Welcome to the Phd Blog
Keeping the blog was an important thread in weaving the research, the drawing practice and community facilitation. The degree of Doctor of Philosophy was awarded by the University of Wales Trinity St. David in 2018.
Abstract
The research considers why aesthetics, the subjective ways in which we
experience and value places, and nature’s agency are not readily included in
decision-making processes. This action research adopts a hopeful, participatory
and auto-ethnographic inquiry into the potential for developing and applying a
relational and environmental walking-art practice to overcome this disconnect; an
approach which attempts to reconnect art and life, cultural and natural systems.
Metaphor is used as a method to reflect upon an emergent art practice. The
research considers Felix Guattari’s ideas of transversality, developing an ethicoaesthetic paradigm as a critical framework, taking into account the work of relevant
practitioners and specifically Grant Kester’s arguments concerning reciprocal
creative labour. The framework is developed through a weaving metaphor and
applied to three community-led land-use change case studies; a canal restoration
project, caring for a community woodland and Landscape Character Assessment.
The weaving metaphor becomes both a process and an art work capable of
revealing and helping to incorporate subjectivity into traditionally objective
decision-making processes. As well as facilitating community-wide dialogue, the
research has, in some cases, lead to action being taken alongside nature’s
agency.
The research evaluates the transformation of the art practice and its impact, which
suggests the positive agency of art as a practical aesthetic in a social and
environmental context.
The thesis can be read here:
https://repository.uwtsd.ac.uk/id/eprint/1311/13/Keating%20R%20Landscape%20final.pdf#:~:text=As%20a%20part%20of%20post,with%20people%20in%20the%20Stroud
still in Limbo regards Lucy and leaving for Corsica.
Decide to draw about it in the context of “River” – Bristol Avon and Lucy as the source with rivers crossed in France as an analogy, a flow of information about Lucy’s progress. Some practical issues as the travel time has been reduced.
13th to 18th September
Lucy diagnosed with a kidney infection – very, very painful. Eventually taken back into hospital and diagnosed with kidney stones. Camping-out in Bristol. After various scares and tests, Lucy home on 18th. I’ve included this in my blog because? Because its been important and yet not something I choose to develop as a part of my research at this time – although there were links to drawing machines and links with ‘experiential caring’ and ‘cognitive caring’, but the overall sense was of concern, limbo and caring about Lucy recovering – so research took a break. In between times:
Writing an abstract about collaborative writing as inquiry/methodology for possible submission to publication, forwarded to Sue Porter.
Re planned and booked trip to Corsica twice.
Circulated meeting proposal and agenda for ‘River’ meeting
Responded to Max Comfort’s invitation to be involved with Neighbourhood Development Plan and to Steve Robert’s invitation to Five Festival’s meeting.
Updated website.
Attachments
presented my museum box project by reading from drawing machine.
Interesting, if brief conversation about ‘nostalgia’ – is it positive, negative or motivational…
Heard that Lucy had been taken into hospital and left symposium rapidly…
Michael four weeks old.
Third and final appointment to replace broken tooth – smile aesthetics
Reading and writing about friendship as methodology
Writing about renewable energy
Preparing to go away
Helping set-up symposium at UWE
Discussions about signs at Folly Wood – issue over insurance and inviting people into the wood hard to balance within the group. Also, new woodlands available to buy. Looking at raising additional monies.
Very well attended event in Stratford Park, upwards of three thousand visitors. A number of contributors came forward to offer to help with future organisation and a number interested in regular information exchange/collaborative approaches.
5th, 6th and 7th.
excellent symposium at Swansea Met. with very good and varied papers.
Useful perspectives on methodology – summary of discussions attached.
Attachments
2nd, 3rd and 4th, ticking off the 17 day list, including:
writing piece for Place, Place and Practice symposium and reading all the abstracts for Practice Makes Perfect symposium.
Attachments
Visit to see Jenny Saville’s show at Ashmolean and MOMA with Alison Parfitt, Sue Porter and Glenn Hall. Good conversations with Sue and Alison about embodiment. Interested in other exhibits such as Oriental Landscape prints and Rune Stones – seemed to resonate with thoughts I’d been having about walking sticks and wood turning.
Long and productive discussion about what to make from the Derby Walk – map, or series of maps, with located QR codes linking to web-based information, particularly sound files. Possibility of making animation and sound track with Glenn Hall.
