Sarah Marsh and Stephanie Jefferies form an artist duo, whose respective specialisms inform their collective practice. Art that you can hold or be held within, endeavours to challenge and disrupt the predominant hierarchical divisions between art and engagement. Their designs evolve through observation and interaction with diverse audiences, including neurodivergent young people, dementia patients and people experiencing grief.
Sarah’s practice is sensory-led; working primarily with, and responding to, ASD and SEND audiences to create tactile, multi-sensory environments and soft, sculptural objects.
Stephanie is an artist and montessori early-years specialist, creating calm and immersive installations that facilitate freedom, playfulness and creative exploration.
The sensitivity of their practice can be felt in their work; developing interactive, sensory spaces with organisations including Tate, Whitechapel, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Whitworth Art Gallery and The Hepworth Wakefield.
North Light was originally a huge sensory playscape, spanning the entire crypt of Blackburn Cathedral during The National Festival of Making 2023. It formed the conclusion of an ‘Art in Manufacturing’ residency, exploring the sensory memory of textile manufacture from the perspective of a working northern textile factory, Herbert Parkinson.
Exhibited as part of Tangled Up is a small portion of the original experience, but possibly the most potent. Herbert Parkinson had said goodbye to its looms in 2012, and the loss and heartache was still acutely felt on the factory floor. Factory staff spoke passionately about the hypnotic rhythms of the loom, the vibrations, the scent of oil, mist and yarn. They referred to the looms as the lost heartbeat, if they closed their eyes they could still feel and hear them.
This mesmerising footage of Jacquard and Dobby Looms offers a sanctuary from the heartache, an ode to the ethereal heartbeat, a reassurance that the beat goes on.
Sit back in a feather-filled, pillowy form
Wrap yourself in giant, weighted threads
And immerse yourself in the rhythm of the loom
Our loom recordings were transformed into a calming and rhythmic soundscape by Leeds Based Sound Artists, Buffalo Sound – Lins Wilson, Tom Hudson & Jon Foulger.
Our loom footage was edited by Manchester based film artist, Jessica Wild.
