I’ve been involved with a project called Nascent Collage for roughly about 2 years now. There are three of us involved: Mary-Anne Pennington and Natalia Wilkoszewska. It’s how I met illustrator Natalia who I’ve worked with on Simone and our newly started project, David. Nascent Collage is something that’s been bubbling under the surface as it’s more of a longer project which will result in a book. You can find out more about my co-collaborators on the blog: http://nascentcollage.wordpress.com/
Nascent Collage is about recapturing the stories of childbirth and making them more than just a time and a location. Sharing these stories allows us to engage with the concept of motherhood as not only an individual experience, but a universal connection. By illuminating the diverse cultural stories in one collection we’re allowing our stories to carry on being told and remembered. Unlike other childbirth books and projects, our focus is on the emotional response rather than the scientific. We’re listening to mothers tell us their stories and passing them on to other mothers around the world.
The book will be a collection of stories from around the world and each will have their own illustration. We’re in the process of collating stories from all over the world so we can capture as many different cultures and experiences of birth as we can. This is where we’re asking you if you can help. Are you a mother reading this that would like to take part? Do you know of anyone who would be willing to share their story with us? We’re after the further flung places rather than in the UK at the moment. We’ve got a brilliant story from a woman who was a surrogate mother for a gay couple who has written a letter to her daughter. We’ve also covered Russia, some areas of the US and are in the process of securing a story from Africa.
Our goal is to create and publish the collection as a book. If anyone would like to offer their services with regards to that or lend their support we would happily listen and welcome your thoughts.
For an example of a story and matching illustration please click here.
Our Objectives
– To connect people by providing a collection of intimate stories that detail the one unique primary event each human shares in common.
– To illuminate the diversity of different backgrounds and cultures with a collection of stories from around the world.
– To provide the opportunity for people to appreciate the uniqueness of each birth.
Our Unique selling proposition
Unlike other childbirth books and projects, our focus is on the emotional and whimsical aspects as opposed to the scientific and physical. It is our humanity that makes us equal and yet unique, and there is nothing so human as being born. Listening to mothers tell the beginning of our stories is an out of body experience that allows us to see something that carries absolute value regardless of what we believe or know about it. By collecting stories from around the world we are providing an opportunity for people to connect worldwide in an emotional and personal way.
I’m not a mother myself, but I do think the conversation of how we came to be very important. No matter how old you are, you are always someone’s child. If you think you can help out please contact us on the blog: http://nascentcollage.wordpress.com/contact/
Can You Spare a Story For Nascent Collage? February 18, 2012
Simone Workshop January 19, 2012
Natalia and I will be presenting a creative writing workshop in tandem with the Simone exhibition that’s at Oxford House. Do feel free to come along as,
a) it’s free
b) it would be nice to see you
and
c) we’re wanting to get people collaborating, like we have, in different mediums.
So if you’re a shy writer who doesn’t feel like they have what it takes to write a full length story… Come and see if there’s a photographer who could help you collate one. Or if you’re a painter who has dabbled but only does it behind closed doors… Maybe see if there’s a fellow painter who wants a stimulus from month to month. The main objective of the workshop is to discuss and experiment with responses to different mediums and how to generate ideas. Not only is it free, but it’s in a nice place and you’ll get to see the exhibition too as it will take place in the cafe. Give us a shout if you’re coming along and if you can’t make it, feel free to pass it on the someone who can. Here’s the blurb:
‘Consequences’
Creative Writing Workshop
by Katie McCullough & Natka Studio
Wednesday 25th January 2012
7.30 – 8.45pm
All Welcome!
Katie McCullough and Natka Studio collaborated in a creative version of
‘Consequences’ to create their project, ‘Simone’, which is currently displaying
in the cafe at Oxford House.
Merging the written word and illustration they have forged a unique
collaboration. Using simple exercises and exploring their approach to the
project they will be discussing how you too can forge creative relationships.
Materials will be provided and the workshop will be free of charge.
Exhibition takes place till the 31.01.2012, in the Oxford House cafe.
Katie Mccullough – Writer
Natka Studio – Illustrator
Simone Exhibition News January 14, 2012
The exhibition was a success! And because I was so busy shoving wine into people’s hands and urging people to eat I didn’t manage to get any photos of the folks walking around looking at Simone. But I took one before it got busy and, because I’m chuffed with all the canapés I made, mostly of the spread. Because I know you want to see what I made.
Limited Edition prints are now available online. We’ve already made two sales with our Limited Edition prints, one on the night and one the very next day. This pleases myself and Natalia a whole load of lot. I thought I’d take the opportunity to say thanks to those who came (about 40 over the whole night) and to urge those who couldn’t make it to go see it now. It’s on at Oxford House till 31st January and it’s in the cafe so you can grab yourself a nice cuppa/java and stroll around. It’s a great building tucked away off the main road and it’s always got stuff going on in there as well as other artwork.
If you’d like to buy a Limited Edition print the information is below:
Style – Giclée print
Paper – Hahnemühle Photo Rag (308)
Size – 420mm x 520mm
Limited Edition Run – 50 of each image
They are for sale for £90 (which includes p&p) and you can browse them here.
And we’ll be doing a workshop in conjunction with the exhibition in the next week or so and we’ll have more news on that soon. No doubt I’ll be hollering on Facebook/Twitter/this blog here nearer the time.
‘Simone’ Exhibition December 21, 2011
As this year comes to and end it also signals the fruitful passing of time for the Simone project. Just a quick recap for those who don’t know… I’ve been collaborating with a fantastic illustrator called Natalia Wilkoszewska throughout the year on a variation of the games of ‘Consequences‘. And Simone is the culmination of it all. I write a piece of flash fiction and Natalia would illustrate it, then she’d illustrate the next part of the story and then it was up to me to write the response, then the next part of the story… And so on. We never forced each other’s hand to bend the story, we simply gave each other cliffhangers and free reign. And now we have a year’s worth of Simone’s life documented for all to see. It’s been an adventure.
I cannot believe a year has passed on this. Each month we did one image and one text and in January 2012 the entire collection will have it’s first public viewing at Oxford House in Bethnal Green. We’re chuffed, thrilled and ecstatic to be able to have the opportunity to let it unfurl in a public forum, especially in a building like Oxford House where they’re keen to exhibit upcoming artists.
This is something new for me (I’m going to be ‘exhibiting some work’ – odd!) and the idea of having work up for people to see for a prolonged period of time is a good kind of crazy. What initially started as an exercise to keep each other creatively exercising, has turned into a beautiful project and we’re keen to get people to go along and see not only our work, but the others on show.
Simone will be displayed from 12th January till 31st January 2012 in the Oxford House cafe which is open from 9am till 4pm. We’re hoping this won’t be the only outing for the project, so I’ll blog about any future developments about other exhibits. Do let us know if you go along and more importantly, enjoy it!
November Interrobang, See You There? October 26, 2011
So once again, myself and Natka The Great have been speeding through our ‘Simone’ series. I cannot believe that it’s nearly been a year since we started this project. We started it in January (ish) and we’re tying up the ends of Simone’s narrative this December. We won’t have the entire finished current series to show you in November, but we will have one last showing of it as work-in-progress at Interrobang next month. And when I say next month I mean next week.
Myself and Natka have really loved the creative juices this project has sparked. We’ve enjoyed giving each other those cliffhangers only to find more at every turn. Simone is someone we’ve both grown to love and explore. As much as her story will end in December, her character will live on, it’s inevitable. And we’re talking of doing other characters… I’ll keep you in the loop about that.
To get those who aren’t in the know up to speed, it’s like a game of consequences but with the exchange being between an illustrator and a writer. We don’t tell each other where we want the story to head, we just put our creative thoughts and interpretations down on to paper and then let the other pick up where we’ve left off.
Interrobang
You can see our collection so far in person at Interrobang at The Book Club on Tuesday 1st along with some fantastic acts. The doors open at 7pm and kicks off at 7:55pm at 100 Leonard Street EC2 (nearest Tube: Old Street). I’ll be there if you want to come along and say howdy, but also if you want to ask me any questions about this project. Here’s a reminder of our first two months work to whet your appetite…
And a sneak peek at a newer one…
It would be a pleasure to see a big crowd for the last Interrobang of the year, it’s bound to be a goodun. See below for other acts on the night:
Interrobang
Tuesday 1st November
Comedy~Music~Stories~Food~Cabaret~Literature
Exactly the same…yet slightly different!
Doors 7pm
Show Starts 7.55pm
Entry £5/£3 concs.
@ The Bookclub
100 Leonard Street
EC2
www.interrobangtime.co.uk/ www.wearetbc.com
Do not miss us this November! Come and get cosy Downstairs at the Bookclub for this specially themed Interrobang. As many of you know, in the summer I teamed up with Welsh Theatre-Maker Aimee Corbett to walk from Mid-Wales to London collecting stories. This month we will be presenting an exhibition of some of the stories we have collected; as well as inviting a line-up of very special guest-performers to offer their own responses to the theme of Storytelling and Collecting. Come along at 7pm so you have time to see and interact with the exhibits before the show begins at 7.55pm. And remember, the Bookclub serves a great evening menu and we have tables downstairs so you can dine in comfort while enjoying the show. After it is all finished, anyone who wants to can stay on for a story-collecting session with Aimee and I; and I can guarantee you will be inspired to tell some stories of your own!
Now if that’s not enough to whet your appetite; have a look at the line up:
Bret Goldstein
Bret ss an incredible Stand Up Comedian and a natural Story teller. He recieved rave reviews this year for his Edinburgh show ‘Bret Goldstein Grew Up In A Strip Club’, described by the Guardian as a thoughtful reflection on fathers and sons, men and women and the nature of fantasy’ and recieving the review “Goldstein has filtered the funniest moments of that formative experience into an expertly told hour-long story, bringing out the mordant wit of what must have been a tough time..in the telling, he has great timing, pace and sense of dramatic storytelling that keeps the action moving – as well as the ability to really create a sense of mood and of place….” from Chortle. Not to be missed.
Camilla Fiori
In between performing at Latitude and the Southbank Centre the utterly charming Camilla Fiori finds time to write really funny, intelligent and genuine poetry. She gave a gutsy, sincere and well-measured performance last year at Interrobang, so I am thrilled to have her back.
Jamie Doe
Singer & Guitarist of Magic Lantern (“pretty special I think you’ll agree-outstanding acoustic song writing!”-tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music) Jamie Doe will be telling us stories and singing us songs! Check out the Magic Lantern page for a taster of what to expect http://www.myspace.com/themagiclantern .
Camille Delean
Lovely Canadian folk singer Camille Delean has not been in London long, but she has already had the sense to hook up with excellent guitarist Ben Walker. This will be a sweet and glorious performance for sure.
Drawn To Stars
On their journey from Mid Wales to London Aimee Corbett and Vanessa Hammick collected over 200 stories. They have begun to turn these stories into various performances and exhibits. See them employ film, puppetry and installation to bring the stories of their journey to life, as part of an ongoing process. And of course, share some stories of your own!
Interrobang Wahey! May 2, 2011
So another reason I’ve been busy is because myself and Natka The Great have been ploughing through our ‘Simone’ series. To get those who aren’t in the know up to speed, it’s like a game of consequences but with the exchange being between an illustrator and a writer. What we’re loving about this project is that it’s keeping us both actively creative, but also we’re developing this character and her narrative without prescribing it it any way. We don’t tell each other where we want the story to head, we just put our creative thoughts and interpretations down on to paper and then let the other pick up where we’ve left off.
Interrobang
You can see our collection so far in person at Interrobang at The Book Club on Tuesday 3rd along with some fantastic acts. The night kicks off at 7:30 at 100 Leonard Street EC2 (nearest Tube: Old Street). I’ll be there if you want to come along and say howdy, but also if you want to ask me any questions about this project. Here’s our first two months work to get you up to speed…
The newer stuff? Well you’ll just have to come along and have a look for yourself, won’t you.
Simone March 16, 2011
I’ve been working away on another project with talented illustrator, Natka The Great which is ongoing (you’ll see why in a moment). We’ve stumbled upon this engaging project which is akin to the writing game, ‘Consequences‘. I started the ball rolling with writing a short piece of flash fiction which in turn Natka added the next part of the story with visuals. Then she would draw the next segment and I would write the next piece of story…. And so on. We give each other no guidance or heads up about what we want to include, we literally just naturally take the story on a mini adventure each time and so far the results are exciting.
What’s more, it keeps up creatively stimulated. They’re quick flashes of something that are part of a bigger project. The one thing we’ve decided to do is a) keep doing one piece of text and accompanying illustration a month and b) keep it in line with one character. So what we’re doing is giving the viewer/reader one person to follow.
And that is Simone.
We previewed the first two month’s worth of work at Interrobang earlier this month and we got great feedback. It was quite breathtaking seeing them blown up bigger and hung with the text, I was really proud of what we’ve achieved so far. The idea is that we’ll keep returning to Interrobang as the collection progresses so regulars can follow the story. Also we’ll be aiming to hang them as an exhibition once the collection is complete at the end of the year.
Click here for the first two installments…
Katie Mccullough Talks and Writes 