Artist Statement

Culturally, learning to reconnect with each other and reacquaint ourselves with the great outdoors is a mammoth task. Ecosystems are weakly bound and loosely organised and the concept of belonging can seem hopelessly vague. The concept of community health is even more contentious, not only because it is ambiguous, but also because it embodies societal values and preferences. The more that people disagree on these values, the more contentious the concept of community health. Looking always for that elusive external source that will give us an answer to our woes is common practice. But what if we could fix ourselves by changing our responses; responding instead of reacting to the challenges that life throws our way?

The quality, tone and dynamic of my walking art has resulted in the Wayfaring Project , an investigation into our dependency upon Wi-Fi, electricity and an indoor, sedentary lifestyle. The pylons that have become the new God's in our landscapes and our lives, thrive on our lack of connection to both people and place; monoliths in modern society that continue to provide succour despite the odds.

The work created through this project - a series of ropes and knots, an abstracted chair and ‘gestures’ - are a response to the leaf litter under my feet and the thoughts in my head.

I also created a map without detail. In leaving aside the detail, the lines, the pathways, roads, trails and visual clutter, I am leaving the narrative open for each and every one of us to write our own story. To travail our highways and byways with an incredible opportunity to do it without pressing our own or each other’s self-destruct buttons. To narrow down our choices to those that truly have significance in our life. To leave judgement at the door, to slow down, to think and to be who we want and need to be.

Happy trails to us all.