My trip underground with Adam Chodzko in Ghost

In the dark confined space I took comfort from the deep resonating sounds of the voice.

It was an intimate space, deeply secretive and gave light to ones innermost fears and thoughts.

“This is where my father died”. It was a statement. Not one that invited comment or exploration- private moment spoken aloud in this private intimate space of which I was privy to hear.

The descriptions of the rock and what we could see were forced and unnatural. They prevented true reflection and obstructed listening to the secluded sounds deep below the earth in this man made tunnel. We hungered for the clandestine secret sounds of dripping water, the paddle gliding through the water and air whispering as it travelled through.

A distant crackle akin to radio static intrigued us, as it grew louder and nearer it’s pitch heightened and the sound was an expected trickling and splashing of fast falling water- a flash rainstorm rippling down rocks and spattering into the water below. The echoes off the carved rock walls increasing the sound tenfold. Drips pooled out and one could imagine rings of sound flowing out like ripples on a pond.

The air changed from dense wet and heavy to cold crisp and clear. The smell was refreshingly damp. Not quite like fresh dew or the moment before rain on a stifling hot summers day but that of a wet rocky cave.

Adam Chodzko descriptions of sound were clear, practiced and bespoke. They were full of experience and he opened my mind to reflect on sound and to truly listen. I felt frustrated at my lack of expression. As I always look for colour and light I could easily respond to the rich russets, deep blue-blacks, golden sparkling droplets that clung to the rough-cut ceiling above me. 

As we continued deeper I felt more entrapped in my canoe cocoon. I was overwhelmed and afraid, glad to see the falsely bright torch headlights, men’s’ voices and laughter. But the ceiling closed down towards me and became increasingly overbearing.

I found myself revealing innermost thoughts, personal dreams and fears as if the years of history hidden within the walls of rock had stripped me of my amour and privacy. I voiced the joy I felt of human contact through sound for I was so isolated and vulnerable. Lying horizontal, forced to see the overpowering rock face above me as if in a coffin. We agreed that the human voice had protected us from falling pray to private thoughts and feelings.

When we stopped to listen the drips and airflow create a gentle whispering song. It was not comforting and the rocks closed in around me as if the lid was closing and I would be overcome with fear and distraught with panic had I not controlled my breathing and forced myself to be strong, confident and assured. Filming and photographing gave me a purpose, as did describing the experience to others. I listened with awe at the historical knowledge being imparted and took comfort in knowing my time here was brief.

When at last they spoke of seeing the “light at the end of the tunnel” I dare not risk straining to lift and look for fear of being bitterly disappointed at what might still be a long way yet to travel. As we exited from the tunnel I was too glad of the dazzling light, change of temperature on my skin and fresh clear air to film. I had conquered my fear of claustrophobia and had the experience of a lifetime.

Filled with relief and delight at being alive and out of the “coffin”-Ghost I spoke of my thoughts of admiration for the 40 men who had taken 14 years to cut their way through the mile and a half tunnel that was now over 200 years old. It is humbling to know what we are determined to achieve in order to make progress. My own thoughts fears and expectations had been turned inside out as I travelled through time. 

I am thoroughly enjoying exploring these emotions and memories in my artwork which, will be on display at The Tamar valley Centre, Gunnislake during Cornwall Open Studios. It seems very befitting that right beside us are old tin mining works and that this eco building which houses the Area od Outstanding Natural Beauty ANOB should be the first place for this 200 year old story to be shown. I’m delighted that my work, which shows glimpses of our industrial heritage here in the Valley, be exhibited high on the hillside where we look out into vast and beautiful views of the Tamar Valley. I am excited about running heat fusion and weaving demos and more information about me can be seen at www.tessajane.co.uk.

I am thrilled with this opportunity and it is enabling me to work in new ways and media-particularly my textiles. 25 years ago I specialised in constructed textiles (weaving) and always wanted to print. This residency is enabling to do this and also to work on glass and other materials. My work has been selected from all the artists across the country as picture of the week and also for the new aa2a.org home page, which has been a real boost for my confidence.

Using screen print techniques and exploring devoré is so exciting. I am literally able to explore my subject matter MAKING TRACKS by using technological advances to eat away at the cloth, making tracks through it and by printing pattern onto it!

Work has gone well tonight. Have experimented with different fabrics. Velvet and a fabric table cloth which will be excellent to dye and stitch into. Tested a block repeat idea ready for divore. Hope to be in again tomorrow. It will be busy with fashion students so am excited to see there work. 

Saw a subversive print this eve which is an exciting technique and have printed the glue to try foils. 

During the Easter break I will prepare new images to print hopefully on glass. 

So delighted to be selected as an approved image!

Research in the library. Another step closer to new things. Attended a wonderful morning learning about printing on glass and a quick visit into the print room enabled me to visualise my next piece of work. Foil and devoré over screen print and paint on canvas.

I've spent hours pouring over books in the library and buying on amazon! Where to go and how to develop?...There is so much I want to do from working on glass to paint, stitch and canvas. I guess I'd better have a Nike moment and "Just do it!"

My recent ski trip to Slovakia has surprisingly given new meaning and direction to my work. I've always been drawn to the majesty of arches. Often soaring above us making our presence seem so tiny and inconsequential. 

An early ride up the cable car (which I called the pumpkin) onto the slopes gave me a birds eye view and therefore a new perspective. Often told to draw into the snow with my pole during lessons I saw the ski tracts as brush marks. We were so small, like ants in the vast space of the mountains. I thought about the journey I had made. The impact I have on the world and how small and insignificant I felt. I saw the structures as lines, the trees as texture and the clarity of soft against crisp as hard edges and delicate lines.

The journey to and from the airport showed how important and yet ugly industrial buildings were. The snow covering distracting detail and focussing me in on meaning and thoughts. The bill boards huge by the roadside desperately trying to catch the passers by attention. Is that what I am trying to do? or am I making a mark on the world, creating presence? I was making tracks. 

I thought about the industrial revolution…and how important trains were to our development across the world. Their tracks, infrastructure and architect spanning gaps and making the world smaller. They arched across divides. No wonder I find them inspiring and majestic.

I recorded my journey home realising I had come full circle back to my arch. I photographed tracks, bridges, tunnels and saw again, with a new emphasis how we make footprints. I smiled at the memory of a girl at school called Golightly. She inspired me to photograph my own footprints in the snow early that morning up on the slopes. I want people to understand what impact they have and how we need to go lightly and preserve what we have made and what we cannot replenish or replace be it animal, mineral or time.

We carve our way through time yet look back sometimes longingly at our past. We fight to preserve and do not embrace progress well. For it is ugly. We scorn those before us who raced ahead, devouring the land and failing to protect its future. Protect, preserve, recycle and strive for a sustainable, stronger, safer future.

Nature makes her own lines. Sometimes sweeping and caressing. But she too wreaks havoc destroying progress and reclaiming ground at great cost. Rivers, meander, Canyons carve and mountains and seas conquer. Yet the snow quietly carpets and stills natures heartbeat whilst desserts dry warning is for us all to heed,

Go lightly on your way through life and take time to breathe.

I'm back from Slovakia a recreational ski trip which has provided unexpected clarity to my work. A little sketching, a lot of eating, quite a bit of skiing and a shed load of photographs and ideas!

I shall be MAKING TRACKS......

Ever since I can remember I've had a passion for boxes, cases, books (The Bible in particular, I loved the gold edges and the thin delicate pages) fairies, magic and castles. Perhaps this is why I love arches. 

Armed with new imagery from the snow covered land I have been drawing with rollers. I cannot bare to waste ink, so after my old newsprint blocks failed to please, I used up the ink exploring my imagery from memory and my sketch book which was beside me. These images I have used to create my screen with and will print onto canvas.

The roller glided on the surface of the paper. I use the edges to create marks and to vary lines. It's almost like an ice skater carving their routine. They improve by repetative training just as we do by repeatedly drawing. Some areas are smooth, some textured, sharp cuts, wide sweeps and point marks- Ice Castles.