one dot does not a pattern make

A little while ago I was asked to give a lecture on the principles of pattern.

I called the talk ‘One dot does not a pattern make, Nor one straight thread a warp‘, the rhythm of my lines being based on these of Richard Lovelace:

‘Stone Walls do not a Prison make, Nor Iron bars a Cage;’

from his poem ‘To Althea, from Prison’ written in 1642 – all too apt for these days of isolation and the arrest of the usual day-to-day.My workshop students will have often heard me talk about, and seen me demonstrate, pattern as the accumulation of marks. Following this idea, a pattern is a gathering of many single marks organised to make a whole – just as a community is built of many individuals co-operating to make a cohesive entity.These months are particularly momentous for societies around the world, pivoting on the current and unprecedented pandemic. Both globally and in each of our own more personal communities, co-operation for the greatest good – for survival – is paramount. The welfare of the community is dependant on the health and goodwill of the individual. We are connected, whether apart or together.I’ve based this blog on my slightly poetic reflections about pattern that I read out at the talk. 

pattern as pulse – continuum                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         pattern as rhythm – beat                                                                                                                      pattern as accumulation – many marks make the wholepattern as community – co-operation

pattern as celebration – joypattern as comfort – depend upon it             pattern as structure – organisation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          pattern as beauty – look at the flowers                                                                                                                          pattern as decoration –  repeat again                                                                                                                  pattern as identity –  we belong                                                                                                                         pattern as protection – moths and tigers                                                                                                                pattern as messenger –  nature beckons, nature warns                                                                                                                       pattern as salesman –  look, love, wear 

pattern as predictor – of behaviour                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    pattern as revelation – negative – or positive?pattern as life – infinitely renewing                                                                                                                              

Here it is as uninterrupted text:

pattern as pulse,    continuum

pattern as rhythm,    beat

pattern as accumulation,    many marks make the whole

pattern as community,    co-operation

pattern as celebration,    joy

pattern as comfort,    depend upon it

pattern as structure,    organisation

pattern as beauty,    look at the flowers

pattern as decoration,    repeat again – for fun

pattern as identity,    we belong

pattern as protection,    moths and tigers

pattern as messenger,    nature beckons, nature warns

pattern as salesman,    look, love, wear

pattern as predictor,     of behaviour

pattern as revelation,    negative – or positive?

                                                    pattern as life,   infinitely renewingThis is sent from my so-far-so-good cocoon – separate, protected, alone but not really isolated I hope, and busy thinking, reflecting, making, doing, inventing, painting, planning – and maybe even sorting out some of the thousand boxes!Take great care of yourselves, wash your hands, keep your distances, be very precautious, be sad, be glad, be kind and be well. Let’s hope for a far more equitable and imaginative society for all of us when we emerge.