My work is autobiographical building on:
· my MA in Arts Health,
· my personal beliefs,
· the importance of hospitality, communication and connections.
Yet my work is about shared and common experiences, the everyday things that others might take for granted. I want people to pause and take the time to view my textile designs and relate them to their personal lived experiences.
I truly believe that we are designed to be creative. We are living in a world where human rationalism and knowledge are applauded, yet we need time and space to be creative. During my arts health workshops, I come alongside people struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and low self-esteem. Touch is a vital part of how we know and connect to our body, the warmth and softness of the wool fibres frequently brings comfort to those who are hurting. Using simple felt making activities, participants soon become absorbed in the activities that they feel the beginnings of a deep inner healing. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi used the term flow state to describe a mental state in which a person is so fully absorbed in what they are doing , their sense of time is transformed. There is transference of flow through the hands to construct unique pieces of felt. It’s wonderful to see the freedom and restoration that people experience as they start to explore their personal creativity.