by Ruby Taylor | Jul 10, 2014 | All Journal Entries, Foraging, Wakehurst: artist in residence
The Peace of Wild Things. Driving to Wakehurst this morning for my artist in residency, on my car radio I hear bellicose Middle Eastern leaders holding forth, and reports of awful police investigations here in the UK. I’m overwhelmed by it, by feelings of despair and...
by Ruby Taylor | Jul 7, 2014 | All Journal Entries, Foraging, Wakehurst: artist in residence
Trail of seeds. This is my working space for my post as artist in residence at Wakehurst, or what I like to call my studio: a couple of straw bales and a farm yard. Sheepskin for a touch of luxury. It’s a naturally peaceful spot save for the occasional arrival...
by Ruby Taylor | Jul 3, 2014 | All Journal Entries, Foraging, Wakehurst: artist in residence
Bare feet and windrows. I’m at Wakehurst, in Bloomers Valley, checking out the plants in this meadow for my Meadow Weave residency. It’s a species-rich conservation-grade meadow, the result of a big restoration project here. I’m admiring the dramatic...
by Ruby Taylor | Jun 19, 2014 | All Journal Entries, Courses, Foraging, Wild Basketry
I’m standing in a large patch of shoulder-high wild grasses on the edge of a midsummer Sussex field. I’m here foraging grass for basketry. They’re in full flower, stashed full of pollen, and I’m a hay fever sufferer. Hmm… To one side is a...
by Ruby Taylor | May 2, 2014 | All Journal Entries, Courses, Foraging, Wild Pottery
Ankle-deep and barefoot in the cold stream (or thigh-deep as we were one April after a long rainy period), grubbing away at an exposed seam of clay. It’s just like being a child again- getting dirty and wet, squidging the lovely stuff between our fingers,...
by Ruby Taylor | Apr 2, 2013 | All Journal Entries, Foraging, Wild Basketry
I was inspired to make this piece using twine made of lime and foraged willow bast, after hearing about archaeological finds of looped fibre fragments from the late Mesolithic period (middle stone age) found in Denmark. That’s around 9,000 years ago, pre-agriculture,...