New Year, new neuron...

Happy New Year to all our supporters! And that's a lot of supporters: we've had over 10 000 views of our blog from all over the world - woo hoo! In a rather satisfying link: if all those hits were connections we'd be like one single neuron.

We're sure you'll be pleased to hear that we've several offers of support for hosting the final piece. We're just going to take a look at it all and see what we can do.

We're delighted with the level of support for the piece - thanks to everyone who's offered thoughts, recommendations and physical space. Watch this space for more information.

We know the nights are getting shorter, but summer still seems a long way off. So here's a picture of some of our Green Man knitters enjoying the Welsh sunshine!

The final artwork - your input is needed

We're at an interesting point in Knit a Neuron. We've got all the neurons in, we've been speaking with Catherine and we are all set to create the final artwork. But we've hit a snag, well, it's more than a snag, it's a problem.

As you know, when we started the project we got the go-ahead to house the final artwork in the Clinical Research Imaging Centre (CRIC). The CRIC will open in Easter next year, and we've only just been able to see the space. It turns out that it's not somewhere that can handle several hundred woolly neurons. We didn't realise just how popular knitting neurons was going to be and we now have too many (far too many!) to create an artwork that will fit into the space available. Particuarly as there are other artworks to go into the space.

This leaves us in a very uncomfortable quandry - what do we do with the finished piece? We want to hear your suggestions and have a few of our own too. Do use the comments option or email us directly to let us know your thoughts.

We've thought we could do the following:

1. Find one (or two, or more) temporary exhibition spaces that will host the installation (we have some in mind, but if you know anywhere that would be interested do let us know) and raise money for charity at the same time
   
2. Talk to a brain injury/rehabitalion charity who would like the display for their office
   
3. Use the neurons for outreach eg doing talks for adult groups, schools etc where each group creates their own temporary installation while finding out about neuroscience, brain injury and therapy and about the project overall
4. Create a book using photos from events and include some of the amazing stories we've heard from knitters all over the world.

We are incredibly sad that CRIC is unable to host Knit a Neuron as we, and we know a lot of you, were excited that the piece was going to have such a relevant home.

Do let us know your thoughts, comments and suggestions.

Knit a Neuron at the Thunderbolt

Well, it's the end of the Totterdown Arts Trail and our little installation of neurons has gone down well. Here are a few pictures so you can get an idea of how it looked. A great big Thank You to Dave and Sophie at the Thunderbolt for giving us the opportunity to create the display.

Installations

It's exciting times at Knit a Neuron Towers. We've been having more chats with Catherine about installing the neurons. Lots to think about: how to join the neurons and how they could be shown off to their best.

We are also making preparations for the Totterdown Arts Trail next weekend. We've got a little corner in the Thunderbolt where we'll be displaying some of the several hundred neurons we've received. We were at the Thunderbolt sussing out our allocated space and hatching some plans. You can see it was thirsty work!

Thanks to the Stitch and Bitch group at the Thunderbolt for their ongoing enthusiasm and commitment for the Knit a Neuron project. We're looking forward to the space-themed launch party on Friday night - see you there!

Wellcome Trust Club Social event

We had a lot of fun this week at the Wellcome Trust. We were invited to run a Knit a Neuron event as part of their Club events.




We met some great folk. Lots of fascinating conversations about brains including neuroplasticity, controlling brains with light and free-will - challenging stuff indeed. You can just see Heather behind the neurons. Heather's been knitting mitochondrial DNA - a kindred spirit indeed.

We'd like to say a big thank you to the Wellcome Trust for inviting us along. Big shout out to Martha, Christian, Kate, Kate and Arifa for throwing themselves in at the deep end and being prepared to talk about their work with the Club members.



On a related note - we've received over 400 neurons! This is truly amazing and all down your collective knitting enthusiasm. We're looking forward to showing off a first interpretation of the final piece at the Totterdown Arts Trail in November.

Introducing...

...Catherine Baker. Catherine is our artist friend who is busy working away with some of the neurons to think about how best to join and display them. You can see her latest work here.

Anne and Anne's mum have being getting the needles and thread out working on a display for the Totterdown Arts Trail. You'll be able to find us in the Thunderbolt.

Calling all neurons

We're still getting a lot of interest from folk wanting to knit neurons, but time is running out. We'd like to have all finished neurons with us by mid November which is only about a month away (Crikey - where has the year gone?). Go on - you can knit one more neuron, can't you?

Here is another bunch (is this is the collective noun for neurons?) from Mandy at the Thunderbolt Stitch and Bitch. I'm sure that Mandy must win the prize for most neurons knitted. Thanks, Mandy!