I recently repaired a basket handle, a very traditional shopping basket that may have been made in the 1940s. I selected and prepared the willow, which means cut lengths, soaked, split and thicknessed it to sizes required for each part. I began to understand how much skill the person had who made the original, it was almost as if I had shared a conversation and had some tuition from him, and it was most likely a man as baskets were traditionally made by men.

I slowly took apart the damaged pieces to make sure I followed the maker’s process; the original willow has marks from tools and shows the hand strength and force used to fix each part neatly in place. This guided and taught me that the maker was probably left-handed because I could not cut some pieces the same angle with my right hand.

The small pins used to secure 2 parts of the handle in place while wrapping are also hard to source, either too small, too long or not enough head so the willow slips over and is not held in place.

After two days there are already faults appearing, maybe the split willow was too wet because it has shrunk and is now loose in places. I might have to re-do it but that’s an opportunity to understand the preparation process better and improve the making technique. I don’t intend to repair many of these baskets, but understanding the techniques will definitely help make my own work better.

In addition, and most interesting to me, the willow used in the original showed that it grew in a slightly different way to the willow I had available. It had more body to it, less pith in the core and was probably stronger to work with. I wonder if the region where it grew, climate or growing techniques may have changed the habit of willow growth, there is always more to learn so I am asking growers and makers for advice.

Slow Art Day is a way of sharing conversations with makers and artists, an opportunity to take time to look at the materials and techniques they use. Slow looking means we become more attentive and helps our understanding of the art and world around us, which in turn helps with wellbeing. Focussing attention means we are not thinking about the uncertainties of the world around us, the parts we have no control over.

Have you ever looked at one piece of artwork for longer than 1 minute, 5 minutes or even maybe an hour?

Have you ever thought about how much time you could spend in a gallery, not including the gift shop or café?

If you haven’t allowed yourself time to pause in a gallery before a good place to start would be the exhibition ‘Colour’ at Babylon Gallery, Ely  perfect for Slow Art Day. There will be treasures to take time looking at work from fifteen selected members of Anglian Potters.

Earth and fire combined provide such an amazing range of colours, textures and forms in the hand of skilled potters, who use the oldest and most basic materials to create their work,

Share your gallery visit with friends and go for a meal afterwards to continue the conversation to extend this experience of Slow Art.

One day each year – April 15th in 2023 - people all over the world are invited to visit local museums and galleries to look at art slowly. Participants look at five works of art for 10 minutes, or more, then meet to talk about their experience. That’s it. Simple by design, the goal is to focus on the art and the art of seeing.

It’s when you pass the 28.63-second mark that things really start to happen. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts 2017

‘Taking time to look at art is good for us’ J Watts 2019

Taking the time to look slowly, we can avoid hasty interpretations and hurried conclusions. If your local gallery is free to visit you could look at one piece each day of the week. I guarantee your world view will have changed by the end of the week!

‘Slow Art Day and the act of slow looking are radically inclusive experiences where participants include themselves.’ (Washington Post 2021)

For Slow Art Day info see https://www.slowartday.com/

#SlowArtDay2023

#SlowMaking

#MindfulMaking

#MakingMatters