The Eloquent Fold - Creative Retreat Day - May 2018

The Eloquent Fold applied to Tesco Bags of Help last year and were awarded a small grant. Our intention, had we won the whole amount, was to have a walking, book, print and wellbeing project inspired by the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Elizabeth Holden. We have now decided to use the grant to host a creative day at Newton Field Centre in May. We had an inspiring morning scoping and meeting with Georgina Hand, the centre manager. By the time of our visit there should be lots of plants and insects just waiting to inspire those that join us. 

Our setting is the beautiful Newton Field Centre which was once St Faith's Church. The surrounding area has range of habitats and sites within walking distance of the centre. These include semi natural grassland, woodland, freshwater habitats, farmland, a Local Wildlife Site, an Ancient Monument and the villages of Newton and Geddington and adjacent to the Field Centre is a stretch of the River Ise.

We hope participants will be inspired by the small details and the bigger picture that the surroundings have to offer. This is a day to think, dream and explore, The Eloquent Fold will be on hand to help and advise but this isn't a conventional workshop day. During the day participants will be able to create their own sketchbook with the option to design and make your own slip cover. Participants may want to work on loose sheets and assemble your book later. There will be plenty of opportunity to draw, paint, stitch, print etc and generally explore different techniques and mediums under your own steam. A range of materials will be available to try. We hope that participants will join us in a walk to help inspire them (weather permitting)

We are delighted to say that all the 16 places are now filled!

Crumbs from The Word Table - Long Sutton Library

After our morning sessions with the public in Long Sutton Library, Phiona Richards and I moved to the foyer of the library to continue working on the artist residency element of our project. 

The arrival of collaged dolls houses, strange stands and printed birds did cause some curiosity and prompted many conversations.

After each Transported day most of the artefacts 

made there way back to my studio

and at one time I had all three word tables in my dining room

which was a bit of a tight squeeze as it's not a large room. 

 As the weeks progressed it has been satisfying to see the pieces taking shape.

 Photo 'electricegg.co.uk'

A folded book made by Phiona balance on a book shelf

Photo 'electricegg.co.uk'

A painted wooden house balanced on a Phiona Richards

Photo 'electricegg.co.uk'

More of Phiona's beautiful paper engineering

Photo 'electricegg.co.uk'

created out of our bird prints.

Photo 'electricegg.co.uk'

On my first day at University I arrived wearing a floral dress when everyone else in the room was wearing jeans so it seems perfectly in keeping that I am captured drilling holes for the book shelves whilst wear a tea gown!

Photo 'electricegg.co.uk'

Phiona and I have been on such an intriguing and interesting journey 

Photo 'electricegg.co.uk'

and you can see more images of that journey by following the link 

You can see Phiona's images from the project here

Thank also to the marvellous 'electricegg.co.uk' for allowing me to use some of their images of the project.

Transported is a strategic, community-focused programme which aims to get more people in Boston Borough and South Holland enjoying and participating in arts activities, funded by Creative People and Places from Arts Council England.  For more information visit www.transportedart.com.

Working on Crumbs From the Word Table

As The Eloquent Fold artist Phiona Richards and I have been continuing to create our collaborative pieces for the Transported Open Book strand. We have chosen blues and mauves for our birds and have made a set of 22 prints which will be cut, stitched, folded and bound in a variety of ways to become a mini art library within each of the bird houses. 

The prints represent birds (or peoples) migrating, seen through the lace curtains, from the armchairs of other people. The birds which were also the printmaking plates will flutter and feast at our Word tables.

We watch, we wait, we land or take flight making new homes, new relationships. Communities are mobile and changing. We are exploring the complex notion of people and place. 

You can see the progress of our work Crumbs From The Word Table at Crowland Library on Thursday 19th during the afternoon or in this Flickr set 

Transported is a strategic, community-focused programme which aims to get more people in Boston Borough and South Holland enjoying and participating in arts activities, funded by Creative People and Places from Arts Council England.  For more information visit www.transportedart.com.