Time Two – Exhibition with Fran Benton

Last Monday Fran and I arrived at the Cowichan Valley Arts Council gallery to put up a joint show. We were greeted by an enthusiastic team of volunteers who hung the show and arranged the cases for us. They are a fantastic creative group of individuals. By lunchtime the show was up. As folk have asked to see photos of the exhibition, I have attempted to take some decent ones. I need to return and take better photos, but meanwhile here is the information about my artwork in the show. I’ve uploaded a pdf file that is a version of the information provided in the exhibition.

I will be giving a talk on Saturday afternoon in the gallery entitled ‘Creativity on Demand at 1pm. And we are also discussing giving a papier-mâché workshop in the near future.

2022-show-info-smallDownload

Papier-mâché Update

Amazing how time flies. Here we are in December 2021 and my last post was January 2020 before the Covid crisis sent the globe into a tail spin. It has proven to be a time of reflection and quietness, with a general slowing down on all levels. Fortunately none of my family or friends, to my knowledge, have been touched by covid for which I am most grateful.

My last ceramic experiments took place during a couple of months in February and March of 2020 when I had access to the ceramic studio at VIU. When the university shut down, I packed everything up and brought it home. And that was that for ceramics until now. The other weekend I enjoyed the Ceramic Conference hosted by ‘The Ceramic School’. 44 ceramic artists from all around the world presented their ceramic works and processes over 5 days. I watched some that weekend, but am working my way through those that were presented during the sleeping hours. My intention in attending was to see if I was still interested in working with clay and it did rekindle my interest. So I’ve cleared a space in my home and will await inspiration.

As a replacement for clay, I continued my interest in papier-mâché and have consequently developed enough skill and knowledge of the medium to feel confident. Here are a few of the objects I’ve made and am still developing. These are just experiments begun with the question ‘what if I tried this?’

January 2020

I trust that this year will live up to its numerical status – 2020 vision would be very helpful in setting goals for creativity and just living. It is almost a year since I last posted anything, but as the snow disappears and the sun shines, the incentive to reactivate sharing creative activities seems easier. 2019 was just soooo busy.

I was in Sunderland until the end of March and then back in Canada by April 10. There was so much to do before I left the UK, and so much to do when I returned. All of it very positive and enjoyable.

So I’ll just start with the view from the backyard as blue sky prevails over the snow clouds of yesterday …

… and just messing about with papier mache while I think through what I really want to do. None of these are finished – the doll heads need more pulp modelling and selfie-rat needs to be painted. He will go from grey to warmer browns.

So today, in the sun, the thinking cap goes on, the sketchbooks and collage sheets are coming out, and some creativity will materialize.

 

Souter Lighthouse Walk

Much to my amazement I see that I’ve not posted generally for almost a year. Today was such a perfect walking day, I decided to walk to Souter Lighthouse and back. Its just over 10 miles (16 kms), so I took the whole day leaving at 11am and returning at 5.30pm,  taking time out for lunch at the Lighthouse and food shopping on the way back.

Such a pleasant day meant that the whole of Roker Beach seafront was populated by whole families, couples and singles almost all accompanied by dogs. Upon the beach particularly and the coastal walk, dogs chased balls, one another, leapt in the sea and generally had a fun time. Such happy enthusiastic dogs with tails wagging and ears flapping.  Even I got to throw a ball for one delightful dog that perhaps thought I was its owner?

I saw rock formations, wonderful skies, flocks of birds, horses, and of course the sea which today reflected a beautiful blue sky. A lovely day…

fence posts

Labrinth by the sea well trodden.

rock from labrinth

levels of sea erosion

may more of these along this coast that is rapidly eroding

snails between two rock layers

more erosion

I tweaked this just to enhance the colours I could sea in the layers

teasels

more teasels

love the skies where land and the north sea join

Heading somewhere high aboyve the wind

fascinating benches

pigeons on the bridge

a variety of gulls

oyster catchers

surprised

Seaburn Beach

Seaburn Beach

Love this railing that permanently includes beach rocks

crocii in Roker Park

Vindolanda

On Sunday last Carolyn, James, Kelsey and myself drove out to Vindolanda, the Roman fort ruins that are in a state of ongoing excavation. The fort was occupied for 400 years and the excavation has revealed so much about the daily life of the Roman soldiers and their families, especially after a pile of partially burned wooden tablets was uncovered. These small tablets contain notes, letters and shopping lists – everyday communications. It was a glorious sunny day, but quite cold. We meandered through the ruins, then through the excellent museum and finally settled in the cafe before heading out for the hike.

From Vindolanda we hiked up to Hadrian’s wall that was built and defended by the soldiers from the fort. The wall is an impressive 80 miles in length and quite well preserved in this location. I found myself thinking a lot about the 2000 year old landscape and the life of the soldiers. The soldiers were identified by names such as the ‘Fourth cohort of Gauls’ or the ‘Second Cohort of Nervians’ indicating the way that Rome recruited nationals of the different countries under Roman rule. It was all fascinating. If you are at all interested in learning more, check out these websites: http://www.vindolanda.com/ and http://www.vindolanda.com/roman-army-museum.

We walked beside Hadrian’s Wall, stopped for a picnic lunch, and when it was time to head back before the sun went down, diverted onto the Pennine Way which was rather boggy and waterlogged in places. The pictures give some idea of the landscape and the wall. The lone tree is in Sycamore Pass. When the tree dies a new one is planted.

A group of us from the NGC have decided to get into shape by hiking this spring. Next weekend may be a bit too snowy, but you never know – its only Wednesday!

Northumberland National Park

Today, Sunday Feb 11, turned out to be a sunny clear day even though snow showers could have approached from the west. Carolyn met me at the Callerton Parkway metro station around 11 am with her bright blue car and we headed north into the Northumberland National Park. All I can say was the almost 4 hour walk with a break for lunch across a wide open landscape with 360º views at times was fantastic. It was cold, as you will see from Carolyn’s attire, but refreshing and out of the wind warm enough to stop and eat. In the distance to the north the Cheviot hills were covered with a soft layering of snow guarding the border of England and Scotland and to the East the sea on the horizon. The downward walk was very icy and we tramped through muddy pathways at times. The peat across which the path took us is up to 10 metres in depth. The sun stayed out the whole time and by 3.30pm it cast a beautiful soft light over the landscape. Like going on holiday. I don’t normally post all the photos I took, but this time I am posting quite a few. No captions needed.

A Walk to Souter Lighthouse

Today was going to be a walking day with Carolyn from the National Glass Centre. But as she texted to say that she had a cold and I was packed and ready to walk i headed out to Souter Lighthouse just over 5 miles up the coast. It is run by the National Trust, but as it is part of the Coastal Path, the land is accessible by walkers and one only has to pay if viewing the lighthouse complex.

The day was actually gorgeous and perfect, if well wrapped up, for a brisk walk. The walk took me past the National Glass Centre, through the Marina, and along Roker and Seaburn beaches to the cliffs by Whitburn. The beaches are always full of walkers with dogs and children on a Sunday, which is the day I usually put aside for walking.

Not having walked as far as Souter Lighthouse before I had no idea how long it would take. In fact it took 2 hours and 15 minutes which was longer than Google Directions predicted. I did stop to take photos so that made a difference. It seemed like a lot longer than 2 hours and 15 minutes….Thankfully the National Trust run excellent cafe/restaurants and my walk was rewarded with a delicious latté and dairy free cake! I made it just in time to the lighthouse cafe before a rain downpour.

It was a lovely day, although because of only walking 2 miles a day my legs aren’t quite used to an 10 mile hike in one go. Being sick over Christmas and lying down for 3 weeks didn’t help. But as I intend to walk this beautiful northern landscape a lot this year I had to start somewhere. So of course I took photos. Large expanses of sea always produce fantastic cloudscapes on windy days. The warmer start to the day gave way to a colder front on the way home and I did not escape a sleety rain shower.

the crow with a crab leg

people and their dogs – many dogs…

looking toward Seaburn and Whitburn

Lookig back at Roker and Seaburn beaches with Sunderland apartments in the background

Everything relates to the Sunderland harbour lighthouse

Memorials are placed all along the coastal walk

The houses are safely back from the cliffs

These mounds are what are left of rifle ranges from WW1 and 2

From the air they make sense and also show the remains of farming furrows

In the distance the windmill beneath these gorgeous clouds

the 18th century mill is a Grade II listed building and thus protected

Someone made this labrinth that can be seen on google maps

the cliffs are mostly limestone and so have been subject to extensive erosion

I’ve not seen pigeons and gulls together on a seaside rock before

Finally the lighthouse came into view

the drop of rain was a mere hint of the downpour.

beautiful clouds

Fishing is very popular here abouts, and the fishermen get as close to the sea as they can. The tides were low this week I assume because of the moon

Here they are in the landscape

A lone fisherman

Sunderland docks seen from afar – the light appealed

as did these relctions of the harbour railings

the route

End of Module Assessment

This Wednesday we had an assessment of our work to date. Instead of writing about it I am just uploading my personal review that was handed in at the end of the presentation. It was an excellent experience as all of the MA participants are working in very different ways. It will be evident from this review that I’ve been trying glass techniques…fun!

assessment1

The Flu

Well this Christmas holiday has been defined by ‘the flu’. Two weeks ago I headed off to York for the day to see the cathedral and the ceramic collection at the York Art Gallery. An end of semester treat or so I thought. I felt tired on the early journey into York, but arrived with enthusiasm and headed straight to the cathedral. Whilst queuing for tickets (York cathedral charges an entry fee) I was persuaded to take a tour of the Chapter House roof. It was an incredible tour, well worth it, but very cold as we were up in the rafters built in the late 1200s. The oldest oak beam in the roof was cut down in around 950 AD. And its still standing. A unique roof because the Chapter House below it has no central supporting pillar – the ceiling is suspended from the oak structure.

We also saw the area where the architect/builder drew full size plans on a plaster floor as guides to the builders. Even footprints of apprentices in the plaster. Plus a room full of templates to repair the hundreds of stone carvings etc. that decorate the cathedral.

After that tour, the cathedral closed early for 2 showings of the animated film ‘The Snowman’ held in the main aisle. I headed to  the York Art Gallery round the corner and a well deserved warming bowl of soup.

York Art Gallery has a very comprehensive ceramic collection, consisting of a main exhibit area, glass cabinets on the wall around featuring certain genres/periods, a vast long cabinet sorted by colour of every era of vessels and an excellent display of a a private collection displayed in room settings – my favourite. I had a long chat with the gallery attendant, himself a ceramic artist, who explained his changing views on ceramics after sitting with some of the works.

The featured artist was Sara Radstone who created for this show, fragile dried plants entwined in hessian and a commentary on books. Rather pleasing work to my surprise.

I managed to fit in a quick trip to the York Museum, but by this time the light was fading and the Christmas Illuminations were lit. A beautiful sunset. York is almost 54º north and so the days are short. York was packed with shoppers and visitors as were the trains. I had to standup for an hour of the hour and a half trip back to Sunderland. Crazy. I was even chatted up by Pete the Plasterer who entertained me until a seat became available.

Unfortunately the next day I came down with a wicked flu. I even suspect I had an allergic reaction to the flu jab as I developed a blister rash a couple of days after the jab. I didn’t think much of it until arriving at Kevin’s a few days after contracting the flu, the rash re-materialized with a vengeance. I managed to catch the train from Newcastle to Reading (4.5 hours journey) despite a fever and went to bed here immediately where apart from resting on couches during the day I have been ever since. Bloody nuisance, but obviously my body needed a rest…

I have an essay to write for the 9th of January which will most probably be done on time. I can still think and type :).

Here are a few photos from the York trip.

chapter house roof

from further back

roof of designers studio

joined oak beams

looking at the oak beams

inside cathedral

inside cathedral

the side aisle

metal grill

model of roof

the roof at eye level

traced plans

ceiling bosses

st Mary’s Abbey ruins thanks to Henry VIII

templates of stone forms

builders 13th century toilet

york sunset

york sunset

victorian tiles Chapter house floor

Stone roof carving restored

the snowman screen

victorian tiles Chapter house floor

victorian tiles Chapter house floor

Catch Up

Well – life has been busy 7 days a week with studio practice, critical studies, walking around Sunderland and just general living!

I live close to the centre of the town and so it is easy to walk to the main shopping mall to pick up most of the things that I need. Ceramic supplies can be ordered from Sedgefield Potteries and they deliver to the National Glass Centre regularly.

I have not yet found my ceramic direction, which is fine as this first module is about experimentation. I’ve made a few things with the different clay bodies, started a completely unrealistic Victorian architecture inspired pot and made my first glass relief. There is so ,much to learn and explore that I have felt quite overwhelmed at times, and in fact last week I went down with an infection. Thankfully this has cleared up due to an NHS treatment and I’m feeling fine again. It most probably did me good to do nothing and rest, as I do have a tendency to go at things with too much enthusiasm sometimes.

Critical Studies has been lively with a review of Modernism, Post-modernism and next week hyper-realism and lots of in-class group discussions. We share this class with the Fine Art and Photography students. A 2000 word essay is due after Christmas, but I’ve not found the time to get started on the research yet…. a last minute effort seems likely.

The studios are shared by all levels in the Glass and Ceramic program and so there is a lot of activity of all kinds. Today I had my first experience in the hot shop as Jim Maskrey the chief glass technician placed hot glass into the plaster mold of my ceramic relief. The mold was first heated overnight to 800º and the glass (1100º) was then placed into the mold as it sat in the kiln. I completely forgot to take photos as I was paying so much attention to what Jim was doing. It looked beautiful to see the hot clear glass glowing internally red/orange as it was placed in the mold. It should finish annealing by Tuesday or Wednesday I hope. Just a wee bit excited…. Jim makes the most beautiful glass work: https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/antarctic-expedition-by-james-maskrey

The MA will actually be titled MA Glass and Ceramics and so I want to make full use of all the facilities while I can. Based on the pressed fish ceramic relief I quickly did in the spring, I have made 3 Brown Trout stamps that went into a bisque firing today. I’ll press them into clay, make a plaster mold and then make another glass relief. There is an extensive cold shop equipped with all kinds of grinders for refining glass work, so I may be spending some time in there.

The studio/workshops are divided up into personal desk space (BA, MA and PHD), ceramic hand building and wheel work, mold making, ceramic kilns, glass kilns, print shop, cold shop, hot shop and flame working areas. I’ve actually made a clear glass marble…so most probably have the basic skills with which to experiment. But I’m all fingers and thumbs with that skill.

Students are definitely sloppy in their studio clean-up and the wheels aren’t in as good condition as the VIU wheels. But work is achieved non-the less. It is a lively creative atmosphere with so many levels working on different projects. The National Glass Centre also rents studios to practicing artists and so they also use the facilities. There is quite a lot of sharing of information and help from the students and we have a very knowledgeable ceramic/glass technician who is extremely helpful. Learning lots.

Now all I have to do is figure out what I want to accomplish in this year once the experimenting secures some new skills. Only vague ideas at the moment.

This week a fellow student Naomi and I went to the Shipley Gallery to hear the ceramicist Julian Stair give the Henry Rothchild Lecture. What an excellent talk. Here is a link to his website: http://www.julianstair.com/ He spoke at length about his Inquietus project – really important for me to hear what he had to say about his practice. Very inspiring.

Here are a whole stack of mixed photos. I keep forgetting to photograph what I’ve been doing…so not many.

Inspiring glass panel at the Sunderland Museum

Sunderlan Museum – alligator skull

Sunderland Museum – Art Glass

Sunderland Museum – Art Glass detail

Sunderland Museum – pressed glass

Love this brick chair by Colin Whitbourn and wooden coat in the Sunderland Museum

Sculpture by the same artist around the marina

Durham Cathedral. No photos allowed inside unless by special permission for a worthy cause.

Durham Cathedral at night. I visited the cathedral one Saturday with kelsey, a student from New York. We stayed for the evening concert in the cathedral of Mozart’s Requiem. Wonderful

Durham Cathedral and moon

The Sanctuary Knocker at Durham Cathedral. Anyone would by granted 37 days sanctuary if they could hold onto this knocker. At the end of the 37 days they could go into exile of face the accusations

Lots of graffiti around town.

And close by another

Roker beach with the lighthouse in the distance

The light house on the harbour wall entrance

Seagulls behave the same everywhere

Rainbow over the river Wear. The uni residences in the foreground

Traffic and Metro Bridges over the River Wear. I walk over this daily.

Architectural detail

Sydenham and Corder Houses designed by Frank Caws in the Neo-moorish style in the late 1800s. The inspiration for my crazy pot.

Detail of Corder and Sydenham houses

Detail of Corder and Sydenham houses

Detail of Corder and Sydenham houses

Detail of Corder and Sydenham houses

The elephant tea rooms details also by Frank Caws

Elephant Tea rooms above the Royal Bank of Scotland. International style meets Neo-moorish…

Elephant Tea Room dragons

A lovely old door in the law office area

Typical decorative detail from an era of waelth, not standing over dereliction

Meat shop detail

Hebe’s blooming – its mild here

Winter Garden entrance

The Winter Garden roof . The orginal winter garden was destroyed during WW2 and so this new one has replaced it. Full of giant tropical plants and trees.

Winter Garden rood

Winter Garden

Winter Garden fern

My lovely new shoes

Detail from the Winter gardens

The relief inspired by the Winter Gardens visit plus sketchbook

the Winter Garden plaster mold

The beginnings of my Victorian pot…

3 Brown trout waiting for firing

Pinch pot bird made from very heavy grogg clay called Crank, plus my first ever glass marble

Pressed Savoy cabbage leaf into porcelain.

My little men naked reduction fired in a gas film

A porcelain attempt to capture the lovely smile of a man I see most days walking along the river