with the Fruit Factory Network had, for me, an overarching theme: Artists making spaces East Street Arts, make spaces happen for artists to work, live and engage with communities in. Their inclusive, can-do attitude pervaded the […]
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first things first…
It was great to attend the inaugural meeting of a new arts venture ‘the Fruit Factory Network’ at Humber Street Gallery on Friday. Run in partnership with Absolutely Cultured, Hull College & IVE (Creative Innovative Supportive) the network will bring […]