Prickwillow work in progress

Evidence of work in progress in the Prickwillow phone box, the signs are part of a series started by author and art critic Ian Collins when he curated Salthouse '08.
More to follow and work will be developed during the month, which is promising to be a busy one.
I will be 'in residence' in the greenhouse of The Bishops Garden preparing for Sunday 9th, Open Gardens in Ely This will be a preview of the planning and making of work for several exhibitions this year, some work will be available for sale.
The following weekend I will be in Bury St Edmunds, again linked to an open gardens trails, for 'Tracks and Traces' exhibition where work will be available for sale.

Background work

Over the last few months with a lot of patient tech support I have been working on the background of FrostArt workshops site. Lots of new workshops both in new and familiar places coming up over the next few months, admin time is both precious and tedious. Successful results are almost always invisible to others.

This update should mean I work more efficiently for teaching and really enjoy more focussed and productive studio time. Now to go and handle more natural stuff.

Familiar work, different setting

I have just installed a small preview show of Cambridge Open Studios work by Riverside Arts group into Habi's. Our local, fabulous Spanish restaurant, the best place to meet and have coffee, breakfast, tapas or paella in Littleport over the last few years. Now also to show small, selective artwork. There are enough local artists to keep the shows interesting and really professional. Keep visiting to see what's available, the work is for sale.

New venue

I recently visited the lovely Olivia Shave who has set up 'The Studio' near West Harling in Norfolk. Hidden away in the Thetford forest, it is an exceptional place which I am sure will become hugely popular for special gifts. All the suppliers, like myself, are makers, artists and artisan food specialists in Norfolk.
When visiting you are likely to meet the lates additions to their growing flock of sheep, these supply both wool and meat products to the shop.
I have provided Olivia with a small selection of willow work to have in the shop, with the aim of encouraging customers to commission pieces to suit their special occasions and events.

Their face book page is The Studio

Exploring Trails - Making Marks

I am currently making new work for 'Tracks and Traces' an exhibition showing journeys of five women artists. June 14th - 16th. The setting is a contemporary house in the centre of medieval Bury St Edmunds. Perfect for viewing the artwork and the garden. This exhibition is part of Hidden Gardens of Bury

My work will include expressive baskets, a collection made in response to solving recent personal problems and reaction to community disturbances that climate change protests have brought.

The title 'I can't contain myself' enables making to include a wide variety of materials and forms.

In the nature of Slow Making these pieces include materials collected over many years and techniques learned and adapted from weaving or stitching fibres and yarns from different contexts and sometimes in very unexpected ways. I am enjoying going back to basics, handling familiar materials in different contexts.

I have again spent time making in the beautiful setting of the  Bishops of Ely's greenhouse and some of these pieces will be previewed in the The Bishops Garden when it is open for Open Gardens in Ely, June 9th

There will be a small preview of Riverside Arts Open Studios work at Habi's in Littleport from May 7th, go in for the best coffee, tapas and paella in the district. All work will be for sale.

Family - Sarah Gull

Basket detail - Jane Frost

Textile - Bridget Buchan

Stone - Fay Jones

Mosaic - Genista Anahita Dunham

Cambridge Open Studios 2019

This is the time of year when planning for Cambridge Open Studios starts. I will be taking part again with Riverside Arts in Little Ouse, it always seems so far away when we get together and it is hard to imagine what July hot summer weather will feel like but I am sure the next few months will go very quickly. The new website for Riverside Arts is here
I am working on collections to put into Open Studios, including expressive containers made linked to walks and conversations as well as more traditional baskets. Going back to basics, enjoying handling materials.

Completed commission

I was so pleased to be asked by Marion Leeper to make a screen for her story telling events, the only instructions were 'no straight lines really' so I could spend some time working out how to make the size she wanted and make it fit in the car, then to make sure it would safely stand up. Look out for it in library events coming up soon.

I made this in the workshop on my allotment which is shown in the book by Gill Heriz 'A Woman's Shed' so it got lots of interest from allotment neighbours. It's not quite live art performance when working there, but at times very similar.

Open Greenhouse, Open Garden

On Sunday 10th June I will be 'in residence' at the Open Garden of The Bishops House Ely

I go here when I have the luxury of thinking time and the space for making is very special.  I feel in good company where Slow Making has taken place for hundreds of years with many skilled craftspeople.

This year I will re-present work that has not been seen for a few years, in the nature of Slow Making work changes as it ages and may be adapted or added to. there will also be new work using skills I have learned recently.

Trying not to lose more

Today is Remembrance for Lost Species Day, this year the emphasis is on Pollinators. I have made envelopes using plant materials and put collected seeds in to send or give to others, in the hope that we do not lose any more either of the plants that feed them or the insects that Pollinate our food. We will all be so much poorer if the non-human residents in our shared world are not cared for.

WW1 memorial exhibition

For eighteen months OuseLife artists, have been working on ideas, materials and technical problems to make an installation in the west tower of Ely Cathedral  next year. The theme of this exhibition is the centenary memorial of World War 1.

The actual making is always the easiest part, meetings and problem solving are the challenges. Sometimes communicating between artists can be challenging too, we all have strong visual ideas, translating those into words and keeping to deadlines is much more difficult.

Images of work in progress have been shared among the group, encouraging each other is an important part of the project when materials and techniques are a collaboration. I am only showing a taster here.

Deadlines for this have to be well planned, publicity and installation will need to go smoothly as there are so many variables to go wrong and people involved
It is fun playing in such a wonderful public building with so many different uses, so many people but it does mean we have to be aware of and sensitive to their interests.