Paths, Chickens and The Sculpture Network Brunch 201

We've been busy moving wood chippings

and turning them into lovely new paths.

Wheelbarrows at the ready team!

Bessie's babes are fully grown and 4 seem 

to be handsome but noisy roosters so they 

will have new homes and The Green Patch 

will have replacement laying hens.

Meanwhile Carole and other local, national and international artists have been rising to the brief set by Susan Williams MRBS and The Sculpture Network. An exhibiton co-curated by Susan and Graham Keddie MRBS took place at Susan's Artspace Studios. We had the great good fortune to meet and share the work of Carlos de Gredos from Spain. 

The brief from Susan was as follows :-

'Nature as a material for art' - All exhibitors are asked to present their artworks in a wheelbarrow or send photos of their works for presentation in the studio (see exhibition attachment). 

Images from outside the UK or a long way from Northants were put together for projection or screen presentation in two outdoor spaces

Susan Williams MRBS

Susan Williams MRBS

Video collaboration by Susan Williams MRBS and Gareth Williams

Exhibition, Networking and Celebration, Sunday, 24th January 2016, 10.45am Artspace Studios, 181 Stamford Road, Kettering, Northants, NN16 9SU, UK

Carlos de Gredos, At the End Everyone Will Pass Through the Hoop

It was a delicious day, we felt so lucky to be have the opportunity to access such a high quality art exhibition, right in our neighbourhood, almost on our doorstep, in the midst of the Avondale / Grange ward and it really opened our eyes, excited our hearts and gave the community a totally different View From Here! 

To see more of our favourites 

After Eden - Unquiet Dreams, Carole Miles

Book Working

Carole brought in poetry, alphabet and picture stamps

and we began thinking about

what makes where we are special.

After a busy school day concentrating on science

we found it hard to concentrate for long

especially as outdoors, fresh air 

and running games beckoned

We enjoyed using the materials

and felt proud of our lovely handmade books.

Repetition and Rhyme

This morning in Grange Place poet Lucy Anderson

set the group a writing exercise making use of repetition

 to propel themes or ideas forward.

Everyone shared their writing,

 a really interesting discussion 

of each piece followed.

Some fabulous poems are taking shape.

We can't wait to read them!

We'll be back at the Resource Centre 

again on Friday the 27th.

Free tea and coffee, creativity and conversation.

If you live or work in the Grange 

come on in and join us!

11.00am - 1.00pm

You can let us know if you'll be joining us here

 

Creating Our Silver Lining

We had another lovely session at the

Resource Centre - this was our view, 

which had inspired a number of new poems. It was great to discover that Lucy Anderson's writing exercises from last week had inspired some of the group to continue writing at home. A silver lining discovered by one participant was that writing was a portable art form, which could be done anywhere in moments between other daily activities. This discovery was exciting and liberating for her and definitely helped to refocus the view. We were asked to write without thinking or censoring ourselves, a free flow exercise which took a few minutes, Lucy then helped us to home in on a central theme, which we started to shape further. There was a round table sharing of the poems so far, which Lucy commented on and gave each participant a series of suggestions for constructive ways forward. It was interesting to learn that sometimes being stuck or writing about being stuck can lead to new thoughts and ideas.

Carole Miles brought in a selection of fabric samples, paints and stencils and invited us to create pieces which will become bunting to help cheer the view. This was a lively activity so in between we stopped for tea and cake!

We'll be meeting again Friday 13th June between 11.00am and 1.00pm so if you live in the Avondale Grange ward or are in the area please come and join us. The sessions are free and all materials are provided. You can let us know if you'll be joining us here

 

Back To Books Shednologist Lucy Anderson - Fields and Fences Panel Progress

The Field and Fence panel has become something of a passion for poet Lucy Anderson and she has been a regular shednologist in Carole's studio this summer.

This is Lucy's first experience of mosaic making

every week the panel grows a bit more

During the course of the afternoon there is much tea, talk, a bit of singing and if Carole is very lucky, some new poems to enjoy!

We can't wait to see it when it's finished.

Carole originally intended this sheepdog

seen resting along the Valley way to feature in the panel

but later decided to edit him out in favour of  a simple slice of coutryside. 

If you would like to read some of Lucy's poems, visit the Made in Northamptonshire Shop before July 26th where her work responds to the drawings of artist Minnie Teckman in the collaborative exhibition drawn from Minnie's Project Dogwalk. Here is a link to a blogpost about the exhibition. There are also many lovely things to buy in the shop made by artists and craftspeople in the county.