Main Areas of Focus

My interests are wide-ranging, primarily in how human beings affect and are affected by the natural world of which we are part, and the related theology and psychology of connectedness.

Artist

Creating beautiful and thought-provoking art as a means of supporting care for planet and people, nurturing a sense of place, and building community

Writer

Articles and blogs on economics, environment, nature, attentiveness, applied theology, arts, and anything that interests me

Consultant

» Website development and training
» Energy efficiency and renewable energy consultancy
» Research and reporting

Latest News and Produce

What I’ve recently produced. What I’m working on. What’s in the pipeline.

Performance/Event

"Compline: A contemplative journey through Lent" in St Olave's Church

The ancient close-of-the-day service of Compline, with plainchant and polyphony. Hosted by Margaret Aagesen Hughes (Soprano) and Clare Bryden (Alto). Featuring musicians Andrew Maries (Oboe), Sophie Brewer (Flute), Catherine Bradley (Cello), John Draisey (Keyboard) and the music of Andrew Wilson.

Article

Good Money Week: how to set up a social enterprise

Clare Bryden. Good Money Week: how to set up a social enterprise, Church Times, 29 September 2023.
Churches can express their faith and respond to community needs through social enterprises. Clare Bryden explains how to set one up

Blog

Springing eternal in autumn

In 2010 I wrote a series of four haiku spanning seven-year intervals in response to Deepwater Horizon: 1996, 2003, 2010, 2017. Now it's 2023, maybe an update that ignites the will to keep plugging on would be helpful...

Talk/Workshop

Prayer and Bible reading groups

As part of starting a new blog devoted to prayer and spiritual life, I have moved over the material on related workshops and group work.

Exhibition/Installation

"#NoticingNature"

10 October is World Mental Health Day. During the preceding two weeks I practised Noticing Nature from the Greater Good in Action website.

Academia

“Living the questions” again in 2023/24

Teaching on the Medical Humanities Special Studies Unit at Exeter Medical School, introducing fourth year students to conceptual and environmental art; looking at meaning-making and how we turn ideas into art; making art.

Recording

"...and the Greatest of these is Love"

In their second album, Antiphon presents world premiere recordings of three choral works by Michael Walsh: an unaccompanied Mass of the Holy Trinity; a full-scale Requiem Mass; and The Way of Love, a setting of five love poems by Rupert Brooke. We recorded it in July 2017 in the crossing and Lady Chapel in Exeter Cathedral.

News

“Living the questions” again in 2023/24

Teaching on the Medical Humanities Special Studies Unit at Exeter Medical School, introducing fourth year students to conceptual and environmental art; looking at meaning-making and how we turn ideas into art; making art.

Random Work Generator

There are a number of threads running through all my work. Here’s a random sample from each.

Attentiveness

Summer fruits

I was away from Exeter for a couple of weeks, and when I returned (though I returned) I remained absent. It was several days before I remembered it was 'high summer' and there was free fruit to be had in Ludwell Valley Park and along the suburban margins.

Environment

Totnes, twinned with Narnia

Narnia is by no means a fairy fantasy land. CS Lewis' stories include powerful myth, in the sense of narrative telling a deeper truth. Totnes is the cradle of the Transition movement, another powerful story.

Making

“Particulart: Up in the Air” opens on 11 July!

Buy a coffee and cake from the Glorious café on the ground floor, and wander up to the second floor gallery for 3D knitted molecules floating in the Earth’s atmosphere!

Place

Woodwater by night

I spent a day immured in the office at the computer, feeling wintry-cold while it rained and rained. By night-time, I was completely frowstie at being stuck indoors. As the rain had pretty much dried up, I decided on some mythogeography. Going for walks at odd times, like 10.30pm, follows mythogeographical principles, after all.

Play

"Particulart: Up in the Air" pop-up at Exeter Green Fair

Exeter Green Fair on 5 September saw the debut of my new "Up in the Air" pop-up. Under a blue gazebo (the sky), I suspended eight pale blue hula hoops (clouds), and from these the eight greenhouse gases.

Public Engagement

"Particulart: Up in the Air" pop-up at Exeter Green Fair

Exeter Green Fair on 5 September saw the debut of my new "Up in the Air" pop-up. Under a blue gazebo (the sky), I suspended eight pale blue hula hoops (clouds), and from these the eight greenhouse gases.

Science and Data

"Freefall Climate Graffiti" Workshop 2: Preparing the Wall

While the Freefall youth group took it in turns to bluewash the Phoenix graffiti wall... the Met Office knitting group gave the others a crash course in crafting, and much crochet and more pompoms were created.

Social Justice

Far more than two’s company

Clare Bryden. Far more than two’s company. Church Times, 11 October 2013.
Crowdfunding is one way of raising finance which can benefit church and community projects, and offer ethical projects for donors and investors, Clare Bryden discovers.