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

  • writing-up, River Map, Folly Wood, Corsica

    9th September to 2nd October

    invigilating and taking down Ruskin Mill show.

    Inspection at Folly Wood from Big Tree funders

    Writing (and Boule) on Corsica

  • River Map, writing-up, Festival of Nature

    2nd to 8th

    Setting-up Ruskin Mill exhibition – installation. Planning walk.

    Preparing workshop for Festival of Nature.

    Preparing for and running Stroud Nature Network event seminar

    Festival of Nature

    Ruskin Mill event

  • writing-up, Festival of Nature, River Map

    26th to 1st September

    Taking River Map exhibition down from Exchange.

    Making work for Ruskin Mill discussion event/exhibition.

    Final Festival of Nature preparation meeting with Steve Roberts

  • River Map, writing-up, Rodborough Fields,

    River Map Seminar at the Exchange – good take up, good discussion.

    Evening Wildlife Walk as a part of Rodborough Fields Preservation Group campaign.

    Still working on Chapter 2.

  • River Map, Stroud Nature, White Horses

    12th to 18th:

    Developing River Map process – direct drawing on “favourite places” Map. Drawing at Wallbridge.

    Preparing for Festival of Nature

    Visit Richard White and Ali Pretty’s exhibition at Devizes Museum.

    Writing up.

  • River, thesis, Stroud Nature, Folly Wood

    5th – 11th

    Writing thesis continues to be full on – writing main part of most days.

    Managing regular drawing

    tree maintenance at Folly Wood – some failures due to dry summer

  • thesis, River, Stroud Nature

    29 July – 4th August

    writing stuttering, administration of projects time consuming – making drawings though.

    meeting with Kel about River – visit Canal centre gallery…

  • thesis, River, final show

    22nd – 28th

    meeting with Abigail Large at Museum in the Park to discuss final show.

    Meeting with Kel to develop ideas for River exhibitions and events. Decided on outline idea of people’s map for Festival of Nature event and to hold a second River discussion event at the Exchange while the work is still on show.

    Writing taking new shape as I concentrate on reflecting upon my process … full on, including weekends. Sleeping difficult.

  • Festival of Nature, thesis, Folly Wood, Tutorial,

    15th – 19th
    mainly writing and reading plus ongoing ‘administration’ of projects, such as developing programme for 6th September Festival of Nature Consortium meeting, which included brokering between possible consortium project thread holders.

    On-line tutorial with Rob and Catrin.

    Making Folly Wood sign with Seb.

  • River, thesis, Good for Woods, Stroud Nature

    8th – 12th

    Opportunity arose to make Stroud Scarlet Stretchers in support of Saving Rodborough Fields group and as an intervention within the River project – mutually beneficial, overlapping aims, integration.