The Elements Weekend Retreat

It seemed pretty apt in the end, holding a weekend arts retreat on the theme of the elements, with the weather being the way it is. Funnily enough we didn't have the bad weather that other parts of the country were suffering. We were able to do some walking meditation in the local park, experiencing the elements with only a dash of rain.
As usual, a great group of people really engaging with the material and experiences and some lovely work produced.



I have been busy trying to sort out prints of my work and producing a more typical card range, for a number of events coming up this summer. It's surprising how long it seems to have taken me. But hopefully I should see some results soon.

Found, Shared exhibition and Chelsea flower show

There is an interesting exhibition on at the Photographer's Gallery Found, Shared: The Magazine Photowork www.photonet.org.uk The walls at number 5 are covered with found items, from discarded photographs, some torn or creased, to letters and notes and doodles. These are some of the materials used by artists and photographers, some in the form of magazines like Found magazine. www.foundmagazine.com
I respond to the random nature and excitement of finding materials and using them in some way.

At number 8 there are works by Joachim Schmid. Since 1982 he has been collecting discarded photographs from around the world, in a piece called Pictures From The Street. He also advertised for unwanted photographs, offering a way of dealing with them for people.

Chelsea Flower Show was upon us last week again, and I went along on the last day with Pauline and Ruth. The weather was not so good, cold, but we missed the rain and all the gardens and flowers were a tonic as usual.


The Fetzer Californian Garden and the moss garden stood out along with Chris Beardshaw's garden, a homage to Hidcote Manor. Some photos here

The turfing of Trafalgar Square and clouds

After hearing about Trafalgar Square going green for a few days, last week I had to go in to see for myself. It made such a difference to the space, which is normally a part of the urban space and roads.
Suddenly there was green, green grass as you looked down to the square. People were having picnics on the grass, lying down reading their books and just enjoying the difference.There was a smile on my face, something to do with seeing that change, and what a difference that little bit of turf had made. the power of that grass perhaps.



Some pics here.

Following my climate theme I have been drawing some clouds, and did a small dry point of clouds.
I also got out of the library The Cloud Spotter's Guide by Gavin Pretor-Pinney after it was recommended to me. I liked the amazing story of Lt-Col. William Rankin who was forced to eject from his plane and fell through a Cumulonimbus cloud. That's a really big storm cloud. He lived to tell the tale despite extreme cold at the high altitude, hail and thunder and lightning in the cloud and being tossed around by the forces in the cloud.

The Water Works nature reserve

I'm working on a number of themes for up coming exhibitions, one at Walthamstow library will be on the theme of retreat. I have been taking photos in local churchyards and parks and went down to a local nature reserve last week.
This reserve, The Water works, is part of the Lea valley parks and reserves, the land was once part of the filter system for East London's water. There were pumping stations and filter beds and was used until the 1960's.
Despite the huge pylons striding across the land and the busy Leabridge road on one side and industrial land to one side, the space was remarkably tranquil. A host of birds were singing, and a pair of swans, families of ducks and moor hens were all on the old filter beds.


There are different habitats maintained on the filter beds and a large section of walkways and hides to look out at the birds and wildlife. I took some photos, some here.