Richard Keating Artist

PhD Archive

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

  • River

    Visit to Slimbridge with Helen. Bewick Swans visiting. Great drawing opportunity. So much movement, so hard to capture. This as a part of the WtL River Severn project – interested in the comparisons between my walking journeys and bird migration. Through the woodland pilgrimage and Folly Wood project, I’m interested in the ideas of settlement and journeying, community and travel, sense of place as an inhabitant and visitor… this seems to be mirrored by bird migration. I’m particularly interested in Slimbridge’s Crane Project in the Somerset Levels as this falls within the wider Severn Project.

  • Plot

    This won’t be included in my Thesis although the process is appropriate.

  • Plot

    preparing for meeting between Joolz Bennett and family members regards co-habitation and Passivhaus

  • Drawing Symposium, Watery Landscapes, Derby Walk

    Making Amendments to Drawing Symposium article and adding to Watery Landscapes writing.

    Discussing Derby Walk with Alison Parfitt.

  • Folly Wood, Watery Landscapes, Aurland Valley Walk

    emailing about Folly Wood tree planting.

    “Watery Landscape” writing.

    Outlining suggestions for Norwegian summer walk with Dr. Morten Clemetsen

  • Website

    updating blog and completing online tax return (with Helen, well Helen mainly really)

  • Watery Landscape

    Writing session with Kel Portman and Dr. Iain Robertson based on our experiences of our First Friday walk of the year. Iain had written and emailed his initial thoughts. We all read them and discussed. We wrote again based on the discussions. We discussed each writing and then wrote again.

    After lunch we agreed to our next steps having pretty well identified the focus for our joint writing and the overall shape of possible article for Journal of Arts and Communities.

  • Folly Wood, Gainsborough Walk

    First Tree Planting at Folly Wood. Upwards of 25 people planted, staked and put shelters on over 100 trees. Great soup and camaraderie.

    Photos by Ivi Szaboova of Stroud Valleys Project

    Heard that the proposal that Sue Porter and I had sent regards presenting at the Affective Landscape Conference in Derby at the end of May was successful.

  • Folly Wood, Weave

    Preparing a planting plan for the tree plant on Sunday. Adding hawthorn, hazel, field maple, guelder rose, bird and wild cherry, crab apple and wayfaring tree into the edge along Folly Lane – colour, scent, food, habitat, texture, variety..

    Visit to “The Weaving Shed” in Stroud – ‘The Weaving Shed’ has been be set up in an empty shop in the High Street as a reconstruction from 1931, with looms, shuttles, fleece dye plants. Sally Hampson continues to ‘fulfill her dream of being a village weaver’ as SVA’s resident artist will weave cloth from Kitty Lake’s travel journals from the Outer Hebrides. The Weaving shed continues through to spring. Check venue and SVA for opening times.

  • British Museum Visit

    Visit to British Museum to see the Grayson Perry exhibition – Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman – with Vision 21 Being Feasters.

    Centre photo by Glenn Hall