From the archives: Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn respond to land in textile

We're on the planet only once – we might as well get a feel for the place.

– Dorothy Caldwell
🔊

Listen or watch on your favourite platform:

From the archives: Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn respond to land in textile
What does it mean to know a place? For textile artists Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn, it begins with walking, listening, collecting – and letting the land leave its mark. In this rare and intimate conversation across three continents, these lifelong artists and friends reflect on pigment, place, and the deep, quiet power of working with cloth, soil, and time.

Show Notes

Takeaways from this episode

  • Place is more than geography – it’s a conversation.
    Whether in the Canadian Arctic, central Australia, or the Atacama Desert, Dorothy and Claire begin their work by asking: Where am I? Their practices are rooted in observation, presence, and the subtle dialogue between artist and land.
  • Materials carry memory.
    From local ochres and stitched maps to found wire and lichen, both artists let the land quite literally shape their work. As Claire says, “Pigments connect us back to the land – they are the land.”
  • There is no need to rush. Lulls in the studio are not failures, but fertile ground.
    “You’re still working,” Dorothy reflects. “You’re still observing and exploring. Sometimes a little break isn’t a bad thing – you go back with a fresh mind.”
  • Mark-making is a sacred act.
    For Dorothy and Claire, every stitch, every rubbed pigment, every collected object is a way of honouring place. These aren’t decorative choices – they’re a form of care, attention, and response.
  • Art is a form of belonging.
    “Becoming indigenous to your studio,” Claire offers, “means finding out who you are and what you want your work to be. The only way to do that is to make the work.”

Join the conversation

What inspired you this episode? Share your biggest insight or favourite moment by tagging @TakeTwoArtCourses on social media or using #FibreArtsPodcast

Explore the artwork from this episode below

During the live interview, we shared some images of Dorothy’s artwork. Since you’re listening to the podcast version, we’ve made these images available for you below. 

01 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
02 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
03 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
04 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
05 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
06 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
07 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
08 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
09 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
10 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
11 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
12 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
13 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
14 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
15 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
16 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
17 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
18 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
19 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist
20 Dorothy Caldwell and Claire Benn - Friday Feature Artist

1 min read

By Take Two
Dec 22 2025

Podcasts Friday Feature Artists

Join our community

A monthly letter for visual artists, trusted by more than 80,000 creatives around the world.

❤️

Related Stories

From the archives: Antidotes to fast fashion with Claire Wellesley-Smith

1 min read

From the archives: Antidotes to fast fashion with Claire Wellesley-Smith

Picture of Angela Truscott Angela Truscott : Apr 3 2025

Claire Wellesley-Smith isn't just an artist; she's a weaver of communities. Her long-term, community-based projects are deeply rooted in the rich...

Podcasts Friday Feature Artists
Read More
Dana Falcini sculpts the cycle of life

1 min read

Dana Falcini sculpts the cycle of life

Picture of Tara Axford Tara Axford : Nov 18 2025

Sculptor and installation artist Dana Falcini works with organic materials – from fish skin and feathers to human hair and bone – to create...

Podcasts Friday Feature Artists
Read More
Claire Benn: when handwriting becomes texture

1 min read

Claire Benn: when handwriting becomes texture

Picture of Deborah White Deborah White : Jan 30 2026

In this episode, Claire Benn joins Deborah White to reflect on handwriting as an expressive, material practice. Working across ink, paper and...

Podcasts Friday Feature Artists TEXTure with Claire Benn
Read More
Process and discomfort Caroline Bartlett

1 min read

Process and discomfort Caroline Bartlett

Picture of Angela Truscott Angela Truscott : May 27 2025

Textile artist Caroline Bartlett draws on memory to create poetic installations and pleated forms that honour material, history, and transformation....

Podcasts Friday Feature Artists
Read More