Sassuma Arnaa, the Mother of the Sea. A sculpture at the old colonial harbour in Nuuk, capital of Greenland.

Island Vibes

June 26, 2022 in Greenland, Resilience

We can look to myths to help solve today’s problems. The Greenlandic figure of Sassuma Arnaa, the Mother of the Sea enshrines good practice for sustainable living. The 2022 UN Ocean Conference is endeavouring to do the same. On the agenda is a Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights. We have less than thirty years to get this right.

Inside the constructed ice cave at Perlan Museum, Reykjavik

Chasing Ice

June 19, 2022 in Iceland, Greenland

I returned from Greenland looking for ice in Iceland. I found it in the Perlan Museum in Reykjavik. Scientists and glaciologists in Iceland confidently predict that all of Iceland glaciers will disappear within the next 100 - 200 years. What will happen to Greenland?

At Kangiata icefjord, Ilulissat — On the front line of a receding glacier - Sermeq Kujalleq, the icefjord glacier at Ilulissat, Greenland.

The front line

June 12, 2022 in Greenland, Resilience

The ice is leaving and fast. Getting up close and personal with a 250,000 year old glacier is an awe inspiring experience. Saying goodbye to a fast receding icesheet leaves me in deep grief about the future of Greenland and the world.

iceberg Ilulissat — Icebergs seen on route to Ilulissat, Greenland

Icebergs for Breakfast

June 06, 2022 in Greenland

Your body knows when it needs rest. Ignore it at your peril. So I travelled while I slept and woke up to icebergs for breakfast. An inspirational reset in Greenland.

Rainstones

May 29, 2022 in Stones, Artist Residencies

Trying something new can extend your world view. From creating a ceramic stone and holding it in my hand, to linking this with US President John F Kennedy’s often quoted line “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”

Tens of thousands of stones and minerals in Petra’s garden, Stöðvarfjörður

Iceland's Stone artist

May 22, 2022 in Iceland, Artist Residencies

It’s easy to get lost in the big picture, the huge landscape and forget the details, That’s when I find it's necessary to pull focus. Which is what I did by visiting Petra’s stone collection, the inspirational garden of Iceland’s most famous stone collector, naturalist and stone artist.

The Kalush Orchestra - Ukraine’s entry in Eurovision 2022

The World is Watching

May 15, 2022 in Resilience, Art

Is great art political? From Eurovision to the Archibald Art prize winner, this week has seen great art making strong political statements with the eyes of the world watching.

daily artwork with stitching — Daily artwork with stitched scraps of paper collaged onto 10x10cm paper

Stuck for Inspiration

May 08, 2022 in Creativity, Artist Residencies

How do you become unstuckable as an artist? When inspiration dries up, or you’re feeling too tired or stressed to create, what do you do? That’s where a daily practice can save your day and inspire you to keep going.

Trouble in Paradise

May 01, 2022 in Iceland, Resilience

In an Icelandic town known for its postcard beauty, trouble looms ahead. Still reeling from an avalanche nearly 18 months ago, the small town of Seydisfjördur is about to have industrial fish farms in the fjord. Locals are up in arms and the arty community is rallying.

Pilgrim Stranger artist book — *Pilgrim, Stranger - Coigrich Taistealach* artist book April 2022

"Have you Gaelic?"

April 24, 2022 in United Kingdom, Artist Books

Being gifted Gaelic titles for some of my artworks while in Scotland has given me the key to a map of landscape. My accordion fold artist book Pilgrim Stranger with its Gaelic name Coigrich Taistealach has unlocked this landscape as a place of mystery which I have entered as a pilgrim.