This uplifiting and inspiring article by Charley Adams was particularly useful for me when making Call Us Angels in lockdown. Adams takes us through different types of activism that have taken place and grown from lockdown, for instance Everyday Plastic, a group in Kent that records their plastic use each week and aims to reduce their carbon footprint. If you are in need of some inspiration for your own projects and activism, this is the article for you. Good questions to think about whilst reading include: how do boundaries help to create art?, and how can art continue to grow in the darkest and hardest of times? 

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To access the article, click here. 

To explore the work Everyday Plastic do, click here. 

Vibrant Matter by academic Jane Bennett is a bit more of a challenging read, but worth it for those of you interested in thinking about the power of waste on our bodies and society as a whole. Throughout, Bennett explores the power of things, items which have no life and are often disregarded by society. You need to keep an open mind whilst reading this work, as Bennett takes you through some very philosophical and often hard to grasp writing. However, this book was really useful and allowed me to think about my reasoning for re-using trash to make wings. I would definitely recommend to those making artworks with waste, but also to those of you working out your own relationship with your waste. 

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Unfortunately, there isn't an online copy of this book. However, you can access fragments by clicking here. 

Alternatively, I would suggest asking your local library to get this book in for you, or buy it here. 

Like all the items on the Call Us Angels' resources, if you are struggling to get access to this book please let me know and I will do my best to help! 

This seminar, organised by the University of Sheffield, gives insight into the work of Amy Sharrocks, Izzy Inkpen, Dr. Lisa Woynarski, Dr Lucy Burnett and Dr Laura Joyce. Having taken place during lockdown, this live recording includes all the technical difficulties and Zoom-call silences we all experienced whilst trying to connect together during a difficult and isolating time. Despite this, this 1 hour and 30 minute recording is worth a watch, particularly if you are looking to expand your knowledge and interest in artists currently tackling the climate crisis in their work. Interestingly, all the artists and professors who presented during this seminar were all womxn, perhaps something to think about whilst watching. 

 

To access the recording, click here. 

Make sure you click the names of the contributors above to gain more detail into their practices.