Attempting Omega, 2014. Garage Worcester.
During the rut, when male deer become aggressive and can injure other stags and hinds, I searched for ethical antlers, naturally shed ones. In that search I found a pair from a red deer sanctuary. These antlers had been cut, trimmed like finger nails. As an exchange I offered my shoulder‑length hair. I took off my clothes at the threshold.
I held the antlers and they began to hold me. The bird sounds became the song I moved with. I gave way to the space, scratching, marking the enclosure, calling out. My toes gathered thick clumps of hair. She called back. I disappeared into a field of relation where human, deer, sanctuary and body folded into one another.
I became divorced. "I am divorced, I felt divorced", I said out loud, as I came back and from.
Photo credit: Jade Blackstock
Attempting Omega was chosen for New Arts Westmidlands, an exhibition held simultaneously at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum (Coventry), and Wolverhampton Art Gallery in spring 2015. The work was selected by John Newling, Bedwyr Williams and Amna Malik. Two of my works was selected, and to my surprise I was awarded New Arts Westmidlands Turningpoint award 2015.