current projects

As part of my Diploma in Herbology studies, I’ve taken over a plot at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. You can follow progress on Twitter @GardenUnplugged.

As part of my Diploma in Herbology studies, I’ve taken over a plot at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. You can follow progress on Twitter @GardenUnplugged.

I was delighted to offer the first ever BSL access at StAnza poetry festival in St. Andrews, Scotland, in March, 2019. Challenging, but exciting. Here’s to more and better at future events…

I was delighted to offer the first ever BSL access at StAnza poetry festival in St. Andrews, Scotland, in March, 2019. Challenging, but exciting. Here’s to more and better at future events…

I’m very excited to be volunteering with Grassroots Remedies Co-Operative providing access to their ‘Wild Things: a year of wild foods and medicines’ course throughout this coming year.

I’m very excited to be volunteering with Grassroots Remedies Co-Operative providing access to their ‘Wild Things: a year of wild foods and medicines’ course throughout this coming year.

bookcover

I have contributed a chapter (9) to this terrific new volume on intersemiotic translation, edited by Ricarda Vidal and Madeleine Campbell, published by Palgrave Macmillan. It’s in bookshops now.

The translation duel Sue MacLaine and I went head to head in translating Paul Scott's BSL poem 'Snowflake (Snowflake of Hope)' at Ledbury Poetry Festival , 2018.

The translation duel

Sue MacLaine and I went head to head in translating Paul Scott's BSL poem 'Snowflake (Snowflake of Hope)' at Ledbury Poetry Festival, 2018.

Translating signed sensations into concrete page poetry 'To Greet an Autumn Morning in a Sign Language' on display at the Torriano Meeting House, London. February, 2018

Translating signed sensations into concrete page poetry

'To Greet an Autumn Morning in a Sign Language' on display at the Torriano Meeting House, London. February, 2018

Translating concepts and insights into academic articles A sample of publications in which my writing appears. There are ten further journal publications, and a couple of hardbacks that can be added to this pile.

Translating concepts and insights into academic articles

A sample of publications in which my writing appears. There are ten further journal publications, and a couple of hardbacks that can be added to this pile.

Translating image into sound

After my PhD identified the rhythmic patterning of image as a significant feature of Signart, I played with translating this repetition of images into a soundscape, so that hearing people might better appreciate the intricate beauty of Signart as a form. To realise this project, I collaborated with Paul Scott, Victoria Punch, VS1 Productions, Helen Dewberry and Chaucer Cameron. The piece premièred at Ledbury Poetry Festival, 2016 then featured at Bristol Poetry Festival later the same year.

Translating movement into text

A cine-poetry translation I made for the Scottish Poetry Library, in 2014. For this, I collaborated with poets Gary Quinn and Christine de Luca. The original language of Gary's poem is British Sign Language (BSL). I provided a carefully skeletal yet syntactically structural guide translation for Christine, who then produced her English and Shetlandic poetic responses. The dynamic captioning is intended to bridge the gap between the properties of the BSL and English poems. The film was shown in the Scottish Parliament in the weeks prior to the passing of the historic British Sign Language (Scotland) Act of 2015. The work has since been included in the anthology Stairs and Whispers: Deaf and Disabled Poets Write Back (Nine Arches, 2017).

Translating song into BSL performance

Interpreting for Annie Lennox's impromptu open-air concert at the Heldenplatz, Vienna, during the World Aids Conference, 2010. This clip was recorded by a member of the 100,000+ audience.

Translating a diary into a lipstick installation Social Butterfly: diary in Coco Rouge 25. Exhibited at Art's Complex, Edinburgh, 2013. Photography by Sheila Masson .

Translating a diary into a lipstick installation

Social Butterfly: diary in Coco Rouge 25.

Exhibited at Art's Complex, Edinburgh, 2013.

Photography by Sheila Masson.

Translating discarded household materials into a feminist statement Detail: 'Integration III'. Triptych using painted wooden shelves, reclaimed nails, screws, bolts and metal, copper wire, copper leaf, blackboard paint, blowtorch and needle etching. Exhibited at Art's Complex, Edinburgh, 2013. Photography by Sheila Masson .

Translating discarded household materials into a feminist statement

Detail: 'Integration III'. Triptych using painted wooden shelves, reclaimed nails, screws, bolts and metal, copper wire, copper leaf, blackboard paint, blowtorch and needle etching.

Exhibited at Art's Complex, Edinburgh, 2013.

Photography by Sheila Masson.

Translating a human figure into marks on paper Figure sketch in charcoal and florist's cellophane, 2012. SOLD

Translating a human figure into marks on paper

Figure sketch in charcoal and florist's cellophane, 2012. SOLD

Translating a name into marks on human skin The form of my tattoo emerged from the movement of spelling my name in American Sign Language. The location of the tattoo references the old Celtic tradition of the poet's mantle. Photography by Sheila Masson

Translating a name into marks on human skin

The form of my tattoo emerged from the movement of spelling my name in American Sign Language. The location of the tattoo references the old Celtic tradition of the poet's mantle.

Photography by Sheila Masson

Translating an interview into a stitched map 'A Tale Told and Retold' is a stitched map, visually translating the turns and returns of talk in a narrative interview. The interviewee was recalling a stressful incident, and was switching rapidly between a number of related topics and perspectives. Exhibited at Art's Complex, Edinburgh, 2012. Photography by Sheila Masson .

Translating an interview into a stitched map

'A Tale Told and Retold' is a stitched map, visually translating the turns and returns of talk in a narrative interview. The interviewee was recalling a stressful incident, and was switching rapidly between a number of related topics and perspectives.

Exhibited at Art's Complex, Edinburgh, 2012.

Photography by Sheila Masson.

Translating wild grasses into...(tba) Those abundant garden grasses much loved by the Hebridean wildlife are now dried, and ready for working. If only I had some time to weave…

Translating wild grasses into...(tba)

Those abundant garden grasses much loved by the Hebridean wildlife are now dried, and ready for working. If only I had some time to weave…

Translating flowers into scientific documents I'm making botanical field sketches, and measured drawings of the flora that's popping up....

Translating flowers into scientific documents

I'm making botanical field sketches, and measured drawings of the flora that's popping up....

Translating flora into potions And I'm beginning to play with the non-fibrous properties of the plants, too: dyes, inks, oils ..

Translating flora into potions

And I'm beginning to play with the non-fibrous properties of the plants, too: dyes, inks, oils ..

Translating Signart into a public drawing installation For 'Action/Assemblage: Drawing Together (A Happening)', I combined action writing and the graphic drawing of HATCH artists and the public, to translate the British Sign Language (BSL) poetry performances of Paul Scott and Richard Carter into a live, situated artwork. Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, 2013. Photography by Alice Hendy .

Translating Signart into a public drawing installation

For 'Action/Assemblage: Drawing Together (A Happening)', I combined action writing and the graphic drawing of HATCH artists and the public, to translate the British Sign Language (BSL) poetry performances of Paul Scott and Richard Carter into a live, situated artwork.

Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, 2013.

Photography by Alice Hendy.

Translating empty space into conversation movement.language.line.sign (May, 2016). Is the poet in the poem? Playing with that question, I staged a 3 day takeover of Tamarin Norwood 's residency at Spike Island , Bristol. Tamarin's empty studio was populated by three giant projections of Paul Scott performing his BSL poem 'Three Queens'. No translations were given; the only clues were 3 B/W images on the walls. The effect was haunting, and provocative, as the crowd as the closing Q and A testified.

Translating empty space into conversation

movement.language.line.sign (May, 2016). Is the poet in the poem? Playing with that question, I staged a 3 day takeover of Tamarin Norwood's residency at Spike Island, Bristol. Tamarin's empty studio was populated by three giant projections of Paul Scott performing his BSL poem 'Three Queens'. No translations were given; the only clues were 3 B/W images on the walls. The effect was haunting, and provocative, as the crowd as the closing Q and A testified.

Translating theory into experience I’m beginning my bio-dynamic herb garden practice (see @GardenUnplugged) with an autoethnographic investigation of my own body’s response to biodynamic forces, like the moon. I’m investigating ashtanga yoga as a tool to access these responses, and keeping a herbal journal. There’s more of this autoethnnographic investigation in my blog.

Translating theory into experience

I’m beginning my bio-dynamic herb garden practice (see @GardenUnplugged) with an autoethnographic investigation of my own body’s response to biodynamic forces, like the moon. I’m investigating ashtanga yoga as a tool to access these responses, and keeping a herbal journal. There’s more of this autoethnnographic investigation in my blog.

[e]n-gauge A network of tiny residencies, in collaboration with Lynn Imperatore , Pat Jamieson , Anwyl Cooper-Willis and Fiona Winning . Image: detail, Lynn Imperatore

[e]n-gauge

A network of tiny residencies, in collaboration with Lynn Imperatore, Pat Jamieson, Anwyl Cooper-Willis and Fiona Winning.

Image: detail, Lynn Imperatore