Lucy Grubb reflects on her recent Hatching Residency at The Nest.
The Moon is a Satellite,
and this city itself feels like my own private constellation.
The Moon is a Satellite
art
Insects, Motherhood, Art
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.
Continue readingspace to move
Rosa Francesca reflects on her recent Hatching Residency
Impetus and Intention
In early 2024 I suffered an illness that rapidly took over my life. I had been experiencing joint issues for a few years, and because of this illness I quickly deteriorated further to the point that I could barely walk or speak and became an ambulatory wheelchair user. I fully expected to be totally unable to walk by the end of the year, however after spending time in hospital I was able to massively improve my health and found myself gaining back my mobility.
Continue readingConfusion is where breakthroughs happen too
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.
Continue readingMenarche
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.
Continue readingIt was a whole thing
Lily Smith reflects on her Hatching Residency at Talking Birds
Being provided with time, space, and money to do something you love has the ability to change your life. As a freelancer, finding even one of these can prove a mission, and we rarely get the freedom to indulge in our creation without a healthy balance between the three.
I have played guitar for 8 years, but I’ve never made a song. I began performing with different singers around Coventry, working on their songs, composing for talented artists, yet I struggled whenever I sat down with myself.
Continue readingA Solid Blue Portal
Jaz Morrison reflects on her Nest Residency in association with MAIA
I haven’t been on many residencies, so I wasn’t sure what to expect during my time at the Nest. I remember asking if Talking Birds had any expectations of me, despite reading that this was about using the time as I felt best. The commute was surprisingly long – around 90 minutes from door to door – but it allowed me time to read books I’d put off, and the walk from the station familiarised me with the city centre. I even ran into an old colleague in my final week.
Continue readingIn search of magical capabilites
This spring Talking Birds has been working with colleagues at the University of Warwick on the ‘AI in the Street‘ project, which is researching communities’ perspectives on, and feelings about, the AI-enabling infrastructure that lines our streets. The project aims to add citizen-voices into discussions about future infrastructure installation and invisible data gathering projects, whilst questioning how open and responsible the current processes are. The project has collaborative teams working in London, Cambridge, Edinburgh and Coventry, with the site of the Coventry Observatory being the Holyhead Road – which marks the border between Lower Coundon and Spon End.
Continue readingThe Light is Important
Amy Kakoura reflects on her Talking Birds residency
Keep it to yourself, but there is something in Hotel 104. I don’t know how long it’s been following me.
I felt it moving around, the moment I asked to be here. It makes this dreadful, almost-sound, like a cough before it happens. I don’t look straight at it.
I keep my eyes forward these days.
Continue readingThis Space is All Mine
Tizzie Frankish reflects on her nest residency
When I hear writers equate the writing journey with riding a roller coaster, I couldn’t agree more. It’s a cliché for a reason, right? A couple of years ago, my writing journey hit a bone-crushing low when my second agent left the industry, and I decided to get off the roller coaster. In fact, I shut down the writing-ride completely- which was fine for a year, until not writing began to feel just as disappointing as writing. Did this mean I was ready to get back on the writing-ride? Possibly… But did I want it to be the same ride…? Absolutely not! Destination Publication was no longer my ride of choice, but finding fun on ALL the rides was much more appealing (you can read all about these experiences here). Over the next year, I found joy in the creative process again- writing anything and everything, from pitches to proposals, to TV samples and scripts, articles and education, flash and non-fiction… and finding the fun in writing again sparked a new idea…
Continue readingcolour, pain and sound
Veronica Grant reflects on her Hatching Residency
During my Nest residency, I found myself filled with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. I had eagerly applied and been accepted, but I also felt the weight of my own expectations and the pressure to create something great during my time there.
Continue readingIn The Nest
Marianne White reflects on her Talking Birds Residency
Scroll down for text only version of Marianne’s blog.
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Words from the Birds 