Photo Open and Walthamstow at sunset.

The probable last exhibition for me this year is just coming to a close at the Pavillion in Mile End Park. As part of Photo Month, there has been an exhibition of work from over 60 photographers, in the park.
Funny having just finished an exhibition in one park I find myself in another park. As part of the deal, the photographers needed to invigilate on some days. Actually this was a good experience because it gave us an opportunity to meet other exhibitors, share ideas, etc.


I really liked the space, inside and out, but the gallery is again off the beaten path, with very little passing visitors and no sign posting from Mile End tube for instance, or outside the main gates.
Having gone done with flu I wasn't able to go to the print sale, but I'm looking out for opportunities to sell cards and prints before Christmas.
There have been some brilliant sunsets recently, here Walthamstow has been transformed by the pinks and purples of the sky.

The Right Climate

I have been sitting in my exhibition space this week, in the Changing room Gallery, which is in the park behind the William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow. Thanks to the help of my friends Stavarha and Julie, the exhibition looks great. It provided quite a challenge, the range and diversity of work. For this show I brought together some more political work, looking at the Iraq war, the monopoly of Tesco the arms trade, and ecology
.
One of the pieces is a desert army shirt from the army surplus store, which is covered with badges which I made from images of war from the First World war up to the present wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Other work includes photographs of the sky and clouds and local graveyard, and my Buddhist paintings. Quite a lot of people wonder at first if it is a group show, and are surprised that it is all my own work. There have been a lot of positive comments and people taking away ideas.
I'm also letting people make their own badges if they want to.
I realised putting this years exhibitions on my CV, that with the Photo month Open next month I will have had work in 9 shows/events this year, and a few more planned for next year at the moment.

Open Studios

It's been a full on few weeks preparing for the Open Studios and my exhibition at the Changing Room Gallery. In the studio it meant moving a lot of stuff with help from friends, to make a bit of a clear space for people to get in!
Then more friends to help hang some work. I find it quite a challenge deciding which work to show, particularly as I have been working in a variety of styles and mediums. In the end I had a section on photography, including some urban images and a painting section, including my recent Buddhist paintings.
Birds have been following my tree themes and one of the paintings is of the Buddha under a tree filled with birds. There were also three tree paintings, originally started when I was in the wood on retreat at the Seekers Trust earlier in the year.
I share the studio with my friend Amitajyoti, and we were busy all the time in our open studio, people interested in the work and Buddhism.

In the garden for exhibition work

Finally some sunshine, or at least not rain, so I could take photographs in my garden for my exhibition, Gardens of Delight. Though some of the rain drops on the Begonia's and leaves do look lovely as well.

I have also been out taking photos of other peoples gardens for the exhibition as well. I can see that there could be a really big exhibition on this theme, maybe an annual event, involving more local people.

Coming home a little while ago, was this amazing sky, it only lasted about 10mins, but what colours. I really liked the contrast with the urban setting, it seemed a sky more suited to palm ringed beaches.