| Architecture LIVE 16 |
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| As walls are fleshed out my new self begins to solidify. Dreams throw up questions which wakefulness struggles to answer: I have prepared some beautiful food, to be served on beautiful plates but my timing is completely off. When the food is ready the people are not. When the people are ready the plates cannot be found. |
| I interpret this dream as an allegory for the present state of affairs. I constantly anticipate some dread event descending and slicing my world in half. Slowly I begin to recognise this as a remnant of the past, a vestige of Ireland that stubbornly clings to me acting like a brake on forward progress. |
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| This is an invitation for the heavens to open and for rain to descend in a constant stream. Barracked inside I can only stare down at the mini-EconoSpace and hope for the best. Without a roof the clay-straw walls are completely vulnerable. This eating away of substance and self is counter-productive. I am dissolving again, returning to my constituent parts, cast into the blender of life to be whisked to a froth. |
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| When there is a lull in the storm, I can scrutinise the damage. Incredible! Hardly any effects at all! The clay has shrugged off the moisture leaving the walls intact. I am relieved and impressed at the same time. The experience however makes me cautious so I protect what I can and order roofing materials. |
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| Putting a roof on the building is a big step in my reconstruction. I am blessed with the arrival of Joshua on the scene. He is helping with the walling and has committed to staying until the roof is on. Along with Rhym, who has been a constant helper in the clay-straw department, plenty of forward progress is now promised. |
| This is an act of faith, a commitment to my unfolding, an acceptance of the shape that will emerge from this reconstruction of self. |
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| ‘Clay-Straw Knowing’ is the only way I can describe what is happening. This emerges from the actuality of making. The sense of touch adjudicates the consistency of the clay slip and the readiness of the clay-straw mix for installation. Everyone who comes to help discovers this knowing within minutes. |
| A further revelation is that there are no mistakes to be made because this material is completely forgiving. Even when a wall bulges because the lightweight shutter is too flimsy the result is spectacular! We jokingly write the architectural specification for this: Walls shall bulge and be voluptuous to the entire satisfaction of the Architect … |
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| Architecture LIVE 17 |
| Architecture LIVE 15 |
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