CONTINUING PEER-TO-PEER DIALOGUE AND CRITICAL INTERACTION
I belong to two separate student groups, which are connected to the OCA, where I regularly share work and have interactions with fellow students. I have shared written work as well with students.
I have invited someone to read my CR for the Research Part of my studies and then spend an hour or so in my studio around my making. This was a personal experience I value, as this friend has years of curating experience. Most of our discussion was around moving on to making work become site-specific and exploring my own space around my studio – outside on the farm, in nature. This led to hanging some of my nests out and planning the making of a giant nest I would place around the dam.
The feedback was around using the natural setting, the materials for and whether birds would be interested in exploring the nests. Ideas on upscaling and type of materials I chose for weaving and construction were discussed and became motivating as more natural options were shared.
In my OCA EU group discussion, a WhatsApp group where we share making continuously, I discussed my ideas to upscale nests. I want to start with a sociable weaver’s nest and make it at least 1.8 m wide and 800cm high. How to plan the construction, which materials to use. Below is a random ‘heap’ of twisted paper I placed onto my more minor version of a sociable weaver’s nest. In the discussion on the WA group, it was suggested I make the frame with ivy vines and weave it densely to create a stable form. It was also recommended to use thicker branches of scrubs/trees to exploit their natural shape within the nest. I like the idea of using twigs – this is more natural how the birds make these nests in nature. I like the comments that the nest has a primal feel, a place where all things start – a carrier bag, a hollow form, a container of things and human and non-human.
I made a list of materials social weavers use to construct these nests. I created a separate blog for the making of this nest: .
I can see the construction will be some weaving, but mostly a type of layering I need to explore. It was suggested I look at how a thatched roof is constructed. I have been witness to this process and will find video of this process to see what I could learn from it.
It is important to share that because this group has been going for at least eight months, we have formed a coherent and safe space to share and critique. The most important is the learning from the other works shared and how materials are explored.
I decided to work with an existing nest and gradually enlarge it.
I continue working on the upscaling of this work and need more ivy vines and will document with images as the nest ‘grows’. I have found a great way to work by attaching the ‘nest’ to the wall and working standing. I have a good view of the making and can consider where to work and enlarge the nest with the ivy vines. I use raffia to attach the structure and are working with ‘green’ vines.