Louisa Hammond: Visual Artist.

Visual Artist and hand embroiderer exploring wellbeing through artwork. cargocollective.com/louisahammond Artwork displayed on this blog dates from 2005- present and is all made by the artist.

[louisahammond]

Blogging the progress of my Ma Embroidery studies

You can follow my new tumblr blog dedicated solely to my MA research studies at the link.

[louisahammond]

hey I'd be interested in taking part in your research, I've filled in the questionnaire! Is it okay that I take part while having other chronic illnesses/ disabilities than just MH issues? thanks, eleanor

Hi Eleanor, if you send me your email, I will be in touch, thanks for taking part! Louisa

[louisahammond]

Mental Health: Other Perspectives

During the MA I would like to carry out research detailing the lived experiences and perspectives of other individuals who suffer mental illness. I intend to carry out surveys, one-on-one interviews and creative art workshops to see how MH affects other people.This could focus on stimga, disclosure, and taking medication.  My research will inform new artwork which could include collaboations with participants interviewed or work inspired by the results gathered. I will also look to reach out to charities and MH services for gathering information about MH and to obtain contacts with MH suffers. MH benefits of sewing and mindfulness. I would like to research into this to see how they can develop a sense of mental wellbeing and possibly improve the lives of participants.

[louisahammond]

Please answer and share this anonymous survey if you suffer from mental health illness. This is to inform and inspire my MA where I am researching how MH affects others.

Initially I am looking for anonymous responses, but I will be conducting further research and interviews with those who wish to participate further. Please get in touch via my email [email protected] or By message if you are interested.

(To those who have already expressed interest, please feel free to fill in this survey as results will inform further research).

Thank you.

[louisahammond]

Mental Health Research Studies

Pretty soon I’m going to begin my Ma studies and I’d like this to involve working with other people. If you’d like to help out and get involved in my research I’m hoping to reach people who have experiences of living with mental health illness. I’m looking for initial interest at first to see how far out I need to reach out, and the types of research I can undertake.

Hearing your experiences of living with a mental health illness and how this impacts on your day-to-day life is an area I’m initially interested in. Whether this be stigma, experiences of taking medication (side affects), disclosure, talking about your illness etc. My research could take the form of an informal chat online, face-to-face, a questionnaire and/or possibly a creative workshop(s). No commitment necessary, and I can keep my research anonymous if you prefer. Here’s a list of common mental health illnesses if you’re unsure if you fall into the spectrum of disorders. http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems

Initially I’m looking for people who currently experience mental health illness first hand. There’s a possibility that l might later be looking at those affected by a loved one/close relationship to someone with MH.

If you’d like to take part or want or just to hear more of what this could involve, please message me or send an email to [email protected] with your contact details.

Thank you for reading!

[louisahammond]

Drawing for an idea to develop heads/masks and/or hats to materialise what mental health looks like to me. Using scissor imagery from personal experiences. Work in progress.

[louisahammond]

'Without A Single Bullet Being Fired'

Polycotton, felt wadding, ribbon, felt and vintage tea towel appliqué, cotton threads, cane.

July 2016

By Louisa Hammond

In this piece I use part of the quote by Nigel Farage: "Without A Single Bullet Being Fired" taken from his victory Brexit speech: "We have done it. Without having to fight. Without a single bullet being fired"

I contrasted this quote against a backdrop of components from the EU flag and a map of Britain displaying wounded people. In this artwork I show that on the contrary to winning without fighting there will be a lot of wounded people as a result of voting to leave the EU. Already shown by the many racist attacks throughout the UK post Brexit.

[louisahammond]

I DON'T COME WITH DICE SO DON"T PLAY WITH ME

by Louisa Hammond

Vintage table cloth, felt, cotton threads, dice. June 2016.

Vintage table cloth with added felt text appliqué spelling out the words: 'I DON'T COME WITH DICE SO DON"T PLAY WITH ME' I wanted to make a strong statement with this great vintage peice I found. To also try something new with appliqué, making my text work in harmony with it's exisiting embroidered imagery. Creating something thats visually quite bold, but with playful elements.

[louisahammond]

Hidden Studios exhibition in Altrincham. Some of my embroidery art on show. 23rd July - 9th July.

[louisahammond]

Stitch sampler created today for hand embroidery workshop showing satin, french knot, back, running, chain, blanket, seed, couching and cross stitches.

[louisahammond]

ONE to be taken DAILY. (Detail) Nexus art cafe. Free for arts festival. April 2016.

Louisa Hammond.

[louisahammond]

ONE to be taken DAILY by Louisa Hammond showing at Nexus Art Cafe, Manchester for Free For Arts Festival April 2016.

[louisahammond]

ONE to be taken DAILY April 2015 - April 2016

by Louisa Hammond

12 hand embroidered hoops, pvc, embroidery threads, pill packets ‘sequins’, diamantes.

Since my mental health diagnosis I’ve been required to medicate myself by taking one pill a day, for what will be the foreseeable future. This medication controls my symptoms but can also come with unwanted side affects and for me taking the medication is somewhat of an on-going battle or chore.

I decided to take my used pill packets as an art material and recycle them into an artwork which showed the endurance of my daily intake of pills. With these used pill packets I’ve made my own ‘sequins’, and have sewn them into an embroidery composition on a hoop, each representing a month of the year of 2015-2016.

The piece is a record of my monthly intake of pills to maintain and control my mental health illness. The work’s aim was to act as a mindful and reflective recording of the endurance of taking medication daily. The monotonous act of hand cutting the pill packets and sewing out a monthly amount of pills was hard at times, but worth it for the end result.

[louisahammond]

ONE to be taken DAILY

April 2015 - April 2016

by Louisa Hammond

12 hand embroidered hoops, pvc, embroidery threads, pill packets ‘sequins’, diamantes.

An artwork completed over a year: the piece is a record of my monthly intake of pills to maintain and control my mental health illness. The work’s aim was to act as a mindful and reflective recording of the endurance of taking medication daily. The monotonous act of hand cutting the pill packets and sewing out a monthly amount of pills was hard at times, but worth it for the end result.

[louisahammond]

’Stitch Speaks Louder Than Words’ Exhibition Exhibition Showing 14th - 20th March 2016 Portraiture Workshop 16th March 6-9pm by Louisa Hammond

Artwork pictured: Reflection and Distortion by Louisa Hammond

Picture credit: Tonia

[louisahammond]

Stitch workshop designed by Louisa Hammond. The aim is to stitch distorted reflections into mirror card as sewers look into the card. Examples shown with permission by participants who took part at the Wonder Inn on 16th March 2016. In association with the Stitch Speaks Louder Than Words exhibition.

[louisahammond]

‘Stitch Speaks Louder Than Words’ Exhibition at the Wonder Inn, Manchester, UK. Featuring my embroidered artwork ‘Reflection and Distortion’.

Preview: Monday 14th March 6-9pm Exhibition Showing 14th - 20th March 2016 Portraiture Workshop 16th March 6-9pm by Louisa Hammond