Unit X - Inspirer - Folklore Stories

The script begins with a warm welcome to the audience, setting the scene for the Unit X event and the Inspir series. The host highlights the shift from global to local inspiration and the focus on cross-disciplinary and transdisciplinary work. The event aims to connect with the local creative community, particularly in Manchester, and explore sustainable development. The host introduces Gemma, who will discuss the Design Factory's role in fostering local innovation and sustainability.

Gemma introduces the Manchester Design Factory as a new Innovation Hub at the Manchester School of Art. She emphasizes the hub's mission to engage practitioners, researchers, and students in designing sustainable development with a local focus but global potential. The Factory considers various forms of sustainability, including materials, ecology, economy, and society. Gemma mentions their participatory and inclusive approach to innovation and highlights a current project with Stockport, aiming to drive creativity and growth in the town center through design thinking and repurposing initiatives.

Kevin Craig introduces the speakers, focusing on the power of folklore and storytelling to animate everyday life. He discusses the enduring nature of folktales and their ability to bring communities together. The speakers, Dave and Julia, are both storytellers who use folklore in their work. The Inspir series aims to explore how illustrators and animators can use storytelling as a tool for building communities and empowering change.

Julia Soala shares her personal story and artistic journey, highlighting her reluctance to attach specific interpretations to her art. She sees her works as mirrors reflecting the viewer's needs. Julia discusses her identity as a surrealist artist, exploring notions of madness and reality, and her interest in dark forces and folklore. She emphasizes her intuitive approach to image-making, influenced by her Latvian heritage, her grandmother's stories, and her childhood experiences. Julia also talks about her struggles with identity and the impact of her country's political history on her art.

Julia continues her narrative by discussing her creative process, particularly how she adapted after becoming a mother. She shares her journey of finding a new method that was quick, mobile, and flexible. Julia talks about the challenges of disassembling her previous knowledge and learning anew. She emphasizes the importance of intuition in her work and how she uses photographic images as a source of inspiration. Julia also discusses her approach to meaning-making in her art, comparing it to dreaming and the interpretation of dreams.

Julia delves into her discovery of archetypes and their impact on her art. She explains how these universal symbols and patterns resonate across cultures and generations, influencing her work. Julia's interest in opposites and the interplay between light and darkness, good and evil, and life and death becomes apparent. She talks about the importance of leaving some aspects of her art open to interpretation and how she learns from others' interpretations of her work. Julia also discusses her professional practice, including her use of Instagram as a promotional platform and the challenges of sustaining herself financially as an independent creator.

Julia shares her theories on the 'ice room' or the darkest hour before sunrise as a metaphor for the art practice and the 'ripples in the water' as a concept for the artist's impact. She emphasizes the importance of sharing one's work to create value and make a difference. Julia also discusses the idea of an interconnected consciousness and the responsibility of the artist to manifest ideas into the physical world. She concludes with a metaphor about the selfish artist and the importance of creating ripples, or impact, with one's work.

David Chatton Barker introduces his Folklore Tapes project, a unique blend of folklore, music, and art. He discusses the project's origins in Devon, where he and a friend began exploring local witchcraft folklore through sound. David talks about their decision to use cassette tapes as a medium for their musical interpretations, inspired by their shared interest in music and folklore. He describes the process of creating the tapes, including site visits, field recordings, and the handmade, collectible nature of the project.

David continues to elaborate on the collaborative nature of the Folklore Tapes project, emphasizing the importance of community and shared creativity. He discusses the project's expansion into different themes and the involvement of various artists. David shares his experiences with performances, exhibitions, and the joy of commissioning others to be part of the project. He also talks about the DIY ethos of the project and the magic of creating physical, handmade art that connects with people on a deeper level.

David delves into the process of creating music for the Folklore Tapes, discussing his use of self-made instruments and the role of natural intervention in his work. He shares his experiences with field recordings and the unpredictable elements of nature that contribute to the music's creation. David also talks about his interest in the supernatural and the magical aspects of his work, emphasizing the importance of intuition and the unexpected in his creative process.

David concludes his talk by discussing various book projects, including a collaborative book publication and a residency with the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. He shares insights into the creation of a live show based on the history of a chapel and the use of natural dyes and plants in the performance's costumes. David also talks about the evolution of the Folklore Tapes project and his excitement for future endeavors, emphasizing the importance of self-publication and collaboration in expanding the project's reach and audience.

In the discussion segment, both Julia and David share their views on the importance of magic in everyday life. They discuss the role of intuition and the magic of nature, emphasizing the profound experiences that can be found within the natural world. The conversation highlights the artists' belief in the power of intuition and the potential it holds for creating and manifesting ideas. They also touch on the idea of chaos and its role in their work, seeing it as a natural cycle of life and a source of new creation.

The conversation continues with a discussion on the blending of real-world truths and personal truths in folklore and art. Julia and David share their perspectives on how their work interacts with larger truths beyond the immediate objects or stories they represent. They discuss the role of the artist as a conduit and the importance of education and personal experience in finding truth. The conversation also explores the idea of being called to places and the artists' experiences with creating work outside their local context.

Julia and David delve deeper into the role of intuition and chaos in their artistic practices. They discuss how intuition can be developed and trained, and how it plays a significant role in their creative processes. The conversation also touches on the impact of technology on intuition and the artists' strategies for maintaining a balance between digital platforms and more traditional forms of interaction and promotion.

The final part of the discussion focuses on the challenges of sustaining creativity and managing the business side of being an artist. Both Julia and David share their experiences with balancing artistic passion and administrative tasks, emphasizing the importance of delegation and finding ways to support oneself without compromising the creative process. They also discuss the value of professional organizations and the need for artists to be well-versed in legal and financial aspects of their work.