Artist in Residence, Lacock Abbey

I love books and I discovered a tiny book the other day.  It fell out of my bookcase.  It was a gift from a friend, a dream/wish book, the page fell open at ....  "I wish I could have a residency at Lacock Abbey".  Written many years ago, that wish has now come true due Curious Narratives receiving Arts Council funding, and amazing collaborations with Lacock Abbey staff.   Rachael, Visitor Experience Manager, has been outstanding.  Since my first meeting with her when I took a collection of curiosities, she has consistently been working to make a residency happen, as part of the Curious Narratives trail.  "You are our first artist in residence" she said.  "What do you think I will bring to this place" I asked.  "Calm" she replied.  She might have changed her mind by now after weeks of emails, phone calls, drawings, plans, correspondence, me visiting back at the location many times and walking quietly through the cloisters, wondering Ela Abbess of the women of the once enclosed order who were the keepers of the books, peering at the Brito, a fantastic book which sadly you can't touch, visits to the Wiltshire Heritage Centre to unearth the Lacock Archive, talks with Sue the Head Gardener, ideas and possibilities of being installed inside the Camera Obscura, transformed as a hermitage, then reading Tom Freshwater's, Head of Contemporary Art's, National Trust report, that said 'No to Huts'; being interviewed by Emma of BBC Wiltshire Sound by the beautiful pond, and later being broadcast on air on the new arts programme, as Emma said "a double parter", collaborating with other artists, the Abbey staff finding me and Julie who, kindly has agreed to support me, a twin bedroom for a week's sleepover in the Abbey courtyard apartments, Rachael bending over backwards to sort rooms to work in, do all the business side of things and keep everyone informed of goings on, then going to meet Roger Watson, Curator, Fox Talbot Photographic Museum, to see 'Capturing Light' and ask if he had a box camera or something I could borrow, and remembering it was Roger whom I had originally written an email to months and months ago after him coming to my exhibition at the Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, and I subsequently wrote asking could he imagine me being installed as artist in residence, and he replying that he was in Paris, and didn't quite know what I was suggesting, but the answer was yes!

So finally, it is a fact, Curious Narratives is listed in the events of National Trust, Lacock Abbey, 12 September 2014, for one week only:

How would Jill Carter, artist in residence, respond to the people and place of Lacock Abbey? How will she explore stories inspired by the spirit of this special place?  Discover Jill making contemplative journeys with book/bag/bundles, enjoying quiet time in hidden spaces, drawing, writing, sewing, gathering plants, unearthing objects, and placing offerings. You are invited to engage and respond in the making of this unique storytelling book of possibilities. 

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock/things-to-see-and-do/events/

Suitcase & Shrines

My practice is supported by collaborating with other creative practitioners.  I visited Glen Mason, Leather Artist, at his studio in Corsham, to explore ideas of how to transform an old 1930's suitcase.  The Harrods vintage case had been found by a book artist friend Nancy, who had rescued the case from a bin and gifted to me.  Glen and I worked in his garden, to look at ways of transforming the case into a book/bag/travelling studio, the intention to use on 'pilgrimage' during my residency at Lacock Abbey.  The materials inspire narratives, referencing the nuns enclosed way of life, a love of archives and portable shrines.  I share another collection of materials, found objects discovered with textile artist Monica Hicks drawing upon the once upon a time women's worlds; antique embroidery from an old seat, a mangle cloth, children's blankets, some hemp and sacks.  As we work to bring the case back to life and consider how to make a one-off book/bag, I talk of a visit to Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, looking at old books documenting Lacock life, and how the religious houses were once the keepers of the books, such as, at Lacock, the Brito. 

I had also been collaborating with artist Alex Madden, who had been generously sharing her outside studio space in her lovely garden at the National Trust village of Coleshill.  Every Tuesday we work and play together, exploring ideas, materials and process, experimenting with natural plants to print, arranging collections in temporary shrines.  It is interesting to take materials and transform their purpose to create a story in the making.  The organic process of undoing, folding, wrapping, laying out, becomes a mindful contemplative ritual.