An Indigo Summer

Ellie Evelyn Orrell

Description

‘There is a certain feeling – standing between rows of richly dyed blue cloth – that you are within an enclave of protection, that within this ocean you can feel calm; a separation from the outside world.’

One summer, a mother and daughter are reunited in the small village of Betws Gwerful Goch in North Wales following the death of a father and grandfather. Ellie returned from studying at university, while Jeanette had been studying the art of indigo dyeing in Japan. In this lyrical memoir, Ellie Evelyn Orrell transports readers to their hillside garden, reflecting on a summer spent learning to work with indigo, and witnessing the power of creativity in moments of mourning and recovery. In it, she weaves together stories of resettling in a once-familiar landscape; the healing powers of art; the historical, mythological and present day properties of indigo; and the presence of this indelible colour within the Welsh landscape.

An Indigo Summer is an absorbing meditation on art, rural life and roots, grief, creativity and the artistic process.

Sujets

• Arts visuels
• Arts visuels
• Vie de famille
• Soutien psychologique et conseils familiaux
• Art
• North Wales

Informations

• Publié par: Calon
• Date de parution: 06 octobre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 3
• EAN13: 9781915279101
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 6 Mo

Extrait

An Indigo Summer

T h i s p a g e i n t e n t i o n a l l y l e f t b l a n k

An Indigo Summer

Ellie Evelyn Orrell

2022

For Cîve Orre

© Eîe Eveyn Orre, 2022 ‘Arrîvà’ rom R. S. Thomàs: Seece Poems © R. S. Thomàs. Reprouce wîh permîssîon o he îcensor (Orîon Pubîshîng Group ) hrough PSceàr.

A rîghs reserve. No pàr o hîs book mày be reprouce în àny màerîà orm (încuîng phoocopyîng or sorîng î în àny meîum by eecronîc meàns àn wheher or no rànsîeny or încîenày o some oher use o hîs pubîcàîon) wîhou he wrîen permîssîon o he copyrîgh owner. Appîcàîons or he copyrîgh owner’s wrîen permîssîon o reprouce àny pàr o hîs pubîcàîon shou be àresse o Càon, Unîversîy Regîsry, Kîng Ewàr Vïï Avenue, Càrîf CF10 3NS.

www.uwp.co.uk

British Library CataloguinginPublication Data A cààogue recor or hîs book îs àvàîàbe rom he Brîîsh îbràry.

ISBN: 978-1-915279-07-1 eISBN: 978-1-915279-10-1

The rîgh o Eîe Eveyn Orre o be îenîîe às àuhor o hîs work hàs been àssere în àccorànce wîh secîons 77 àn 79 o he Copyrîgh, Desîgns àn Pàens Ac 1988.

Cover àn înernà îusràîons © Eîe Eveyn Orre, 2022 Cover esîgn by Any Wàr Typese by Agnes Gràves Prîne by CPï Anony Rowe, Mekshàm, Unîe Kîngom

The pubîsher àcknoweges he înàncîà suppor o he Books Councî o Wàes

Arrival

Not conscious  that you have been seeking  suddenly  you come upon it

the village in the Welsh hills  dust free  with no road out but the one you came in by.

 A bird chimes  from a green tree the hour that is no hour  you know. The river dawdles to hold a mirror for you where you may see yourself  as you are, a traveller  with the moon’s halo  above him, whom has arrived  after long journeying where he  began, catching this  one truth by surprise that there is everything to look forward to.

R. S. Thomas

T h i s p a g e i n t e n t i o n a l l y l e f t b l a n k

Contents

1

20

42

60

84

102

128

144

157

158

Chapter 1 Returning Home

Chapter 2 The Woodshed Vat

Chapter 3 A Landscape of Indigo

Chapter 4 On Food and Foraging

Chapter 5 Glas/Blue/Ao

Chapter 6 A Blue House

Chapter 7 Collections

Chapter 8 Late Summer

Further Reading

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1

Returning Home

The journey own îs ong àn àchîng. ï àwàys àkes àn enîre ày o ràce he àmîîàr roue o buses, ràîns àn càr journeys souhwàr rom he Eàs Neuk o Fîe, own îno Gwyne à he heàr o Norh Wàes. The ràîn wîns hrough pànîe-roo owns owàrs Eînburgh, beore sowîng o à seày ro beneàh he shàow o he càse, hîgh up on îs cràggy moun. ï wàch he burre ànscàpe hrough à serîes o wînows, semî-conscîousy wînessîng îs seày rànsormàîon

rom sànsone buîîngs îno Là, ràmbîng Ies hen

seep, orese încînes. Beyon Eàs ohîàn, he àrk

green sopes o he boreràns hàrbourîng pockes o wînàrms gràuày morph îno pàe, owîne owns. Once he hîs Làen ou, ï know we’re movîng îno Engàn, where à càr wî coec me rom he borer àn càrry me home o he Wesh hîsîe on whîch ï wàs ràîse.

1