Windswept Tree

We are proud to share with you: Windswept Tree - A Fibre art/embroidery on recycled cotton. An accidental collaboration between Artists Bernadette Meehan Morris, Elphin, Co. Roscommon and Corina Duyn Co. Waterford/Kilkenny.  

 

The Windswept Tree by 
Corina Duyn and Bernadette Meehan Morris.

“I absolutely adore this little pieces of work. It had an extraordinary deep gently but profoundly strong energy… “ 
                                                                Bernadette Meehan Morris

A limited edition Book was designed by David Murphy, Red Heaven Design.   

Bernadette is a fashion designer who spent over 25 years as a self-employed designer /dressmaker until 2004 when at age 45 she was forced into early retirement due to the sudden onset of severe debilitating illness – later diagnosed as ME & Lyme disease. Now 90% bed-bound Bernadette has been supporting various charities for over a decade by donating and selling her artwork and crafted items. All her creative works are produced while being propped up in bed. 

Bernadette

Corina is an Artist, award winning Poet, puppet designer, and author who has explored life with chronic illness for more than two decades using her creative mind. 

The sudden start and rapid decline in Corina’s health due to a debilitating neurological illness Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) at the age of 36 (1998) changed her creative ability and intensity. Corina is originally from The Netherlands.  She has lived in a care-home in Waterford for the past number of years. She now lives in a care-home in Co Kilkenny. 

Among Corina’s works are many books – including her most recent ‘In Bed I cut words’ for which she received an award in the Anthologies Category at The Carousel Awards for Irish Independent Authors (CAP) 

Both artists have had work featured in on-line exhibitions within the past few years, including ‘Bring ME out of the Shadows’: An online art exhibition hosted by ME Advocates Ireland (MEAI) to mark Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) Awareness Day in May 2025. And in: Let Art Be a Way to Witness and Remember  Severe ME Awareness Day 2025.

A word from the artists:

Bernadette says:

I have spent a lifetime deeply connected to my natural environment. That’s a passion I think we both share along side creativity and art.

Since childhood I have been deeply immersed in everything to do with our natural environment and the perseveration of our planet’s healthy ecosystems. 

I was a keen gardener during my healthy live.

Despite the delights of the outdoor natural world now being inaccessible to Corina and myself, our deep desire to remain connected and supportive to a healthy flourishing diverse natural ecosystem remains as strong as ever. Nature features in many of our art.

For these reasons, we have decided to use the story of our Windswept Tree to raise funds to support art, well-being, and the natural environment. (Details below)

Page from ‘Windswept Tree’

Corina wrote:  

In 2022 I started working on a tree stitching but soon realised that stitching was no longer a possibility for me. I did keep the work with all the threads etc in my dresser in my nursing home room, for the ‘just in case’ moment…

Late December 2024 I sorted my room and belongings (long story) and posted the remaining yarns and the unfinished tree to Bernadette. This resulted in an accidental collaboration between us two artists, both living with Severe ME, living mostly on our beds, 240 km from each other.

The now ‘infamous’ box of yarns that went to 
Bernadette late December 2024

Some of our reflections and images of this work were collated and made into a very special and beautiful publication.

The Book

Book design by David Murphy

This beautifully produced 20 page book with images and words which follows the creative journey the Tree made over a two year period. Including some poetry by Bernadette inspired by this project. 

The book was designed by David Murphy, Red Heaven Design. We printed only a Very Limited-Edition which are now available by donation. 

We would suggest a minimum of €20 per book, which includes art cards package by Bernadette. 

The donations will go to a variety of organisation whom have healing, arts and/or nature in mind. For example: ‘Helium Art’ who work with children with lifelong health continuous to improve their wellbeing and creativity; Doctors Without Borders; or have native trees planted in our honour.

Corina: “We like that this has came out of our work.”

 Bernadette: “The purpose of this work is healing.”

The books will include a beautiful original watercolour greeting card & a bookmark by Bernadette.  Cards and bookmarks are also available without the book. Please contact Bernadette via email, or facebook. 

Bernadette's Little helper to put original art cards with the books. 

Once your donation has been received, we will post a book out to you as soon as possible. As we both live on our beds and depend of support and PA to go to post office, please be aware it could take a few days to be able to post.

If you are interested in receiving the book and require further information, please contact Bernadette bernadettemorris@rocketmail.com  Or Corina 

Many, many thanks for your support.

Bernadette and Corina

(November 2025)

Update 15 December 2025

With your extraordinary kindness we have raised more than €600 . We have donated to Helium Arts, who work with children with life limiting illness;  Tree Council of Ireland, who planted native trees for us; Doctors Without Borders; and UNICEF.

We are now out of books, but if you like the beautiful cards by Bernadette - please contact her directly for enquiries. 

Update March 2026
The book can now be read (and shared) for FREE on ISSUU.
As well as Corina’s other books 

On the day Manchan Magan died 
The rainbow appeared on the Windswept Tree hanging on my wall…
Magical.

Six hundred days

Six hundred days ago I moved into long term care and I ‘brought the dream of flying’

…

In conversation with my co-artist Caroline Schofield 
Photo © Keith Currams

I wake early and revel in the silence. I open the curtains and see the world awaken. The trees, birds, early squirrels. One of my favourite moments before the inevitable noises start in the hallway from staff, doors, and various televisions at volume. In those early mornings I imagine my home, my  Treehouse * to be unrelated to be in a nursing home. What Home means remains a very complicated question. 

After my daily bowl of readybrek reality sets in. I often listen to meditative music, through headphones if necessary, especially on days when I am a bit ‘frazzled’ about the prospect of the day ahead. I know the signs by now after 600 days living in a residential home.  The day can be caring, chaotic, safe, kind, restrictive, fun, fearful, unsettling, sad, happy, bewildering, finding acceptance and gratitude, as well as thought provoking moments due to the closeness of fragility and beauty of life around me and in me. It seems I am still learning to find my way, but ultimately know that I have to ‘get this’.

 

As my short day ends I watch the crows gather for the night. Every day a few minutes earlier. Headphones on to silence the noises of the house my thoughts go deep. It is at those moments I feel I need to write to make sense of life as it is right now. But writing on paper is not possible anymore beyond a few words. I scribble on my phone at times, creatively processing my experiences but as screen time is overwhelming my phone is often turned off. The words I did write/dictated are copied to my iPad however words jump around in a dizzying way and sadly I lose track in order to edit and make sense of the notes. Yet I keep telling myself to write that blogpost about what it is like to live here. I started so many times but realise that each day each minute it would be a different story. Anyway. I am here. It is going to take me a while. But I am going to do this and will, as usual, be explored through my creative mind. The writing perhaps a little frazzled and fragmented like my present jumbled brain.

“I identify deeply with my work especially my puppets. 

Creating them is one thing. By fully observing them

 I am learning to understand their true stories and thus my own.”

‘Miracle Miracle’ 
© Corina Duyn 2018-2022

Miracle Miracle 

In a roundabout way of dealing with the reality of also needing help to make a Christmas/Winter display for my room, I found my mind delving into the story of my puppet Miracle Miracle resting under the (Christmas) tree.

When I started making her in 2018 she was to tell a story of an ambulant wheelchair user. Perhaps her chair being pushed by a gay carer with a blue Mohican haircut. Throwing off her blanket she steps out of her wheelchair and with the help of her walking sticks takes off on her colourful roller skates. Revealing funky clothes. 

I had hoped to use puppetry to explore social perception and disadvantage but also resilience. Most of all challenge how you are are to behave as a disabled person. If you use a wheelchair, you are not suppose to stand up. “Miracle Miracle” a dear friend roared in fun a few decades ago when I did just that. Standing up from my wheelchair in front of a church. Miracle Miracle’s story was never properly told except the concept during my last public lecture in 2018 in Cork.  

Miracle Miracle came with me to Signacare; unpainted, undressed, just wearing a little black hat (toe part of sock) and wrapped in her orange blanket. She had been sitting with Póilin Puppet in my window on the bench looking into the garden. I always hoped to finish making her.

Stitching  

In March after a short spell in hospital I started stitching a long cloth. “Sewing the tears of exhaustion” I scribbled on a piece of paper. Stitching brought peace. Over the following months it told a story of drowning, reaching out and becoming the tree. I stopped sewing at the point a branch became a bird. It narrowly escaped to be binned, choosing to put it in my sewing drawer instead. In July one Sunday afternoon I took it out, folded it up, reincarnated as a magic flying carpet for Miracle Miracle. I was happy to see a new story appearing from two unfinished works.  

Lying on my dresser Miracle Miracle looked at peace at having given up her fight for social justice to look after herself and rest. Only covered by a thin blanket. Unpainted, undressed. But beautiful as she is. To be carried in the wind to dream worlds where life is simpler. Still wearing her roller skates she shows resilience in her vulnerability as a dear friend told me.

It took me almost five months of observing her resting on her flying carpet to come to the point I acknowledged that I too am ready to let go and am desperately in need of rest. 

Support 

Staff at times have limited ability to truly be Present so I am very grateful for the support of family and friends. I also have the great fortune to receive outside support from a Personal Assistant (PA) twice a week through Disability Support Services (as I am deemed inappropriately placed in nursing home care due to my age), as well working with artist Caroline Schofield through Waterford Healing Arts Trust. Both women have made living here much more doable. 

With co-artist Caroline Schofield in the elevator 
at Signacare - retrieving puppet props
Photo © Caroline Schofield 2022

The collaborative creative process with artist Caroline Schofield started in August 2021. (See exhibition press release *).  Finding our way of working together began with making stunning prints using leaves. Many of these made their way, together with paper cut outs of shadow puppetry * era into a series of art boxes. Dioramas if you wish. Many depicting loss, grieve and gain of moving into care. Perhaps these works which will be in the exhibition say more than the written word ever can. 

I tried very hard not to use our creative time to explore this epic move but my mind wouldn’t let it go until it was done. Now I can say that I am glad it worked out this way. Work evolved by communicating about the pieces and stories in progress. Until there is this ‘Yes!, this is it’ moment. Caroline was/is my hands to add the detail about which I could only think and tried out with blue tack or masking tape. 

Some of this series of small boxes have taken a year to complete. Along the way we had tears, laughter, wonderment, friendship, and learning, evolving into an exhibition. 

I brought the dream of flying

One of these ‘boxes’ became the title of this shared exhibition: ‘I brought the dream of flying’ * Opening 14th January 2023 at Gallery of Modern Art - GOMA Waterford, with amazing support of Waterford Healing Arts Trust and Creative Waterford.

When I came for respite 600 days ago - but never went home again -  I had brought an unfinished bird puppet with me. I felt that by finishing the piece, which had one broken wing, it would be a symbol that I would fly again. I and others had truly hoped that moving into care would restore my health to some degree. Including recovering my lost creative abilities. For this hope and dream I brought my clay and all the tools. Not used for four years now, I am ready to let go of them.  

My creative ability is ever evolving at the same pace of my physical decline. I lost lots of weight over the past two years. As well as more and more of my independence. Food is puréed as I can’t chew or swallow for long. I now have a powerful fully reclining wheelchair. Walking is a few steps to the bathroom. Not even every day. My hands, although the dancing motions are a fascination to my co-artist, they often don’t want to do what I would like them to do. Creatively and in general. Recently my body goes ‘numb’ for hours. Followed by slow return of movement and speech and precious moments of the Phoenix rising again, Especially when I have an outing with my PA, those moments are lived and loved with all my heart. Then I rest. Like Miracle Miracle. In those moment of rest, even in the ‘numbness’, my creative mind stays alive. Thinking, planning. Re-thinking. Re-planning. 

I can cut paper and I can glue. The result is a series of A5 collages from newspaper words and found images, which I can make independently, often lying flat in bed. Exploring emotions and realities of life (here). As friends have said: “you needed to write, you couldn’t, now you found your way”; another said “you are writing a visual diary”. Many will be in the exhibition.

 

“In bed I cut words until I can rest in a world 

where loss and pain live alongside beauty and hope”

Collage © Corina Duyn 2022

Although the exhibition is a huge event for me mentally and physically it is a true honour to have this team of people believing in my work and a story they felt needed to be told. A team of creative professionals looking after everything. Wow. A first.

 

I feel I am finally reaching moments of being at peace with it all. Letting go of the ‘idea of home’. Letting go of this part of my story as well as my work, old and new. Especially after the exhibition I hope to feel my ‘job is done’. My advocacy having continued although I didn’t intended to do that. I hope I can be at peace and find ease with living in long term care doing so in undoubtedly a beautiful room. My Treehouse. Rest. Rest in the knowledge and acceptance that this is what I had to do. Moving into care and one last sharing of life with illness and this new perspective of life in care through the arts. A first perhaps.

Thanking you with much gratitude for your continued support.

Corina Duyn

17 December 2022 

Links for further reading:

• I will continue to write short observations on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/corina.duyn.7 which at this stage is easier than my blog, and allows for conversations with many.

• Website: https://www.corinaduyn.com/site/ 

• My Tree House. Moving into long term care. Blogpost May 2021 http://corinaduyn.blogspot.com/2021/05/my-tree-house-moving-into-long-term-care.html

• Exhibition press release by Maeve Butler from Waterford Healing Arts Trust (WHAT): See Gallery of Modern Art Waterford (GOMA) https://www.gomawaterford.ie/exhibitions/i-brought-the-dream-of-flying/ or WHAT:  http://www.waterfordhealingarts.com/i-brought-the-dream-of-flying/ 

• Shadow puppetry and the Invisible Octopus http://corinaduyn.blogspot.com/2020/06/a-time-of-creative-change.html more posts on my blog and images on my now archived Facebook Art page https://www.facebook.com/CorinaDuyn  

• Thoughts on Puppetry - ME and the Phoenix - rising from the ashes http://corinaduyn.blogspot.com/2019/12/invisible-octopus-3-me-and-phoenix.html 

• Early image of Miracle Miracle and other puppets http://corinaduyn.blogspot.com/2019/11/invisible-octopus-2-puppet-design.html

• An interesting discussion on Facebook on ‘what is home’ (https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02vEm8pWKp9Gnjfw8eSfyeBvtUH5dWqkG36iiTDCufdUDZJqApkZgyZ5k4qn9uY5nol&id=100009582548792 ) 

• Information and guidance on ME Myalgic Encephalomyelitis  http://meadvocatesireland.blogspot.com/

Change, acceptance and new creative opportunities

Big decisions followed by acceptance allow me to move forward. Again.

Maybe I will start working on my photo album cover again too…

After too many physical/mental challenges to create the video presentation for Cork Puppetry Festival, attend (briefly) 2 zoom meetings (Cork, and Chile), and being encouraged to be more part of the community here, I had to concede that I need to be much more in tune, respected, and clear in what I can and can no longer do. Unfortunately a lot less…

I will have to listen much better to what my body needs. And put expectations aside. My own, and from others.

Creatively I have made the decision that I will no longer do any online events. The physical collapses were just too scary to justify any further involvement in them.

However it was utterly beautiful and a huge honour to share my work, my stories, and to communicate with some amazing people over the years. 

I do realise that anyone who wants to hear, read, see my work, there is enough material out there. Over time I intend to create a list of links to talks, podcast, videos etc. and share it on my blog. (For now, there is lots on my website and blog, including links to videos and podcasts) Maybe I’ll extend last week’s video, but certainly not yet!

As always, when decision are made, and I fully accept them, in this case to withdraw from public online engagements, a beautiful opportunity arose.

In stead of giving I will be receiving. The universe as always heard me, and supported me.

Request for Assistance

Months ago I put a request in for Personal Assistance (PA) through Disability Services, in order to be able to explore life a little more outside my room, as well as receive support creatively. The application is in…. And as before, that is where it stayed. (Probably when it is granted, it is too late to be able to explore the world outside my room…)

Anyway. To find a way ‘out’ in the meantime, I put out a call in a private group of artist - and in a subsequent beautiful turn of  events I have very gratefully accepted one to one support through Waterford Healing Arts Trust. (WHAT)

My first contacts with WHAT was the invitation to give a talk in 2004

From next Thursday I will be collaborating with artist Caroline Schofield to see what and where and how my current abilities fit to continue to use my creative mind. As we talked on the phone yesterday we both acknowledged that this isn’t just me getting support, but it is very much a process for both of us. Hence using the word collaboration. 

I think this contact will also help me to start working on the embroidered tree again (See first image and here ) and other unfinished projects.

I now need to be horizontal a great deal of the time. Communicating is now only possible if I lay flat. This will also be the case for creative work. I imagine.

Initially there will be three sessions with Caroline. No idea what will happen, but after a phone call yesterday with the artist the Tree, and my Tree House will be central to our collaboration.

It has been a tough learning process. Again!

Time to rest, rest, rest, and then play.

Be well and much love.

Further reading: 

• Cork Puppetry Festival transcript: http://corinaduyn.blogspot.com/2021/07/presentation-at-cork-puppetry-festival.html
• Moving into long term care: http://corinaduyn.blogspot.com/2021/05/my-tree-house-moving-into-long-term-care.html
• Interestingly, I announced my retirement back in March: http://corinaduyn.blogspot.com/2021/03/early-retirement.html
• In October I had already told myself that ‘Invisible Octopus’ was my last work to explore ME http://corinaduyn.blogspot.com/2020/09/invisible-octopus-demands-of-creative.html Little did I know how much my life would change months later.

Puppetry, as a reflecting on life with illness/disability

The Two Dancer Puppets for the "Reflection" project are on the go since 2013, but I restarted working on them about two months ago. Read more about that HERE.

Puppet making has many, many steps. In terms of the creative process, but also emotionally....

If I like it or not!

'Hanging out'

Making

Sculpting the heads, the hands, the feet/shoes. Assembling the bodies. And for this project, of course there is two of everything. Herself, and her reflection... (A disabled puppet sees her dancing reflection in the mirror)

Broken bodies

Seeing these bodies side by side. In all their nakedness, a friend commented on how this also represents my story. The story of illness, of disability, of fragility, of a broken body in a way.

How true.

'But', I said'. 'They will be dressed, of course!'

'Of course.'

But isn't that a story in itself. 

The assembling of the bodies, the painting, dressing up and all, covers up the reality of a fragile body. A puppet body which can not function without support. Support of strings, and glue, and wires and a cross to manipulate movement. My body, which can not fully function without the support of mobility aids, of society, of friendships...

Putting it all together

Last week I started painting the heads, hands and shoes.

A process which is divided up in four stages. Two different undercoats. One 'wash' with watercolour paint, and finishing off with varnish. Before being attached to the body for good.

box of painted body parts, paint, brushes etc

The puppets became little beings.

I just love this photo of the puppet (its reflection) showing off the new socks.

I think there is a sense of fragility in it. But also a huge sense of pride.

I think this is one of my favourite images.
Fragility.
And pride.

In the last few days I have started to work on the clothing.

Clothing cut, and yet to be sewn and fitted

Oh, how I wish I could just stay in the studio, and finish the clothing. And not be in tears from the pain if stay any longer than 15 minutes behind/near the sewing machine... 

I am re-learning how to find the best posture, use the most appropriate chair, and most of all, to set my alarm.

So, all in good time, one day at the time, one small step at the time, the girls are getting dressed.

trousers fitting

Holding herself upright with her walking sticks

Saturday's session: first shirt in the making

And while I work away on the puppets, Dominic Fee is working on creating the movement of the puppets. I love collaborating with an artist of such calibre.

 Jimmy: "At last I made it onto a stage!"

Jimmy, my at least 25-year-old puppet, has travelled to Cork to be a 'stand-in' for the 'girls'. And how proud he looks! 

The 'stage' is Dominic's art: "DLV (DIMENSIONS, LOCATION VARIABLE) is a modular, interactive, open-ended artwork, made in 2013, consisting of several hundred wooden components which can be assembled together in many different ways." 

Jimmy with Dominic Fee's DLV artwork

The DLV artwork proved to be an incredible platform to facilitate the movement of the puppets. Dominic first trial had Jimmy move his arms, with the help of a small motor, and strings leading from the puppets via the DLV structure.

Incredible stuff.

Watch this space for updates!

Art and reality 

Over the years I have come to realise that my art reflects the stages of my life (with illness). Usually after a work has been completed. Sometimes I see this only years later... Reflections of growth, of hopes, challenges, and desires.

As this puppet project had a four year lead in period, in which my health took many a challenge, I can only hope that the movement, the stepping out, shown here, will in some way reflect my own present personal reality: the wish, and ability to dance. 

At least let me trust the reflection in the mirror - the movements which are possible in my mind's eye.