A number of things

The shed and I were interviewed today by Gill Heriz and photographed by Nicolette Hallett for a book called 'Women's Sheds'. Interesting experience, I had to rearrange things and tidy in the shed so it looks the same as in my head.

Re-arranging in the shed I began to look at collections of things and part made things again. In late afternoon sun the shadows of very small items created new and intriguing shapes. Ideas develop and may turn into new making things.

Growing. sorting and making thoughts

A long gap in this blog, due to life and seasons. Slow Making in so many ways.

When does sorting and preparing material become making? Today I spent almost the whole day cutting willow trees that have been growing for up to eight years. The rising sap in May means the bark can be stripped off for white willow. I discovered a few years ago the wonderful properties of willow bark, it can be used fresh or dried and resoaked to use when needed.
The sorting process incudes preparation and storage of materials in appropriate conditions. 
Looking 'right' it always helps with the making process.

Going slowly into 2012

New Year - what have I done, what will I do....who can tell. I am very low on energy and can't wait for the sun to start shining. It has been a long wet winter, not conducive to inspiration and making.

I have been working on pieces for Ouse Life exhibition 'Time Honoured' which has meant being in the studio for many hours stitching needlepoint, an almost hypnotic process and very satisfying when a section is complete.

I write a regular short article for a local magazine and am better at that than keeping up to date with this blog. It is meant to be about sustainable gardening, more often it is random comments about local weather and events. 

Links to above now removed as they have been removed or are obselete.

Last weekend

There were a lot of people for the last weekend of Fair Trade Material Matters, either they were just happened to be in Ely that day or they came before take down.

Good conversations and images, good memories to take away. One of the most interesting experiences has been of providing private space in a public place.

A change of scene

At the coast again tomorrow. It is a really good place to be for a change of scene after being in the gallery most of this month.
A kite making workshop 10a.m. - 4p.m. at The Parish Hall The Londs Overstrand The online booking form is here, and link to the events diary is here Flying our kites at 12 noon and 3.30p.m.

Half Term workshop

Hat Making workshop Thursday 27th October at Babylon Gallery, Waterside, Ely
This is a family workshop, the online booking is here, all welcome, with children or not!

Moving on - Slowly

The last week of the installation at Babylon Gallery. I had begun to feel settled in the space after five weeks, enjoyed hearing the feedback and conversations. Now I have been looking at the installation for future reference and it's bit like moving house. The studio will change again, how to bring all that furniture to bring back and fit it in the space.

The catch up process of stitching more portraits has got further, but now of course there are fifty plus from this show. Archiving system in place and easier to maintain now, this should mean the online quilt will be easier to add to as well.

In conversation with one visitor I did wonder if I would have to edit some drawings out, I haven't done that before and had previously said I would not. The audience at Babylon Gallery is slightly different from other galleries and events the work has been shown at, some of the drawings are not as intentional. One blanket may have children's faces and become a stand alone 'canvas'.

Comments this week have been very varied and the days visitors really disperate. I found my energy changed, I had a period last week not relating so well and let people 'receive' the work as they were inclined. With hindsight and from a comment Jane Wilson made I would make a sign that encouraged visitors to talk to me and ask questions, then I would not have to initiate those conversations.
A school visit was interesting, having to teach 13 year olds about the conventions of visiting a gallery and respect a shared public space. A conversation with them about how few marks can portray a face, how we recognise someone by those marks was interesting; also about what 'piece work' is and who does that kind of thing. The concept that art could include those considerations was obviously a new idea to the children if not the teachers.
There have been many people comment on how original the idea is and how skillful the work is, perhaps I should believe it. In addition comments about the use of space have been good to hear.
Sunday 23rd tea and cakes 2-4p.m. then take down and move on. I feel a bit like a traveller.

Continuing the process

This week I have found it harder to relate to visitors and have been more involved with my work process. Something changes  in my approach while I do this work, in my mind stitching and drawing feel more similar. Sometimes it is the same hand action.

I have related with those who come in and want to get involved with the work, drawing themselves and each other and understanding the relationship between a personal and communal action.

Donations of blankets from some, offers of paper and carbon paper from others all help sustain the project.

Five weeks have gone very fast, only one more left before this version of Fair Trade: Material Matters is taken down and takes on another form. Many new portraits to scan and stitch, new relationships and networks to develop.

Encouraging comments

I wrote something yesterday, then lost it in the ether so tomorrow will have to try and remember what it was. I had started to think about the way this project is like piece work, like so many other jobs and how it might give me more to write about Slow Making.
Today was quiet but because of that productive. While stitching faces I was able to think more about the nature of the process, the relationship with other people doing boring repetitive jobs. 

It seems to me that many artists are doing that, tho' the work may not seem boring if there is a good relationship with the materials used or the end product, but the process has a lot in common with many repetitive factory jobs.

Two Portuguese sisters came and spent a long time making their portraits, more than one each. I found their response to the project refreshing - one had even started to pin her portrait onto  blanket, assuming she would be involved with the stitching. Perhaps that is another stage for some venues. They really enjoyed perfecting the use of carbon paper and have promised to bring some back from Portugal, where it is both available and cheaper than in UK!
I have enjoyed the interaction in the gallery this week.

Slow Making: planning, use of space and archiving

Is there something about Slow Making that is also about sustainable and efficient use of space? 

While working in the Babylon Gallery I have a chance to refresh my studio. I have a chance to look at the space and try to store tools, materials and finished work in a different way.

Almost everything came out over the weekend, a shock to my system and the rest of the house. Too much stuff in too small a space perhaps, but seeing it clearer should help. The plan is to put things back slowly, throw away or give away everything that I will not use in the foreseeable future.  Time will tell if this means new and better work.
Today the archiving of Fair Trade: Material Matters finished work was completed, now to start stitching again, this time archiving as I go which means keeping good records of people, places and events.