Academy of Urbanism Visit day one
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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The Weave, Schools Environmental Initiative
Preparing for the Academy of Urbanism visit – planning guided walk and making presentation. Briefing people.
Inaugral meeting of Transition Town’s ESI, led by John Meadley, Representing Wtl, the Weave and Stroud Nature.
Attachments
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Post Graduate Forum and Tutorial
Reading Merlot Ponty on the train and drawing with quotes in mind.
Interesting presentation from Dr. Catrin Webster who shares walking as a part of her practice and community engagement A lot of the painting appeared to be questioning painting. Surface representing texture… photographic in a way.
Tutorial with Dr.Robert Newell. Drawing as community engagement and performance. “Rea”l experience – resonance between subject and object. Gerard Manley Hopkins – inscape, instress. Spinoza – transcendent, A.N. Whitehead – the experience in the moment. Beuys.
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Phd Conversation, The Weave
meeting with Sue Reed whose practice led Phd research at Derby is about space, event and body with her work being walked and knitted. Especially taken by stories of miners knitting while walking.
Meeting with Lizzi Walton to plan presentations on the arts for the AoU visit.
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The Weave
Meeting at the Exchange to detail plan the Academy of Urbanism visit with Carol Garfield, Max Comfort, Steve Roberts, Gerb, Stella Parkes, Lizzi Walton, Val Kirby and Kevin Cranston.
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Folly Wood
First Folly Wood activity day. A good turn out with people taking responsibility for designing a compost loo, play features, paths and tree felling and planting.
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Oversees exhange visit
Visit by Norwegian World Heritage Site team and agricultural college staff looking at Landscape and community engagement. Interest in using the Weave animated drawing process. Good discussions about embodiment with Sue Reed. Walked across Rodborough Common and into Stroud, through the farmers market experiencing Stroud’s first Apple Day. A successful way of linking ideas of town and country, people and place. Photos by Jorun Barane.
Attachments
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Walking the Land
Meeting with Tom and Kel to plan seminar. I recognize the difference between working with the first Friday walkers and other people in the community – First Friday Walkers is a Wtl project, while my work following on from the seminar will be with other people. Our 100 mile walk was/is a hybrid.
