Tilly Mack reflects on her recent Hatching residency at The Nest
I am a fashion and textiles artist; my practice focuses on making unique, bespoke garments from scrap and deadstock fabrics sourced from local charity shops, ebay auctions, and the wonderful Crow Recycling Scrapstore.
I studied Fashion and Textiles at Coventry College, and was awarded Designer of the Year Award at the end of my first year. Following college I hit a period of severe burnout, which at times left me stranded on my sofa, unable to manage anything more than getting out of bed and downstairs. I felt overwhelmed and at a loss for ways to continue my making practice (I did not want to follow a traditional route through the education system and apply for university). Making clothes takes up space – not only is sewing heavy on equipment, but the finished garments themselves take up physical space which is in precious supply in my tiny house. It also takes up mental space – researching, pattern drafting, toiling, drawing and visualisation, problem-solving, sampling, and knowledge of processes and techniques. I love this type of project; college gave me the opportunity to research and make a deep dive into my ideas and get immersed in the world that I am creating. My brain loves detail and precision, and this is reflected in the garments that I make. I use scrap and deadstock fabrics, unpick and reuse existing garments, and patch things together, so fabric preparation also takes time. However, fashion for me is about performing identity, altering mindset, telling the story, and expressing the real Tilly Mack.
Since college I have been pursuing other creative pursuits, including drawing, mixed media assemblage, and photography; I have used these practices as a way of further exploring my preoccupations with performance, identity and narrative.
I had a myriad of ideas when I approached the Talking Birds team about a residency opportunity; I applied before going to an introductory meeting with Charlie; I changed my plan following this conversation and put in a new proposal; and had changed direction again when I finally landed in the wonderful ‘Helloland’ downstairs studio. The Talking Birds team have listened to and given space to my frequent and sudden changes of direction with support and gentle humour, which made me feel incredibly validated as an artist, and has helped with the imposter syndrome considerably. My brain sees connections in everything, and has roughly a thousand new ideas per minute – college helped in this respect, giving me a focus for the relentless mental activity, although this also significantly contributed to the resulting burnout.
I used this lovely, sunny space to make huge, gestural drawings on the floor using paint and pastel. As a chronic pain sufferer, this felt incredibly releasing; I was able to stretch out and use my whole body, both hands and feet, and has enabled me to reconnect with my body and locate areas of tension. I covered myself and my clothes in bright pastels and black paint. My friend and partner in crime Toni came and took photos of me at work on the floor, and took some video footage. I talked for 20 minutes about myself – I couldn’t believe it.
I spent the rest of my studio time lying on the floor on an old blanket, painting, drawing and writing on top of the large marks I made with my body, and listening to music through my headphones. Totally immersed in my own little world, in a dedicated space away from the pressures and responsibilities of everyday routines, trying out the role of a professional creative to see how it will fit around my life. The Nest is such a welcoming and inclusive space, somewhere where it is safe to be myself, ask for what I need, and take time out of my life to get to know who I am and what I want without pressure. I had a moment of minor panic when I had covered all of my roll of paper with gesture drawings; I started to worry about what I was going to do with them. I reminded myself that it didn’t matter, what mattered was being taken seriously, given an opportunity which acts as a legitimacy marker, and working out a way to achieve my goals as an artist. My mentoring session with Charlie was incredibly useful, helping me to be honest about what a long-term, sustainable practice would look like for me, and narrow down my relentless stream of ideas.
I wear my identity loudly through my hand-made clothes; my untidy mop of bright red hair; my love of black, red and tartan. However I am also a hider, often found in the background or at the edges of whatever is going on, and am therefore often overlooked and underestimated. The Hatching residency has been instrumental in helping me to reconnect with myself, my body, and my artistic identity. I feel nourished, refreshed and energised, with a clearer idea of where I want to go and the confidence to put myself out there.
I have kept a record of this residency on Substack, with more photos and writing:
To see my fashion and textile work, including community participation please head over to my Instagram pages:
@tillymackscrapcouture
@graffsouls
Words from the Birds 