Now Skylarks Sing And Sing

nine days on a hill

Eva’s Hill: nine vertical strips of photographs each carrying a phrase from Eva’s journal.

Hello, and welcome to ‘between the moons’.

Looking back over the years at the art projects I’ve undertaken, there have always been underlying currents of magic, folklore, landscape and history flowing through them. And these are some of the very topics that we look at here at Bracken & Wrack, whether seasonally as in the new and full moon newsletters, or focussed on a single theme as we generally do between the moons.

When I dig out my old writings, photographs and reportage, I realise in hindsight how much of myself - heart and soul - went into it all. Sometimes the work was for a fleeting event or was only partially shown publicly, yet it represents total immersion on my part, really trying to get to the essence of whatever it was that I was exploring at the time.

Besides exhibitions and things like participatory performance walks, the main way I would get to share my work was through the creation of static websites (not created by lo-tech me, I hasten to add) and little zines that I would leave in places like cafes for people to pick up for free should they wish. 

Social media was really in its infancy and there was definitely no Substack or similar easy-to-use platforms that have enabled artists and writers to gather like-minded communities together, design beautiful online publications, write and publish thought provoking articles at the drop of a hat and much more besides.

So having been unexpectedly inspired by what I have been finding while rooting through my old stuff, I hope you won’t mind a few more art-related articles here and there over the next months. I would love the chance to draw together some of this material in the hope that it will resonate with Bracken & Wrack readers. 

I know that I always learn something new when I open myself up to sharing  my work, inevitably gaining new insights from the thoughts and experiences of others. I would love to hear any comments or observations you have, so please do add to the conversation. 

Maybe the old artists’ statement I recently re-discovered will be a good enough introduction to the work I’d like to periodically share with you:

‘Imogen Ashwin’s practice involves spending time in locations whose resonance comes from their known history, folkloric associations or the intangible quality that serves to heighten the atmosphere of a particular place. She is interested in the subtle interplay between human belief and the landscape: physical and psychological residues that may be present in such liminal locations as prehistoric monuments, a crossroads, the north side of churches and watery or high places.

Primarily through performance, intervention and installation, and using her body as an integral part of the work, Ashwin seeks to entice the viewer into stepping - even momentarily - into a world of magical currents. At the same time, her practice seeks to challenge the passive ingestion of ‘heritage’ as something at a remove from our lives today, to be gently enjoyed as a leisure activity.’

So without further ado, let me introduce you to Eva.