Current Projects
By referencing crafts the workers would have used at home and working with ‘spun’ newspaper in an interlinking method of construction, I can echo the process by which information pathways are manufactured by the brain. Growing in direct response to stimuli to form a dense network or connectome of neurons. These specialised brain cells form the cerebral cortex of the brain and are also called GREY MATTER.
GREY MATTER, Constructing Connections.
A Site Responsive installation constructed from ‘spun’, recycled newspapers using crochet and knitting techniques for Saltaire Art Trail, Window Gallery Trail 2021. From Saturday 29th May-Sunday 6th June. My Installation is at 29 Albert Road Saltaire .
Saltaire model village, was ‘A landmark of enlightened nineteenth century urban planning’. Titus Salt’s workers all had the opportunity to embrace education. In the purpose built Library and Reading Room newspapers and books connected them to the outside world. A chance if they wished, to engage with new ideas, opinions, language, commerce, politics, history, the arts and science stimulating their minds and brains.
Small, sample structure made from thinner newspaper yarn. This will be the scale of the newspaper 'brain' I will construct for the installation.
Spun newspaper strips, made from The Guardian and Observer Newspapers. The Guardian celebrates 200 years in 2021 so it was probably read by workers who used the library from 1876 when the village was finished. A particular commitment in the paper's manifesto was to report on the lives and conditions of workers in the textile industry.
The structure resembles the cerebral cortex of the brain which looks grey from a distance, close up, colours, words and fragments of images are revealed that are visible in the newspaper 'yarn'.
Larger sample using thicker yarn, crochet technique is beginning to create folds in the structure. Echos technique for making rugs from recycled materials.
Notebook pages showing process.
Strips of newspaper used for yarn making.