This dropped out of my fortune cookie and reminded me of a very important point. We learn most about the world by interacting with others. It’s no surprise to me that war and climate change came hot-on-the-heels of lockdown isolation, when we were detached from the lives and minds of others.
Until now I’ve not enjoyed ‘teaching’. My mum tried to make me follow in her footsteps and become a teacher. She taught PE, and I lacked the genes for that. I rebelled, and grew up thinking “those who can’t do, teach”.
With age comes wisdom. As I get older I have an urge to pass on knowledge. I have been able to educate people about Nature and Climate Change in the last few years and that gives me huge satisfaction. Added to that, income from workshops has been a great way to keep afloat during lockdowns and beyond. After all, I see my work as ‘experimental’ and experiments are not ‘commercial.’
This photo is from a drop-in workshop I held for Thamesmead Global Festival. The kids were ‘wowed’ by the process, and wanted to know “why” the paper turned blue.
I thoroughly enjoyed running a workshop in my natural habitat at the Gate Darkroom, I am doing another one on Thurs 29th Sept. I will post details on Facebook first, so keep an eye out.
My Cyanotype with Nature workshop at Birchmere Community Garden was a fantastic day I will never forget. More on that later. Big thanks to Bryan the gardening volunteer who joined in, and we all got talking about crucial issues of soil, specific plants and growing patterns.
Myself, Malcolm and Shiroma (working as Green Space Art Collective) recreated the old May Day traditions at John Evelyn Garden. It was great to get everyone celebrating Nature with Art workshops, Music and a history walk.
After giving a talk to a large audience in Winchester about Experimental Photography, I was asked back to do a workshop. This was an amazing day with accomplished photographers in an owl sanctuary. Fantastic.
I’m currently running an Eco Photography Project for Three Rivers Bexley, including 3 days working with local residents: on Cyanotypes, a photowalk in the woods, and finally Anthotypes.
The entreprenuer in me should have known that all those online workshops I led would lead to more demand for workshops, and less time spent on my own artistic output. This trend continues. With September exhibitions approaching I am very busy indeed.
Sarah Garrod 