Week One at the Broadford Paper Mill – Swimming in Gratitude

This is a very special week for me…  a week, I have been eagerly anticipating for many months. I officially begin fabricating the paper popup world that make up the sets and animal exhibitions for my new album, It’s All a Beautiful Noise. Woohoo my tail is wagging!

Now you might think my reaction is a little over the top as we are only constructing sets… but let me tell you this, it is anything but a little thing!

First of all, the Broadford Paper Mill has gifted me with an endless supply of large format paper of different grades and weights. And if that is not enough, they are also providing both Mik and I with an office each, and use of a very large portion of the mill to fabricate both the set and my 3D animals. In addition, they have provided tables, desks, chairs, cutting surfaces, a ten-drawer architect filing cabinet for my patterns, and our very own water cooler, fridge, kettle and BBQ to make our meals.

Plainly put, I am swimming in a sea of gratitude… What an incredible and delightful gift!

Thank you John Sapountzis, Neil Burgin, Reece and Mel Craker, and last but not least Carmel McCormack. And a very special thank you to Andrew Ball who no longer works at the mill. Andrew you embraced my project and my spirit, and you introduced me to everyone at the mill. I want you to know that you are a part of the beautiful noise that fills my heart!

For those of you who many not know, I am now a crowd-funded recording and installation artist. And as such, I am supported by the people who patron my artistic endeavors through special events, CD purchases and all sorts of goodies. The capital raised from these purchases go right back into my artistic endeavors, which can leave Mik and I with very little wiggle room sometimes. I can only imagine what it would have cost us to purchase all the paper we will be using, not to mention rent the space we will be working in along with electricity, and internet.

What the Broadford Mill is providing us is priceless!

Ok… I admit it, I am gushing! But how could one not swim in a sea of gratitude and not gush?

This first week, in the process of cleaning and clearing the space I will be using for my office, and where we’ll be constructing our sets and installations, I have fallen in love with this 124 year old mill, and all the special nooks and crannies filled with old machinery, empty offices, large rolls of paper, and unused rooms where Victorian machinery could once be heard whirring day and night.

Reese, the mill’s Maintenance Officer, informed me that the space I’ll be using for my office had not been touched for more than 50 years. Whilst cleaning the walls, I was personally introduced to the 50 year old grime caked onto the walls. It’s a job that’s gonna take a while – hehe… little by little.

Over the coming weeks, if you’ve got a spare moment, you can check in to learn more about my adventures and misadventures with paper. I promise to post a weekly blog to fill you in on all that is paper; post pictures, give you the scoop on what we’ve learned, share some pop-up techniques, and other fun stuff.