Saturday 20 October 2007

Autumn walk in Tarset


Photo by Simon Fraser
Went for a lovely walk this evening in the valley. The frost has not yet gotten all the wild flowers and there are plenty of rosehips for the birds. A robin likes to follow us around and I am sure we live in its territory.
Most birds have already gone south except for those which will stay. We will feed them this winter way into spring.
The walk was lovely, the air was crisp, the light special as the half-moon rose and the sun set.
Next weekend I will celebrate the full moon and Samhain.Tell you about it later.

Friday 19 October 2007

The Wild Braid




I am talking about The Wild Braid again. I wear my long hair in braids now partly because a friend, Mary Fassett a painter and writer, mentioned it to me, a suggestioin merely, which I took to pretty immediately. It is so convenient to keep it that way, so hair does not get in my face. She suggested she wanted to take a photo of it as it made my hair look redder for some reason.
Anyhow it got me thinking about The Wild Braid again. One of those books which can be a companion for life. Like Soul Food. In it Stanley Kunitz converses with Genine Lentine about his garden and many metaphors to living. Photographs of him in his garden by the sea are peppered all over the book and I love it. Very very inspirational. Not only to gardeners but to all who are just trying to live to the best of their capacity and more.

Thursday 18 October 2007

Deborah Kerr


Deborah Kerr died today at age 86. The screen kiss of all time has to be From Here to Eternity with Burt Lancaster. The one where they are sprawled on the beach with the surf splashing over them in a climactic way.

The Stolen Child


Have just been working on this image for a cover of a book of poems by Janet Frame. Tabitha Vevers painted this on a scallop shell with gold leaf in 2006.
It is a very evocative image.

Tuesday 16 October 2007

Beauty goes Avant-Guarde




I need to wash my eyes with some Sol LeWitt wall drawings. I love his work very much and the colourful wall drawings are especially uplifting.

Monday 15 October 2007

How to work better

1 Do one thing at the time
2 Know the problem
3 Learn to listen
4 Learn to ask questions
5 Distinguish sense from nonsense
6 Accept change as inevitable
7 Admit mistakes
8 Say it simple
9 Be calm
10 Smile

-Fischli/Weiss

Sunday 14 October 2007

The Martins


MM a relief.

MM a relief.

KM a mobile.

KM his last painting.

At Tate St Ives this autumn you can see a rare and exceptional exhibition of the work of Kenneth and Mary Martin, two English constructionists. The show will go to Bexhill-on-Sea and if you cannot make it to Cornwall do try to see it there. It is a rare opportunity to see the work of these two artists who also were married and raised a family in London.
Above are examples of work from the exhibition, which in fact shows many of Kenneth Martin's mobiles.

Tate St Ives




What a gorgeous location for an art museum! The views of the sea and sky are stupendous and looking down at the beach with dogs frolicking, surfers, people walking and children playing is so relaxing.
The cafe offers you an unforgettable view with good coffee and the exhibition I went for, Kenneth and Mary Martin was excellent.
It is not a large museum but the experience is so striking that you feel somehow cleansed by it. As if you had washed your eyes.
The halcyon days were spent enjoying the company of friends and the warm sun walking and exploring. One evening I had crab soup that was so delicious I still can taste it!