Natalie Linney (Growing Colour Together)
Natalie explores current, historical, environmental and anthropological themes by expanding ideas & making them visual. Natalie’s work is primarily and textiles, form and print but her practice regularly develops to include new materials and ways of making.
Growing Colour Together is a project by WOVEN in Kirklees that we’re delighted to be supporting through artist mentorship and promotion.
This WOVEN in Kirklees 2023 project aims to create a district-wide, natural dye, colour garden. Everyone from Kirklees is invited to get involved, helping to create dye gardens anywhere and everywhere, working with six local and international artists commissioned to create events, installations and more for 2023.
Working in partnership across the district, WOVEN is giving everyone the opportunity to ‘have a grow’, use what’s grown to make natural dyes and learn about the environmental implications of chemical dyes and what we buy. A natural dye garden gives eco-friendly, natural dye pigments and stains for textiles, knitting yarns, and even artist paints and prints. We spoke to the artists involved…
What’s your involvement in the Growing Colour Together project?
I am non local artist working with local artists Jane Howroyd & Waheeda Kothdiwala and local groups from across Dewsbury.
Together we have been sharing our knowledge of planting, growing, textiles and dyeing. Our outcome is 'Roving Lands'. A textile installation which will pave its way around the walled wildflower garden in Crows Nest Park. Roving Lands will encompass over one hundred textile pieces each individually designed to represent personal journeys through natural spaces.
Why do you create?
It's just part of who I am. It is difficult to define yourself from your job when you are an artist as everything just blurs together between work and life. I have to have lots of things to look at. It's almost like feeding my eyes, I have to have a certain level of new visual stimulus to feel satisfied.
Do you consider yourself to be part of an artist network/community, and if so, how does this impact your practice?
Yes, as a non-local WOVEN artist, I am part of Manchester's creative community and this has had huge impacts on my practice. I think having a studio separate from your home really helps with connecting to other artists and practices. I didn’t qualify from uni with high grades, I became a practicing artist in a creative network and built my work up from there.
What changes would you like to see in the arts sector?
More affordable studio/shop spaces. Commitment to safeguarding artists from redevelopment that forces studios to close. For artists to help shape legislation by working with councils to advise on town planning / social care / health care / education.
Natalie’s links: