A trip to France – eating, drinking, reading looking at exhibitions in Marseille. As usual a visit to Mucem was a joy and had 3 interesting shows –, mother, and a set of collaborations set up by the fashion designer Mossi Traoré, fashion too. At the newly opened Museum of Contemporary Art [mac] Clément Cogitore, Ferdinandea, the ephemeral island and Bonnes meres was ok, but the collection has some fantastic examples of French artist’s work.The Marseille History Museum has some wonderful individual artifacts.Then up to Crest and Avignon to see Lee Ufan at the Palais des Papes. The building was awesome, the work not so. Spent a lot of time with Jackson. Just finished the latest David Sedaris collection The Land and its People. Its laugh out loud funny with a great turn if phrase and comic timing - I'm in the hard part of getting old - the part where everything irritates you. The easy part comes a little later, when my short-term memory disappears. Onto screens - The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - wonderfully styled japes. The Last House - horror meets home alone with monsters. Glenrothan – great performances leading to lovely resolutions all round. We Still Kill the Old Way - Disturbing old school revenge.
A weekend of parties – a 3-year-old and a 60 and then another
during the week– most excellent, also got to hold a 3 day of baby! A thoughtful
and productive day at Aldeburgh Hospital talking with staff and patients about
the proposed artwork for the corridor. It is such a wonderful space filled with
light and the friendly faces of the people who work there. It is a real
pleasure making this work so far, I feel that it’s real consultation, taking
and being led by the people I am working for. I am developing a side project –
the celebration of peoples lives through their hands. I have been taking
photographs of people’s hands and adding their favourite flowers. I see the
work referencing ideas around protection, holding and shielding or as a form of
gift, giving and receiving. I don’t know if they will become part of the work
or a piece on their own, which is the great thing about this project, a
continual feeling on not knowing where it will lead. A cracking night out at
the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft – we will rock you. Checked out Ryan
Gander’s work at 303. The last song could fit into a live art
context without any irony. Onto screens - Tuner – a rollocking caper.
As ever - Venice was there as I left it, beautiful and other. 2 years later I'm at The Venice Biennale 2026, and it was great
to see so much textile within a fine art context. To breathe in gives me the ability to breathe out. I’ve been a
member of an, now renamed Artists Now, since it was called artists newsletter.
It is an essential organisation that supports artists in so many important ways.
I recently received assistance to attend Venice Biennale. Visiting the Biennale
exposes me to an alternative creative experience to a western, male, global north
art world position. This act of creative breathing in gives me the ability to
breathe out. The experience of attending exhibitions is invaluable, enabling me
to grow both as an artist and as an educator. As somebody who works with others
I pass on this knowledge to the students I engage with. Thank you to Artists Now
for recognising the need of artists to continue to grow and for your valued support
over the years.
