Late Night event at Turner Contemporary

On Friday the Turner Contemporary Gallery held one of its Late Nights, Paint and Play evenings.
The thing about having only one big gallery here in Margate does mean that I try to get to most of the events.

Friday evening had a number of events, Big paint with David Price, The Future of the United Kingdom with Jeremy Bailey and T-Shirt Hack with Blockcolour.


I went first to the Big Paint session upstairs in the Clore Learning Studio. Here David Price and Turner staff had set up the space with large sheets of paper, paints and a range of brushes and sponges. The aim was to experience a bit of the way Helen Frankenthaler worked on the floor with abstract shapes.

David explained well the ideas and potential way of working to us, though of course we had the time limiting factor of people waiting for their turn, different materials and groups of people on most work.

But despite that I really enjoyed having a go. I don't usually work on the floor or on such a large scale so it was good to just do that. As I worked, not having any pre planned ideas, I could see the potential for working in that way if I get a chance, with more of an idea of what I wanted to say. David was a good tutor too, encouraging and pushing people to really look and consider their work.

Downstairs in the shop Blockcolour had set up a Tshirt printing space, so I had to have a go. Queues were building up as I left.


In the Foyle Rooms Jeremy Bailey had set up an interactive painting installation where holding a control wand people could dance and move. As they moved projected on a giant screen appeared the person holding hi tech paint guns which sprayed colours and effects, while other projections of a postapocalyptic landscape appeared.

I enjoyed some of the children having a go and Jeremy took to the floor while I was there, but I didn't quite have the energy to have a go myself.

Outside with the light fading the harbour, lighthouse and the water shone with reflected light.

 

 

Waltham Forest Summer exhibition. and May Day.

The Arts Club Summer Exhibition went well. There was a good selection of work exhibited, including sculpture, prints, photographs and paintings. Katja Rosenberg always has some great participatory art work, this year it was on the theme of heros. It was good to invigilate on a couple of days and interact with the visitors.
Being in the park means that if the weather is bad, few people come along, but if it's nice and sunny of course the park fills up and there are a lot more visitors.

The gallery is due to be closed and knocked down early next year, a new building is planned but won't be open for probably 2 years. The whole park is having a revamp, I can't help but be

worried especially by the number of trees that will be cut down.

Last month I was in the park for the May Day celebrations, the Maypole dancers and Morris dancers were there braving the rather cold and windy weather.

Inspired by William Morris Exhibition

I've been invigilating at the Inspired by William Morris exhibition at the Changing room Gallery this morning. It is a great little exhibition and seems to create a mood of uplift and inquiry.


My painting, entitled" Invoking the Spirit of Morris," is an attempt to invoke in the viewer something of the spirit of William Morris as they enter the woodland landscape woven with Morris patterns and designs. I was thinking as I painted the image how might the forest or woodland appear to William Morris? The painting also recalls other visionary painters such as William Blake and Samuel Palmer.



There is some great work in the gallery, from 19 different artists, including, painting, photography, printmaking, stained glass, installations and 3D work.Martin Adams, "River of Fire" brings the ideals and struggles of the Socialist League that Morris was part of into the present day, with his installation of Morris designed wallpaper hanging, old photo and leaflets for a troops out demonstration this weekend.


Ann Fuston and Linda Green showed evokative stained glass pieces,Alison Chaplin captures the essence of the bare trees in her painting, and with Jenny L'Estrange produced the decorative borders around the walls of the gallery. In the corner is a garden full of gnomes, arising and standing on the ground, they are adorned with William Morris inspired designs and bring a smile to peoples faces. Some visiting children have to be restrained from picking them up and taking them home. I think they have all found good homes now.



Great entertainment was provided at our Inspired event by Russ Chandler, the clip here. Roger Huddle, Theresa, and Kevin Sheils.

I seem to have had a busy month, mostly planning things, the first Urban Arts Retreat on Colour wisdom. This is happening on Saturday 10th March, more info on my main site, and planning for the next at the end of March.
Sorting out ideas for a body of work called ' 1000 petalled lotus ' which I hope to launch soon. This is an open event for all artists working in all mediums to respond to the theme. Initially work produced would be photographed, or videoed and sent to my website where there will be a section for the work to be seen. The idea is to eventually have 1000 pieces of work representing the 1000 petals of the lotus, and look for a suitable venue for an exhibition.

Continuing with my printmaking, I have been working on copper, trying out drypoint, and working on some designs for silkscreen. It keeps me on my toes, working in different mediums, but quite a lot of work awaiting completion.

I've also started a couple of self portraits, I haven't done any of these for a long time, so this is an interesting process, what do I see? who do I see? and what do I look like? I'll put them on here and my site when they are finished.