final preparation
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
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Thesis
writing draft thesis – reflecting on practice so far, recognise that phase one is complete. Has helped identify the following needs/next steps:
make a “prospectus” for Weave phase 2 for local use
have started uploading work onto Folly Wood website
have started to plan long-distance walk taking on board learning from woodland pilgrimage
have planned seminar with WtL first Friday walkers to share learning
am looking into upgrading computer to cope with as yet unmade animations
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Drawing Symposium
Drawing Seminar with Professor Howard Riley, Associate Professor Mary-Ann Kokosa, Richard Monahan, Drs. Natasha Mayo, Rob Newell and Catrin Webster. Regards my own presentation, helped me identify some gaps in my thinking and information presented and some superfluous information.
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Space Place Practice Forum
Presentation of “Museum Box” project at UWE. Making links with next steps of the Weave project by clarifying relational, participatory process and identification by AoU of raising the awareness of the Museum in relationship to the canal.
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The Weave, Folly Wood and website update, Landscape Led Architure Design
preparing for Place, Space and Practice Forum, Architecture walk and Drawing Symposium
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Walking to Derby ideas development
Gainsborough in Bath Study Day at the Holbourne Museum, Bath. Serendipitously, the exhibition will be at Compton Verney over the time that V21 colleagues had agreed to meet as a part of the walk. Looking for threads from Gainsborough’s drawing practice to my own.
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Walking the Land First Friday Walk, Weave, Landscape Led design, Thesis
A week of reviewing, writing and planning next steps for projects, such as:
walking the land first friday walks seminar and collaboration, Ridgeway walk and collaboration, Derby Walk and collaboration.Walk to Nailsworth with WtL
Developed ideas for walking as a process to develop ideas with an architectural design team.
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Vision 21
Writing weekend in Laugharne with Sue Porter, Alison Parfitt, Diana Ray and Jaqui Taylor. Focused on project at Northleech where the local authority appears to be imposing ideas without due community engagement in the process. Serendipitously: museum focus. Archive as sense of place.
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The Weave
Academy of Urbanism visit day two.
For my practice, the two elements that came through strongly were: to develop the physical and cultural link between town and canal and museum and to work in the context of community area plans.
