We're sharing this exciting news from Disability Arts Online about one of our Fellows, Letty McHugh.
Letty McHugh is a DAO Associate Artist whose time with us began in 2020 with an MS relapse. This led to a period of contemplation reimagining their life as a monk. With an interest in illuminated manuscripts and the life of St. Cuthbert, Letty began marking each day with a series of ‘watches’ – or reflections on the day – a personal, secular Book of Hours. She says:
“Over the course of the pandemic, a complication with my chronic illness left me alone in a darkened room for three weeks. I drew comfort from an imagined Book of Hours. Half Almanac, half prayer book, medieval Books of Hours offered guidance for every situation and every day of the year. As I recovered I started to wonder, where was the spiritual guidebook for people like me; lost, sick, artists who watch too much reality TV? I couldn’t find one, so I made my own. Borrowing wisdom from Anglo Saxon hermits, contemporary artists and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Book of Hours explores what it means to have faith, why we chase suffering and how to take solace in small joys.”
“funny, moving and profound - this is a vital contribution to writing on illness that everyone should read” - Polly Atkin multi-award-winning poet, essayist, nature writer and academic.
This project is supported by Disability Arts Online, Dada and Attenborough Arts Centre.
Twitter: @LettyMcHugh
Join Letty in person at the Leeds Playhouse on Tuesday 21 June, or online on the Disability Arts YouTube Channel, for the launch of Book of Hours.
Book here for in person:
https://leedsplayhouse.org.uk/events/book-launch-book-of-hours-by-letty-mchugh/
Here for Online:
https://disabilityarts.online/events/book-of-hours-by-letty-mchugh-book-launch/