Around this time I normally write a winter newsletter, but it feels like I've only just finished the autumn one! Time has really flown by. It's been a very intense and challenging few months for me, full of achievements and not quite burnt out yet! 'step in stone' - an ambitious art in quarries project I organised - took over my life for many months and is now over. It was incredible seeing it through to fruition, and so fulfilling working with quality artists whose work I admire. Overall, ‘step in stone’ was a tremendous success, very well received by an extremely varied and broadly based audience. Combining the role of project manager and curator with that of being a participating artist was demanding. Considering time constraints and my other roles, I feel I achieved a great deal, though disappointed that I could not fully explore more possibilities with my commissioned artwork for the project. 'Cirri' was intended to be more numerous, (based on Fossilised remains of ancient sea life forms). I relished the opportunity to explore new concepts and media in my piece ‘Eviscerated Earth’ installed at Fairy Cave Quarry – recycled wax, cloth, scrim, paper and wire combined with found, rusty scrap steel collected from quarries. It linked to the story of Fairy Cave: destruction of caves and beautiful (speleothem) formations within. I would have liked to create more work for our Black Swan Exhibition - a beautiful show - but management of the project took over and time ran out.
Now that the excitement is over, and I've reached the end of the arduous (but revealing) evaluation process for it, I'm starting to look forward to new ventures and getting inspired.
I visited Ai Weiwei's exhibition at the Royal Academy, London recently. It's not often art brings tears to my eyes, but his work is so powerful, I was deeply moved. The cell depictions of his sordid incarceration by Chinese authorities made me feel voyeuristic, angry and amazed at the brilliance of them.
A fortnight ago I sold my Nestling Cocoon to Mark Owen of Take That for an anniversary present to his wife Emma. I drove from Somerset to North London to collect the piece from Maureen Michaelson (Gallerist), then to Sussex where I delivered it, then back to Somerset, in time to teach my evening art classes... all in a day!
I'm currently working on a life-size steel Bishop commissioned for the gardens at Bishops Palace, Wells, and will then start on a new commission for garden designer Sarah Eberle's Artisan Garden at Chelsea Flower Show 2016, to create a 4 metre square woven canopy.
Other opportunities in the pipeline include showing with Maureen Michaelson again next year for Chelsea Fringe. In the immediate future, I have been selected to show at the The Grant Bradley Gallery, (1 St Peters Ct, Bedminster Parade, Bristol BS3 4AQ) as part of a mixed show entitled 'Bristol Green Capital in the Frame'. Celebrating and reflecting on the year that Bristol was voted The European Green Capital, it embodies a green theme: recycling, the importance of green spaces and wildlife. The exhibition runs from 5 Dec '15 - 2 Jan '16. You're welcome to come along to the Private View: Fri 4 Dec 6-9pm!
In case you've tried viewing my website gallery pages - apologies! There is a plug-in issue due to server updates, so some images are failing to open. Hopefully it will be sorted soon!