‘Perhaps it’s not too much to say that Collaborative Myth making offers us another or related way to explore the tension between fixed and illusory worlds, where “characters are suspended between different places in a sort of limbo or no-man’s land.” To what extent can we find a measure of certainty & security in our various environments, or will we be overwhelmed by the chaos or dangers that can threaten us, or even undone by our own fears? Do we feel the need to retreat to a world of make-believe because we don’t want to accept the world as it is, or because something holds us back from doing so?
One of the things I find especially exciting about our collaboration is the open-ended nature of the journey we’ve embarked on together. Control isn’t a preoccupation. Rather, there is a large role (an unusually large role from the model’s perspective) for choice, serendipity and freedom of movement. Perhaps that’s what makes the journey both fun & creative – taking us forward but also hearkening back to an earlier time and place, seemingly remote but still bearing on our lives and our futures.’
~Quote provided by collaborator Zeke Jolson
‘Your work seems to depict a society where longstanding order has broken down and ordinary attitudes of security and complacency have been shattered. Humans must invoke higher powers by creating new ceremonies, and to this end they turn detritus into sacred implements.
“In the renewed world you can have no outer possessions, unless you create them out of yourselves. You can enter only into your own mysteries. The spirit of the depths has other things to teach you than me. I only have to bring you tidings of the new God and of the ceremonies and mysteries of his service. But this is the way. It is the gate to darkness.” ~Carl Jung, Liber Novus, “Draft” Footnote 163, Page 246.’
~Quote provided by collaborator Elizabeth Kay
‘I’m a huge fan of mythology from many cultures, though the ones I know the most about are Grecian, Celtic, Native American, Egyptian, & Norse. I'm intrigued and attracted to the mythological elements that I see in your work - the feathers, the labyrinth, the Athena pose, the Vitruvian Man, the Celtic knots – it’s all wonderful and inspiring! I love the idea of collaborative myth-making.’
~Quote provided by collaborator Celeste Dudley
‘I was delighted to be asked to be part of Claire’s project for several reasons. When she explained that her project was about ritual and Myth-Making I was drawn in as I had been studying Celtic rituals for many years and thanks to the prompting of an American Spiritualist group I had recently conducted my first Ceremony as a Celtic Pagan at the wonderful Neolithic Standing Stones of Calanais on the Scottish island of Lewis. As a naturist, I always enjoy the chance to model ‘au naturel’ and be part of the creative process but after many years of relatively passive life modelling Claire’s project was totally different.
I soon realised that this was a unique opportunity to be an ACTIVE part of the creative process. Normally as a model we are expected to create interesting shapes with our bodies but remain silent about the wider processes. To have an artist who genuinely wanted the model to contribute to the Myth-Making process was such a surprise and an honour. The varied poses were fun to stage but many props had such a powerful effect that they caused my emotional responses to be all over the place. I felt the power of the Shaman, the Celtic Druid – was I the conductor or the victim? My painted Torso a symbol of authority, or the target for a Captor’s knife? The Masks – a cloak to hide the vulnerability of the nude or the laughing Pig at the Asylum?’
~Quote provided by collaborator Les Duncan
