Can You Just..... Of Course I Can

Having completed two Art Trails in September, I had assumed that I was done for the year in terms of events to showcase work.  I don't make for Christmas, its an occasion which is less than happy for me, for many reasons, and I'm not a huge fan of the celebratory makes, as in for me to make them.  I try hard, not to, but its possible to end up with Bah Humbug as my mantra at this time of year.  The only consolation is, chocolate choice at this time of year!

So thinking on, and having ideas for reconsidering art practice... out of the blue has come two opportunities.

I made these for the first.....

This was a quick turnaround, as in only a few days between receiving details, and date for postage in order to meet deadline.
The work has to fit in a CD case - so its very specific on size to meet.
So I've sent these off, the nature of the event is there will be no personal acknowledgement of receipt, so I have to hope they arrived.  I will hear nothing again until April time, when hopefully a fat cheque arrives! (I have seen a photo of a box of entries, but which brown envelope is mine....) The good news is that there is a minimum price of £20 per piece, you set the price yourself, but that's the starting level.  So now I need patience, to see what returns.  So for a full day of intensive work (plus takes ages to label and pack), I hope someone likes and buys  (at least one, please).

Next, the opportunity to enter an Open Exhibition - internet submissions.  Now I have been in this Exhibition twice before, but haven't had success in many years.  Always difficult when you stitch, as usually the Open has only 3-4 pieces.  I had decided not to bother any more - but the entry fee for three pieces is only £15 and entry online is fill in a form and send images.  Its very easy, especially when I make a practice of photographing everything I make.  This is a selected event, so its all down to the judges, and whether work fits in with other pieces to make a good display.  I won't know the outcome for about 3 weeks.

So.... the question remains, have I actually finished submitting for the year?

Next!

Today I've been and submitted 3 entries for the annual Essex Open Exhibition  I wasn't going to bother, heck I've been so busy with so much stuff, 4 Art Trails, 3 ventures for The Material Girls - it did seem a little extreme to add something else in.  Then on the other hand this is supposed to be my career (cough).   The reality is I have 3 pieces of work which have not been submitted to the Open before, and are not needed elsewhere to prevent their use, so might as well give it a whirl, a bit of labelling, a tiny form to fill in and part with a small amount of cash, its not like its onerous and hugely expensive.  I haven't been in the Open for a while, so will have to see.  They do accept textiles, although its not listed on the form, but generally there are only about 5 textile pieces in the whole thing.  I try it also because we make art, end of, whatever form that may take, and if you don't show it outside of the textile environment, how is it ever going to get more recognition.  Judging is next Wednesday, so probably end of next week I will find out.

In the meantime we have this:



ERTF Essex Day at the Seaside

 Bit later than planned, but these are photos from Friday's ERTF Essex Day. I certainly had a wonderful time. I didn't go on the beach, wretched arthritis playing up big time, so I parked myself on a bench on the promenade. The above left was the view when we arrived, tide out. This is Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex, in the distance those buildings are in Kent! By the time we left to go up into the cliff gardens, the tide was coming in, second pic - at quite a speed.

So I sat on my bench did the response type recording, as in not trying to make a beautiful drawing (which for me is a non starter), but rather recording the things which speak to you as an individual, so colours, or shapes, or converting sound into lines or stitches etc. I did a lot of writing to describe things. I found myself sitting in the sun humming away to myself. What a difference a day makes, Thursday has been like Autumn, dull, cold and wet, and here we were in sunshine.

After lunch it was into the Beecroft Gallery to see the Essex Open - remember the one I failed to get in. As usual there are some pieces which are stunning, some which you think, huh, how did that past the grade. And although they accept textiles, its always very few - only three this year. We thought we might bombard them with textiles next year!!
It so nice to meet up with people, and especially those who are new to your acquaintance - there is so much talent around, its nice for it not to be hidden, and to be able to sit with others and chat art/textiles etc I'm not sure I'm continuing with the sea project. We are going to have a follow up meeting to see what's developed. But as this was my first time recording in this way, now I know what I'm aiming for, I think I will be able to choose something more considered and thus take the correct colours or tools with me, most of the stuff stayed in my bag!! So first steps learning.

Art Trail

My work is up and ready for the Art Trail which opens on Saturday 20th, and runs until 28th June. Here's a look. Apologies for the photo, its really hard to take a pic of things in a window, and also being a hairdressers, the mirrors are directly opposite. Apologies to those inside if you are revealed mid snip!! http://www.burnhamarttrail.co.uk/ I will be at The Museum this coming Monday afternoon (22nd) stewarding - so come by and say hello.

The pic in a previous post of machine or nue, well I was hoping to finish that, but its still sitting here, undecided as to what to do with it next, so it hasn't appeared in the window!!

I've also put One piece into the Essex Open. It wasn't until last moment that I realised if work is selected it will over run with my exhibition with Juliet, so good idea in the end to only put one piece forward. Its been a while since I've been successful, so hopeful but not overly so.