'The Hoss's Lament' ship lantern and figurehead, created and performed by Laura Frances Martin for Kneehigh Theatre's Random Acts of Art 2021. Photo: Steve Tanner
In the studio: The Hoss's Lament in progress

In the studio

Here, I'm sharing current ideas, plans, insights, works in progress, or things that may have just happened... 
I work in my own studio space in North Cornwall, with a very busy desk. When I'm working on a build or large project it can get very chaotic, in a creative way! 
I'm always really interested in other practitioners' workspaces and insights into their creative processes, so I thought I'd share a bit about my own here in case you're interested.
Horned ribboned headdress created for WILD HEADS by Laura Frances Martin
Horned ribboned headdress created for WILD HEADS!

WILD HEADS with Folk On The Edge (happening now!)

Commissioned to create a mini workshop programme for Sam K Horton's and Caleb Barron's lovely project, Folk On The Edge, I came up with an idea called WILD HEADS! 
Part of We Are Shining from WILDWORKS, this project brings people together to celebrate a living folklore of the borderlands between Cornwall and Devon, inspired by Maying, Mumming, Dusking, Hedge Morris and a host of other amazing traditions, ancient and modern, that articulate our own seasonal sense of connection to place.
Working with groups in a daisy-chain of towns on or near the border, making willow circlets as a base we created fantastic headdresses, crowns, fascinators and even a few actual heads, adorned with driftwood and daisies, tatters and ribbons, horns and hagstones, ivy and roses, and a lot of imagination! 
The end results will form part of a special project-wide ritual celebration up on the moors in July.
I am considering running more workshops beyond the end of the project, in response to the great interest in the idea... Get in touch if you're keen :)
St Breock Children helping the Museum team plan a new Trail
St Breock children planning the new Trail

A Child's Eye View at Wadebridge Museum

Working with the Wadebridge Museum team and St Breock Primary School, I've been helping conceive and develop ideas towards a more child-friendly Museum through the Child's Eye View project. The idea is simple: ask children what they find most interesting in their museum, their history and heritage, and then make it more accessible and inviting to them! With the children, we've been planning and designing a new Child's Eye View Treasure Trail, new child-friendly hands-on exhibits, and four new murals installed at child's-eye-height, depicting interesting aspects of local life and history. Big thanks to the St Breock Community Fund and Wadebridge Rotary for their support :)
Architectural Association students at work in London
AA Foundation students at work

Arlodhes Kosow, The Lady of The Woods (being made now)

Arlodhes Kosow, Kernewek for the Lady of the Woods, is new work in development: a haunting and rather striking 10ft tall walking processive figure, swathed in green, with hooped skirts and antlers, ivy and lace, and carrying an orb and a staff or sceptre. She's built on a backpack frame, will move her arms and turn her head, and be operated by a single person on foot inside the skirt. She's currently in the design & making stage and I hope to debut her at events in summer 2024. 
She should be available to hire for appearances afterwards - please do enquire!
The Hoss's Lament: Lantern by Laura Frances Martin. Photo by Steve Tanner
The Hoss's Lament: Lantern by Laura Frances Martin, Photo by Steve Tanner

Time & Tide (in planning - needing funding!) 

An ambitious concept in planning, born of my Random Act of Art for Kneehigh in 2021, and highlighting rising tidal ranges and vulnerable settlements due to climate change. 
Part build, part performative touring work, part almanac & published work, this piece explores our age-old yet ever-changing relationship with the sea and the tides; it articulates women's voices; and it will appear on the highest tides each month around the full moon, in a different village, town or city connected to the sea. 
A pilot planned for Cornwall will precede a wider tour in 2024, from Cornwall, Devon & North Somerset up to Avon, London and beyond. I'm currently seeking funding and establishing partnerships, and have agreed appearances in principle at a range of host sites. If you would like further information or would like to support or book this project, please email contact@laurafrancesmartin.com

Her Hours (just an idea atm, tbh!)

Narrative poetry, stitching and prose fuse with a focus on women’s time: its use, and its loss, through the ages. Women’s work-wear items - aprons, overalls, pockets & pinnies, from a battery of caring and domestic roles - come alive with poetry and word: embroidered, printed, spoken; articulating the countless hours that women, over time immemorial, have spent in childcare or in bearing the unseen domestic workload, their words and their worth often muted, lost and forgotten as a result. Ultimately this would love to be a touring exhibition of women’s writing, artifacts, heritage items & more that makes visible what has been lost or unregarded for centuries.
Thank you to Arts Council England
 for their valued support  
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