Soft Sanctuary Season
Soft Sanctuary is a project which artist Bella Milroy first developed for At the Library back in 2019 as a series of events at Bootle Library. The project centres disabled experiences through a universal concept of finding care and wellbeing, and celebrates the sanctuary nature of the library as a place to relax, feel safe and looked after. It has since developed into a programme of live events, written essays, recipes, film and podcasts. Exclusively featuring disabled artists, Soft Sanctuary explores the ceremonies of everyday life, and the disabled practices which offer us joy, ease and rest.
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Soft Sanctuary Season — An Introduction by Bella Milroy
Written November 2021"A core part of my own creative practice as a disabled artist is continually inspired by concepts of public and private spaces, and where the sick and/or disabled body exists within them. What motivated me to consider what to include as part of this “nice day” for library goers and creatives alike, was to take advantage of the safety found within the public nature of the library."
Access as Meditation
Written September 2021A love letter to image descriptions and closed captions, by Bella Milroy. "In taking up the practice of creating image descriptions and closed captions for my Instagram posts and stories about two years ago, I found not only were these incredibly exciting forms of writing, but they were inadvertently creating small prompts for mindful, meditative reflection as to what I was that I was looking at, hearing, and feeling in that moment."
Methods of Care: Ramen Edition
Written September 2021Created in 2021, this film details artist Kyla Harris' ‘Comfort Ramen’ recipe, as well as weaving in footage of Kyla directing Niamh Riordan in the preparation of her recipe. There are conversations between Kyla and Bella Milroy around sick day foods, care, and personal assistants.
Sick Day Banquet
Written September 2021Sick Day Banquet is a collection of recipes designed by disabled artists Leah Clements, Kyla Harris, Raisa Kabir, Romily Alice Walden and Bella Milroy, celebrating their ideal sick day foods.
Sick Day Banquet — An Introduction by Bella Milroy
Written September 2020"As someone with chronic illness, food is an essential source of happiness for me. When pleasure is in such short demand living amongst pain, discomfort, uncertainty and stress, the food we eat and the way we experience it can be profoundly transformative in supporting our mental wellbeing."
When I Feel Bad — A Colouring Book
Written September 2019A colouring book created by Invalid Art, commissioned by Bella Milroy and At The Library for World Mental Health Day 2019 at Bootle Library.