Jackie Morris II

Yesterday I managed to get to see and meet Jackie Morris, I hung her work in St Andrews for the 'Lost Spells' exhibition and then had the pleasure of hanging the 'Lost words' exhibition which is on in Dunfermline until October 26th (catch it if you can it is. fabulous exhibition). 

It was a pleasure to hear Jackie speak about her life, process, inspiration and future projects. 

Endpapers of the early 2020's

Above: Endpapers for Ruby Wrights debut book Animal Crackers which was published 2023.

Above: 'An Anthology of Our Extraordinary Earth', written by Angela Rizza, illustrated by Daniel Long. 2023 

Above: 'Apple and Magnolia' written by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Patricia Metola, 2022.

Above: 'La Parabola del Panificio Indipendente',  by Neil Packer 2022.

Above: 'The Amazing And True Story of Tooth Mouse Pérez', written by Ana Cristina Herreros and illustrated by Violeta Lopiz, 2023.
 

Above: 'My Pet Goldfish' by Catherine Rayner, 2021.

Above: 'I am not an Octopus' written by Eoin McLaughlin illustrated by Marc Boutavant, 2023.

Above: 'A Little World of Ants' by Cara Rooney, 2024.

Above: 'How to be Your Dog's Best Friend' by Elena Bulay.

Above: 'Grasshopper' by Tatiana Ukhova 2021 (thanks)

Above: 'Hedge Lion' by Robyn Wilson-Owen, 2023

Above: 'Giraffe and a Half' by Nicola Kent, 2023.

Above: 'Oris Stars', by Kristyna Litten, 2020

Above: Grandads Camper by Harry Woodgate, 2021.

Above: 'Finding The Way to Faraway Valley, by Cecilia Heikkilä, 2023.

Lost spells, written by Rob McFarlene, illustrated by Jackie Morris, published 2020.

Sycamore Gap.

Photo above: Ready steady shoot

We are told to believe by the police, the media that a sixteen year old went out in a storm at night, to a remote location on Hadrian's Wall and expertly chainsawed down a mature sycamore tree, believed to be two to three centuries old. It seems in the UK Sixteen year olds are the paid fall guys for all manner of crime against ancient buildings, and now trees, as they are to young for the criminal justice system. 

It is also a horrific symbol of how broken and corrupt Britain now is and how removed from the natural world much of its population is. 

Wherever you are this weekend, please go and plant a tree or many trees, it seems we are in a fight for our lives against endless idiocy. 

Above: David Robertson wood engraving.

Above: Poems from the path

Above: Cast Sycamore bark by Anke

Above: Lisa Strong

Above: image by Nick Hayes

Would you hew me to the heartwood cutter?

Would you lay me low beneath your feet?

Listen to my sad mutter

Hear my heartwood beat

Would you throw me on the log-pile cutter?

Would you toss me to the steel sawblade?

Listen to my leaves flutter

Hear my heartwood break

Would you lean your back against me cutter

Would you rest your axe awhile and sleep

Listen to the song I utter

Hear my heartwood weep

Hear my heartwood 

heartwood 

Hear my heartwood 

I drink the rain

The eat the sun

I give the breath that fills your lungs

I hear the roaring engines thrum

I  cannot run

Would you hew me to the heartwood cutter?

Would you lay me low beneath your feet?

Listen to my sad mutter

Hear my heartwood beat

Hear my heartwood 

heartwood 

Hear my heartwood 

Heartwood trail

Heartwood is a collaborative work by Jackie Morris and Robert MacFarlane written in response to the unjust felling of trees in the city of Sheffield.

Link to Heartwood sung by Karine Polwart

Poem by Dawn McLachlan, drawing by Chris Riddell.