WTF Thursdays: Nature (Mother) – Mapping the Atlas Through Movement

Join artist and researcher Alan McFetridge for a collaborative, movement-led session exploring how performative practices might contribute to Nature (Mother)—a global Open Call gathering creative responses to land, water, and fire.

This relaxed, low-stakes event invites the CDS Artist Community and beyond to workshop ideas, move together, and discuss how embodied knowledge can map and express ecological experience and exist with the release platform of our distribution partner - Metalable

We’ll review Metalabel, the platform supporting Nature (Mother) releases, and brainstorm how time-based and performative work might be shared through collaborative publishing. As we explore creative strategies, we’ll also consider how these efforts support a resilient artist economy—one that values and sustains ecological storytelling.

This session is open to all levels and practices. It will help shape how performance finds its place in the Nature (Mother) ecosystem.

About the Host:

Alan McFetridge (he/him)

Alan McFetridge is an artist and ecological thinker whose work explores how we sense, map, and respond to fire and other ecological forces shaping the Earth. Drawing on photography, writing, and field research, his practice investigates the ancient and ongoing connections between humans and landscape, especially through the lens of fire as both a destroyer and a regenerative tool.

He is the founder of the Centre for Ecological Philosophy (CEP) and initiator of Nature (Mother)—a 36-month global Open Call inviting artists, scientists, and land practitioners to contribute creative responses to land, water, and fire. Through its collaboration with Metalabel, Nature (Mother) also pioneers models for a resilient artist economy, where creative and ecological work is supported both spiritually and materially.

Alan is currently artist-in-residence at Daisy Green Holland Park , where he hosts Sensing Earth. He has collaborated with scholars and Indigenous fire stewards and exhibited internationally.

Accessibility:

Please note, we are on the second floor of a warehouse building, accessed by a staircase only. We regret that we cannot currently adequately support wheelchair users and those for whom stairs are a barrier.

We are committed to removing other barriers to access. If you would like to talk to us about your access needs, please contact: frances@chisenhaledancespace.co.uk. Read more about our commitments to anti-ableism as part of our Artist Community Culture Document

About WTF Thursdays:

WTF Thursdays is a space creating possibilities for experimentation and community-building amongst artists. Each evening, CDS hands over the keys to the building for an artist in the CDS Artist Community to host an event in the spirit of low-stakes, DIY action.

Tickets are low-cost, pay what you can, with all the proceeds going to the host artist. If you need access to a free ticket, please email: sam@chisenhaledancespace.co.uk