Sorting Materials.

I've gathered a lot of materials to possibly use in this project. Using the approach of working with found and repurposed items. I brought some of the items into college to sort through and try out a few ideas. The partial sheep's skulls came from my neighbours' trip to the welsh country side. 

I've collected feathers, seed pods, old threads and fabrics, found wood and bark, wool fleece, egg shells Some things not pictured are a number of old picture frames, so much more fabric and old paints, pressed leaves and flowers and Cyanotype chemicals. Its all a bit random but using an approach of use what you have as its in keeping with a folk art approach and also a sustainability and environmental approach. Its also useful to guide the work as restriction limits decision. Ill be focusing most on organic matter for this project. 

this exercise is really an audit and a way to gather my thoughts this far and see what direction I want to continue.

Empty Shells. I like the relationship of these items. empty shells left behind by transitional events.
Skull, hatched egg, a grown seed , eaten nuts.

acorn that sprouted from the cast off shell in the above collage

A few images of my studio space at present, getting very crowded as I sort through materials and ideas 

 Quick visual mock up and thoughts behind the idea to decorate a found sheep's skull with found threads. Adding color and celebration, new life , springtime.

Elements of costume and life cycle. In relation to the printed image of the sailors hobby horse I feel the connection is that It's quite a sinister looking character but with the decoration of the bright colours makes it more child like, fun and celebratory...it it more sinister because of the primary colours?

I think this would be a good direction to explore these darker elements of folk lore with the brightness and crudeness of the folk art style. Is it that our modern culture is at odds with the natural cycle of life and nature?  When we look at how death and disaster are reported in the news its often sensationalised for the purpose of attracting an audience . I think the colour and celebration in folklore bring the spiritual aspects that provide comfort  and make sense of  difficult events by tapping into an older wisdom and way of looking at the world. Though in many ways naive there is an emotional intelligence that recognises the human need for acknowledgment, community and celebration and living with the seasons.

I like this quote on the back of written promotion from the folklore society.

I think it highlights this human need for the comfort and wisdom of storytelling and this simple connection to nature and our cycle of life.