Progress report

As my exhibition at the Crown Gallery,Carlisle starts on October 26th I reckon that with the summer holidays starting here in Scotland next week then I have to remain focused -otherwise time is going to drift on by ....
Wimbledon too is a huge distraction but with Nadal going out then I'm not so interested!

I've had a quiet few days where I've been looking at ideas,jotting things down,researching .This piece is a work in progress which I actually started pre Spring Fling and is gradually becoming into the idea I had in my head at the start.  

Using gesso,sand and modelling paste I crafted two panels or windows on the canvas.I am trying to achieve an aged,archival look. Where I feel the surrounding area is complete I am searching for the central idea. It won't be much-maybe a small collage or further painting.Something that will grab the attention and draw the viewer in.....

Tomorrow I am taking a new painting down to New Abbey to Abbey Cottage where my work is on show until Sunday. I may even treat myself to a pot of tea and a scone as they are delicious there and the tea award-winning....and then delivery of a painting to a lovely new customer....Oh,Djokovic is now playing....happy days indeed

And detail...

Maeshowe

Maeshowe is one of the most impressive chambered tombs in Orkney.Thought to date from around 2700BC, it is constructed from Orkney flagstones some of which weigh up to 30 tonnes and clay.There is a low entrance passage on the south-west side of the mound which leads into a large central chamber.Three smaller side-cells branch off from the main chamber.

It appears from the outside as a large grassy mound in a field....

Information board......

View from the entrance....

For a few days each year as the midwinter sun drops below the horizon,its rays shine directly on the rear wall of the central chamber-aptly described in George Mackay Brown's poem 'Maeshowe:Midwinter'..

George Mackay Brown was born in Stromness in the Orkney islands in 1921.His first book was published in 1954 and he went on to write many books including plays,novels,short stories and poetry.

His  book of poetry entitled 'Following a Lark' was 'written mainly in praise of the light, and to glorify in a small way the Light behind the light,that gives life and meaning to all the creatures of earth......:

'Maeshowe:Midwinter'

Equinox to Hallowmas,darkness

falls like the leaves. The

tree of the sun is stark.

On the loom of winter,shadows

gather in a web;then the 

shuttle of St Lucy makes a 

pause;a dark weave

fills the loom.

The blackness is solid as a 

stone that locks a tomb.

No star shines there.

Then begins the true ceremony of 

the sun,when the one

last fleeting solstice flame

is caught up by a

midnight candle.

Children sing under a street

lamp,their voices like

leaves of light.

George Mackay Brown Poems

'Following a Lark'

1996

John Murray Publishers,London.

Layers....

Over the last few weeks I've been gathering ideas for more collage work. It was interesting at Spring Fling to have the opportunity to discuss techniques I use. Often I do things and while it may be noted in a sketchbook or journal,discussing it with someone makes me question and have a deeper understanding of what I'm doing and what I'm trying to achieve.

Working in mixed media allows for exploration  of a number of elements which will form the finished piece such as the media to be used utilising different techniques to explore  the surface,form,texture and colour.

When working on a piece some pieces just 'work' -collage is one of those techniques that I really enjoy.It can be daunting-composition ,materials,size -all require questioning.At university I used small canvases to produce studies for the finished piece. During my pre-Spring Fling clear-out some work was thrown out as it is impossible to keep hold of everything. This small study remains as I can't bear to part  with it.It uses the strata of rocks simultaneously with the lines of music and photographs symbolic of layers of memories......

    

Web of life

'Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it.
Whatever we do to the web we do to ourselves.
 All things are bound together.
All things connect.'

Chief Seattle

Chief Seattle  (1780-1866) was a Duwamish chief and namesake of the city of Seattle. It is the only major city in the United States named for a Native American leader. He was accommodating of the new white settlers and for a speech that discussed ecological responsibility.The speech itself has become  controversial due to its numerous translations from the native American tongue it was spoken in and questioning  of what the chief  actually said.

The above quote however is so relevant today.....

Meanwhile this is another work-in-progress......

Based on cup-and -ring markings it actually became more spiral.  Runes run along the  the bottom half. I'll leave it awhile ...but for now it's quite engaging....

Threads.....

I started a new piece of work based on the Three Norns who sit at the base of Yggdrasil and weave the destiny of men.    I feel that this will be an important element in the body of work I am currently developing for my exhibition at Crown Gallery,Carlisle starting late  October.

I'm particularly interested in the thread-our fate,how long our thread is going to be,how it weaves and intertwines with people in our lives. The piece is currently work in progress but I'm pleased with the outcome so far......

The image isn't brilliant however it shows the more minimal approach I've adopted and the size of canvas-20 x 60 cm .It remains untitled as yet however the thread appears solid in parts and fragmented as it winds its way down the canvas. I'll put it away for now and revisit it next week. It gives me time to think about it and note what needs doing or not doing next.....

Detail-top right

Yggdrasil revisited.....

In my final year of university I made 'Yggdrasil'-a standing stone based on  Norse mythology and after my visit to Orkney.

It stands 132cm high and is a mixed media piece built around a wire frame. The hole is significant- we visited the Pier Arts Centre in Stromness who have a collection of work by Barbara Hepworth including 'Oval Sculpture', from 1943.Having also seen her work at the Hepworth in Yorkshire and studied her at university,her use of form remains inspirational to me.

                          
                      'Oval Sculpture', 1943
 
Margaret Gardiner (1904-2005) ,the founder of the Pier Arts Centre was a close friend of Barbara Hepworth and her second husband Ben Nicholson. Gardiner visited Orkney during the 1950s and established the centre to support art in the islands  and also to act as a venue to display the portion of the private collection she donated.

In the meantime I've started researching for my next body of work &  I came across holed stones-in Penzance,Cornwall but also existing in other locations..'Men a Tol' is derived from the Cornish language meaning 'stone of hole'....

The circular stone is 12 foot in circumference .There are various speculations & stories including that it may be part of a burial chamber or part of a stone circle.Up until the 18th century the holed stone was said to have curative powers and people passed through the stone to cure rickets, rheumatism and tuberculosis. It was also considered to be an astronomical device for solar cycles and a symbolic site in fertility rites.....

I have a strong feeling that the stones are going to remain important in my work....a case of the rolling stones! 

Information was obtained from the following: www.pierartscentre.com/permanentcollection.html

www.pznow.co.uk/historic1/holedstones.html

 

Guid Nychburris

Apologies for the blog delay as it's been another busy and productive week. 'Guid Nychburris' or 'Good Neighbours' is a week- long festival in Dumfries which celebrates its Royal Charter issued by King Robert III in 1186. This move ensured loyalty of the town's citizens to the monarch.Dumfries was never walled however the Riding of the Marches or boundaries was to ensure that the town boundaries were not encroached upon.The third Saturday of June every year sees the historic Ride of the Marches taking place culminating in the Queen of the South being crowned at the Midsteeple in the town.

June is therefore a particularly busy time for community activities taking place . Yesterday afternoon and evening saw me helping out at the Guid Nychburris swimming gala.Children from across the region participated ,I think the number stated was 160 plus,and it was a fantastic event ......

Earlier in the week saw me head to the local library .To continue my body of work I find that delving into books inspires and motivates me .I keep a sketchbook to hand as often when I'm reading something springs to mind and I need to capture it.The wonderful librarian even went searching in the basement for books that hadn't been touched in years.....

This weekend both children are participating in the Dumfries Summer Open competition at the DG1 leisure complex.I'll be there volunteering in my role as timekeeper and assistant medal -presenter ( a great job!).Next week I'll be immersed in these...

    

Post Spring Fling

As the dust begins to settle and my energy levels start reaching near normal levels after the Spring Fling Open Studio event,I've been able to take stock of exciting developments that are beginning to come to fruition.

On October 26th  of this year ,an exhibition of my work will open in Crown Gallery in Carlisle.The show which will reflect my interest in Norse mythology is entitled 'Winter Nights' ,  an important date in the ancient Norse calendar. It marked the end of summer and the start of winter.Sacrifices were made as thanks for a successful growing season and protection against the harsh winter .People also took this time to celebrate their ancestors & the gods with songs,poems,feasting and drinking.  

Crown Gallery can be found at:
5 Lonsdale Street
Carlisle,Cumbria
CA1 1BJ

Tel.01228 595055 

Owned by Joe and Julie,it is a fantastic contemporary arts & crafts gallery in a lovely town building set in four rooms across two floors .You can check out their website as they have changing exhibitions and update the gallery regularly.....

It is all very exciting ....

In the meantime I finally managed to get out in the garden this evening.....

     

 With books and a cup of tea......

Spring finally had  a fling.......