by Sally Tennent-Brown

This exhibition, as suggested by the title, brings together the ideas of creative process and relationship. A focus on creative process, as we understand it, brings the how into rightful balance with the what, with crucial space allowed for the don’t know (but I’ll find out by doing it). Robyn and I share this approach to our work.

Robyn describes herself as a frustrated painter; her soft dolls are an offshoot of her sculptural clay figure work and her love of portraiture. She says they are “what happens” instead of painting, “it’s about doing what you can, not what you want.” Her recent fascination with drawing, however, would seem to belie this, although she describes this practice too as building and very much in process: a physical process, still with 3-D aspects.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” she says. “It’s just about doing the next step as it arrives.”

We have seen this same, understated approach in her highly experienced and successful practices of eco-dyeing, feltmaking, stitching, and ceramics.

My work is evoked by themes, imagery, and feelings from the inner life that require expression or response. My approach is playful and experimental, and I enjoy working with slightly unexpected materials such as old sailcloth, sliced-up tins and paper packaging. The relationship with these chosen materials is an important part of the making process. I experience my art practice as non-linear and highly intuitive.

Together, we share a deep love of textiles and an aesthetic that whispers of the “other” – other realms, other realities, dreams and liminal spaces.

We are friends who make.

We are Making Friends.