Weather
March 22, 2008Well looks like today will be quiet, and I am holding the weather largely responsible. The wind is still quite strong and so far this morning I have seen rain sleet, and snow. No hail yet but I am sure it is just a matter of time. Still if you are thinking of visiting, I am open and I will be happy to make you a hot drink when you get here. The sun does keep coming out too, whenever it does the cemetery looks beautiful, and well worth some time.As you might imagine the drag racing isn't enjoying the weather either. They have had constant snow from early this morning. I suspect there are a lot of racers huddled in tents and vehicles.
What a great day.
March 21, 2008Who would have thought that a very cold and windy day would be perfect gallery weather. I’ve been busy all day and it’s been wonderful. Thank you to everyone who braved the weather and trains to come and see my work, you have no idea what it means to me.
As well as the gallery going really well, the race car seems to have made a good start. It passes scrutineering, and ran well in it’s first run. Very well in fact, number 1 qualifier that round. It managed a respectable second run too, and only slipped to number 4 qualifier. Given this is the cars first outing and Tet is used to a Pro tree not the sportsman, this is really amazing. Hopefully they will get some more runs over the weekend, but given the weather forecast I am not going to hold my breath.
All in all a fantastic day.
I’ve done it now
March 19, 2008Well I’ve entered the Summer Exhibition. I can’t quite believe it, but it did make sense as my next challenge. I don’t rate my chances, apparently they prefer small pieces and ‘normal’ media. Still the sooner I start trying the sooner they will get the idea that textiles might be worth considering. Next year I will try and get organized earlier though, I like less panic. Actually I did try to be organized this year. I did check the Royal Academy site several times about the time I thought the forms should come out, but I stopped before they came up. I’ll blame it on being preoccupied with my own show I think.
The show has continued to have strange bonus effects. I’ve discovered (with the aid of a friend) a new restaurant. It is an Eastern European restaurant in Camden near the Round House. Zorya, opened about three weeks ago, and describes itself as ‘Imperial Vodka Bar’. It certainly has a very impressive vodka menu, two sides of A4 covered in quite small text. The vodkas are grouped by country, so for those who have strong views on where their vodka should come from it’s perfect. Despite my great love of vodka I haven’t even started on this menu as they also have a very interesting cocktail menu. It’s not a huge selection, but they are really interesting cocktails. Between us we have tried most of these, and they are great. Food wise I have been failing you all. I’ve managed to try two starters and two deserts (both great) but only one main course. Their roast duck it astoundingly good. I think it will take me some time to try something else. Please do go and try this restaurant, I really want it to do well, the staff are friendly and food good. The address is 48 Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8AJ.
Artists are normal people
March 14, 2008Stop laughing. I don't know what I expected but the peopl filling in forms weren't it. They write their statements on scraps of paper, cross out wildly then use what is left. They double and triple check the name of the piece they are entering, and they are confused by the whole process. One lass was calling her friends and canceling her social life for the weekend, she has a show on and now needs to sort out this entry too. This has been a worthwhile experience if only for discovering I don't stand out, I do look like an artist, but then so do you. Whatever your style I am sure someone in that queue looked like you.Now I have the weekend to sort out my entry. I decided I would rather have someone check my form than save myself an extra journey.
I love my friends
Really I do, well most of the time anyway. I had been familiar with the phrase "If you want something doing ask a busy person" but over the last month I seem to have been proving it rather more than I would have liked. So on an already over comitted day did I really need reminding about the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition? Apparently so. However the entry form has to be purchased by 5pm today, and as the deadline is so close my only option is to go and get it. So here I am on a tube train blogging. I have also used the time for some lesson planning so it could be worse. I also thought to pick up my posters so I will see if any of the art shops will display one for me. What have I got to lose? Oh and I will probably need to hand deliver the forms back as well, the deadlin is Tuesday. I suppose that will stop me thinking too much and losing my nerve.
Herd Mentality
March 12, 2008
Here is a picture of Herd Mentality, if you click on it you will get a bigger view. I know it isn’t the greatest picture, but I will take more. I wasn’t going to put this up yet, but as another site didn’t want to upload it I thought I would put it here to show them. Please remember that all images on this site are copyright.
If you have voted for my piece in the Saatchi gallery, thank you. If not there is still time, click this link and it will take you straight to the voting page.
Another lovely review
March 11, 2008Another friend has put up a review of my opening. two in fact. So if you would like to read them, and admire the picture of real live people in the gallery, take a look here. I know, I should use a direct link to the post, but there are two of them! I will change it at a later date.
Saatchi Showdown
I’ve just remembered my round of the showdown started yesterday. I have put ‘Nude with Rope’ into the competition. The winners will be shown in the bricks and mortar gallery as well as the online one. If you would like to have a look and consider voting for my piece you can find it here. One of the nice things about this showdown is you can vote for many pieces, you are just saying how much you like each one. The highest scores go on to another showdown later in the year. I don’t think my chances are great there are a huge number of pieces in the competition, but if I don’t try and I don’t tell people I have no chance. For those of you have had had problems with other online contests, this one doesn’t harvest emails. They don’t ask for any information you just click a star.
Another day, another early start
March 9, 2008Well here I am again. Today I am actually looking forward to going to the gallery. Yesterday was fun. I had a friend who came and helped me, which is great and I enjoyed meeting new people. There was a lovely mother and daughter from America who were really interested in my work and so encouraging. I was amused that the mother instantly identified she was looking at quilts, even if I insisted they were mixed media art. Yes they are both, but in the UK it is a lot more acceptable to call them mixed media, don’t ask me I don’t get it either. I wonder if that is the true value of mounting an exhibition like this.
I also came home to an absolute flurry of feedback. Thank you all for taking time to comment it makes all the stress worthwhile. One particularly nice piece is here. Cy, as he says is as old friend, who writes. I’ve loved his story telling for years and I value his opinion. Like many of my friends he was a little confused when I said I had taken up quilting, but I guess he has come to terms with it. It’s fun changing people view of what quilting is all about.
For those thinking about coming along, the address and directions are on this page. The google map of the area is here. I realised in the bath last night that this will be the only chance to see all these pieces together. It looks like several will be going off to start new lives after the show, so if you want to see them in the flesh, it’s now or never. Equally my talk on Monday will be pretty unique (and I suspect a little longer than usual so if you are in the area drop the talk will start at 1pm and be followed by tea and cakes.
Pictures, as promised
March 8, 2008
Now bear in mind I am doing this from my phone at the gallery, so I can't be sure what order you will see them in. If all goes well this will give you a quick virtual tour of my show.The gate that gives direct access is a bit hard to spot, and may not look like it leads to a gallery, but bear with it and head down the stairs. The gallery is a custom built space wrapped arround the old Dissenters Chapel. As you can see the gallery is lovely, and I think it's great to be able to have so much of my work on display at one time. The show is open for a month every Saturday, Sunday and Monday.