Finding My Line
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Tue 16 Dec-Tue 31 MarFrom 10:00Arch 1
The group was lucky enough to have Lynda Sterling of OT Creative Space join them to facilitate two of their sessions. At the first session, she guided them through a process of finding lines in their surroundings, looking at the architecture of HOME and its urban setting, finding precious scraps of nature in the city, considering lines hard and soft, recording them in sketchbooks as they delved deeper into the art of noticing.
They then transferred the lines that spoke to them on to pieces of A3 card. They started to find the connections between each card by laying them on the floor and draping colourful ropes on top to create a map of the imagination, with no clear destination yet revealed. The collective piece triggered associations of branching trees, mycelia, veins and roots tangling and weaving together to nod towards something earthy and ancient, not totally in their control.
They then turned our hands to carving lines in lino to make blocks inspired by the morning’s endeavours. Gouging the lines felt physical and forceful, quite a contrast to the reflective morning. In their follow-up session at OT Creative Space, the group used these lino blocks to print on long strips of paper, creating ribbons of paper that made them think of maypoles, ringlets of hair, paper streamers and drifting autumn leaves. OT Creative Space became a hive, buzzing with energy and laughter.
Ultimately, they needed to share as well as create, so they spent the afternoon teasing out ideas of how to display the work - another adventure guided by Lynda. The group “dressed” a tailor’s mannequin in these colourful coils, a proud female figure rising from the paper froth - a craft-inspired Venus or a homespun suffragette, take your pick.
The group invites you to join us and create your own lines and connections by reflecting for a moment on these questions:
What does this provoke in you?
What stands out for you?
How does it make you feel?
What story is it telling?
What does the phrase Motherline mean to you?
Credits
Motherline Community group and Lynda Sterling
Lynda Sterling is a Director and studio manager at OT creative space. She is a socially engaged artist living and working in Old Trafford, Manchester. Her current practice revolves around the act of doing something creative every day. Be that drawing, capturing an image, a word or consciously intervening in her daily life in some way. As a mother of 4 her work is closely intertwined with the reality this brings, creating work from her home, during the school run and alongside everyday tasks and responsibilities.
The Motherline Project was a year-long creative exploration of women’s stories, ancestry, identity and connection. Led by Alice Robinson of Performers Playground and Mothers Who Make as well as Jolene Sheehan of Joy Ethic, it brought together a diverse group of women to share writing, art, movement, music and personal reflection, shaping a collective story rooted in care and curiosity.