In continuation with the aforementioned memory project, I've been thinking about surfaces and materials which absorb the marks that people leave behind them in their every day lives, and what kind of marks we leave. And then the snow began!

Memory project

I have finally managed to sit down at my shiny new desk to try and create something equally new and shiny.. And began by looking through my old sketchbooks for some inspiration. I used to be a sketchbook fiend, but have been slacking rather a lot lately and it was helpful to go back and see things with a fresh eye. Seeing some recurring themes and little sparks of ideas that I never saw through to fruition has led to me writing myself a little brief to be working on.

In past work there is a recurring theme of physical memory; the stories that objects and surfaces can tell about their past. I am particularly interested in objects that change slowly over time, and the unintentional marks that people leave behind them. I see these as maps of actions and interactions, that tell us about the minute, seemingly unimportant (but vital in practicality) details of our lives.

Working in a cafe frequented by older people I have become interested in how memory loss affects people, especially as it is a very gradual process. It appears that this is an area overlooked by design, but that design could help these people to hold on to their independence for much longer if the issue was handled sensitively and poetically.

I am interested in how these two interpretations of the idea of the role of memory can be combined and would appreciate any thoughts or ideas.

Time for some history - this is my husband's grandparent's wedding silver, they were married in 1940. It was a kind gift to us and is in need of some TLC but first I wanted to record it as it is - I think that the colours in the tarnish are beautiful and manage to tell their own little story.

Its been a little while since my last posts as I've been in Switzerland, working in a summer camp (http://www.lpcamps.org/) with young people aged 14-17 from all over the world, living very simply and working towards community living, widening perspectives and encouraging self government. I thought I'd include here some photos of a couple of short projects I was involved in.

This is a short project, aiming to get the whole camp of 37 people to create something together. The floor was covered in paper and everybody was asked to make marks on it in response to music that was playing. The group were enthusiastic and I think the outcome was fantastic. When it was dry, the piece was cut up so that each person could take a piece of the work home with them.

Above is a social work project, where we organised that a group of young people would volunteer for a day at a local nursery. They ran activities including face painting, collage making and singing.

Some of my new work is being exhibited as part of the Nairn Book and Art's festival! It's just one large piece but if you're in the area please do check it out in the Court house, from the 5th to the 19th of June. There are lots of events on as part of the festival - http://www.nairnfestival.co.uk/

Experiments in tiny dimensions... These are experiments using egg cups as moulds.

Thought I'd stick in a wee update from the (slightly messy..) studio as it's been a while - I've mostly been working on the technicalities of working with paper, as it's new to me but I've produced these pieces, related to the work below. Im just not sure what to do with them; whether I should make lots and try to find a place to exhibit them enmass, or frame them individually and try craft fairs?

Featured!!!http://blog.artsthread.com/?p=1987

The HOTPOT exhibition opened this weekend, thank you to everybody who came, it went really well and there are photos at http://hotpotart.blogspot.com/ The exhibition is on until the 7th of March in the Kinburn Gallery of St Andrews Museum so go see!

This is just a small update on the papercasting side of the broken vessels project, I'm still having some technical difficulties with the papercasting but I'm getting there!

This was a failed experiment early on in my mould making - intended to be a plaster cast of a broken mug, put back together, it broke when it came out. I started fiddling with it, and stuck it back together, and think it has something quite nice about it...

These are very rough sketches (please ignore the colour of the silicon!) from a personal project I've been working on, based around the idea of giving integrity to broken things - I'm a bit of a hoarder of chipped and handle-less mugs! The top piece is a paper cast and the bottom one is made of silicon - I'm interested in the idea of having similar objects made of different materials, one as an art object and the other as a product. Please add any thoughts or ideas!

The Hotpot exhibition opens in St Andrews Museum from the 23rd of January to the 7th of March, but here is a preview of my work Play Please!, an encouragement to play with your food...