Reflections on A Sense of Place

 

Alderley Edge woods, perhaps a little bit inspired by David Hockney (Ref. 1)

The brief was to create artwork to develop 'a sense of place' for somewhere special to me. After an initial rush of ideas, the pleasure (and leisure) of having more time on my hands after end of year college deadlines resulted in being easily distracted. Getting started was the first challenge but a visit in late May, spending time in the woods and fields brought new ideas. 

My place is the National Trust's Alderley Edge woodland. It's been a place for walks and fresh air for the 25 years I've lived in Manchester.  

Late May showed the soft colours of late spring flowers and fresh greens of new leaves. A return later in August after the hot spell brought early berries (elder, blackberry and rowanberry), browning grasses and the deeper greens of maturing leaves. 

Inspiration came and went and visits often resulted in pockets full of leaves and berries that dried out before doing anything with them, but I focussed on a few ideas  including a basic play with natural dyeing using elder and blackberries, giving a surprising mix of depth of colour across the different fibres. 

There are many ideas that I would like to develop further, including working with words written whilst sitting in the woods listening and observing and stitched maps combining the landscape and memories. I learnt the benefit of planning and milestones but also the value of passing time in the place, spending time quietly thinking and focussing, and of always having a handy notepad whilst out and about. 

1. Gayford, M. (2020) Spring Cannot be Cancelled: David Hockney in Normandy