2018 Already!!

Happy New Year

Here we are already good way through first week in January.

Last year was quite full on, lots achieved and done, but not always to my personal satisfaction.  Record keeping of all sorts has gone amiss, inc in blogland.

I won't say its a Resolution to write more, but let's just say the intent to do is there.

2017 saw

The Material Girls with FOUR Exhibitions

John Harle at second venue

Essex Environment shown at two venues

and a very successful Exhibition Goodnight Children Everywhere

My Embroiderers' Guild Branch

held a very successful Exhibition

then there was the National Day of Stitch

which was packed out all day

and I received a Certificate for being a Member for

25 years.

On a personal level

Once again had work in Rochford Art Trail

September, October and November

saw attendance at Workshops

Art Van Go

Seth Apter

Dali Graham

Phew, a lot there,

2018 may be a quieter year as lots of organisations seem

to be taking a break.

I do have plans and commitments to things, and await notifications of

any new opportunities.

Coming Soon

Next Exhibition from The Material Girls.
This is a new body of work, not seen before, lots of personal stories entwined with when the Hall was a Nursery.

Essex Open - is Now Open!!!

We've been along to see our work displayed at the Essex Open.  In case you don't know where the Beecroft Art Gallery is - its almost next door to the Southend Victoria train station, in what was previously the Library premises.

Alas, this year there is no printed catalogue, so you will need to read the notifications under the pieces and look for the labels with the various awards.  There are three areas of display, and my work can be found to the left as you enter.

As always at these events, there are very few textile related pieces, but I have 3, and there are also pieces by Karen Apps and Jane Barry, both of whom I know.
The large white worded piece displayed with mine, is also a textile, and is by a lady I don't know, Abbie Cairns.

Here's a photo of my work on display.  You will be able to find and see more detail from a recent posting.

Here is a photo of Keith's piece on display, just around from mine.

Plenty of time to visit, but do go along, lots of exciting work in various formats.

Success!!

I'm a happy bunny.  I have work accepted into the Annual Essex Open Exhibition.  I have been in it twice before, but the last time was 2005!  I've entered a few times since but no luck.

25th November 2016 -  11th February 2017

57th Annual Essex Open Exhibition

Beecroft Art Gallery

Victoria Avenue

Southend on Sea

I tried last year and vowed, not to bother again... but then along comes the info, last year it moved to an online application, whereas previously the work was taken in and selection from actual, so it now becomes an easy process.
Utterly amazed that ALL of my pieces were selected.  I wonder if its because I refer to it as Mixed Media?  We still fight the assumptions of Textile Art being certain things, and as I stitch on paper, I think its safe to say it is Mixed Media.  In fact I'd go so far as to say most Textile Artists are... they use dyes, paints, found objects, unconventional materials, etc.  I guess we keep banging on the door until they let us in.

So here are the pieces which will be on show....

Burnham Bound

Machine stitch on paper and map pages

Floret 1

Machine stitch, book pages, sewing patterns,

mono printing, stencilling and lace embellishment

Resolution 1

Printing, machine stitch on paper, distressing, wax, acrylic paints

But there is more to the story.... him indoors also entered.  This year marks the first year he has turned his photography hobby into work to be seen by the public.  He also entered three pieces, and has had success with one!

Urban Decay and Graffiti Arch 

Combining the Mix

I like my blog, I use it as a means to record my arty thoughts, to log an idea, or work, which gives it a date.  I have several blogs I follow via Bloglovin - they vary in topic, textile art, collage, mono printing, papermaking, bookbinding, and even quilting, which seems at odds for a totally non quilt making person.

Of course you follow what interests and these days so much intermingles,  I can find myself led to others by a style, or a wish to know how something works, or someone with similar or compatible interests to my own.

So whilst enjoying reading other artistic thoughts and processes I came across a sentence this week which set me off thinking, oh dear, can't deal with this.

I call myself a Mixed Media Artist.  I stitch, so how to describe?  Its a topic which often goes round and round amongst fellow creative stitchers.

Artist - would be ideal, but then its more of a Painter association I feel.

Embroiderer - well yes, but in my head I think of the precision of goldwork, exquisite fine detail stitching.  Not the clumpy random exploits I offer up.

Textile Artist - for while I was happy with this one... and it is the way most of my genre choose to describe themselves.

However, for me it didn't seem quite enough, just not quite matching.  Paper is my fabric of choice, and I prefer paint to dyes, I like hand and machine stitch.  I might use beads or bbq sticks.  Us creative stitchers still find prejudice and lack of understanding as to what our techniques and skills can achieve.

So Mixed Media Artist seemed to be a better fit for me, and open more doors.

So here I am settled with my label, not giving it any more thought, until this week.   There it was... should not refer to it as Mixed Media.... should be known as Combined Media.  Arghhh like that trips off the tongue any better.

I like Mixed Media - kinda fits me... chuck it in together, mix it up and see what comes out, and call it art darhlink!!

Well I have overheard it said – you know which one Beverley is… she’s the one who makes the weird stuff!

Embossing powders, Frantage - hand stitching beads

Papers, stamping and machine stitch

Hand made paper, stitched seams

Machine stitch, paint effects, paper beads, ephemera

FABRICATION - open to view

Wow, was yesterday a busy day.  Fabrication my solo exhibition at the Mills Arts & Events Centre, Rayleigh, Essex is now up on display.

This is it, standing facing the entrance to the cafe.  None of the pieces have been shown here before, but there are some older items, some show only once before and some totally brand new - unfortunately with home circumstances thrown into disarray, I lost a lot of prep time. Having been here before I thought I knew what's what.  Unfortunately since last time there are less hangers available, so it meant a bit of jigging and swapping to get 3 hooks on one wire, and 2 on another, with the kind assistance of venue staff, and a ladder!!  Because the Centre is well used and there are often small children/pushchairs around this gallery corridor, pieces have to be out of reach of small hands.  Last time people "complained" to me that I'd hung the work too high - but there is a reason for why it is as it is.

After putting the work up, it was time for "breakfast" in the cafe - well toasted tea cake, and tea, very nice too.
Then back home to collect sewing machine and take it to be mended, and serviced.  It will be away about 10 days.  I have no spare, unless you count my gran's old hand Singer with the long shuttle bobbins.  So I will have to get on with design work - no bad thing I suspect.

Its mid afternoon before I get lunch, and I'm very tired, all this work and rush, and then boom, its done. Then the phone rings....local Council, ringing to get information for a Press Release for this exhibition.  As the venue comes under the remit of the council, in the Contract it states they will do the Press Release.  However, having been promoted in the Rayleigh Arts Festival brochure, I thought that was enough 'exposure' and generous.  So I had to answer questions totally out of the blue, and out of brain cells.  I've little idea now what I said, but I will get to proof it, before publication.  And.... another new experience to chalk up, never done a phone "interview" before!  The minute you take your art out of the home, be that in any form, teaching, exhibiting, publishing, entering events - there is so very much to learn, and to continue to learn, as nothing is ever exactly the same from one experience to another, or so I've found.
And now, as they say, I'm going to chillax for a day, but there is the task, of fitting things back into cupboards... may be.