Land, Layers and Linens, A Collaborative Exploration of Landscape through Visual Art

Proposal:

We, Siobhán Jordan and Mairead Holohan are seeking funding to support project entitled Land, Layers and Linens.

This project originated at Mairead’s Monthly art meet-ups in her studio in South Co. Carlow where 6 artists come to meet, support and learn from each others practices and share skills. We have seen that our studio practices align in a lovely way as we both are passionate about celebrating our local landscape and the heritage of South Co. Carlow. We have different but complimentary skills and styles of working. We want to develop a body of new work, inspired by our local landscape which ranges from Bagenalstown to the Wexford / Kilkenny / Carlow boarder at Dranagh. The work will culminate in the production of a collaborative art book which integrates painting, photography, textiles and narrative, inspired by our response to the landscape that surrounds us. We also plan to show this work at various arts festivals. We feel that the support we can give each other through the making of this work will help bring our art practices to the next level, and allow for greater projects in the future.

Siobhán and Mairead live on different sides of Mount Leinster and both of their art practise are rooted in a deep respect for the natural world and our local landscape. This book will merge their individual artistic practices to explore the textures, histories and emotional resonances of the land through a multi-disciplinary lens, offering the viewers an intimate connection to the environment. Using our diverse techniques, we will create a visual and tactile experience that resonates deeply with the viewer. This book will act as a record, a conversation, and a celebration of the land we inhabit.

Drawing, Painting and Photography - visual exploration.

Siobhán is a textile artist whose practice combines photography, paint and stitch to capture the physicality and texture of the land.  Through image photography, image transfer, fabric manipulation and stitch, she will converse with the landscape and engage with the tactile nature of the environment. She will use natural dying techniques as well as locally sourced or found fabrics to create her pieces.

Mairead is well known as a master of watercolour painting and as an experienced plain air painter. She will use her expert knowledge and skills at creating inks and pigments from her local hedgerows to create pieces that respond to the energetic movement of the land, the wind and light that moves over the mountain. Her evocative colour palette is made from the earth and is an honest and genuine response to her respect and love of the land.

The book will blend our artworks with written reflections on the creative process and relationship between land and identity. Inspirations, observations will be peppered throughout the book. We will share some of our knowledge on stitching, making dyes and inks and mark making throughout the book also in a thoughtful and considered manner.

I, Siobhan will be the lead artist on this project but will ensure that any income from the project will be shared with my collaborator, Mairead Holohan, equally and that she will be paid for her work on this project.

We ask for support to create this project. We want to explore the possibilities of a collaboration examining our relationship between land and its inhabitants. This relationship is fundamental at understanding our identity, culture and sense of place. The environmental crisis we currently face is a sometimes overwhelming one, but through art and sharing this art we can help to foster awareness and build resilience. We ask for support to create this project, to allow us the space to develop our work, edit and curate work for inclusion in our book, publish and launch of the book. We hope you look favourably on our request.