Phase 1 – Preparing the System
In the planned full Complex Systems programme, Phase 1 establishes the materials, skills and working relationships needed to create a large ring sheet. The process can be developed with a host organisation, community group or volunteer network and adapted to the setting.
Preparing the materials
Willow is harvested, sorted and prepared for weaving. The work begins with gathering suitable materials, setting up a shared making space and introducing the people involved to the ring-making process.
Making the rings
Individual willow rings are woven using simple armatures. The full programme requires at least 150 rings so that the next phase can connect them into a ring sheet large enough for full exploration and manipulation into different sculptural forms.
Learning from the Pilot
The pilot showed that makers were especially keen to weave, while preparing willow needed staff support. Harvesting and cleaning materials will be brought together before seated making in the full programme. Read the Phase 1 pilot lessons.
This phase prepares both the individual elements and the shared working process. In Phase 2 – Building Complexity, the rings will be brought together into a ring sheet and the behaviour of the larger connected structure explored.
