Emily mcilwaine

It is Friday again, isn't it?

If so here is an Interview With a Vaulter with Emily

How's it going?

It’s going okay. I tend to spiral quite easily so I’m trying to listen more to what my body and mind needs at the moment. I really miss the Vault and the atmosphere of our community. It feels electric when we’re all buzzing around in there.

What is your living situation? Do you have outside space or are you living in an underground bunker?

We live in a terrace house with a small yard, which can be really cramped at times, especially since we’re both artists trying to work from home. But I do love our house and am appreciating tending to our plants and spending time with my partner and our dog when I’m not working. At the start I was struggling with cabin fever slightly but now I’m working half the week in a factory stitching PPE. It’s good to have some purpose and routine to my week.

How has the pandemic affected your arts practice?

Unfortunately I lost a good bit of freelance work due to the lockdown, but I do think change - although it panics me - makes space for opportunity and this has manifested in my practice as exploring tapestry. It’s a format I haven’t really touched on before but I’m finding it very calming. Weaving in any way pushes me to slow down, reflect and recalibrate, which is helpful as my mind does tend to be on overdrive most days. Weaving is a continual balance between tension and ease, and this lockdown is very much pushing me to find ease when I experience tension - which is a lot right now. So I’m letting the colours and composition of my tapestries come as I weave them, and take faith that whatever is happening creatively in the moment is restoring me emotionally.

Where can people find you online?

Website - www.emilymcilwaine.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/emtextiles