Why 'Flight Platform Living'?

Thought I would take the time to explain why this blog is called flight platform living. My current artwork explores issues of motherhood that have affected me as a new (well newish) mum. The work initially got really caught up, and to some extent still is, with issues of protection. I just couldn't believe the need in me as a mother to protect my babies and the development of dread as a factor in my life. How many times a week I imagine awful things happening... its unreal and not at all healthy! Having spoken to other mums who also do the same thing I know I am not alone and for me it's because as mum you suddenly have care of something more precious than life itself! The protective urge just takes over.

Through exploring this, images of nests and eggs have been a focus, as surely the nest is where babies are most safe? Text such as 'safe and warm', 'wrapped in my arms' and 'hidden from view' have all featured in the pieces.



Mixed Moments: Piece depicting the mixed emotions of early motherhood.
The nest is lined with opposing words such as 'excitement/boredom'
elation/exhaustion, the only word without an opposing one is LOVE LOVE
as within this roller coaster I have only ever felt love for my babies.





Nest-Building 1 and 2



However, I am now feeling like there has been some sort of shift and that there is now more control over this protecting obsession. I have questioned if this really is my role? As a protector I also could become a life stifler! I want my girls to live bravely and with joy, how can this happen if they remain wrapped in a secure netting? And as we see in nature, even in the nest total protection is not possible, as the cuckoo could always come and push the babies out for its own ends!

The Cuckoos Egg. The falling eggs have text such as 'safe and warm' fused into them.


I have decided to try to control this protection 'thing' and try to focus on living with joy instead of dread, in turn preparing my girls to do the same. This is where the imagery of the flight platform kicks in.

At the moment, in my current stage of motherhood, my role is moving away from the nest building /protecting ( the natural urge when our babies are tiny) towards the so quickly starting process of slowly letting go over time whilst joy facilitating! The very act of teaching our babies to develop independent skills is the start of this letting go as mummy! Just as the baby birds eventually leap from the nest and fly away so too our own babies will follow. I hope my flight platform for my girls is joy-laced so they can leap into a world of brave living, dancing, singing , creativity and friendships and at the same time I also hope their flight platforms are very tall so I can watch from a distance knowing I did a good job whilst they were on loan to me during the precious days of now.



Nest-building 3 and detail of flight platform sketch
it is in sketch format because it is still a distant idea
and as yet not a reality in my life as mum.

I would love any comments from mums who have experienced any of these things for themselves or have a different take on motherhood. What phase are you in as mummy... as I truly believe it is a changing landscape we move through as a mother?

Paper Making

Here are some shots from last Fridays paper making at school The children used clues I had given them on the Thursday to invent characters and to write poems about them in groups. These clue objects were then set into 3d paper created as a group piece. The children created voids in the paper and set some objects across the void...here the wand of the Wicked Wizard!

This shows the voids in the paper and the children here have used the pulp like glue to hold in quite heavy pieces of mixed media.

SNOW!

Wow, what is happening with the weather? Woke up today to a veritable wonderland!










Fabulous patterns everywhere.








And then we let the dog out!!!!







What did you do in todays snow? Send me pics as i am very nosey!

Lets Play More!

Examples of the paper I am making at school at the moment

Have been teaching at school today, a rare thing as normally only work Fridays! Had great fun though making character poetry and rubbings with 30 seven year olds. Tomorrow we complete the project with 3d paper making to create group wall hung pieces. The kids were so excited when i showed them some of my examples of paper, their reactions were so so lovely and it reminded me why i love teaching. ''OH Mrs George...that is sooooooo TOTALLY BRILLIANT!'' how lovely to hear that from any aged person! Shouldn't we tell our friends and loved ones things like this much more often! Also I think we should have 'special day' for grown ups, where we send certificates to each other saying why we think somebody is special, we never really grow out of our need for things like this, do we? or is it just me?

This is what I will focus on tomorrow. we will be making large 3d paper pieces in groups and the children will also explore creating voids in the paper.

I love the pulp colour change here, all achieved using very simple recycled materials...white and brown envelopes and newspaper.

Making voids again in the paper. This idea of voids keeps raising its head and has had me thinking of my latest sketch book work exploring issues of identity as a mother. Also the fact I am so focused on using rubbings as a technique at the moment! The children had a go themselves today at using this drawing technique and they loved the 'surprise' aspect of it as well. For me at the moment it speaks in my own work of outlines emerging, new life just beginning to be seen and specks of life developing and above all its a really exciting fun technique to explore. I challenge everyone to pick up a wax crayon this week and give it a go! Its so nice to play with mark making as we don't do it enough as grown ups. I think today's post is saying we should all hold onto our child in us and play, and celebrate more. How blessed am I to have a job where i get to witness this youthful joy and excitement!

Specks of life and developing outlines in my sketchbook work.

Got to that point where all has to stop in order to tidy up! i never seem to spot the in between stages of the housework journey from, tidy to UNBELIEVABLE MESS! How does that happen? How can i be propelled constantly from one end of the housework continuum to the other without EVER spotting the steps in between? my cut off point is when i cant see my floor and probably then some. I cringe at that, but its TRUE! Joy though...after 2 days grabbing spare moments to tidy, my art studio (the worst culprit for room offences against tidiness) is now organised, clean and sorted! hurrah!!!!!

Pearls of Wisdom

The last 3 days have taught me some very important lessons that i feel i should share with anyone visiting.

Firstly, when your young child/baby has an 8 day bout of chronic sickness and diarrhoea, don't wait till day 7 to remove toys from the cot! Here are dolly and Lotty drying on the windowsill after their 100th bath of the week!

Secondly, do not store your wellies outside in this way, thinking that this position will keep them dry...it wont!


But wet feet are no excuse against bravely carrying on...that is until the girls demanded I stop and play with them in the sandpit, which was about 5 seconds after I started digging!





Thirdly, just because your fridge freezer is pink and cost silly money it doesn't mean it wont break after only 2 years leaving you with 6 hours of cooking in 1 day in order to save some food!!

And finally, if daddy offers to do a job you normally do, like for example, feed the girls their tea, all mummies out there remember, he may do it differently to you, but its all OK in the end!

Oh the joys of everyday living!

The last 3 days have taught me some very important lessons that i feel i should share with anyone visiting