Stories can make the heart bigger...

“Stories can conquer fear, you know. They can make the heart bigger.”
― Ben Okri

It's all about the stories...
I asked a few friends on the daisy chain to send me objects that they no longer need, things that have outlived their use in the present but that trigger memories, so that I could use the objects and their associated memories/ stories to trigger ideas for a collection of new work (and to make a piece for each of them).

Brooke sent me a box of books with a note in each about her memories of when she first read each, how she was introduced to each by her librarian mum, what each story made her feel, learn, desire, dream of and believe.

The process..
I begin by mapping out words from Brooke's memories that resonate with my own and what I've come to learn and know about her.

Brooke's words are:

mum...
...librarian...
...books...treasure...
...love...
Victorian...gothic...
...obsession...
...once a year...
...400 times...
...a woman who did what she wants...
...individualism...fearless
...held together with elastic bands...
...headless...
...creepy...black cats...
...fantastical...
...mummies.

---

Then based on this word map I start sketching out and brainstorming ideas for shape, form, materials ... I am thinking of Victorian gothic chokers and clockwork hearts, of headless silouhettes and cameos, of neck and wrist wraps and using pages of the stories that Brooke read again and again to make 400 paper hand-stitched hearts, also thinking about black cats and brooches (I just found out that Brooke's furkid Bernard passed away...very sad... so maybe something in form of Victorian mourning brooch?) ...so much to work with, so much inspiration... but then knowing the person these memories have come from, that doesn't surprise me...

...can't wait to see where the story takes me... watch this space! :)

Sketching out ideas for components of B's Victorian gothic choker...thinking about her memory of reading Jane Eyre novels- her obsession to read it over and over again...her original copy being "held together by elastic bands"...that this story reminds her "that love is for everyone"