camoshow

Yesterday saw the hang and private view of the first of many shows this month that I will be part of. The first years on the BA in Textiles at NSAD have a show in a church in Norwich as part of a camouflage project. We managed to hang the work in approximately 5 hours and the show looks good.

finalassembly

I have just returned from Wells Hall Primary where i was a guest presenting the last school assembly as part of the passing comment project. An area on the Anglia Estate in Great Cornard has been transformed by Babergh District Council. I worked with their officers especially Susie Tyrrell the arts officer and the residents on the redesign which included a number of artworks. It was good to show the children how their drawings were included in the designs and to hand out copies of the manual, a creative document that outlines some of the history of the project.

stonewords

I have spent a couple of days working with tape and stone that will eventually be sandblasted. the pieces are a combination of the work I'm involved with at the moment but not for anything specific.

wrappingthecornexchange

I have just heard that I have been invited to create the designs for the protective netting that will clothe the Corn Exchange in Ipswich whilst it is undergoing renovation. This is an exciting project and the opportunity to see my work on a huge scale. The premise is fairly basic - corn exchange covered in corn! The work stems from the idea of creating a spectacle, a surprise to brighten your day as you turn the corner. The images started out life as work created during the Year of the Artist residency with Sibton Parish Council.

joinedupplanning

newbook

in Valletta string was used to create volume, essentially from line. since the installation in Malta I have been thinking about making, I have been drawing and making models of potential pieces. the spark was working within the education programme in leeds at the exhibition from book to book. having the space to think cemented together many strands. the ideas have been brought together in this series of bookworks, ideas such as chaos and order, revelation, 'nature' v man-made, the potential of building spaces and considering the space of a book the books. this is a return to the object and the start of a summer of making

lookingandstuff

Two highlights of the trip to Leeds were an old favourite and a new find. The new ‘find’, pointed out by Chris, was at the back of the MA Fine Art Studio Block - the gravestone of Pablo Fanque. Pablo Fanque became Britain’s first black circus owner. He was born William Darby in Norwich in 1796 but his notoriety was cemented by being mentioned on the Beatles track Being for the benefit of Mr Kite. Leeds appears to be a vibrant town but outside the Henry Moor institute there is a moment of stillness with one of Joseph Beuys 7000 oaks. I have been watching this tree grow on my numerous visits to Leeds and like to contemplate Beuys life and practice.