talking birds

Finding Wilderness and Kin

| vornster

[Long Read] Co-AD Janet reflects on her participation in DutchCulture’s International Visitor’s Programme exploring Regeneration in Arts and Culture.

My first garden in Amsterdam is the one outside my hotel window.

I’m on the third floor and there is the crown of a mature birch tree at the centre of my view: dark, delicate arches of witches-broom twigs with small golden yellow leaves back-lit by pinky morning sun. There’s a wren – that I can’t see – singing its heart out and, every so often, a trio of squawking green necked parakeets sail over.

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THE SLOW WALK TO IT TAKES A CITY

| dereknis

It Takes a City has had a long fuse. It was first sparked over 15 years ago by a story I was told by Paul Duncombe, who was looking after the Belgrade Theatre on the night of the 12th of March 2008, when much of Coventry City Centre was evacuated, due to an unexploded 50kg WW2 German bomb, discovered by workers excavating the site behind the theatre that was to become Belgrade Plaza.

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Insects, Motherhood, Art

| vornster

Adele Mary Reed reflects on her recent Hatching residency at The Nest.

There is nowhere like a nest to knuckle down and nourish yourself. Contained, safe, with wise guardians popping in and out. A trail of breadcrumbs lead me there, meandering path through years, motherhood, lockdowns, urban redevelopment, relationships, travel, wildflowers.

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Confusion is where breakthroughs happen too

| vornster

n:u reflects on their recent Nest Residency, which followed on from – and built on – their time as a MAIA fellow and residency at Yard.

During my residency with Talking Birds i reflected on my practice, and my sense of direction. 5 years ago my first contract in the UK was with Talking Birds for a residency. It was remote from home, due to COVID-19 lockdown. This time again, as an ode to that time i did the residency remote. i started walking a lot around Birmingham more than i had done across 4 years living here. Walking supports my digestive processes and i had a lot to digest.

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Treading Water

| vornster

Reisz Amos reflects on his recent Hatching Residency, which followed on from – and built on – his time as a MAIA fellow and his residency at Yard.

“The freedom to discover without pressure of presentation
has allowed me to dream dreams I didn’t believe I was allowed to.
Talking Birds has cultivated the birth of a new creative version of myself!”

Reisz ‘Odd Priest’ Amos

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It’s easier to support others than express myself

| Charlie

Chloe Deakin reflects on her creative Residency with Talking Birds

I was very nervous as apart from being in drama A-level I have always been on the ‘other’ side of the arts, acting more as a facilitator/producer/filmmaker capturing/enabling others rather than expanding on my own practice.

My residency focused on exploring the themes of worldbuilding and capitalism through sculpture and writing—or so I thought! Quickly, the themes expanded to sculpture and theatre, as I needed to develop the presentation of the themes, and my processes more than the themes themselves.

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Menarche

| Charlie

Ayesha Jones reflects on her Hatching residency with Talking Birds

As a photographic artist and documentary photographer, I use photography to communicate and process thoughts and experiences. Having inattentive ADHD, I often float off into my own little world. But capturing images allows me to hit the pause button on life, letting me revisit moments and understand my thoughts, feelings and other people better. Photography also provides a voice when words often fall short. A flowery way of saying, I am a massive visual learner and communicator. When emotions run deep, photography becomes my lifeline for expression.

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space and time to understand the nuances

| Charlie

Gayatri Pasricha reflects on her Hatching Residency

The range of reactions to the messiness of a miscarriage and other fertility issues, especially from those around me, left me a little confused and a little scarred. I was asked not to discuss my pregnancy for the first three months and then the miscarriage, then not speak of the miscarriage later as why delve on the negative, my poor dog was blamed for pulling me during his walk, tennis, everything I ate.

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A MIDWEEK CUCKOO ATE MY CRANKIE

| Charlie

Prashant Kansara reflects on a Talking Birds Hatching residency…

My residency at Talking Birds took place earlier this year over five super sunny summer days in July. Three months have passed since that time and I’m surprised at how much the experience impacted the way I work now. 

I’d learned of this residency programme the previous summer during one of the Nestival of Ideas talks and was keen to apply when the chance came around. When I heard that my proposal was accepted I was delighted yet still a bit apprehensive since I’d never done a residency before. However, soon after starting I realised that it was pretty much what it said on the tin: time and space to develop my creative idea in a supportive and stress-free environment.

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