Today I walked out from The Pound Arts Centre in Corsham, Wiltshire, to follow the path of the Byde Mill Brook through the town. I’m leading a Creative River Walk with The Pound on Wednesday 9th August (follow the link to book, if you fancy joining me), so this was a chance for me toContinue reading “Following the Path of the Byde Mill Brook”
Category Archives: James Aldridge – Artwork
Collecting to Connect
On Twitter recently Kate Smith (@KateEYT) posted a photo of some collections that she had helped her son, who is autistic, put together. I was touched by the way that she valued and supported his way of experiencing the world, and it reminded me of my own childhood collections, and the way that collecting developedContinue reading “Collecting to Connect”
Drawing on Water Exhibition – July/August 2023 at Pound Arts Centre, Wiltshire
Originally posted on James Aldridge – Art, Ecology and Learning:
A bit of advanced notice that from 20th July to 26th August, my solo exhibition, Drawing on Water will be available to visit at The Pound Arts Centre in Corsham, Wiltshire. The Exhibition The exhibition will bring together work that I’ve been making as a…
Swan People
I decided to call this post Swan Folk, after researching the relationship of people and swans in art and folklore of various kinds. Then I realised there’s already a book called Swanfolk which I think I’m going to have to read (and which I’m pretty sure someone on Twitter recommended to me a while back).Continue reading “Swan People”
Where the Avon Meets the Sea
Last week I drove down to Christchurch with my friend and colleague Leigh Chalmers from Wessex Archaeology, with whom I’ve been working on the Ripple Effect project in Salisbury. I’ve been planning on going and seeing where my river (the Salisbury or Hampshire Avon) meets the sea for ages, both to inform my Queer RiverContinue reading “Where the Avon Meets the Sea”
Breathing in the Mist: Recent River Drawings
The drawing in progress in the featured image is one I made to reflect on the misty day that Gemma Gore and I experienced on our walk at Blashford Lakes, where the air was filled with fine water droplets, reflecting the light and filling the space above the water. I’ve included some other recent drawingsContinue reading “Breathing in the Mist: Recent River Drawings”
Walking with… Artist Gemma Gore
Yesterday I met with Visual Artist Gemma Gore from Southampton. Gemma and I visited the Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve, managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, near Ringwood, south of Salisbury and on the edge of the New Forest. The lakes are a legacy of sand and gravel extraction, which continues nearby,Continue reading “Walking with… Artist Gemma Gore”
Taking a Spoon for a Walk
Today I took a wooden spoon for a walk, from my home in the Vale of Pewsey, down to the River Avon. The spoon had been used the day before in Salisbury, also by the River Avon, to make tea and coffee for Ripple Effect project participants, and I was keen that it should haveContinue reading “Taking a Spoon for a Walk”
Water Body, River Body, Swimming, Sewage, Sea
Water Body River Body Swimming Retching Stinging Sleeping Water Body River Body Swimming Sewage Sea This post and the drawings/photos in it reflect on my recent experience of digestive issues and hospital treatment, alongside increasing media coverage of the release of sewage into our rivers and seas, and my own river/sea swimming. See this earlierContinue reading “Water Body, River Body, Swimming, Sewage, Sea”
Drawing on Water
I’m developing my drawings with inks made from plants found near the River Avon, to include drawing on the body. Part of the inspiration for this are sailor tattoos, together with Scrimshaw. (engraved images on bone/ivory, including whale teeth) I was also hoping to link in with canal folk art too, but I’ve not foundContinue reading “Drawing on Water”
Queer River 