6th Sep 2018
LOVE THE COFFEE THANKS!
This is what inspires me; endless feedback loop of relating to the world around. My family (history) is very international & interested in other cultures which drew me to look @ differences in cultures + how they relate + solve problems + also the similarities across it all. You see this loads in symbols 💗 Joy + love drives things but so does fear + things people think as the darkness. I like to try to acknowledge the dark as there is always both + there’s a lot of beauty + it just is. ⬅️ Sometimes things are just sad + suck. (a lot in the world right now)
Will that kick us into gear + start to look after each other better? We are nature, we are not separate – listen to your body, I am not above my body, love your body, let it heal you.
I was really enjoying learning how to make functional ceramics after studying Fine Art. It’s very meditative + addictive + surprising as you only have so much control. Then I got chronic pain in both arms stopping me from doing most things let alone something longer than a few minutes. I am writing this over days – it’s good practice – mind over body. As I write my physio told me to repeat “this doesn’t hurt, you are ok, it doesn’t hurt”. Mind sends pain signals even before I start or even look at others using their arms, it is emotionally driven (the pain) tipped off by trauma – mind/ body connection + how subconscious can control + reprogramming sensory understanding is my current interest + inspiration.
How perception + emotion actually changes information + even receptors in cells! The same thing happens in diff. mediums + scales around the world. Apparently handmade things by people you know increases your health as it makes you feel connected to larger world. Clay is mud – mud is everywhere in all its forms – it was + always will be if we are here or not that’s why I love it. Food is grown in it, we eat out of mud bowls, we poo in a toilet made of mud. Walk on mud bricks – also eating mud as a baby gives you a stronger immune systems ha.
👁️ 👁️ 👁️ 👁️ PAREIDOLIA 👁️ 👁️ 👁️ 👁️ 👁️ 👁️ 👁️ 👁️
Perceiving a familiar pattern where none exists – seeing faces everywhere comfort + caution. Fight or flight ⬅️ think that’s why all da faces.
SMALL BIG
BIG SMALL
LOVE HATE
DOES IT
MATTER
LET’S
JUST LIE
DOWN
HANDS FREE PROJECTS is using a sewing machine as robot arms – as a pass time. I can do a lot more as it does all the work. It’s a fun distraction from pain + I can go slow! My granny is a quilter + it’s great to have time to do long quilt projects – I make for babies. The jumpers are just colour experiments. I am excited to collaborate in a new medium - fabric printing + pattern cutting. All mediums are fantastic - fabric is good for warmth, healing + love. When angry I made a metal sword
The evil eye 👁️ (KEEP SAFE) is across the world - I use it from my greek Oma (Dutch granny) she is a potter, a mother of 3 + a feast maker. Family is food. Two fabulous women whose craft is art + they taught me passion to make in all aspects. Eyes + seeing is also about always learning - that’s why collaborating is great!
Sharing, making + celebrating others talents 👍 thumbs up. Working with Catherine from Object Company was great fun, as what we do contrasts, total freedom + she’s v. talented + driven - young female power house (POWER ♀️).
@ Bakery47, I had total freedom + loved the joy good food + pottery can bring in a community (lookout coma between joy and good)
My favourite was making beads with Sean - just funny + he was trying to keep my business going after my arms hahaha 💕.
PARANOIA
PARASCOPE
PARROT
Right now I read ‘The Language of Kindness’ a nurses story - Christie Watson - an NHS nurse, LIVE LONG THE NHS. She is a psychiatric nurse where I am right now (in the book). Sad, inspiring… Nurses should be millionaires. End of.
Also zines @ Rattel Library @ Glasgow Autonomous Space (GAS) - gender, race, oppressed groups, community - mental health cookbook - creating connection through food + herbs.
If anyone wants to chat about growing plants + food for good brain - HIT ME UP - want to make a zine about people's stories.
wwwwwwww............spiderweb.com
I didn’t have a tv + saw Ghana film posters - I just doodles them after a break up haha. They were more reflective than I realised. Now it’s a great therapy for me. I used to dream in film shots. My dad makes documentaries so they are silly - I’d recommend to do it haha.
Can someone fund us to make a centre: It’s free for all
Canteen
- everyone helps
- eat off made ceramics - we all make
Garden
- grow trees
- food
- colours
- bees
Swimming pool + sauna
- all mosaiced
- mental health
- mindfulness
Play + art
- kids + adults
- all backgrounds + ability
Nurse centre
Lessons taught by kids
Legal/ occupation/ life/ €£ support
Boxing + yoga
Music - making + dancing
look like Niki de Saint Phalle tarot garden inspo
clown healer come-kinetic sculptures to dance
BORN. PLAY. DIE ***
HAHAHA
YEAH HUH?
REALLY? FOOL
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LOOK.
WHAT IS THAT? WHY??
HAPPY CRY SEA - SAD CRY SEA
SALTY TEARS MELT ICE CAPS
WE DROWN WOOPS
Mariella Verkerk is volunteering, making quilts & occasional ceramic commissions in Glasgow. You can find her on instagram at @handsfreeprojects & @mariellaceramics.