NG2 - my back yard
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Field of blessings I mid 1990's ongoing. I spontaneously started dressing up as a plant and using my textiles to cast a spectrum of form and colour into NG2, I situated my self in my neighbourhood, on the margins and in the ‘wastelands’ of the city. These acts of ‘being amongst’ eco-ographies are in solidarity with our flora, fauna and wild life corridors, as rapid urban expansion consumes the habits of our non human life forms and depletes our bio-diversity. My plant mythology, our plant medicine, planting for the future...
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What a load of rubbish 1999 - how can we re reduce the endless cycles of waste-fullness? Heaven on Earth Photography Matt Bunn
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In 2014 I went on to collaborate with Simon Raven on the Wastelands twinning project with Indonesia. Photography Jo Welsh
Field of blessings II 2002 Island Site, Green grace and a colourful place Photography Roobini and Kareenna Basra
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Heaven on Earth 2000
One day as I was walking along our local streets, I wished all the dog mess and litter could be flowers instead. I dressed up as both a flower fairy and a rubbish monster and pushed a litter pickers barrow round my streets. My barrow was bedecked with a pile of papier mache dog poo's, a heap of litter, a bunch of flowers and the words which "would you prefer?"
Nottingham in Bloom went on to support myself and our local schools with bulb planting schemes and more dog poop bins appeared in the neighbourhood care of our council.
Environmentalist of the year Green Guardians Award 2002 Wildlife trust
Funded by: A millennium Commission lottery project, YOTA Arts Council, Renewal trust , Nottingham City Council, East Midlands creative opportunities, Nottinghamshire Council of chambers, City of Nottingham Area Committee East and Waterstones.
Exhibition of Heaven on Earth @ Waterstones Gallery 2001
One day as I was walking along our local streets, I wished all the dog mess and litter could be flowers instead. I dressed up as both a flower fairy and a rubbish monster and pushed a litter pickers barrow round my streets. My barrow was bedecked with a pile of papier mache dog poo's, a heap of litter, a bunch of flowers and the words which "would you prefer?"
Nottingham in Bloom went on to support myself and our local schools with bulb planting schemes and more dog poop bins appeared in the neighbourhood care of our council.
Environmentalist of the year Green Guardians Award 2002 Wildlife trust
Funded by: A millennium Commission lottery project, YOTA Arts Council, Renewal trust , Nottingham City Council, East Midlands creative opportunities, Nottinghamshire Council of chambers, City of Nottingham Area Committee East and Waterstones.
Exhibition of Heaven on Earth @ Waterstones Gallery 2001
Mischief Makers 2004-2006.- collective of artists/activists seeking positive action through creativity and public engagement: 'Rubbish Day Out' recycle, repair, reuse. Street Banners (breathe easy, clean air and others) to encourage our Council to invest in recycling rather than expand the burning capacity of our inner city Incinerator.
Other back yards: Sherbourne calling. I first discovered the dilemma of Coventry's hidden river Sherbourne (buried beneath the city) whilst on a residency ran by Sandra Reeve and the Centre for dance research, Coventry University 2016.
Sandra and I cleared the rubbish at the culvert on Palmer street and went on to create an offering piece as part of the residency.
The river made such an impression on me I returned several times over the following 3 year. I documented change, I talked to the taxi drivers, construction workers, the locals who paid pilgrim and the 'Friends of river Sherbourne' who have campaigned for its right to be valued at the culverts.
I created making/moving dialogues and field studies honouring the plants between the pavings, the mulch beneath the rubbish and the song of the river. I celebrated the beauty, pleasures and presence of natures gifts in this small neglected area.
2024 it is wonderful to hear regeneration plans are underway for the River Sherbourne as it enters and leaves Coventry city...
Sandra and I cleared the rubbish at the culvert on Palmer street and went on to create an offering piece as part of the residency.
The river made such an impression on me I returned several times over the following 3 year. I documented change, I talked to the taxi drivers, construction workers, the locals who paid pilgrim and the 'Friends of river Sherbourne' who have campaigned for its right to be valued at the culverts.
I created making/moving dialogues and field studies honouring the plants between the pavings, the mulch beneath the rubbish and the song of the river. I celebrated the beauty, pleasures and presence of natures gifts in this small neglected area.
2024 it is wonderful to hear regeneration plans are underway for the River Sherbourne as it enters and leaves Coventry city...