Sow, Grow, Reap
2025
Artist in Residence with Communities, National Theatre of Scotland, placed at Possobilities
Shortlisted for Sonica Glasgow 2026
Sow, Grow, Reap was a project of gentle exploration and experimentation into how food, care, time and disability intersect. Over a 6 month period, I worked with community members, staff and volunteers at Possobilities to create an immersive soundscape to be played inside an elaborate horseshoe-shaped installation which features pea plants, beaded quotes and crochet panels. The soundscape is composed of folk songs related to land and food, synth sounds generated from ‘playing’ foods plants and the artwork we’ve made using Playtronica devices, and snippets of conversations. Drawing on theory and visuals relating to interconnected and symbiotic structures, the installation is informed by questions of reciprocal care, constructs of time (linear, cyclical, seasonal) and carving space to make the mundane beautiful as both an anticapitalist and inherently care-ful practice.
Sow, Grow, Reap ended with a sharing day, where the community members heard the soundscape for the first time, interacted with the artwork using the Playtronica devices (triggering sound through touch) and harvested, cooked and ate the peas on site.
I’m now (Spring/Summer 2026), growing peas from the seeds harvest during the project meaning, that in a sense, Sow, Grow, Reap has an indefinite legacy.
Thanks: special thanks to Jay Russell, volunteer who collaborated and supported with the music workshops and production of the sounds piece. Thanks also to Hamshya at the Glasgow Seed Library who provided guidance and support.
Participants: Our Sow Grow Reap participants range in age from their 20s to 70s, all live with a disability of some kind and most of them have been attending our centre almost every day for decades, even the younger ones as members progressed through kids club, teens club then our 16+ club. They love attending all our activities and events, however Sow Grow Reap offered something different that elevated their spirits in a unique way. Rebecca’s amazing talent and vision along with her deep compassion and commitment, enabled all our participants to co-create the project; effectively all becoming artists in community residence. - Gregg Elliott, Possobilities Centre Manager
Barry, Brian, Darren, David, Dionne, Gillian, Karen, Laura, Maud, Paul, Peter, Ronnie, Sharon, Stanley
Photos: Jassy Earl