Simon presenting at RMIT, Melbourne, about his PhD progress

Twice yearly, Simon presents to peers and supervisors about his PhD progress. His subject is Citizen: Artist and is abstract asks how can society reclaim the art of making into the world of being where a holistic creative practice is essential to survival?How does the practice of being a maker offer tools for the wayfarer to navigate the world around them? Reflecting on my recent personal journey of grieving through making, I am seeking to illustrate a value of being a maker and doer as well as a watcher and listener – a mantra I have expounded for much of my career as an artist devoted to socially engaged work with communities, particularly children.How does this practice of making provide a compass for exploring and negotiating the world around us? This investigation explores the notion of this creative spirit and attempts to demonstrate why making is critical to connecting to the landscape of self and community without the need for a map.