OUR ZINES

SHOP

Facilitated Collaboration for Black Lives Matter

Facilitated Collaboration for Black Lives Matter

by | Oct 30, 2023

past event
Facilitated Collaboration for Black Lives Matter

Read Alexandra Brown’s texts reflecting on what it means to collaborate and respond to each other’s art and words. Featuring art by Marisa Mark.

Welcome to an honouring of the sensation and expression of Pain in the Neurodivergent experience of Womanhood

Magical Women have been exploring the power in holding spaces for Neurodivergent women, In Solidarity poets and Magical Women allies who can come together and make art, share experience and create!

The Neurodivergent experience is so often to “Act!” and whilst we are in Lockdown and many of us are working remotely or have lost employment and lead uncertain futures, we invited freelance writer, poet and academic Alexandra Brown to share a piece of writing and other Neurodivergent women responded to her words through their art-making practice.

“What is the difference between
’absence’ and ‘loss’? ”

— ALEXANDRA BROWN

All paintings and drawings by autistic artist Marisa Mack

“What if in your attempt to articulate both,
they become synonymous?”

— ALEXANDRA BROWN

“What if you are in a
state of sorrow and lament
for something that was never yours”

— ALEXANDRA BROWN

by autistic artist, Marisa Mack

Self Portrait by Elinor Rowlands, 2017

Self Portrait by ER, 2017

Self Portrait by Elinor Rowlands, 2017

“What if you are in a
state of sorrow and lament
for something that was never yours”

— ALEXANDRA BROWN

Necessary Chaos by autistic artist Marisa Mack

Pain within the Sublime by Pascale Gourlay

“Yet
not having it plagues you
with a sense of anguish and a deep
feeling that you are not whole?”

— ALEXANDRA BROWN

Maggie by Patricia Homersham

“What if your screams of
pain and torment are so loud
that it transcends the limited
capacity of the human ear….
and dwells in the terrain of the divine”

— ALEXANDRA BROWN

by autistic artist Marisa Mack

by Intuitive Oils’ artist Anna Dyson

by Intuitive Oils’ artist Anna Dyson

IMG_9138

Sore Wings, Muted Call, by Elinor Rowlands

Wisdom in Travail by Marisa Mack

Divine Melodies by Elinor Rowlands

“into soothing melodies
that connect us with our Creator.”

— ALEXANDRA BROWN

Alexandra’s words transformed during the experience of the shared space to attend to her writing practice.

“I am burning with desire
for a place I can call my own”

— ALEXANDRA BROWN

by Marisa Mack

“Where I can immerse myself
within the richness and fullness
of my very essence”

— ALEXANDRA BROWN

“A place where the multitudes of worlds
in which I dwell can collide and its impact
is one of vibrancy, acceptance and wholeness”

— ALEXANDRA BROWN

by Marisa Mack 

by autistic artist Marisa Mack

“A place where the multitudes of worlds
in which I dwell can collide and its impact
is one of vibrancy, acceptance and wholeness”

— ALEXANDRA BROWN

“In this place I can turn water into wine
And love in my language”

— ALEXANDRA BROWN

by Aimee Grant

by Aimee Grant

“In this place, I am no longer consumed
by the pain that once devoured me”

— ALEXANDRA BROWN

About the Writer

Alexandra Brown, is an Oxford (PGCE) graduate teaching RE, Philosophy and Ethics. She studied non-western Christian and Womanist theology. Specialist subjects include Social Justice; race, class, gender, and critical pedagogy. Brown is a freelance writer, poet and academic. She is British born  of African-Caribbean (Ghanaian and Jamaican) heritage.

_________________

Learn more about Alexandra’s journey from her first prose to the the second after writing in a shared space.

Experience transformation through her reflections.

Alexandra's journey

Photograph by autistic artist Marisa Mack

Magical Journeys Live

Magical Journeys Live

by | Oct 30, 2023

past event
Magical Journeys Live

Support Neurodivergent Artists by journeying with them in this experiential evening!

“Let us take you to the Stars!” – Magical Women

Featuring Electric Cellist Jo-anne Cox and Live Artist Elinor Rowlands

Example of Elinor’s storytelling

Listen to audio

Schedule of the evening

*This schedule has been set up to support our ND artists who might need to know what is expected of them during the evening. We want to reassure everyone this is a relaxed performance and if you have to pop to the loo, or go for a drink you’re very welcome to. Audiences will be muted except during the Share in the Interval.

6:30PM – Artists have your art materials/paper (at least 4 pages) ready with a refreshment

6:45PM – Artists or people who want to participate through art materials please join us at this time.

7:00PM – Audience join us.

7:05PM – Welcome address by our MC Gemma Abbott

7:25PM – Journey 1 – Green Man and the Crone – Cello and Voice

7:35PM – Introduction address by MC Gemma to our two Artist Musicians of the evening.

7:45PM – Journey 2 – Phrike and the Greatest Love of All Time:

  • Storytelling by Elinor Rowlands followed by Live music by Electric Cellist Jo-anne Cox

8:10PM – Interval for Audience and Gathering and Share for Artists

8:30PM – Introduction to Journey 3 by MC Gemma Abbott

8:35PM – Journey 3 – Bright Flowers, Cracked Star and Shine On! – delivered by both artists Elinor and Jo-anne.

8:50PM – Ending Ritual – Live Music by Jo-Anne Cox

9:00PM – END – Thank you for journeying with us!

This performance has live captions!

Neurodivergent Performers and Access

Jo-anne Cox – Musician

Elinor Rowlands – Live Artist / Live Storyteller and Tech

Eluned Charnley – Electronic Note Taker/ Live Captioner

Gemma Abbott – MC

Megan Garrett – Jones – Access Support and Access to Zoom/Box Office/Front of House

feedback

After our first part of the evening:

“I haven’t drawn in years and I’m feeling so inspired”

Wow. That was fantatic

“SO BEAUTIFUL! <3”

“amazing!!!!”

“wonderful! thank you !”

“Fantastic”

“Beautiful :)”

“It’s always good to be reminded that there are stars out there!”

After our second part of the evening:

 

“Loved that pathworking Elinor … beautiful journeying.”

“Beautiful <3”

“I want to cry, not in a bad way though!”

“Absolutely amazing”

“amazing!”

“So good!!!”

“This has been the most mesmerising, hypnotic and magical evening. It’s been blissful. thank you, Jo-anne, Elinor, Gemma and Megan. And Eluned, what incredible captioning of Jo’s playing. Thank you so much.”

“Superb. thanks so much for sharing.”

“This was *wonderful* thank you :)”

“Fantastic Elinor … love magical journeys xxx”

“thank you so much 😊”

“Well done everyone!”

“Thank you very much. What a lovely evening”

“Thanks Elinor – will post a blog… lovely and thank you”

“ thank you -wonderful evening”

“Thank you so much to everyone.”

“thankyou!”

“lovely! thanks for inviting me Elinor.”

“Thank you – wonderful x”

“that was really special xx”

Festival For Imbolc: Natasha Oliver-Cork

Festival For Imbolc: Natasha Oliver-Cork

by | Oct 27, 2023

events
Festival For Imbolc: Natasha Oliver-Cork

Listen to Natasha, In Conversation here on Spotify.

Words about Natasha 

“Natasha Oliver-Cork is an actor-musician and writer who is currently in her second year studying Acting at Drama Studio London.

From Bath, Somerset, Natasha grew up around theatre and countryside where she would daydream for hours on end and create stories and characters.

Music played a large part in her artistic development due to her inability to stop singing and turning everything into a musical – quoted from her GCSE English teacher!

So, it is unsurprising she has found herself back to writing music after her discovery of poetry writing and partaking in Magical Women’s Neurodivergent Writing Workshops back in July 2020.

Only recently diagnosed with ADHD, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia in 2020, her art is about developing an understanding of her neurodiversity and rediscovering her authentic voice and what it means to her and for her perspective of the world around her.

Magical Women has been a fundamental part of her growth in confidence in her music and her art, which she is excited to share with you through their Imbolc Festival.”

— NATASHA OLIVER-CORK

LISTEN TO Seed by Natasha Oliver-Cork for Magical Women

Join us for Imbolc in Song!

We invite you to listen to a podcast of 5 songs (also heard in the podcast above) on a Music Only podcast with short commentaries about each song by Magical Women relating Natasha’s nourishing and nurturing songs to Imbolc’s important teachings and rituals.

 

Song Titles in order

Seed

Release Me

Impossible

No Net

Trepidation

You have been tuning into Natasha Oliver – Cork!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST

Festival For Imbolc: Clarissa Wright

Festival For Imbolc: Clarissa Wright

by | Oct 27, 2023

events
Festival For Imbolc: Clarissa Wright

Online Event

Words about Clarissa’s work by Magical Women

Clarissa’s artworks and writings are inspired by the natural world as well as her intellect that has been weaved by her scientific works. She feels the shifting of the seasons keenly and makes creative observance in her practice. Here for Imbolc, she shares a poem ‘E-company’ that reflects on isolation and our dependence on technology – something many can relate to today, during national lockdowns imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. To illustrate the concept, she shares a photograph she has taken in the wild and journeys us into her textured ideas and fascinating insights from a ND led mind and tongue. 

The tension between home and the natural environment is strong at this marker of the year. It is the time to ask for the blessings of Brigid, for the things we will nurture outside but also for the people that we nurture in our homes. At this time when we remain largely behind the thresholds of our houses, taking a moment to check in with our connections to place and to each other is an essential part of the cycle of growth we invest in throughout the turning of the year.

E-company

Images in your head squat against your skull

As you lay in bed, embracing your laptop

Cold electronics lay here to give you company

And speak with you like you’re somebody

Spark a conversation with your screen

Ask it about your lunch, or your dream

Let it delightfully distract, and entertain

Cleverly disguise the lurking disdain.

Awaken now, the phone has remembered

To alarm! And ring at 8am as required.

Unwrap from your warm embrace

With your lover made of wire and steel.

Disenchant yourself for a moment

So that ye can feel the blood in your veins

As you rise out of your slumber into the shower

And sacrifice this moment to the falling rains.

Walk into the kitchen and you ARE alone

But not until you turn on the radio-o

Murmuring mumbles and talk-talk-talk

Delude you to think that you are not-not-not…

Ah, look and see

Your phone, laptop, screen

Acts like your best friend

How many hours do you spend

In E – company?

Who spends with you more time

In your intimacy?

Has connection been confused with electricity?

About the Artist

Clarissa Wright, Editor-in-Chief of NatureVolve magazine, is a creative writer and artist with a background studying geology at BSc and MSc level at University of Aberdeen and University of Birmingham. She creates poems, stories and  visual artwork inspired by the workings of nature and the human psyche.

Her artworks and writings are inspired by her curiosity and knowledge about the natural world, grounded with her geoscience studies and experience in scientific publishing. In addition to being an artist, photographer, digital designer, photographer and creative writer, she is a freelance science journalist and editor. Her deepest interests are in philosophy, psychology and the natural world.

Festival For Imbolc: Maddie Millett

Festival For Imbolc: Maddie Millett

by | Oct 27, 2023

events
Festival For Imbolc: Maddie Millett

Join us for a wonderful Guided Walk through words and photographs with Maddie Millett on Thursday 25th February 2021.

A few words from Magical Women about Maddie and her work for Imbolc Festival

Maddie is an artist with a keen sense of the seasons and of her local environment and this is clearly evident in her work. Her practice encompasses walking, writing, clay work, sculpture ritual and incantation. She set these things in relation to one another in travelling live installations that invoke powerful feminine energy and enrich our own connection as viewer with the earth.

For Imbolc, we meet some of the ancient goddesses that she embodies in clay and we walk with her and with them as she explores her home patch at this delicate turning of the calendar. She blazes with the intensity of the coming light and through the journey we take together we watch her transform into the iconographic being she is searching for, stepping into that power in her own right, and perhaps encouraging us to do the same. 

“Keep your love for nature, for that is the true way to understand art more and more”

VINCENT VAN GOGH

“Rediscovering my creativity

after a long break was like drinking

from a deep well,

and I was thirsty for more.”

I remembered my love of clay,

a passion that is with me still.

After the sometimes torturous process of academia

while completing my sculpture degree

I struggled to find my way back to the bones

of what my art is to me

and to become more real and clear to myself.

My practice now involves a lot of being;

walking in woods

or the peaceful sanctum of the cemetery,

lying in the long grass or exploring forgotten paths

and allowing it all to feed into what I make.

I am seeing the worth of my previous

nascent ideas and realising I was on the right track,

but I didn’t have the right support

or faith in myself back then

I’m fascinated with and curious about ancient clay artefacts,

connection in nature,

myths, stories and rituals

(which often make more sense to me

than the shrill cacophany of the ‘real’ world).

Problems fade into the distance

as I step out into nature

and my refined senses absorb so much,

my attention no longer scattered but honed in

on the tiny movements of birds.

The delicate colours of the sky

move my deeply emotional soul

and the traipsing ivy

becomes an enchanted bower

in my limitless imagination. 

I am able to express myself fully and convey my true intentions in my art.

My images and clay forms speak for me

without the spoken words that are so often

misinterpreted or misunderstood.

Our Lady of the Green Heart by Maddie

My art is me, and sets me free.

About Maddie

Maddie Millet is an artist who uses raw, sustainable and found materials in her clay and installation work. Having recently moved house to a home on the edge of the town but surrounded by fields and trees, Maddie engages with the natural world around her by going on walks and sharing her wanderings with us. Through photography weaved in with her own words, her clay goddesses, and other inspirations from poets’ pens and ancient tongues, we discover the fiery light that burns brightly all around and from within her.

Guestbook in response to the Artist’s Work

Here is feedback left by visitors to Maddie’s Guided Walk.

Thank you so much for this beautiful exploration of the creative process, especially the ways in which walking and the natural world both soothe and inspire. I particularly loved Maddie’s use of clay and all the meaning that it holds. Thank you!

  • Bee, Folkestone, UK

 Beautiful, absolutely loved it. Thank you so much Maddie. Xx

  • Lorraine, Dudley, West Midlands, UK

I love Maddie’s guided walk and her beautiful photographs. I’ve been a Facebook friend for a long time.

  • Vanessa, Western Australia

Hi Maddie, just what was needed to ponder on and delight in – As a friend of yours, Maddie, I am loving the creativity that you are scooping from your depths. Thanks for your inspiration and sharing the coming of Spring through your reading, clay goddesses, meanderings and photos xx

  • Kait, North Wales, UK

Hi Maddie, loved your pictures of marigold, holly, ivy. Your sculptures look tactile. I too love graveyards. Your video is a good explanation of things i am not familiar with like ‘Imbolc’. I am just getting to know about pagan history. Thanks for a good inlet. Xx

  • Wendy, London, UK