London Arts-Based Research Centre

What's on in September?? Kickstart the month with our inspiring events (some of them FREE)...and don't forget the upcoming conference deadlines! Here's what we're up to:

🌟Jungian and : Crafting New Narratives, a creative writing workshop with Sade Jackson

When: September 12, 2024 (6-7:30pm London Time)
Where: Online (Zoom)
Fee: £25
15% discount applies for LABRC members
Link: https://labrc.co.uk/2024/08/19/astrology-and-mythology/

🌟A session, featuring Brant Elwood and Aodhán Moran:
"God, Heroes, and Groups: Using Mythic to Understand Group and Organisational Dynamics"

When: September 19, 2024 (7-9pm London Time)
Where: Online (Zoom)
Free Event (registration required)
Link: https://labrc.co.uk/psychreative/

🌟 Poetry Workshop: "Writing with ", by Dr. Roula-Maria Dib

When: September 23, 2024 (6:30-9pm London Time)
Where: Via Zoom
Fee: £25 (non-members) 15% discount applies for LABRC members
Link: https://labrc.co.uk/2024/07/08/ekphrasis-workshop-writing-with-iconography/

🌟Indelible Evenings: Poetry Open Mic

When: September 25, 2024 (7-9pm London Time)
Where: Online (Zoom)
Free event (registration required)
Link: https://labrc.co.uk/online-events/

🔔⏳‼️Conference proposal deadlines to meet:

- September 7: Surrealism and Arts-Based Research
https://labrc.co.uk/2024/07/06/surrealism2024/

- September 10: Science and Sensibility
https://labrc.co.uk/2024/04/27/science-and-sensibility/

- September 30: Alchemy Conference
https://labrc.co.uk/2024/04/21/alchemy/

🪪Become a member of the LABRC! - https://mailchi.mp/bdf684310f62/become-a-member-of-the-labrc-8327919

✨ 📚Glimpses from Susan Rowland’s author chat at Books on the Rise last night: Susan took us on a journey discussing the content and process of writing her Mary Wandwalker detective novel series, particularly focusing on her latest book, “Murder on Family Grounds”. Such a fun and enlightening discussion with lots of sleuth talk, as well as a plunging into Jungian theory, arts-based research, mythology, characterisation, and the concept of the triple-goddess!

🌿✨ Just wrapped up an incredible two-day journey at our Ecopoetics and Environmental Artivism conference in Richmond Park, at Pembroke Lodge, the childhood home of philosopher Bertrand Russell. We’re still blown away by the vast range of stimulating topics, transportive poetry, and sublime art! We had the honor of hosting transformative keynotes from both Prof. Susan Rowland on the connective tissue between psyche and nature in the holy grail of ecopoetics, and Dr. Morton’s fascinating work on practicing ecopoetics in an edgeland wood—we were so lucky to get a glimpse of her gorgeous forthcoming poems!

The conference explored topics like multisensory ecopoetics, feminist perspectives, queering nature poetry, ecopoetry in film, integrating AI in eco-creativity, gardening and , photographing air, quantum entanglement, psychoecology, and eco-activism in theatre. The event also featured a stirring final poetry reading by Sean Borodale and Matthew Hollis, leaving us all moved by the powerful connections and life lessons nature poems can instill within us.

Also in the spotlight was a scintillating plenary talk by Prof. Claude Barbre on “Thinking Like a Mountain.” The event left us all feeling inspired and ready to turn words into action for our planet! Indeed, translating nature creatively is the hinge that swings the big doors of the psyche open💚

🏆Presenting the LABRC’s inaugural “Susan Rowland Jungian Arts-Based Research Award” to none other than Susan Rowland herself!

We are honored to celebrate the remarkable achievements of this visionary scholar, creative trailblazer, and beloved mentor for many. Susan’s name stands out as a beacon of innovation and profound insight in initiating the field of Jungian arts-based research. Her work has redefined how we engage with the arts in research, weaving together depth psychology and creative practice into a rich tapestry that illuminates the depths of the human psyche. Her groundbreaking books, like "Jung: A Feminist Revision," "The Ecocritical Psyche," and "Jungian Arts-Based Research and the Nuclear Enchantment of New Mexico," invite us on transformative journeys through myth, archetype, and the unconscious. 📚🌀

Susan’s impact extends globally, fostering a deeper appreciation for the arts and their role in personal and collective transformation. Her visionary leadership and tireless advocacy have ignited a vibrant, dynamic field of study and creative practice. We honor Susan not only for her outstanding contributions to Jungian arts-based research but also for her commitment to fostering a more creative, compassionate, and insightful world.
Susan has shown how arts-based research is integral to understanding and expressing the complexities of the human experience, inspiring countless scholars and practitioners. Beyond her scholarly contributions, Susan is a brilliant novelist and dedicated educator and mentor, nurturing the intellectual and creative growth of many with wisdom and compassion. 🌱

Congratulations, Susan, on this well-deserved recognition. Your contributions have inspired our minds, touched our hearts, and set the foundation stone for the field of JABR. We look forward to the continued evolution of your remarkable journey and the inspiring impact of your work. ❤️

🌟 Check out the brilliant lineup of poets, scholars, and other arts-based researchers for our exciting "Ecopoetics and Environmental Artivism" conference at Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park this coming Thursday!! Featuring keynotes Susan Rowland and Morton, poetry readings by Matthew Hollis and Borodale, as well as an incredible array of creative scholars, this promises to be an amazing event!

Tickets (for non-presenters, of course) are still available on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/eco-poetics-and-environmental-artivism-tickets-864746920317?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-source=cp&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing

📚 We’re getting ready for our next exciting in-person author event! Come and meet , , and Susan Rowland, who will discuss her new novel, “Murder on Family Grounds” on July 16th, 7PM at Books on the Rise!

Book your place via: https://booksontherise.com/event/an-evening-with-susan-rowland-the-mary-wandwalker-mysteries/

You also have the option to purchase a copy of the novel along with your ticket 🎟️ 📕

Susan Rowland’s fictional detective Mary Wandwalker is back. Murder on Family Grounds: A Mary Wandwalker Mystery, goes back to the origin story of the triple goddess detective. ‘She’ arises in a mystery that examines the element of earth, which C. G. believed means family ground in the deep psyche. Indeed the novel not only digs into the traumatized earth of Mary, Caroline and Anna, it also mines the complex architecture of their families. Families are the ground from which our psyches grow. But what if the family of birth tries to strangle that growth in the name of social status or patriarchal inheritance?

Also, family as institution exists in the underworld as the crime family. In some cases, crime families produce children as more indentured labor. Mary Wandwalker’s quest for her own long lost son will take her to the deepest shadow of his paternal family, the Falconers. If the depth psychology shadow of patriarchal aristocracy reaches into chattel slavery, might the 21st century witness the return of that repressed heritage? The sins of the past result in murder, a literal and blood letting.

Only the triple goddess, it seems, has sufficient diffused feminine powers to re-make the family. Will Mary, Caroline and Anna be able to constellate the goddess? Can power be transformed into love? Can marriage equality serve psychological and familial renewal?

Set in the United Kingdom, Susan regards this story as her tribute to marriage equality in the US and the UK. What arose from the writing methodology of Jungian Arts-Based Research are tiny, incomplete strategies acknowledging the legacy of slavery on our family ground.

💥🗯Check out the impressive lineup for next week's conference, "Beyond the Comic Strip: Exploring Graphic Narratives and Arts-Based Research"!

The conference features panels on diverse themes from dissonance and dystopia to survival, psychogeography, psychology, and cultural representation in graphic narratives, with discussions on race, religion, and gender in comics.

Highlights include “Daring to Dream the Myth Onward: The Persistence of Archetypal Themes in Spider-Man” the conference's keynote, delivered by Prof. Kevin Lu, as well as the plenary session on "Comic Theodicies: Wounded Healer Archetypes and the Suffering of Superheroes/heroines", delivered by Prof. Claude Barbre.

Non-presenters are welcome to book and attend (please check the conference section of our website)!



Catherine Jenkins
Flores
Naiya
Miquel Baldellou

📚Another exciting author chat! Come and meet , , and Susan Rowland, who will discuss her new novel, "Murder on Family Grounds" on July 16th, 7PM at Books on the Rise!

To book: https://booksontherise.com/event/an-evening-with-susan-rowland-the-mary-wandwalker-mysteries/

Susan Rowland’s fictional detective Mary Wandwalker is back. Murder on Family Grounds: A Mary Wandwalker Mystery, goes back to the origin story of the triple goddess detective. ‘She’ arises in a mystery that examines the element of earth, which C. G. believed means family ground in the deep psyche. Indeed the novel not only digs into the traumatized earth of Mary, Caroline and Anna, it also mines the complex architecture of their families. Families are the ground from which our psyches grow. But what if the family of birth tries to strangle that growth in the name of social status or patriarchal inheritance?

Also, family as institution exists in the underworld as the crime family. In some cases, crime families produce children as more indentured labor. Mary Wandwalker’s quest for her own long lost son will take her to the deepest shadow of his paternal family, the Falconers. If the depth psychology shadow of patriarchal aristocracy reaches into chattel slavery, might the 21st century witness the return of that repressed heritage? The sins of the past result in murder, a literal and blood letting.

Only the triple goddess, it seems, has sufficient diffused feminine powers to re-make the family. Will Mary, Caroline and Anna be able to constellate the goddess? Can power be transformed into love? Can marriage equality serve psychological and familial renewal?

Set in the United Kingdom, Susan regards this story as her tribute to marriage equality in the US and the UK. What arose from the writing methodology of Jungian Arts-Based Research are tiny, incomplete strategies acknowledging the legacy of slavery on our family ground.

"You have to go the way your blood beats. If you don’t live the only life you have, you won’t live some other life, you won’t live any life at all." — James Baldwin

🌎 🌱 We celebrated World Environment Day with a mesmerizing poetry reading by JLM Morton and Ella Duffy in this month’s event!✨

🌸 JLM Morton’s evocative imagery transformed the evening into a visceral experience, renewing our connection to the sacred feminine and the land. 🦋 Her tender yet powerful language reminded us of the profound power and hope in the ancient and elemental, urging us to see the world anew and honor the sacred in the everyday. 🌏 Her poignant image of the earth as a fragile sphere left us in awe of our world’s beauty and vulnerability! 💚

Ella Duffy captivated us with her keen eye for nature’s smallest details, inviting us to witness the intricate dance between light and earth, life and death. Her use of personification in images of nature was both poetic and profound, deepening our connection to the natural world. 🪨 The notion of stones being part of the world’s ongoing conversation left us feeling grounded and uplifted as her poetry guided us through forests 🌳 and fungi 🍄…a real treat for the soul! ❤️

Thank you, Juliette and Ella, for an unforgettable evening that left us all connected to nature in deeply personal and transformative ways!!🌍📖✨

Event recording can be found on our Indelible Evenings YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/L5T63p7wWEM

Become a member of the LABRC! - https://labrc.co.uk/membership/

😎The LABRC's June is jam-packed with some awesome free events, a JABR workshop, a poetry course, and a comics conference!!

📆Check out what's on and when:

🎭 June 3-25, course: "Poetic Inquiry: Working with the Persona", with Roula-Maria Dib
Further info: https://lnkd.in/dgaPDNf6

🌿 June 4 - Indelible Evenings (free): "Marking World Environment Day with poets JLM Morton and Ella Duffy"
Further info: https://lnkd.in/e3YKYnhE

🔥 June 12 - Psychreative (Free): "The Vital Spark: Becoming a Worthy Opponent", featuring Lisa Marchiano
Further info: https://lnkd.in/eyTNZKMy

🦅 June 25 - "Bringing Psyche’s Urgent Wisdom to Bear with Jungian Arts-Based Research", with Kerry Manley
Further info: https://lnkd.in/ehVd9_G8

💥 June 26-27 - Online Conference: "Beyond the Comic Strip: Exploring Graphic Narratives, Creative Inquiry, and Arts-Based Research"
Further info: https://lnkd.in/eRidv7RQ

🌱Ecopoetics & Environmental Artivism (July 11-12) - proposal deadline June 2! Full info on conference webpage: https://labrc.co.uk/2024/03/16/ecopoetics-2024/

🔔The schedule is out! 💬Join us next week for engaging discussions, insightful presentations, and a celebration of the art of storytelling!

Check out the brilliant lineup of speakers who will explore the captivating world of narrative expression! 🦸‍♀️🎨 Whether you're a seasoned scholar or a story enthusiast, there's something for everyone at this exciting event! 🌟

📍 Where: Hybrid at The Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh & Online (May 27), and fully online on May 28-29

🎤 Featuring Keynote Session by Dr. Catriona Miller on "For the Dead Travel Fast: the Resilience of Vampire Narratives" 🧛‍♂️

See you there!
⏱🎫Tickets on sale until Wednesday only, on: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-art-of-storytelling-archetypes-in-focus-tickets-833931721227?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-source=cp&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing

Our conference, 'Sacred Arts: Exploring the Spiritual Dimensions of Artistic Expression and Ritual' at Birkbeck, University of London, was a exploration into the depths of human creativity and the profound connections between art and spirituality. Throughout the event, we've borne witness to the transcendent power of diverse art forms, each serving as a universal language that resonates with the depths of the human soul. From exploring the intricate symbolism of Orthodox iconography to contemplating the sacred essence infused within modern architectural interpretations, spiritual paintings, musical compositions, poetry, film, dolls, mixed-media collages, amulets, icons, yoga, and sculptures, each session has unveiled new dimensions of the sacred arts.

We had the honor of hosting Mary Attwood and Christos Sideras as our plenary speakers. In Attwood's enlightening talk, fundamental questions surfaced: How does the observer influence the artifact, and conversely, how does the artifact impact the beholder? With a poignant focus on the significance of engaging with such artifacts, particularly in the realm of painting, her words underscored the imperative of pausing to allow art to rescue us from the tumult of existence, to reveal the unseen depths beneath life's surface chaos. This emphasis on the transformative potential of ekphrastic encounters illuminated the archetypal movements within art, unveiling the universal resonance of symbolic expressions and the shared space of the sacred that beckons us to commune and connect. Sideras masterfully delineated the distinctions between Eastern and Western iconography, elucidating how art, akin to infinity, eludes fixation and remains perpetually open rather than closed. Through a captivating exploration of perspective art within both traditions, Sideras illuminated the transcendent journey towards infinity inherent in Byzantine iconography, where divine symbols expand with distance, inviting us to transcend the confines of finite perception.

Indeed, there exists a ritualistic essence within artistic practice and expression, characterized by spontaneity, numinosity, and an inherent reverence for forces greater than mortal existence itself. As conduits of arts-based research, spiritual art and the alchemical processes underlying artistic intuition have perpetually captivated the creative dimensions of our spirituality. The inherent spirituality within objects, and their capacity to embody and encapsulate profound truths, has long mesmerized devotees across myriad faith traditions.

So, how do we craft artifacts of enduring power? It is in the act of creation itself, infused with unwavering faith, and the myriad forms of knowledge it imparts, that every created object becomes imbued with transformative potency. This, at its core, is the essence of —a sacred journey of creation, revelation, and communion with the divine.

🔥🎙️Next up on : “The Vital Spark: Becoming a Worthy Opponent”, featuring the brilliant Lisa Marchiano!

June 12, 2024
18:00-20:00 (London time)
Zoom, Free Event
Co-hosts: Sarah Norton, Kristina Stamatiou, Roula-Maria Dib

Book on:
https://labrc.co.uk/2024/05/15/the-vital-spark/

Join us for an exclusive live chat with the author and Jungian analyst behind the world-popular This Jungian Life podcast!

What this special Psychreative episode is about:

There are qualities such as kindness, empathy, and agreeableness that can help us get and stay connected with each other, and there are fiery qualities such as anger, shrewdness, and forcefulness that can help us get and stay connected to ourselves. Roughly speaking, the first set of attributes foster relationship, while the second set enables personal empowerment and assertiveness. Both ways of being in the world are important for psychological health and growth. Generally, women in our culture are permitted to access and develop the former qualities, while we are discouraged from expressing or investing in the latter. Reconnecting with our fiery qualities will afford us a greater sense of aliveness and the opportunity to bring forth what wants to come through us into the world.

Bio: Lisa Marchiano LCSW, is an author, podcaster, and certified analyst. She is the author of three books published by Sounds True, “Motherhood: Facing and Finding Yourself”, “The Vital Spark: Reclaim Your Outlaw Energies” and “Find Your Feminine Fire” and the forthcoming “Dream Wise: Unlocking the Meaning of Your Dreams”. She is the creator and cohost of the popular depth psychology podcast, This Jungian Life, and has a private practice in Philadelphia.

✨Next up on “Indelible Evenings” (free and fabulous event): 🌿🦋Marking World Environment Day with poets JLM Morton and Ella Duffy! 💚

Join us for another enchanting “Indelible Evenings” event starring poets JLM Morton and Ella Duffy, as they grace our (virtual) stage with their mesmerizing ecopoems to commemorate World Environment Day! Free event, register here: https://labrc.co.uk/2024/05/12/marking-world-environment-day/

JLM Morton’s work explores contemporary rural experience and practices of care, repair and solidarity across human and other-than-human worlds. Her work is published in The Poetry Review, The Rialto, Magma, berlin lit, Bad Lilies, Anthropocene, Poetry Birmingham, Dust, Sunday Telegraph and elsewhere and has been anthologised in Living With Water (MUP, 2023), Twenty One Poems About Wonky Animals (Candlestick Press, 2023) and Places of Poetry (Oneworld, 2020). She is the winner of the Laurie Lee, Geoffrey Dearmer, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Poetry and International Dylan Thomas Day prizes. Lalline Paul called her ‘the literary daughter of Alan Garner – female psychogeography, a rallying call to protect not only the land, but our right to roam,’ while her first full collection of poems, Red Handed (Broken Sleep 2024) has been described as ‘a remarkably original and impressive debut collection of poetry exploring the histories of cloth and dye, the natural world, and family. Morton skilfully combines personal recollections with political activism and care, her voice raw and her imagination fierce. These poems are exquisitely crafted.’ Find her online at: www.jlmmorton.com

Ella Duffy is the author of two pamphlets of poetry, New Hunger (Smith|Doorstop) and Rootstalk (Hazel Press). Her work has appeared in The Poetry Review, The London Magazine, The Rialto, Poetry Ireland Review and Ambit, among others. She is the editor of Seeds & Roots (Hazel Press), an anthology of botanical poetry.

⚡The schedule is out for this weekend’s "Sacred Arts" conference! How does creative materiality shape spiritual experiences, contribute to arts-based research, and expand our understanding of cultural narratives? 🌟We will navigate this as we journey through the symbolic language of , alchemical metaphors in art, and the transformative power of creative expression. We will examine a wide array of topics, ranging from visual exegesis and the syncretic of in art, to , , and , and , , and the science of life and spirit. Additionally, we'll be looking at the use of sacred objects in ritual practices, the architecture of sanctuaries, and the intersection of art, faith and identity. Featuring thought-provoking panels, enlightening plenary sessions, and a diverse array of speakers from around the globe, this special conference will explore how creativity in all its forms embodies and transcends cultural narratives. Attendee tickets are available on Eventbrite—see you there!

Our “Renaissance Resonances” transdisciplinary conference, a captivating exploration into the intellectual, artistic, and cultural landscape of the European Renaissance, as well as the Elizabethan period, took place at Birkbeck, University of London, alongside a virtual platform, on April 20-21. Scholars, creatives, and enthusiasts from around the world converged to probe into the intricate intersections of art, science, literature, and culture during this transformative era and its influence on today’s cultural scene.

The conference’s diverse panels offered a kaleidoscope of insights, each shedding light on different facets of Renaissance and Elizabethan thought and creativity. Presenters shared arts-based research and some amazing creative showcasing that included music, architecture, sculpture, poetry, fiction, and fashion.

The presentation of our keynote speaker, Dr. Alan Hickman, titled “Hamnet Shakespeare: A Star Is Born (Part II)”, was an exploration of Hamnet Shakespeare’s legacy as a media ‘star’, offering a fascinating glimpse into the ways in which historical figures are memorialized and reimagined across different media platforms.

The plenary session featuring Lorna McNeur’s exploration of perspective in Renaissance Rome’s architecture and theatre illuminated the profound cultural shifts that occurred during the transition from the late Middle Ages to the early Renaissance, offering valuable perspectives on the role of perspective in shaping perceptions of reality and divinity.

Overall, the conference provided a rich tapestry of discussions and insights, showcasing the enduring relevance of Renaissance thought and creativity in contemporary scholarship and artistic expression. The event left everyone with a deeper appreciation for the complexities of the Renaissance era and its lasting impact on human understanding and cultural evolution!

💥💬“Beyond the Comic Strip: Exploring Graphic Narratives, Creative Inquiry, and Arts-Based Research”, 🦸🏻‍♀️ A Transdisciplinary Conference

Online, June 26-27, 2024
Proposal deadline: June 2, 2024

Call for Papers

“What if I told you that I put my whole life into Tintin?”, Herge

Why do we love , , , , , , and other comic books? What have they taught us and continue to teach us over the years?

Graphic narratives, including and other types of comic strips have emerged as powerful mediums for storytelling, artistic expression, and scholarly inquiry. Their combination of visual and textual elements offers unique opportunities for engaging with philosophical concepts, psychological theories, and conducting arts-based research. Graphic novels and other forms of comic art offer a unique medium for engaging in arts-based research, where visual storytelling intersects with scholarly inquiry and expression.

This conference aims to examine the rich potential of graphic narratives as a mode of inquiry, expression, and collaboration within the context of methodologies. We also seek to shed light on the dynamic relationship between , , and various knowledge fields such as , , and others. This event will provide a platform for scholars, researchers, artists, and practitioners to explore and discuss the diverse ways in which graphic narratives contribute to understanding, analysing, and communicating complex ideas.

We are also honoured to confirm Prof. Kevin Lu as our keynote speaker.

We invite submissions of abstracts for 15-minute presentations (both academic and creative are welcome) on topics including, but not limited to:

•Graphic novels and philosophical thought experiments
•Psychological themes and representations in comic strips
•Visual storytelling in arts-based research methodologies
•Theoretical approaches to analyzing graphic narratives
•Intersectionality, diversity, and representation in comics
•Ethics, morality, and social justice in graphic storytelling
•Archetypal figures in popular comics
•The use of comics in education, pedagogy, and academic discourse
•Historical research in comics
•Religious education through graphic novels
•Comedy and comics
•Genre studies and thematic analysis in graphic novels
•Adaptations of graphic novels into other media (film, television, video games)
•Reception studies and audience engagement with graphic narratives
•Digital comics, webcomics, and the evolution of online storytelling
•Intersectionality, representation, and diversity in graphic storytelling
•Theoretical approaches to understanding the function of graphic novels
•Case studies of specific graphic novels and their cultural impact
•Therapeutic functions of comics
•Methodological approaches in graphic arts-based research
•Case studies of graphic novels as research outputs and interventions
•Intersectionality, diversity, and representation in graphic research narratives
•Ethical considerations and challenges in conducting graphic arts-based research
•The role of graphic novels in fostering social change, advocacy, and activism

Note: Participants interested in attending the conference without presenting a paper are also welcome.

Abstracts should be submitted through forms.gle/husmP6uzhAtJVk… June 2nd, 2024.

Contact Information: For inquiries or clarifications, please email us at [email protected]