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
Responding to Paul Fong’s suggestion for Canal Forum to make joint submission to SDC on Core Strategy regards valley bottom option.
First Friday Walk to find the source of the Painswick Stream. Part of River Project for me both geographically and in terms of experimenting with zig zag sketch books as an alternative to drawing machine/scrolls.
Training on Mac with Kel Portman
Minor surgery at Stroud General. Reminded me of the similarity between the drawing machine and an electrocardiogram – the value of life.
completing and circulating Directors Report for Sunday’s AGM. Co-written with Ben Spencer. Thinking about how to make the AGM convivial and yet formal enough.
Attachments
Tree planting, compost toilet planning and rope swing construction.
Warm, spring-like sun. People appeared happy to play and talk. Grace (11) had baked a cake. A convivial gathering. People very appreciative of the changes in the wood – “it looks loved”, Jade.
Meeting at Folly Wood with Richard Lewes and Simon Penna about felling and timber conversion. Marked trees to be felled by Simon, hopefully this March. Doing it reminded me of reduction drawing, where there is say a charcoal field and a rubber is used to make marks. It was especially similar as the tree removal will let in light where other things can then grow.
Meeting with Tom and Kel to review Countryfile experience. We felt we could have been a bit clearer about what we wanted to get out of it, although recognised the need for flexibility. Also hadn’t expected such a lot of involvement in post production. Over all felt it was a good thing for the arts in the Stroud Valleys – haven’t yet seen the programme of course – and in particular a way to spread our message of being in the moment in the landscape.
Still more input to Countryfile – providing frames from animation for BBC to generate animation of suitable resolution.
Circulated River discussion Paper produced with Ffin.
Contact with BBC post production team about images and animation.
So interesting to get a feel of the resources available to the BBC for making programmes – what a great national asset. I can’t help but contrast it with me making animations using a hand held sound recorder to interview people and at the same time taking photos of the drawings being made on the DIY drawing machine and then days at the computer making the animation. I have learned a lot about broadcast quality which has helped consolidate my ideas for future practice.
Preparing for Folly Wood weekend events and AGM.
Meeting with Alison Parfitt, Sue Porter, Diana Ray and Jacqui Taylor to develop ideas for the Derby journey and take on board people’s aspirations for the journey.
A number of issues were discussed; an example discussed was the discrepancy between the scale of local projects such as community orchards and the scale of the global challenges around oil, water, food. Could our journey begin to help address this question of scale between community resilience and global resilience? Our original idea of animating conversations along the route would be symbolic of this weaving together.
A particular issue is the way that landscapes and water-scapes, the places in between projects, are often unconsidered. It is perhaps an appropriate metaphor for a journey into Derbyshire to say that the landscape is still ‘mined’ for goods and services as if doing so has no effect on the landscape or affect on people.
A strong thread linking Gainsborough’s paintings and community resilience is the idea of taking food to market and common land.
