Pyre, Royal Society Summer Show, curated by David McAlmont. Photo: Mike Glide Photography
Recover, bounce back, resilience, keep going - mantras I’ve been telling myself after a series of setbacks recently. Machine breakdowns have affected smooth running on a major scale. I hate to be so reliant on these, but..! Fridge, lawnmower, laptop and my truck, which has been my trusty friend for 14 years. It died on the way to an exhibition install in Cornwall and I’ve been without transport for over a month, until this week, when I purchased a replacement. Living in rural Somerset, it’s had a significant impact on day-to-day stuff, and hit me financially. I’m so grateful to friends and family who’ve helped out. Totally indebted to Seamus Moran, Roger Spear, and Chris Summerfield. Also Penn O’Gara, Jude Clough, Vic Grinter, Caroline James, Anthony Wilkinson, Jack Robson, Polly Hall, Christina White, Gill Sakakini, and others who’ve purchased from my shop, and/or supported me.
There have been some great events I’ve been part of this past month, and I’ve enjoyed visiting a few excellent shows locally, Cornwall and London.
Royal Society of Sculptors Summer Show
Pyre is currently on show at Royal Society of Sculptors Summer Show: ‘Reality Check’, Dora House, 108 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3RA, 22 July- 21 Sept, curated by David McAlmont. The PV was such fun, wonderful to catch up with so many, and meet new faces.
Pyre (detail) and the Summer Show. Photos above: Mike Glide Photography
Exhibitions
Continuing with the curation of As Old as the HiIls, a community art project which leads to an exhibition at Zig Zag, Glastonbury (21 Sept-6 Oct). Jan Ollis and I spent a lovely morning in my garden (on the hottest UK day of the year) working on the layout of paper artworks we created with the community. These will be stitched together to become hangings in our exhibition. We will hold a drop-in stitch day; if you’d like to take part let me know. We also have a free Sweet Track Making workshop coming up this month at the Zig Zag on 17/18 August. We’re thrilled that we’ve been granted a Somerset Art Works Audience Development Fund. The fund is to support our project and engagement with wider audiences for this year's Art Weeks Festival ‘24.
I have an upcoming exhibition Elemental at Sou’ - Sou’ -West, Bridport with Jan Alison Edwards and Ally Matthews (19 Oct-10 Nov), so am making new work for this.
Charcoal drawing in progress - Sprouting Potato
Workshops
I led an experimental sculpture workshop at TOMA, Southend-on-Sea with some fantastic students as part of their alternative MA course. And worked with over 60 children at Nunney First School making wire figures related to their Olympics theme.
I am adding new items to my shop, including these small bulrushes, if you fancy taking a look.
The Love 2 Learn Courses I was running at Bath College were axed, but there’s a chance I’ll be teaching some new adult courses at the Somer Valley campus (Radstock) - watch this space!
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PS If you’re looking for a replacement car, I recommend this company Car Finance, they were amazing and made it very easy: use this refer a friend link: cf247.link/rl3t7