Explaining

There is a fundamental problem with explaining your work to people in most contexts. The meaning you give in the particular moment would be a different meaning in any another. I think I mean I’m still struggling with the idea of praxis because it seems that the recognition of it is contingent.

In any case I am just about to complete another CAA course, this one a four week ‘crit’ course with David Risley  that has been particularly challenging because of the need to explain. I think I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t want to explain. The ‘crit’ itself moves the work into the realm of spoken or written language rather than the visual and that makes the work lesser in some manner.

Notes on Woolgathering December 25

After a 1 to 1 talk with David Risley I made some notes about the way I might make ‘woolgathering’  more closely fit with the things I suggested about what I wanted it to say. Then I spent time putting that into practice and made a new video.

But I’m reluctant to talk about the work before or during the video, I think it needs to be seen first?

The most upsetting thing about this was that I really wanted to use this crit process to sort out the direction I wanted to take the birds in and I haven’t really talked about them at all.

Studio 01 12 2025

I started the month like this. This is the studio on the day of the 1 to 1, which lasted about fifteen minutes.

Pigeons 5/12/25

I made this drawing between the 3^rd and the 5^th December.

Rooks 08/12/25

Then made this one on the 8^th December. I managed to stretch the large sheets I made form cartridge and wallpaper paste so while the other two sheets were drying I made some other drawings.

Two Pigeons 10/12/25

This one of two pigeons and the next one of the left hand pigeon.

Single Pigeon 12/12/25

I also went along to ‘The Little Anarchist Bookshop‘ at ArtBomb where Terry Hudson is presenting an installation of his ethical woodland festival based workshops. Not entirely sure what I think about it but admire the motivation.