Shedism.
Shedism is a new movement encompassing painting, exploring, and adventuring, community engagement, photography, poetry, philosophy, and historical context.
Shedism involves bringing to light and acknowledging the existence of sheds in our lives, their shape, form, colour, structure, purpose, and place in community.
Sheds have many and varied uses, and we want people out there to go on a journey of discovery of sheds, strike out, take an interest, challenge yourself, explore, discover, and admire.
Yes, Shedism is predominantly sheds but as you embrace the Shedonistic lifestyle, you realise other structures are also part of the movement, especially when you are out exploring the world.
This could involve old, dilapidated shops and decaying houses, all with a story to tell, it’s important we catalogue these old historical buildings for posterity!
So go forth and explore, find a shed, shop or old house, take the photo, be respectful, and watch out for cars and trucks when crossing the road!
Shedism would not exist without community, for it is the people in these small communities that have built these inspiring structures.
It is critical that we lean into and embrace, understand and respect the communities we are exploring and adventuring through.
If you see a farmer near a shed you’d like to photograph, wave, say hi, engage in conversation and ask about the historical significance of the shed, to the family, industry, their livelihood.
When visiting these towns of historical significance, stop, venture into the bakery, op shop, café, restaurant, museum, art gallery and shops,
Plan your journey to a country farmers market or festival, and please, talk to the people, they have a rich and diverse history.
Spend your money….
Shedlandias is the philosophical and poetic element of Shedism.
We draw strength in many ways to interpret and describe Sheds and their place in society.
I personally prefer the medium of painting to convey my connection to Shedism, but some say it through song, haiku, spoken word and poetry.
Underneath Shedism we have the painting/aesthetic element, which, as per any new shed movement, is open to personal interpretation, you can paint a shed any way you’d like to.
Your composition, representation and interpretation is only limited by your imagination and creative vision.
For me, When I’m out exploring and looking for sheds, when I see one there is a moment of pure exhilaration, discovery, and pride.
I take a photo to capture the shed, the surrounds and landscape, capturing a moment in time I will never capture again.
I then print out the photo, choose the right-sized canvas and go to work creating my own gift to Shedism.
Yes, Sheds are important, and a critical aspect of Shedism, but let’s not forget the human element.
Shedism is the overarching name of the movement.
Shedlandias
I met a Farmer from an antique land.
Who said: “Vast and trunkless legs of timber
Stand in the old dirt. Near them, on the dirt
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip of rust, and sneer of corrugated iron
command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on those lifeless things,
The hand that built them and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
‘My name is Shedmandias, king of sheds:
Look on my sheds, ye Mighty, and despair!’
Nothing beside remains, Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level dirt stretch’s far away
- Jeremy ‘Jez’ Forbes
(1973-2060)
