Treasures in our midst

1st October 2011
Cant believe it is October already! where does the time go? The weather has been amazing this past week too, beautiful blue skies and hot and there is a harvest buzz in the air and lots of end of season ploughing. 
My car is in the garage so I have not been able to get in to college for the past week, missed the buzz you get from being around fellow students but I have been more focussed towards getting things organised for the "Treasures in our midst" exhibition at St Andrews Church on 7th,8th and 9th October. I have been talking to the local school in Wootton also St Andrews and the Head is quite keen to be involved in the project so that is really good, they are bringing art work to display on the pin board it will be great to see what they have produced. I think it will be good for the children to see their work on display in the community too rather than just in their school. Have been asked to help with another project with the school in Nov too so that`s good news.They will also bring produce to the Church after their harvest service which will form part of the exhibition traditionally laid around the font which is then auctioned after the harvest supper at the local pub The Nags head, its one of those traditions you need to experience lots of merry people trying to outbid each other for a chocolate cake! £10 is a wee bit pricey but all in a good cause...this time funds are being raised to put in a loo and kitchen area in the Church to make the space more usable for the community and visitors. Feeling a little bit apprehensive now but enjoying the experience and making lots of notes ready for the next one! Where to display exhibits to see them at their best,how to secure them in an ancient building and keep them safe the list is endless. Contacted local radio, newspapers and putting out leaflets so hope we get a good response. Church members have volunteered to make tea, coffee and cakes so that is great news too one less job for the team. Fingers crossed now! Watch this space for photos :-)

24th Sept 2011 Visited the Museum & Art gallery in Derby today there were some interesting exhibitions and techniques being used by artists Kate Smith, Jo Berry & Jayne Falconer. http://www.derby.gov.uk/LeisureCulture/MuseumsGalleries/Derby_Museum_and_Art_Gallery.htm
The interactive Traces of being by Kate Smith was quite interesting inviting viewers to leave their own mark on various plaques on the wall and paper on the floor with whatever you have to hand. I pulled off a chunk of the sponge rectangle we were invited to make marks on, which I am going to use to create marks on my textured plates for printing. She also had wooden blocks, paper & soft stone and a mirror to mark on too. We all leave traces behind us in our daily lives hair, footprints, written words to name a few which we are not really aware of doing so it was an interesting concept.
"Jo Berry’s visually stunning series of colourful digital drawings and lightboxes 
promotes the connection between Art and Science and celebrates the human body 
and the use of new technology."
Came home full of inspiration, can`t wait to get into my studio for Insight tomorrow.

Hi All, Welcome to my blog spot, this is my first week back at college so it was good to catch up with other students again. I moved into a new studio space which I had to fill up with work ready for the Insight weekend 17th/18th/09/2011 & 24th/25th /09/2011. I managed to visit the Place to share at Goxhill and see the interesting space they have in the barn and the work of different artists. I had a painting bought for me of sunrise on mountains which is very atmospheric and luminescent in the right light.

I spent today at the East Coast school of art & design for Insight, working in the Print room. We had a few visitors around the gallery too where some of the students had various pieces of work on display. There was a terrific thunder storm over Grimsby/Cleethorpes so when I left college I went down to Cleethorpes to watch it over the sea and was not disappointed by the moody dark sky and double rainbow stretching across the whole landscape... shame I hadn`t taken my camera! But it was good to just sit in the car and watch it unfold before me.