THE WAY OF THE ROADWYTCH
LIBBY BOVE - STAFFORDSHIRE ST GALLERY
This exhibition will re-tell the folk ritual for the contemporary world - transposing the framework of giving thanks to a process that sustains us, onto the relatable act of road use. Still from moving image work ROADWYTCH exsisting work to be included in exhibtion
Left: exsiting work to be included - recovery driver's jacket. Right: Proposed new work: RoadWytches recovery overalls. Will be made on a wool base, with linen silhouettes ,- drawing inspiration from folk costume and traditional workwear
Still from moving image work ROADWYTCH exsisting work to be included in exhibtion .
Bottlejacks Robe & Hat - textile work and portrait . exsisting works to be included in exhibtion
The Museum of Roadside Magic's Teatime Pageant at Neo Acients Festival, Stroud. 2026. Professor Abigail Gardner
This project uses the recognisable framework of road use to explore expansive collaborative storytelling and personal mythmaking. Workshop outcome - Myth making at Tate St Ives
Roadsong Workshop held by the musuem of Roadside Magic. Bristol 2024
Fictional folk costume workshop seris outcome - U Studio Festival 2026, Young people’s programme, Tate St Ives. Photo by Emma Booth.
Left - Recovery Driver and Her wagon , Portrait. exsisting work to be included in exhibtion . Right - preposed new ceramic Roadwytches masks
Still from moving image work ROADWYTCH exsisting work to be included in exhibtion .
left - exsisting work - cone dancers breeches , to be included . Right - new preposed works - Roadwytches attire through the ages
The Roadlore archive - dressing up rail and garage guise blessing backdrop. interactive element to be displayed alongside the fictional folklore exchange board
Still from moving image work ROADWYTCH exsisting work to be included in exhibtion .
The Way of the Roadwytcch aims to ignite magical thinking into the everyday - as a tool for reconnecting with contemporary landscapes and urban plantlife. Still from moving image work ROADWYTCH exsisting work to be included in exhibtion . - picking ' Weld to dye my Jacket bright' , a referance to historical natural dying processes.
Exsisting work to be included and used for pre exhibtion promotion - Fleet suppourt vehicle
Still from moving image work ROADWYTCH exsisting work to be included in exhibtion .
Still from moving image work ROADWYTCH exsisting work to be included in exhibtion .
Left - example of previous mixed media archival display - some works to be inclued . Right - preposed bronze cast pilgrim charms
Fictional folk costume drop in workhsop - U Studio Festival 2026, Young people’s programme, Tate St Ives. Photo by Emma Booth.
Still from moving image work ROADWYTCH exsisting work to be included in exhibtion .
Workshop outcome - Myth making at Tate St Ives
The Museum of Roadside Magic perform the Teatime Pageant - performance preposed at gallery and old printwork arts
Relatable/ recognisable to all - roadsigns and symbols are in cultural lexicon even if you don’t drive. Roadwytches attire and tools. exsisting works to be included
Visitors exploring the Museum of Roadside Magic at Priddy Folk fair 2024
Left- Preposed new textile works - Roadwytches jacket celebrating the critically endangered art of tin smithing. Right- Recovery Squires outfit - in velvet and mother of pearl
Historically, folk customs and mechanics workshops have been largely male dominated spaces. This Collection of works centres women and non-binary people as the skilled practitioners of vehicular revival - invoking auto-electrical deities, re-timing engines and recovering stranded wagons. The Museum of Roadside Magic - Teatime Pageant
Inside the Museum of Roadside Magic - Photo by Dom Moore for KARST gallery , New Contemporaries 2024
Parade at U Studio Festival 2026, Young people’s programme, Tate St Ives. Photo by Emma Booth.
Sketch of Gallery Layout with viewing chamber to show moving image work towards the back
External veiw of The Museum of Roadside Magic
Lunatraktors creating the soundtrack for ROADWYTCH
Roadlore symbol face painting for - U Studio Festival 2026, Young people’s programme, Tate St Ives. Photo by Emma Booth.
Lunatraktors
(Workshop example ) Raw Clay charms - folkeast festival 2024. During the project I will run, raw clay mini mask making using natural dried flowers and wildflower seeds - learning about vergeside plantlore and building tactile skills. (6-9 yrs)
David Snoo Wilson of Ore and Ingot
Roadside magic plantlore - to be included in the mixed media disaply of charms, tools and spells
Exsisting work to be included - Scrying, Dartmoor.
Exsisting work to be included - Roadwytches Mask
Workshop outcome - Myth making at Tate St Ives
Fictional folk costume workshop seris outcome - U Studio Festival 2026, Young people’s programme, Tate St Ives. Photo by Emma Booth.
sketches for small textile works
Making clay charm at the Gleaner's Feast, Bristol 2024