The Art of Field Notes for Wild Acres Week

The Art of Field Notes with ecological artist Ashleigh Downey

A field notebook (like an artists sketchbook) is a tool scientists, botanists, and other field explorers use to document what they find in the natural world. Designed to be taken into the field, it can to be used to observe nature more closely, to record the natural environment, sketch what we see, collect data, and reflect on our findings.

During this workshop Ashleigh will offer a discursive presentation on the role of field notebooks, and an exploration into how anyone (of any age or ability) can start to use this practice as a way to learn more about the world around us

This session will include a brief instruction on how to create a Field Notebook to creatively explore your local natural environment. Together we will make a simple notebook out of basic and/or recycled materials found in your home and

Suggested materials to bring to the workshop include:

• A4 card for the cover
• Twine, string or elastic band
• A variety of A4 paper (i.e. plain white paper, brown paper, tracing paper, graph paper, carbon paper, and/or any paper you have lying around the house)

***Ashleigh is also presenting a Drawn to Nature workshop, Saturday 12th June. A perfect compliment this workshop.

Ashleigh is an ecological artist who takes an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to her practice. Formally trained as a textile designer at Central St. Martins, London (1995-98) she works across disciplines as visual artist, curator, researcher, and facilitator. Ashleigh is on the artist panel at National Gallery of Ireland and the Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane (since 2001). She has also worked with the European Academy of Participation (EAP) to develop a module in participatory practice for universities and cultural organisations across Europe (2017-2018).

Founder of Greenhouse Culture; Climate Ambassador with An Taisce; and Climate Reality Leader, trained by former president Al Gore. Recently completed a post graduate diploma in Design Thinking for Sustainability, UCD. Ashleigh also holds an MA in Social Practice & the Creative Environment (MASpace), LIT , 2018.

Ashleigh is the Environmental Arts Coordinator for Green Sod Ireland. ”Nature has always been a source of inspiration and the focus of enquiry throughout my whole practice.”

This community focused initiative is kindly supported by Rethink Ireland.