I completed a new piece 'Cocoon' last week for Fresh Air '17. Inspired by the puss moth cocoon and pupa, it is a drawing in space, welded, woven and wrapped. The exhibition starts this weekend and runs until 2 July.
steel and wire
SAW '16 ends MA begins /
I've started a part-time MA Fine Art course at Bath Spa University. It's never too late! I've wanted to do one for many years, but the time never seemed right. Now it's as right as it will ever be.. so I took the plunge and applied belatedly in early September, amazed that I was accepted onto this year's intake! It's been a bit of a jolt to the system, but am getting the hang of research methodology and all the mouthfuls that go with it. This was going on around the time of preparing and running our Somerset Open Studios event. I shared my venue with Nick Weaver, whose wood pieces harmonised well with my work, especially in the "magical Alice-in-Wonderland like garden/sculpture park" (as one visitor put it). Other visitor comments: "Brilliant - most lovely and surprising and innovative visit of the day"; "Wonderful, positive views of life in all respects"; "Remarkable, inspiring exciting"; "Magic!! An oasis of inspiration! Thanks"; "Absolutely stunning". Our Open Studios event went well - plenty of new enthusiastic, friendly visitors who loved our exhibition, a very wide demographic and several sales. I ran some workshops with a local school, home ed children and adult group, including A' Level Art students. It was busy but rewarding!
Collaboration /
Each project brings with it new challenges. Sometimes several projects run alongside each other and the art of juggling can be a challenge in itself. Some of my roles overlap or interlink. This can be a good way to function, 'killing 2 birds with 1 stone' (though I hate killing), easing the problem of having too many things on the go, but isn’t so straightforward if you don’t want to compromise the work, and it can create a bottleneck time-wise, amongst other complications. I’ve enjoyed working alongside other artists/makers of all ages. I like collaboration - at its best, combined effort multiplies output and result, it's more fun and creatively, one can learn so much from working with others.
The past month has been full-on. With a bit of time to reflect now, here’s a look at what went on in my little creative world (in the bigger world - all I can say in a nutshell is PLEASE CAN WE UNITE AND STOP KILLING).
Teaching, Workshops, Talks, Demonstrations
On 12 June I spent a day at the Hidden Garden Art Show (Maureen Michaelson Gallery, Hampstead), part of Chelsea Fringe Festival where my sculptures were on show with other selected artists, demonstrating my work process, running a drop-in workshop and giving a talk about my work to visitors. Although it poured with rain all morning, the sun brought a magical shimmer and quite a crowd in the afternoon, including Tim Richardson - founder of Chelsea Fringe.
I teach 2 evenings a week at All Hallows Prep School and as I've been involved in the Secret Swans Art Trail (one of Black Swan Arts' 30th anniversary events and part of Frome Festival), I devised a project to involve the children in the Trail. We created a flock of flying swans in wire, which were installed on the exterior wall of Black Swan's historic Round Tower. Inspired by my recent trip to Sophie Ryder's exhibition at Salisbury Cathedral, we used her 'scribbly' technique to add more black areas. It was an effective solution given time constraints. The final lessons getting the work completed was a mission as some children were absent due to end-of-term activities. Thankfully others stood in (special mention: Ellie West and Nick Somerville!). The swans looked like faint drawings, quite lovely and ethereal, though visitors had to look hard to see them.
Preparations for Priddy Festival included some 'birdy notes' as we called them. A team of Mendip Creatives made them from wire and paper, for marquee decor. A large willow hog was also made, led by Angela Morley.
I worked with a couple of schools recently (Bishops Wordsworth & North Town) making wire figures and mini creatures. Bishops Wordsworth was a 2 day slog over to Salisbury in a hire car (my truck was broken) giving 4 x powerpoints/making sessions to 128 children in fairly swift succession. The short sessions of 2 hours per group had limitations, but it's amazing what children can do when focused!
Volunteering Roles
I continue to be very involved in the Black Swan Arts centre as a trustee, especially this year, with its 30th anniversary. We have held several special exhibitions/events to mark the occasion, which have so far been a 'resounding success' (Christina Oswin), with great feedback, overwhelming support from the public, serious funds raised, heightened the BSA profile and engaged the community. 1000 Postcards attracted over 1000 postcard-sized artworks (including 2 of mine) for a massively popular exhibition with over £10,000 of sales so far and visitors galore. Unsold postcards can still be bought online. Preparations for the Secret Swans Art Trail, which followed straight after, grew more intensive. 30 artists in 30 venues around Frome. I made a piece, 'Resurrection', (using reclaimed steel, copper wire, tar, rope and scrim) and sited it by the river. It only recieved slight damage, easily rectified and many positive comments, so am grateful to most Frome residents for their respect! In addition I worked on the All Hallows piece, helped Nick Weaver with the organisation and was largely involved in the PR for these events. They are great examples of a huge team effort by Black Swan volunteers.
I've been involved in various Somerset Art Works meetings, a couple for an exciting new project that might come off next year with Anna Best, and for Somerset Open Studios '16 (17 Sept - 2 Oct). As Rep for East Mendip, I'm keen to make sure we do Somerset proud. I'm part of a cluster group in my area called The Mendip Triangle; we have a specially designed map (by Michel Linthorst) to help direct SAW visitors to our lovely rural Studios in September. Looking forward to seeing this year's SAW guides being delivered next week!
New Work, Exhibitions
I made a new Nest and Mini Dung Beetle & Ball for the Maureen Michaelson Show, in addition to existing work. 'Resurrection' will be sited at the Devon Recycled Sculpture Trail, Teignmouth seafront from 23 July - 4 Sept, and I am now curating our forthcoming step in stone exhibition touring to Salisbury Art Centre (18 Aug - 24 Sept), with Amanda Wallwork's help. 2 of my main outdoor pieces will be on show. If you missed any step in stone artscapes last year, try to visit!
The garden and studio get quite a battering after big projects, so it's time to tidy up! My good intention of simplifying life, with less to clutter the brain is still in the development stage - I hope it will happen one day. In the meantime, the juggling continues!
Secret Swans /
I am currently working on a new piece for Black Swan's Secret Swans Art Trail.
In celebration of the Black Swan Art Centre's 30th anniversary, the Trail will be part of Frome Festival and Open Studios, running from 1-10th July. A free event, it involves 30 swan-themed artworks in various media and styles. Sculpture, drawing, textiles, ceramics, light and other surprising forms will be on display at venues around Frome, such as shops, cafes, public buildings and outdoor locations. An opportunity for families, art lovers, school groups and adventurers to discover and buy intriguing collectable pieces by selected artists, ranging from silver jewellery, etched and linocut prints to large willow, steel and glass garden pieces. Visitors can make secret auction bids for the work at each trail venue and the winning bidders will be notified at the end of the festival. Badges will also be available for everyone who identifies all 30 artworks and there will be the opportunity to enter a prize draw at the Black Swan. Artists involved include Tessa Farmer, Edgar Phillips, Ian Marlow, Bronwen Bradshaw, Chris Lee, Alicia Merrett, Nina Gronw-Lewis, me, Nigel Evans, Caroline Walsh-Waring and Angela Morley. I will also be working with pupils from All Hallows School on a group wire piece for one of the trail artworks.
The Secret Swans Trail hopes to raise much-needed funds - sales being split between the artists and Black Swan. Trail leaflets will be available from Black Swan and Frome library during the festival. Organiser Nick Weaver says: ”It’s been wonderful to see the variety of interpretations of the swan theme and the quality of work by some great artists. Visitors are in for a treat!”
Hope you can come and visit!
Chelsea Fringe and GROW London /
I'm looking forward to taking part in the Hidden Garden Art Show as part of Chelsea Fringe and GROW London - both with Maureen Michaelson Gallery in Hampstead this June. Come along if you can!
