Out and About #1
I thought I’d expand on my Instagram posts of what I’ve been up to by starting a blog.
Still from Jude, 1996
Recently I started reading the book of my namesake, from whom my parents named me 20-something years ago, Jude the Obscure. Title character Jude Fawley is an aspiring academic with his ambitions restricted by Victorian society and broken by dependencies on alcohol and infidelity. This leads me to my recent epiphany: not that I should give up my interests in alcohol, Victorian society or anything else, but that I should pursue an academic qualification for my creative practice. So, I am going to University this September! I’ve had a couple of meetings with course leaders and countless conversations with friends and peers in the industry, each providing valued insight. I have been recommended for a place on a MA course though ‘recognition of prior learning’, an exciting opportunity I can’t wait to tell you more about once the paperwork goes through.
Musing or Muse-ing?
Early this month I delivered a workshop for Leeds based youth group, The Hangout, on the requested topic of historical trans* identities and healthcare. This was delivered using a living history character from The Institute of Sexology from Weimar Berlin. After a presentation and artefact handling we used our new learning to create collages inspired by German Dada-ist Hannah Hoch.
I’ve modelled for three very different photoshoots in as many weeks; the first was a fashion editorial for a Spring/ Summer collection by a local designer whose work I’ve been following for a couple of years, I’ll share these images once they’ve been released. Following this I went over to Keighley with close friend and closer collaborator Casey Orr. In our developing body of work we explore environment and history in our own dynamic (‘freaky’) and spirited (‘weird’) approach. Most recently I’ve climbed Otley Chevin with local photographer Caitlin Walsh for an ethereal woodland photoshoot.
A Bronte for the modern age (Casey Orr)
As Trustee for Learning and Engagement at The Saltaire Collection, I have been part of the panel responsible for shortlisting museum design agencies. This has been an interesting process of evaluating applications and conducting interviews, which has resulted in the appointment of a local firm which best understood our needs as an organisation.
Caedmon’s Cross
Whitby, 1898
A recent visit to family on the East Coast sparked an interest in Hild of Whitby. Since then I’ve been comparing a series of local ‘Anglo Saxon’ Stone Crosses. (I’m fun at parties!) At Whitby a magnificent cross looks over the harbour from St Mary’s Church, depicting Hild and poet Caedmon this monolith bares the incongruent date of 1898. This is in fact a memorial to the scholars of The Abbey raised by one of the founders of The National Trust. In Otley fragments of a several 8th- 11th century crosses lie in the Parish Church, not far from where they would have first stood a millennia prior. The most interesting cross was found in Wakefield Museum, with part of the cross interpreted as is could have been painted.
I’ve been flitting between Leeds and Wakefield on a research project for History Wardrobe, more on that when it’s finished! I’ve also been hanging about in Todmorden assisting Casey on Saturday Town photoshoots celebrating 10 years of The Golden Lion and the work of Incredible Edible.
Watching, reading, listening
“There’ll always be wars so long as men are such fools as to want to go to them”
Alongside Hardy I’ve been reading Chomsky and Butler, On Anarchism and Gender Trouble respectively. I’ve rewatched This Happy Breed (a family saga penned by Noel Coward and shot in Technicolour, 1944) and have been indulging my guilty pleasure of American Horror Story by watching the 10th series (the one with The Aliens and Mamie Eisenhower). It was corny. I discovered James’ album Laid and think I’ve damaged my eardrums listening to Lambrini Girls’ recent album on repeat.
Exhibitions and events I’ve been to
· Mixed Up, Leeds Arts University
· Miffy’s 70th Birthday, Leeds Museum
· Animated Activism: Women Empowered, The Brotherton Collection
· Museum Development North Annual Conference
· SUNLIGHT: Roger Ackling, Henry Moore Institute
· Thrive in Nature, Space2
· Glamour Pussy, The Old Woolen
· Temple Newsam House
· ‘BUT’: Boff Whalley, The Old Woolen
As I sign off I return to the loving, wobbly, geriatric cat I’m housesitting. It’s nice to break away from the regular routines and fill my time with home cooking, admin and catching up on reading.
Back soon,
Jude xx
