For Woman's Day and signs of Spring.

I have been thinking about a series of images and texts for Woman's Day and experimenting with spray painting and printing some paper.

The series is called True Romance, this is the first piece that looks at the issue of equal pay for woman. I was surprised to find that equal pay was first enshrined in the 1950s and to see the discrepancy that there still is especially in part time work.
It amounts to another huge tax on woman's earnings.

Out and about over the last few days it seems that tentative signs of Spring are finally emerging. It has been a long and cold winter this year and the daffodils are still not out fully here in London. In St James park the crocus were just out and daffodils just starting to flower. There were quite a few people out in the park and seagulls , ducks and geese on the water.

Revolution on Paper exhibition

The British Museum has an exhibition of Mexican prints 1910-1960, Revolution on Paper, on at the moment till 5th April. I have only just managed to get there recently.
The exhibition focuses on the socialist revolutionary prints by artists from the Taller del Grafica Popular, the national print workshop, Rivera's famous cover image Emiliano Zapata and his horse, and work by david Alfaro Siqueiros.

One of Siqueiros lithographs, Latin America was a masterful work using the iconography of Christ on the cross. The figure slumped against a powerful tree/cross was depicted with a variety of marks and tones, suggesting anguish, energy and sensitivity.

One of Rivera's works was lovely lithograph of his wife Nude with beads (Frida Kahlo) there was a delicate touch and intimacy in his portrait, all the more contrasted with the revolutionary work on show.There were many depictions of Mexico's hero Zapata complete with his iconic moustache and again a contrast with the colourful lithographs illustrating the creation by Carlos Merida, whose stylised birds I particularly liked.

Ice Sculptures at Canary Wharf

There was an Ice Sculpture Festival at Canary Wharf a short while ago, and I went along to check out what was happening. It was a bit of a surprise to see all the chainsaws and heavy hand tools, I'm not sure what I was expecting, and fascinating to see the forms taking shape.



The theme was Cool Trading, so some more abstract shapes and figures were being carved. But there were also opportunities to try some ice sculpting for yourself.

Winter Exhibition at Vestry House.

The Waltham Forest Arts Club has a winter exhibition on at the Vestry House Museum at the moment. I have 2 small paintings in there and was invigilating on Sunday.
It's a small space in a quirky local museum, but it is valuable in being one of the few spaces available in the borough to show art work.

There is a range of work on show from video, printmaking, 3D, painting and photography. My paintings are imaginary winter landscapes referencing popular images used at this time of year to sell all sorts of wares. But there is something about these sorts of landscapes that appeals to me and others I presume. Perhaps something about the wildness or remoteness of these spaces and the sense of an idyllic place somewhere that we might visit.

Katja was showing a Memory Game using a number of artists images reflecting on the borough

Julie caves is showing a beautifully coloured painting Twilight Pauline Evans ceramic piece Lyme Avenue made me smile and DNA Dilemma an installation by Anna Spain was intriguing.