Awakening
Nikki Gunson
Theme: Touch
As one of the Huggiest; touchy, feely, sculptor, makers I know, this made me smile, it felt so relevant.
Touch plays an important role in my life and life in general. Without it, life would not exist. Now we find ourselves living in a world of; ‘Do not TOUCH’ ‘keep your DISTANCE’ No HUGGING’ and defiantly ‘No Grandchildren CUDDLES! Which has been a great shock! How did ‘Touch’ become dangerous, a threat, an accidental deadly weapon, forcing a Space between us. This hit me hard, creating a daily internal struggle, a storm of conflicting emotions, when faced with the wider than the ‘Stay at’ home world.
Head in my own hands, no more reassuring touch or gentle healing embrace. Replaced with heartache and cries of despair and anger, as we bend over backwards, bear the weight, sacrifice the joy. Grasping at the now distant memory of a simple ‘Make it better’ kiss. The longing to feel, to hold, to be there in person, to reach out and ‘Touch’ is kick starting our creative nature, helping us adapt, plant new seeds, forge new routes, get back to trust, back to ‘Touch’ despite the enforced Space Between us. The profound power of touch will persevere, supporting shielding, nurturing and Gently holding the most fragile of seedlings.
Using the language of hands to express, illustrate and explain this ‘Crisis of Touch’ Trails of words collected and created during this prosses will add the finishing ‘Touch!’
Nikki became part of the Same Sky team in 1994.
Welcome to my world as I share this lantern making process with you. Words came first, definitions, synonyms, quotes, facts all the time scribbling down my thoughts.
My very dramatic garden gate
Using hand gestures, sign language & symbols. I wanted to explore the daily struggle I have as a touchy feely, hands on huggy Nanny of 3 heartachingly gorgeous grandchildren.
The finished lantern being part of a garden was always part of the thought process. Hands struggling against this unwanted, unnatural & unprecedented separation became a flower.
‘Do not touch’ ‘Keep your distance’ has made us touchless. I want to fill that space with creativity, hope & importantly love. A heart seedling was ready to grow.
Trails of words collected and created during this prosses will add the finishing ‘Touch!’
While working on the drawings, my mind builds the lantern, working out what materials to use and how to go about constructing it.
Once finished they are used like blue prints to take measurements, as I have a 3D version of the lantern built in my mind workshop.
Working drawings, ready to scale up as a template on the work space floor (Chalk outdoors, masking tape on carpet) Next time there will be Willow : )
2D outlines of heart seedling and hands taped out.
I add willow struts to hold the shape, & create points to attach the horizontal circles/ovals. once built these can be removed.
S0 many curvy crooks and crannies to manoeuvre glue covered tissue round. This was going to be a long day ending with incredibly pale prune fingers.
Words are were where I started and words are the last things to be added: Word trails Echoing the language of the hands help illustrate elements of my daily touchless struggle.
Word demands punctuate the Space Between.
Only the Seedling has Silence! I realised while sat in in our little garden, why I had chosen a seedling for this Covid Garden. The joy I feel seeing the first little curled up leaves and the hope felt watching it spring into life and fill the void. Words are unnecessary.
Finished illuminated sculpture.
