Saturday 20 September 2014

ARTEA PARTY

 
 
Today I hosted an Artea party in support of Butterfly Conservation, it was part of the butterfly bake off that has been happening in Gloucestershire this past week.
and yes of course the theme for the cakes was, butterflies.
It is an opportunity for me to get out my vintage china and challenge my friends to make a butterfly related confection.
Holly subverted the theme by making Flying Butters suspended over the tea table, orange and almond...yum
I went for a simple sponge, but made lace winged butterflies with icing.
Trish and Brian who helped by bringing promotional material, information boards
and live moths caught in a moth trap the night before made these lovely creatures.
 
These 2 examples of gorgeous baking came from  
3 generations of bakers, thankyou, Shelly and Carol.
Dinny made this beautiful narrative edible sculpture, the less lettuce the bigger the caterpillar. 
 
Thankyou Anne for these delicious blueberry butterfly cakes, they took me straight back to parties from my childhood.
On the wall outside the kitchen was a representative from the natural world and if anyone can identify this moth for me I would be grateful.
Our little tea party raised over £40, thankyou to all those who came with offerings and a bigger thankyou to all those who came and ate cake. Lovely to see you.

Thursday 11 September 2014

A PRINT A MONTH!

I have always thought the more you do, the more you do! I made a commitment to making a print a month. Of course this means coming up with ideas and making drawings, then making collagraph plates and printing editions. This discipline seems to be having a positive effect on me.
This month I have created this suite of prints about
little birds on washing lines.
I have been playing with very simple plate making, just using glue and cut grey board.
The washing is made from 'skim and repair' with
wall paper pressed into it.
I am still teetering on the brink...should I leave the washing as an embossed texture allowing the light to pick up the pattern or shall I ink and print these plates? What do you prefer? Let me know, it's always good to hear from you.

Thursday 4 September 2014

CRUCIBLE 2

Something very exciting has happened in Gloucestershire this week...the opening of Crucible 2.
In 2010 I posted about Crucible, the sculpture exhibition in Gloucester Cathedral and I am pleased to report that Crucible 2 is every bit as inspiring. 
There are pieces in the Cathedral grounds, Monumental Steel Bull, Terence Coventry. 
Through the portals of this beautiful building, carefully and effectively placed are
sculptures of quality and meaning. Always challenging, The Thief  by David Mach
Damien Hirst, whatever you may think of his work, produces statement pieces.
Fallen Angel is a bronze covered in gold,
with obvious hints as to why he has fallen.
Anatomy of an Angel is perhaps a more typical Hirst.
There are works placed all over the building, smaller pieces tucked away, Untitled Sphere by Alastair Mackie.
Steven Gregory's work commands a second look,
 
entitled Tick, Tock. 
Just off the Cloisters made famous by Harry Potter is this unexpected Antony Gormley.
The Cloister gardens also show off some remarkable work.
Untouched is a tranquil work by Angus Fairhurst.
In contrast to Vesqua by W. Pye which you can touch. Don't be fooled by it's surface.
This is one of my favourite pieces, Bread Hand by Marc Quinn. Tucked away and easy to miss. 
Go into the Crypt, the works there have an atmosphere of their own,
Split Shadow is another of my favourites by Ann Christopher.
Thames by Jordi Raga.
The Cathedral lends it's own drama to the exhibition,
It is not like walking around an art gallery. Constellation 2014 by Daniel Chadwick.
I was lucky enough to be invited to the private view organised by one of the exhibitions sponsor's, Willans. Thankyou Chris Ryder for taking me along.
I did not have time to see all the work, so I need to go back to find the Henry Moore, David Nash and the Randall- Page work just for starters.
 
http://www.crucible2.co.uk/ on until the 31st October. Not to be missed.