Using textile art to explore how the spirituality of nature informs the poetry of Mary Oliver (1935-2019)
Supervisors: Pamela Hardesty (Practice) & Sarah Foster (Academic)
Gallery Open:
Wed 12 Nov | 10am - 5pm
Thurs 13 Nov | 10am - 7pm &
Fri 14 Nov | 10am - 3pm
Artist Statement
The divinity of nature, borne out of acute observation of the minutiae of the natural world, sits at the heart of the poetry of Mary Oliver (1935-2019, USA). Her call to notice nature in a contemplative way - to experience the sacredness of nature - was her creative conduit, leading to 26 volumes of poetry and seven works of prose, plus numerous awards, most notably, the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1984.
In this interim exhibition, my objective is to use the qualities of textile making to materialise Oliver’s meditative approach and her sense of the divinity of nature. Through abstraction and sustainable, nature-based processes, such as eco-printing, slow stitch, paper-making, mono printing and natural dyes, I honour Oliver’s deep reverence for the natural world, as well as my own personal interconnectedness with nature. These interim works and test pieces also reflect key emerging themes in my academic research, such as presence in nature, attention, contemplation and animism.
Artist Bio
Patsy Atkinson is currently undertaking a Masters by Research at MTU Crawford College of Art and Design, Cork, under the supervision of Pamela Hardesty and Sarah Foster. She completed a Special Purpose Award in Art Textile at CCAD in 2024, and had previously trained in sculpture under the late John Tonks, and pastel painting with artist, Victor Richardson. Patsy has exhibited in group shows in the UK (The Botanical Gardens, Birmingham and the RBSA (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists) and in Ireland, in West Cork Islands Festival, Cnoc Buí Art Centre, Tracton Arts & Community Centre, the Lavit Gallery, the Uillinn Gallery at West Cork Arts Centre and at MTU Gallery, 46 Grand Parade, as part of the MAKE Symposium in 2023 and 2024. She was named an Emerging Artist in 2024 and was awarded a Future Makers Award by the Design and Craft Council of Ireland (DCCI) in 2025
Instagram: @patsyatkinson
