"For anyone trying to discern what to do with their life, pay attention too what you pay attention to. That's pretty much all the information you need."
Tweet by children's book author the late Amy Krouse Rosenthal, 2013
If you have read past posts you know I have been banging on about process. And trying to work out what it means? And, how do you do it? I have been trying to commit to making a mini collage ( about the size of the palm of my hand or smaller) each day. When I look back at them I realise many featured birds.
Earlier this year I was invited to submit works to an online exhibition called Listening in the Anthropocene. I had ideas for both textile works and collage with found papers and was off like a shot trying both. Then I read a bit about what the Anthropocene is and had a few more ideas. And then I looked at the title. It was Listening in the Anthropocene. In my excitement I had missed the listening bit ☹. So, it was back to the drawing board to rejig my thoughts and ideas.
I had been contemplating trying to reflect about climate change/pollution
etc. but it was the word listening which
made me think. How could I talk about sound and the effect on
sound in the recent world. I settled on
a subject dear to my heart… the sad fact that both domestic and wild cats have
added to the demise of our native fauna.
I focused on birds. Less birds,
less bird song. And I focused on collaged
papers.
I didn’t come across Amy’s words until after the exhibition. It would have saved me so much grief if I had
paid attention to what I had been engaging me.
Nevertheless, have learnt more about
me and process and what it means to me.
It was a wonderfully broad brief and gave scope to artists across
so many fields. Please take time to visit the gallery.
