The Lichen and the Rock I took a thousand pictures of lichen growing on rocks wondering how they managed to know to put that mint green next to the gold so enthralled I was by their art I asked if I might join their tribe being used to collaboration they agreed to give it a try (taking a peek no doubt at some of the rocks in my mind) It feels like joining a movement being taught how to lichenise this dissolving of certainties seems never to come to an end it is a surprise to find new colours appearing in my mind improvising searching for the spaces between alive and not alive carrying strange bacteria as start ups Lately I take gifts of coloured glass to place amongst them to see if they might do something they have never done before to bring it alive or sometimes I leave one just to surprise as thanks for the blessed living soil
Jackie Henshall is an established artist working mainly in glass out from an old woollen mill in West Wales www.jackiehenshall.co.uk . She is in the process of writing a book of poems with drawings which she plans to publish early next year, with the working title Shapes I live Inside. She takes her inspiration from natural forms as well as geometric and archetypal forms exploring her own spiritual life and creativity in relation to them.
Amethyst Review 