I’ve always had an interest in shapeshifting, in the ability to switch between bodily forms, or to exist as a human/animal hybrid. But I’d not really thought about it from a Queer perspective, so this post is very much a beginning. Of course, we are animals, and the animal/human divide is a false one. InContinue reading “Mermen, Otters and Bears”
Category Archives: James Aldridge – Artwork
Walking on Chalk
Several conversations recently have directed me towards chalk as subject matter and material, from my recent walk with Ecologist Tim Sykes discussing chalkstreams, aquifers and neolithic monuments, back to the very first walk with Geo-Archaeologist Claire Mellett, and current plans for future collaborations exploring the use of natural pigments, silts and chalks. Today I tookContinue reading “Walking on Chalk”
Walking with… Ecologist and Researcher Tim Sykes
Yesterday I took a walk with Tim Sykes along the River Kennet from Avebury. Tim, an ecologist who works for the Environment Agency, contacted me via Twitter (@RiversAndPeople) in connection with his doctoral research with Southampton University, into people’s relationship with and perceptions of chalk stream winterbournes. ‘I am especially interested in contributions to happiness,Continue reading “Walking with… Ecologist and Researcher Tim Sykes”
Ponds, Boats and Bodies
At the same time that Queer River evolves to include different wetland habitats, my garden wildlife pond, dug in early April continues to evolve, with diving beetles, pond skaters and various fly larvae arriving. Yesterday I sat by the pond to start to draw some of the plant life, and saw my first damsel fly,Continue reading “Ponds, Boats and Bodies”
Queer River at the Yarmouth Springs Eternal Exhibition
I’m excited to have been invited to share some of the Queer River artwork as an installation at the Yarmouth Springs Eternal exhibition in Great Yarmouth next month. ‘Yarmouth Springs Eternal is an arts, nature and walking project based in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. It will take place from the Spring Equinox to Summer Solstice inContinue reading “Queer River at the Yarmouth Springs Eternal Exhibition”
Different Parts of the Same Whole
It’s school Easter Holidays here, and I’ve been balancing starting a new project (www.noticing-nature.com) and joining the occasional meeting, with helping our boy venture out of lockdown to meet friends and be more sociable again. I also dug myself a pond, which I have been extremely excited about planting and filling, and waiting for aContinue reading “Different Parts of the Same Whole”
Talking with… Timothy Allsop of Queer Rural Connections
Today I spoke with Timothy Allsop, founder of Turn of Phrase Theatre Company and co-lead of the Queer Rural Connections Project, with Kira Allmann and The Oxford Centre for Research in Humanities (TORCH). ‘The project collects oral testimony from rural queer people and engages them in the making process of both theatre and film. ThisContinue reading “Talking with… Timothy Allsop of Queer Rural Connections”
The River is a Guide to the Land
Earlier this week I took a longer walk, from my home in the Vale of Pewsey, along the western arm of the upper reaches of the Salisbury Avon. I printed some images onto thick cartridge paper to create some Walking Pages to record my journey, and set out with the idea that I would lookContinue reading “The River is a Guide to the Land”
Talking with… Mark Leahy and Art.Earth
Yesterday I gave an informal presentation, followed by a discussion with Artist and Educator Mark Leahy, at one of the regular ‘First Friday’ events organised by art.earth. In it I talked abut Queer River, what it is, why I set it up, and what has happened so far. Thank you to Mark and to art.earth’sContinue reading “Talking with… Mark Leahy and Art.Earth”
Walking with… Writer and Researcher Peter Reason
Yesterday I took my first Queer River walk with one of my collaborators since walking with Catherine Lamont Robinson in Salisbury, and spent some time with Peter Reason, along the River Avon at Pewsey. Peter is a writer, a retired academic, and Emeritus Professor at The University of Bath. Having originally met through our friendContinue reading “Walking with… Writer and Researcher Peter Reason”
Queer River 