KATE HARRISON ART

My newest works are inspired by the 'plastic' brain and in particular a study by Prof Eleanor Maguire, in which London taxi driver's brains are scanned before and after their training. Taxi driver's in London are required to memorise the complex layout of central London's streets and thousands of places of interest, as well as the quickest routes around the capital - known as 'the Knowledge'. MRI scans reveal that the structure of a London taxi driver's brain changes during t

In my studio I've documented my journeys taken over a period of 6 days, drawing maps from memory. I'm interested in the personal elements to the maps, exploring my memory, spatial awareness, as well as the elements I choose to reference in the key. The fraying edges are sewn so that they are visible, similar to an old ordinance survey map with worn folds. #mapmaking #handdrawn #maps #sewing #memory #art

In my recent mapmaking workshops members of the public were asked to create individual hand drawn maps on fabric for a collaborative tent installation. When the maps are brought together into an installation they become something else entirely and looking at the pieces side by side shows the diversity of the individual styles of drawing, thinking and mapping. Since the workshop I've stitched the maps together into a patchwork piece. I've also starting to experiment with sewin

This summer I ran a Summer Holiday Family Workshop at NN Contemporary Art Northampton, inspired by the current exhibition, Playworld. Children were encouraged to create maps of imaginary worlds using paints, pens, fabric and glitter. Final pieces included Puppyworld, Princessworld, an island with skate ramps, a 3D universe and many more inspired creations. #workshop #children #art #maps #mapmaking

This year I was selected to run an event in a tent as part of MK Festival Fringe's Pitch project during the amazing MKFF. My workshop was in Mapmaking, where passers by were invited to draw individual maps to add to the tent installation. The hand drawn map could be of anywhere or anything, real or imaginary. I was extremely pleased with the outcome of the workshop having had positive comments from everyone who took part across the two days. My favourite bit was seeing the va

Here are some more photos of the children working on their textile banners during our recent workshops at High Ash School After School Club organised through MK Gallery. Really creative bunch! #workshop #schoolworkshop #art #map

This summer I will be running drop-in Mapmaking Workshops for all ages from a pop-up tent, as part of MK Festival Fringe's Pitch project. My FREE, drop in workshops will take place on Tuesday 22 July 2014, 11am–4pm & Thursday 24 July 2014, 1:30–3:30pm. Come along and unleash your inner cartographer in this fun workshop for all ages. Create a unique map of your favourite place or journey using painting, drawing and sewing techniques, and add to the large Mapmaking Tent inst

Artist Katie Lewis and I have been working with pupils from High Ash School and St Michael's School in Milton Keynes to run a series of 8 textiles workshops at their after school art club. The workshops were set up by MK Gallery and we are working with pupils aged 8-11 years old to create textile banners for the schools. In our first session the pupils worked in groups to brainstorm ideas and design their banners. In the second session we started experimenting with mono print

Neurone Cluster, Specimens 1-4 I came across these petri dishes and immediately new that I wanted them in my work for their scientific element and the circular shape. The circle has previously come into my work through the embroidery hoop, as well as in my research into sacred geometry and the Flower of Life. Neurone Cluster features multiple layers and combinations of materials displayed in petri dishes, including tracing paper, maps, pen, ink, silk and felt. Continuing my

For this piece I've adopted a new (for me) process of needle felting to create a dense, entangled material reminiscent of a complex network of neurones. The material flows over the constraints of the embroidery hoop to evoke the infinite capabilities of the brain. 'Grey matter contains most of the brain's neuronal cell bodies. The grey matter includes regions of the brain involved in muscle control and sensory perception such as seeing and hearing, memory, emotions, speech, d