Each month, Nikki Wilson interviews an Ignite Member, asking five simple questions, to find out what creativity means to them, and how they see culture and creativity, and its potential, in Chelmsford.
This month Nikki talks to Lynn Excell.
How would you describe what you do?
I’m a multimedia and interdisciplinary artist. I use stitch, photography, painting, writing, 3D work, textiles and collage in my work. I am also a workshop facilitator and have run various workshops in and around Chelmsford. These have been as varied as making eco-friendly plant pots to colouring huge canvases about water pollution. I am a qualified F.E teacher and currently work at a local additional needs provision.
I am a founding member of Chelmsford Creative Collective and the main admin for the facebook page for the group. This gives me the opportunity, along with other members of Chelmsford’s creative community, to direct people to other creatives, places and ventures.
And who, or what gives you creative inspiration?
Like all creatives, my inspiration can be from anywhere. For example, the other day I took a video of the ice melting on my car windscreen, and recently, I took a close-up photo of some rust. My current embroidered artwork was inspired by a friend’s tarantula! I am a bi-lateral hearing aid wearer so a lot of my work has been about my deafness. However, I am also interested in scars (on buildings, nature and people), folk tales and traditions and the extraordinary everyday.
However, the one thing that gets me thinking creatively and makes me excited to be creative, is being around other creatives. I always feel inspired after meeting with other creatives. They are my tribe!
If you could try any new creative or cultural experience or practice, what would it be?
One of my worst traits that sometimes works as a good trait, is me wanting to learn new things. I have many pieces of creative equipment because I felt the need to learn new things. However, the thing that I’ve consistently wanted to learn properly is sign-writing and calligraphy. I have not only a love for the English language, but also for the actual act of writing. I get a thrill from a beautifully handwritten page in a notebook!
I had a rural upbringing and spent most of my childhood in nature, so I would also like to experiment more with land art.
What excites you about creativity and culture in Chelmsford?
I was one of the Ignite Cultural Partners when it first started, because I believe moaning about what isn’t available does no good at all. You must make it happen. I love that an idea can have a far-reaching ripple effect, and Ignite, Chelmsford Creative Collective and Ideas Hub/The Art Place have all made things happen in their unique way, with accessibility to all. Artists at The Meadows, Hot Box and various other community and business ventures have added so much magic to the creative scene. And of course, Chelmsford Art Society has been a stalwart art group for many years. There are more and more people feeling confident enough to make their own groups and events and this can only be a good thing-more ripples make more things happen!
What would you like to see in Chelmsford that isn’t here yet?
I think it is essential that we have a large art gallery similar to Firstsite in Colchester in our city. We should be attracting high-end art exhibitions here as well as providing space for local exhibitions. I often hear we are ‘too close to London’ as an excuse for us not having a venue like this, but I think we should be able to stake our claim in the cultural world without being in London’s shadows. We also need more art studio space, rehearsal space and stages.