There has been time to reflect on the time spent at the
Mend*rs research symposium and to establish aims and suggestions for a Mend*rs
movement and my personal input and manifesto as a ‘mender’, and as an artist.
MEND*RS was a Mending Research Symposium at Docker in South Cumbria, was the first ever large-scale gathering dedicated to mending in the UK, with a series of events, publications and activist projects around mending. It took place from 29 June to 2 July, 2012 and was organised by Jonnet Middleton, Guiseppe Salva and Beck Collins to ‘bring about the age of mending‘! And to ‘bring together an emergent community of research around issues of repair. By research we include practice-based research, arts-based research, activist research as well as traditional academic inquiry. We want to establish a network of researchers and practitioners who are exploring aspects of mending’.
WHY AM I A MENDER?
I approached the Mend*rs symposium with an interest in the
materials and processes that would take place there. I was to create practical
signage to highlight the different locations and activities happening on-site,
creating functional artworks with an aesthetic which was relevant to the site and
notions of mending.
The ‘Helping Hands’ series and pointing hands featured in
the signage were printed from household and DIY manuals from 1920s-1950’s,
harking back to a period where resourcefulness and skills were practiced daily.
I also worked throughout the symposium to document the practical
activity taking place there within the ‘Menders Toolkit’. My initial blog post outlining the activity at
the 1st Mend*rs Symposium can be viewed in a previous post HERE.
My artwork makes use
of recycled materials. Paper based artwork is created using 100% recycled
papers and card stock made from post-consumer waste. Other materials I salvage
and re-work are wallpapers, fabrics, building materials, household/grocery
packaging to name a few. From an environmental perspective my artwork aims to
promote re-use and I do see this as a process of mending- in relation to one of
the permaculture principles of ‘earth care’ and being resourceful with the
materials (both natural and man-made) currently available on our planet.
To me mending extends beyond the realm of physical fixing of things, to conceptual outcomes, mindfulness towards materials and resources and our impact as individuals and the choices we make as consumers. The planet cannot support our mass consumerism, and issues about impending peak oil makes the matter all the more worrying.
We can make decisions now- to become menders and learn the skills to become more self-sufficient and resilient in terms of not relying on the production of new goods from factories and learning how to mend (and make) the items that we use within our daily lives and be resourceful with what we have. I believe these are vital skills which we all should develop now in 2012, more than ever. If we as a society can lessen the need/ demand for constantly new items- clothes, objects then we would save and conserve vital resources.
To me mending extends beyond the realm of physical fixing of things, to conceptual outcomes, mindfulness towards materials and resources and our impact as individuals and the choices we make as consumers. The planet cannot support our mass consumerism, and issues about impending peak oil makes the matter all the more worrying.
We can make decisions now- to become menders and learn the skills to become more self-sufficient and resilient in terms of not relying on the production of new goods from factories and learning how to mend (and make) the items that we use within our daily lives and be resourceful with what we have. I believe these are vital skills which we all should develop now in 2012, more than ever. If we as a society can lessen the need/ demand for constantly new items- clothes, objects then we would save and conserve vital resources.
FURTHER IMPACT ON MY PRACTICE
The week was inspiring.
Jonnet Middleton’s talk in
particular raised questions and issues that impact my daily life and work as an
artist- dealing with the accumulation and consuming of stuff; mainly materials
used within my art practice, household/domestic items and clothes. I do buy
most of my things second-hand, but Jonnet’s talk has made me consider whittling
down the amount of things I buy, and the stuff I gather- as it can become a
burden and it is unnecessary.
I am therefore now putting into practice within my artwork
the re-use of material, and how this impacts surface with an accumulated
history of use. The ‘art suit’ and ‘art patch’ concept developed earlier this
year had touched on these themes- using salvaged fabric patches and William Morris
fabrics to patch people’s holes in a performance based activity.
 |
| William Morris fabric- a re-occuring motif throughout my practice and seen on a chair at the Mend*rs Symposium |
I am
now entering into a project that combines previous themes; dealing with history
of use, and patina of surface as narrative. Alongside the continued use of
found and salvage fabrics and papers I intend to re-use my materials from project
to project- these include papers and canvases which are used as prints and
paintings. I like the idea of creating multi-functional artwork, which could
exist as a painting, a shelter for example.This was explored in last year's Airspace Gallery Studio show
in Margate where a hand painted parasol cover became a functional item on the
beach front and then was removed and displayed as a painting on the wall.
I
intend to take this a step further, re making and re-painting the same
canvases, and repairing the wear and tear over the years. Stitch marks, creases,
patches, cutting and re-stitching will allow a surface to build up as a result
of re-use and repair.
The Unstructured Material Tent, currently being exhibited at The Airspace Studio show '12, has
once again made use of the same piece of canvas which was used for the 'Kiss me Quick' Margate work seen above. It was washed, dyed and re-stitched, given new function and aesthetic.
I have previously explored the links between lifestyle and art
practice and debated how lifestyle is a creative process and question what constitutes
creative activity? The Mending process is a truly creative one and I believe
that our objects, clothes and surroundings become more meaningful as well as
beautiful and tactile when we mend, repair and create a history of use
reflective of our life. Within my artwork I explore history of use and process.
I am interested in how the wear and tear of objects and theory subsequent
repair reflects human experience and can act as a means of recording and
documenting.
MY PERSONAL MANIFESTO AS AN ARTIST
How I am going to incorporate notions / issues of mending
into my art practice:
Attending the Mend*rs symposium re-ignited some personal interests put a new slant onto sustainability and environmental awareness in regards to resourcefulness and consuming or even making of new 'stuff'. On reflection on some of the themes discussed at Mend*rs symposium I have realised I have an issue with the creation of yet more 'stuff' as an artist.
I am happy producing things out of otherwise waste or scrap materials, which have been developed throughout my Reconstructive range, but I intend this notion to extend into my art practice and an interesting project could be developed- re-using the same canvas and materials from project to project.
Paintings and items will be created which reveal history of use, process, mindfulness, and context.
Attending the Mend*rs symposium re-ignited some personal interests put a new slant onto sustainability and environmental awareness in regards to resourcefulness and consuming or even making of new 'stuff'. On reflection on some of the themes discussed at Mend*rs symposium I have realised I have an issue with the creation of yet more 'stuff' as an artist.
I am happy producing things out of otherwise waste or scrap materials, which have been developed throughout my Reconstructive range, but I intend this notion to extend into my art practice and an interesting project could be developed- re-using the same canvas and materials from project to project.
Paintings and items will be created which reveal history of use, process, mindfulness, and context.
MY FUTURE AIMS & INPUT TO MEND*RS
RESOURCE PACKS & POSTCARDS
I am interested in creating resources and skill sharing
methods and solutions. And would be keen to develop resources for DIY kits and
postcards, based on some of the techniques share at the Mend*rs Symposium,
which are featured in the Mend*rs toolkit. These could be developed further to
create a series of collectible mending cards that each contain a simple yet
practical method, from darning a sock to repairing an inner tube on a bike.
Content would be gathered from the Mend*rs network/practitioners from the 1st Mend*rs Symposium, and I would propose to design and illustrate instructions into a series of collectible postcards. Postcards would also allow the info to be accessible and exchangeable- send a friend a postcard...They would act as good promotion for the Mend*rs network- propaganda style.
These are some of my reflections and ideas. I hope that other Mend*rs who were involved with the symposium feel these ideas are relevant and I hope a discussion can begin about making some of these ideas happen.
Thanks to all the Mend*rs at the symposium who have inspired my current practice.
This blog post is part of the Mend*rs Blog tour. Please visit previous blogs and future blogs involved with the tour, following the links below.
Tour Date
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Blogger
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URL
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Tour Taster
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Clare Thomas
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Tour Taster
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Flowering Elbow
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20/07/2012
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Mend*RS
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25/07/2012
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GUTmag
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27/072012
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Futuremenders
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03/08/2012
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Keep & Share
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10/08/2012
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Venerable Clothing
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17/08/2012
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tomofholland
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24/08/2012
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bridgetharvey
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31/08/2012
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textilelives
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http://textilelives.co.uk (NOT LIVE YET)
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07/09/2012
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KnittedGeographies
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14/09/2012
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lizparker
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21/09/2012
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The Bunny Pile
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28/09/2012
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Unstructured Material
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05/10/2012
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The Blogging Phenotype
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12/10/2012
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Logo Removal Service
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19/10/2012
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Caitlin DeSilvey and Steve Bond
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26/10/2012
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Stitched Up
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Brilliant - I love your thoughts on this Kate. I'm inspired!
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