Exhibiting as part of The Blackwater Polytechnic (Ben Coode-Adams, Sara Impey, Justin Knopp and Simon Emery) with the collaborative work, 'Tree', in the Craftspace national touring exhibition, 'We are Commoners – Creative Acts of Commoning.'

The exhibition highlights acts of ‘commoning’ that are shaping the way communities are working together to share and steward commonly owned assets and resources. It also investigates craft as a form of commons through knowledge, materials, practice and heritage.

The exhibition invites you to become, or recognise yourself, as a ‘Commoner’.

The commons is historically thought of in relation to land and resources that are held for common use. Now it also includes the cultural commons such as open source software and knowledge in the digital world.

Increasing privatisation, individualism and the impact of austerity have eroded the commons. Activating the verb ‘to common’ is a way to renew public life. Acts of commoning can be woven into every aspect of life and become a way of living. A life where we can connect to produce shared rituals and resources that we look after together. Getting involved through co-operation, mutual care and exchange can heal and make change in our communities.

The ideas for commoning offered in the exhibition are timely as society addresses the impacts of extreme disruption from COVID-19. Commoning can help process trauma and loss to find meaning and aid recovery.

Mirroring the commons movement there has been a shift in thinking from, “you’re on your own” to “we’re in this together.” Co-operation through neighbourhood mutual aid groups has resulted in taking care of one another. Acts of commoning can rebalance our ways of imagining, living and working to realise a more collective future.

Exhibiting alongside Amy Twigger Holroyd, Deirdre Nelson, Hefin Jones (ODG Assembly), Linda Brothwell, Jacky Oliver, Common Agency Projects (Shane Waltener & Laura Glaser), Lise Bjørne Linnert with Gelawesh Waledkhani, Rachael Colley, Alinah Azadeh, Kate Hodgson, Ele Carpenter, Pinkie Maclure, Alice McLean and Justine Boussard, Claudia Rodriguez, Ana Joaquina Ramirez and Rosina Santana Castellon.