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Weaving a Walk
Galerija Balen - April 2006
I walked by the river Sava in flood, with peoples’ rubbish and natural materials being swept down the river. The sides of the river were washed clean by the fast flowing water, only small amounts of debris left behind.
Slavonski Brod is a community that is conscious of it’s position at the country border between Croatia and Bosnia, a sense of living at the edge is very raw and somewhat fragile. War is in recent memories and experience. The season early spring, with very little growth showing felt at a point of change and potential in keeping with the people and place.
Exhibition curators - Reuben and Maja Fowkes of Translocal
The Sava Walk
I led a group of student teachers for art and design from the local college on a walk by the river Sava. Living at the edge of their country boundary, highlighting their position in time in this climate, anticipating change. The action of walking and considering, preparing to create a piece of work that expresses the immeasurable sense of place and belonging. Conversation included how to make links with communities on the opposite bank, and the shared ecologies between.
Weaving a walk
I made a fragile warp for members of the community to interweave with. Materials were collected on a walk by the river Sava. The work in the gallery developed intuitively. I encouraged participants to be aware of their balance within the overall work. Sensitive to the position of others in the action of being, conscious of the action when placing items.
Footprints and Traces
In making I contemplate the trace my making will leave, the ecological footprint. This piece has Sava mud footprints in the shadow of a translucent fabric on the gallery wall. My use of resources, the walk I take in life has effect on others, whether planned or incidental.
Shadow Sampler
Using traditional stitching techniques on recycled sack, this is an expression of life lived. The whole may not be aesthetically balanced and as the effect of living or making is not known until completed; each sample stitch a trial, used when the skill is learned in the appropriate place and time. The shadow of this piece is the viewers experience, not the struggle to make or the textures and smells of the physical.
Like the story of someone's life, it is a trace of existence.
Toolkit
The pouch I store tools in, used in making my work. Made by myself and other craftspeople these items speak of the potential for creating with skills of the craftsperson.
In themselves hand tools have a fascination and attraction, manipulated into shape and worn by regular use in the makers hands.
Response
This is my response to the completed collaborative work. I drew silhouettes of indigenous plants on the wall using mud from the River Sava.
Traces of plant material and earth brought together into the gallery, manipulated by people.
Using the Sava mud I was conscious of the effect of time and actions, reshaping of plants and animal remains from the natural world that enable my work to happen.
