Anthony Gormley Another Time, Sculpture in Margate

Another Time  is one of Anthony Gormley's solid cast iron figures that has been sited outside the Turner Contemporary Gallery. It  is a part of series of one hundred, solid cast-iron figures produced by Antony Gormley, that have been sited all around the country.

The sculpture is sited on the beach and is submerged at high tide. As the tide goes out the figure is revealed, becoming fully visible a few hours before low tide.

These figures are cast from Anthony Gormleys own body and  Antony Gormley describes these isolated forms, cast from his own body as "an attempt to bear witness to what it is like to be alive and alone in space and time"

Despite the notice not to walk out to the sculpture, many people find it irresistible and want to touch the figure of stand next to it and take photos.

I must admit I did walk out there myself, the walk along some old parts of structure on the beach is slippy with seaweed and shells!

The sculpture is here till the 30th November.
On the Turner Contemporary website you can see  Sarah Martin, head of exhibitions discussing the sculpture and a link to a TED talk where Anthony Gormley talks about his work.

I also worked digitally to place Another Time in other places in Margate.

Ramsgate Harbour illuminated boats.

Ramsgate Royal Harbour has become one of the Christmas highlights in Thanet, with more of the boats illuminated for the festival this year.

Lots of people are visiting and taking photographs  of the over 40 boats taking part and the press has been down interested in this more unusual Christmas event.

This annual event is now in its third year and is organized by the Royal Temple Yacht Club and Ramsgate Marina Association and runs till January.

Boats taking part will be judged for the best dressed competition in a number of categories.

Volley Ball England Beach Tour Finals on Margate Main Sands.

Volley Ball England held it's annual Beach Tour finals at Margate on the 16th and !7th of August. website here

I liked the main sands set up with practice volley ball nets among the visitors enjoying their day at the beach and swimming in the sea.

Men and woman were using the nets and the public was also encouraged to have a go.

On the main court children were also enjoying a coaching session that at one point had them hitting balls over the nets on to the bodies of their competitors lying on the sands.

The weather stayed fine which was good for everyone, though there were not as many spectators as I would have thought.

Oyster Festival at Whitstable

Whitstable's annual Oyster Festival opened last weekend with the Landing of the Oysters  and their blessing by the  Rev Simon Tillotson from St Peters Church, the seafarers church in Whitstable, which recocnizes St. James of Compostela, the patron saint of Oystermen.

Many thousands of people come to the festival which has a week long programme of events. Festival website here

The tide was in for the landing of the oysters and I was struck by how close the various boats were to the shore. I also had a sense of how lovely it must be  for all the children and youngsters in boats enjoying themselves.

After the blessing of the oysters the cart and clergy and dignitaries joined the parade through the town.  Some great paper mache heads and fish and the two giant figures along with a wonderful steam punkish  metal crustacean vehicle.

Along the harbour were hundreds of stalls, most with food and drink for all the crowds. There were the longest ques at the oyster stalls, which seems right as it was an oyster festival. 

It was very busy  and very hot, I needed to cool off in the small areas of shade  every so often.
But I enjoyed the atmosphere, the parade and seeing the landing of the oysters.

Colours of the Sea work in progress

I've been working on my ideas for a project on the colours of the sea.  I am using photography and painting at the moment, but will probably include other media as well.

These are some new watercolours on small pieces of paper, I'm building up the layers on them. Others may stay with just a transparent wash.

Experimenting with how to mount them, I tried some smaller paintings on a black canvas, which I quite like.
This one is destined for a birthday present.

I could also mount more of the pictures together. I will continue to experiment over the next week or so.

Out of the Blue exhibition at the Pie Factory Margate

 

I went down to The Pie Factory on Sunday to see Out of the Blue, an exhibition by Sally Higgs and Deborah Crofts.

The Pie Factory is a really good space, website here in the old town close to the sea and the Turner Contemporary Gallery.

Sally and Deborah have used the space well, filling the rooms with colour. They were both at the gallery when I went along so it was good to talk to them.

Both artists have a love of the sky, clouds and sea, the fleeting moments and changes in light that we have in Britain.  They also both have studios in Folkestone's creative quarter and I was pleased to hear that the area is developing well.

Deborah was showing a range of work including pieces with bold shapes and colour that seem to take a moment and distill it into an essence.
Deborah's website here

Sally's work includes colourful sunsets and sunrises that seem to contain the light and release it. Some more of Sally's work here

I really enjoyed looking at the work and meeting other artists who are interested in the same subject matters as I am.

The exhibition is on till 26th March 10-4pm and there is an opportunity to make a postcard picture yourself to add to the wall during the exhibition.

Colour Sketches of the Sea

 

I have been working with the new art bars that Ruth bought recently and water soluble pencil crayons, to draw some seascapes.

Experimenting with different papers and in different sketch books I have been keeping in mind my theme of colours of the sea.

I have also been looking at the landscapes of Emil Nolde, such amazingly vibrant coloured works.

I will continue with some acrylic paintings  using Emil Node as inspiration as well as Turner.

Colours of the sea

 

 

 

I have been building up a folder of photographs of the sea. One of the things that has impressed me the most living by the sea now, are the varieties of colour found in the sea.

 

 

On sunny days the sea has colours that remind me of the Mediterraneam and Cornish waters. Other times there are subtle tones of blues, greens, greys and ochres. Then of course with the setting sun, reflectings of sunsets.

Last week the low sun cast an amazing molten silver colour over part of the sea. 

I hope to turn some of the images into other art works this year.