See my recent work and ideas by clicking my blog tag Cathy’s work

News:

June 09: Burning Bright film selected for 09 Eigse Carlow Film programme

June 09: Unwanted genes on a DNA Spiral and Accidental Release images selected for the Ark, Temple Bar, Dublin

Aug 08: Trying to get this blog up and running I have joined a postaday blogging challenge set by ArtLinks Blogging mentor, Ken McGuire.

Jun 08 Created new short film for Biodiversity week 08,

Current Work: Slow Art project at Holly Wood, Carlow, Ireland (2008 onwards)

Some of you have been aware that the has been a small but increasing level of interest in the art and ecology project that I have worked on over the last few years, ‘the local project’, it highlights an important 13 year old community, broadleaf forestry project in rural Ireland (Co Leitrim).

Recent comments and then more exposure on YouTube for my ‘local project’ film in 2008 (my youtube story is that, still without broadband, I left my pc load up the intro to the local project film over several hours earlier this year. The next morning I had an invitation from curators to exhibit the film in London!!!). While the orignial film screening and exhibition in Leitrim in 2006 were warmly received, not surprisingly this has led me to think that this type of project and the net are becoming important model for the arts and commicating environmental ideas in a more engaging way.

My content is basically positive local community actions responding to climate change.

I’m lucky enough to work with Jan Alexander, Chair of ProSilvaIreland, a leading continuous cover EU forestry organisation (Jan keeps my facts right and we have both worked together over many years, trying out new ideas in environmental communication). Through blogging to youtube we aim to create small films to engage greater audiences to understand that forestry, even though its a slow process, is a most valuable means of local+global, economic, social and ecological sustainability all against the background of climate change.

So in my spare time, I’m  making short films, along with Jan and my local community, on how to manage forests for ‘continuous cover’. I’ve found I love the film-editing process and I can’t think of better content than promoting close-to-nature forestry (plus I made a decision last year, only to do work that I have immediate access to; I live in 2 acres of spruce so have all the means on my doorstep). It’s a no-brainer really, close to nature forestry is better for amenity, wildlife and creates long-term community and ecological h/wealth as opposed to the clear-fell tree farming we have here in Ireland -so watch this space ;-)

Cathy

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