Exhibited in Plymouth

This was my first time exhibiting in Plymouth - my home town. I left it aged 18 desperate to get to London. Decades later it has a fast growing arts scene - thankfully - and Plymouth Arts Weekender is in it's 2nd year. Six Caroline Place is the project of Charlotte Squire who selected 8 artists for Uncanny World of Interiors. The setting has layers of domestic unspoiled-ness (I loathe all those super modernised interiors you see when perusing rightmove etc.) - a perfect backdrop.

Holding their own against the funky wallpaper are the skillful, intriguing paintings by David Edmond.

A curious corner created with a sculpture (made from interior items) by Charlotte Squire and paintings by David Edmond against the wallpaper that Charlotte and inhabitants haven't decided whether to keep yet or not; lovable and livable are different things aren't they?!

Where the wallpaper is gone there are many different coloured patches of plaster wall; gorgeous colours and textures. I loved showing my chandeliers here because the texture of my tarnished and rusty metal items felt so at home in a space that also showed it's history. It was a fantastic weekend chatting to the many visitors doing the Plymouth art trail - thanks to all who took part!

Uncanny World of Interiors

Please excuse my absence from the blog - I got distracted by joining instagram! I really don't know how people keep up with using all the social media, the networking is fun but time consuming. Now I'm about to dip my toes in the Plymouth art scene at Plymouth Art Weekender. I was a foundation art student here aged 16-18; several decades ago, in an age before drastic cuts when we actually got given boxes of pastels, paints and a drawing board on arrival, oh happy days. 

If you are in this neck of the woods at the weekend please come along to 6 Caroline Place, Millbay, Plymouth PL1 3PR. Curated by my friend the artist Charlotte Squire the Uncanny World of Interiors, 'showcases the work of 8 artists and designers working with everyday materials, transforming the mundane into objects of desire'.  Sat & Sun 24/25th 11am-6pm

Vincent and Banksy

I think Vincent Van Gogh may have liked these hydrangeas; the intense purpley blue. They are are at the front of a house he spent time in. Did you know he lived on the edge of Brixton for a while? Yes, so the creativity of the area dates way back, he was there from 1873 -1874. I went into this house recently when an artist made an installation of the house based on it's history - more here - sorry this event is over now, but nevertheless interesting and you can pay homage at 87 Hackford Road, SW9.

So I really enjoyed walking up the stairs that Vincent did, holding the handrail he must have too.

I went to the Banksy exhibition at Sotheby's - and here is his homage to Vincent in this exhibition. Isn't it interesting that he ended up so Bankable, maybe he should update his name! I'm so curious how this has affected his stance and the sharp political insight of his early work.

And how do you know what's a genuine Banksy now? well obviously Southwark think this is one. It's quite painful watching everything become a commodity. As our community in Brixton is destroyed by Lambeth Council and our building will be boarded up this year (criminal!) I wonder that they will later want to capitalise on OUR history and the great old days when pioneers lived where others didn't want to, where residences were called 'hard to let' and where artists thrived creatively. 

And poor Vincent never saw the real appreciation of his work in his lifetime.

Summer Sea and Fair

I'm very happy that my chandeliers have been selling well at Two Kats and a Cow Gallery in Brighton. I've been working fast to restock. There's something about the light by the sea that enhances everything. I've been working alot with greens and turquoises. I prefer slightly muted colours, I think they look better with aluminium because it's not shiny. If you're getting your sun and sea in Brighton do visit this gallery - it's on the beach between the 2 piers.

Meanwhile....

...I have not been to the sea but to a country fair. I loved some of the old village games. The above of course is really timely (am enjoying odd binges of the World Cup) but I loved the quality of the painting. Is this considered folk art? I'm not sure the exact definition - maybe I'll find out more when I get to the British Folk Art exhibition at Tate Britain next week. I think of my work as urban folk art. I cant tell you how much the division between fine art and craft annoys me. Since I've been looking for a studio (really tough) I found that 2 of the major providers in London only consider fine artists. It makes my search doubly hard.

Zooming in on the background this reminds me of the 3D spectators I bought in a market near this fair, that I featured here on my blog. I love the passion in their creation - beats fine art anyday!

Brighton Exhibition

I hung 5 chandeliers at this lovely gallery on Brighton beach. It's run by 2 talented painters; Katty McMurray and Kathryn Matthews. Everything seems enhanced by light reflected from the sea, but then I grew up looking out to see so it may be a childhood thing but this is a lovely location for a gallery full of very seductive things. So do get on down to '2 Kats and a Cow Gallery' for this lovely mixed show, and maybe chips on the beach to follow.

Found Garage

The cards for my Tokyo exhibition arrived today and I love them. It's next week at Found Garage  in Naka Meguro for any of you lucky people who might be there during this firey coloured season amongst the maples.

Lovely Visitors

Urban Upholsterers show appreciation!

Thanks to all my lovely visitors at The Corner Shop last week. This included a lot of fellow bloggers, some I met in person for the first time. It was lovely to meet Sarah from Teacup and Teasel blog: lots of great visual stuff and interesting places, and Christina whose Sweet Nothings blog is packed with photos and information on inspirational things, visual, cultural, London, healthy and more. Then pals Artemis and Nao from Junkaholique and Rust blogs respectively dropped in. Their jewellery shop Rust is nearby. It was Nao who first encouraged me to start a blog when I met him in Tokyo two years ago. Painters Paul Ashurst and David Edmond dropped in.

I enjoyed watching this huge image of a cake pass by

Georgina brought a crowd from High Tea of Highgate where she's usually busy baking. Luiz, The London Foodie couldn't make it but gave my work and studio a lovely post on his blog - where I'm flattered to be included amongst the London eateries he reviews. Davina of Zachary Valentine boutique apartments dropped in. Fellow makers, recyclers and top notch upholsterers Andrea and Patrizia of Urban Upholstery dropped in, as did many other visitors (and fellow accordionists!).

Thanks all for making it such a fun event and warming up Craft Central's little Corner Shop for the week.

Show Up

I wondered what my 100th post might be, how nice it's the 1st day of my exhibition, A Light Shower.

And speaking of light showers, look at this blasting sunshine for November.

I have 12 chandeliers for sale here in a whole range of sizes, colour mixes and styles.

At The Corner Shop, Craft Central, 21 Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0DX, daily 12-7pm, Sunday 12-4pm until Nov' 6th.

A Light Shower

I'm busy preparing for this at one of Craft Central's venues, see you there.....

2010

This year kicked off with the opening of EXHIBITIONISM: The Art of Display at East Wing Nine at The Courtauld Institute of Art.
I've lent the student curators this chandelier until July 2011 (after which it will be for sale!) Admission is free and it's open once a month on selected weekends, so check their site for details. eastwingnine
This chandelier was made with all the odd single things in the studio that I realised I might never use as I usually work with objects in pairs, threes, fours, sixes etc. As I hate waste a piece made of all odds was the solution.