Minotaur

All aboard for an evening at the Royal Opera House for dinner and a show on the last night of The Minotaur. We were so excited and couldn't wait to get there even though the weather was horrendous as we left the club in Chelsea so one had to do what one could to protect ones updoo!

The Minotaur was a bull-headed monster born to Queen Pasiphae of Krete after she had coupled with a bull.....well what more can I say? We were taken on a magical trip through the twisted maze of the labyrinth, experiencing seductive black vulchers consuming hearts, the delivery of sacrificial youths to the slaughter for a cannibalistic hunger and translucent screens and scenes depicting the Minotaurs dreams. As soon as the curtain went up we were hooked and facinated with the wonderful shananigons  we'd been given to explore. It was all sooo fantastic that when the curtain went down we immediately wanted MOOORE!

Sir John as the Minotaur below

The amazing Opera House, Betty and Bert Ervin, Megan Piper and  John B (sitting back so you can't see)

We had back stage passes as if all the excitement of the show wasn't enough and then  dinner with Sir John in a booked party room across the road. What super fun and there's no beating a night like that.

Back to some business in the city the day after (you've got to work as well as play) then home again on Wednesday to prepare for the changing of studios yet again (smaller for now due to the damp) but not before a Mill lot get to gether Friday night out at the Beer Festival.

Fehew! What a week, I even fit some painting in too.

Nature As A tonic

To bring in the new year  and reconnect with ones own true self, well the only way is up for a wilderness journey that is muddy and grounding, Pendle Hill!
Experience being immersed in nature, connected with it and humbled before a power greater than you and don't forget your cheese and wotsits butty for the top. I walked with the peeps from the In-situ in-conversation 101 project, blowing out the cobwebs from 2012.

Below with my nephews, Oscar left and Callum right (in a cloud) and then the group as we hit the Trigg at the top

We drank from the silver chalice of the well just over to the right and at that moment the cloud cleared and it was like magic, all at once you could see the super view of Pendle.

So you ask, did we journey through our own inner landscapes? Did we activate our senses? Well we took some deep breaths and felt the strong breeze on our skin, laughed all the way down the great hill then connected with Helmut's hot Wizards brew at the bottom, yum......perhaps we took the first steps.?

Above:Rum poured over sugar into Helmut's brew, Below Helmut on the right with his brother George

WOO-HOO

Yes I am glad to say Christmas is upon us and I'm nearly ready for it, I've finished my painting (phew) I've wrapped some presents and from now on out I pop, in festive up doos and outfits. I had a week of bugs that nealy threw me off track, but even though I had a face of pain....... I've been making a man with no hair and no tan and it's been good for relieveing my..........tention!  yes I've been helping Santa out for a certain little boy who would like a new blue friend for Christmas

Below "Blue the clown" on the slab

As you can see we're all decked up at our house!

But lucky for us the desingnated time for Blue's pick up is Friday as we've fallen for him bad and might not want him to leave!

The Blue clown before his finnishing hair

So HAPPY CHRISTMAS everyone, time for awakening the senses and sharpening the anticipation for what is about to come but look out though for those bubbly bunch of Elfs who might get you under the mistletoe!

                                           HO HO HO

ITS' CHRISTMAS!

Tha Artist have been so busy this week trimming the mill up old fashion 70's style, we had a bit of fun making our own and a drop of sherry thrown in for good measure!

Even Montee the technician was on hand to help but mainly got his tail twisted in tinsel.

 

Ladies up ladders and jokes of two blondes and light bulbs but we got it all done!

So you know the time and you know the place, SEE YOU TONIGHT!

Christmas D.I.S.C.O!

And On With The New!

After all the hussle bussle of the London show it is finally time to get on with my work and I've decided to go ahead with a new project. I won't be doing a walk this time but I have been a busy bee of late looking into the life of Sylvia Plath. The reason for my choice you ask, well I was given a book of hers "The Colossus" some years ago and found her poetry tough meat, but seeing as the lass had a connection with these parts (in fact buried around the corner) for some reason the thought just popped in my head and well, that's all it takes and then you can't shake it.

Now I like poetry. We start off with a bit of it before yoga on a Tuesday but I've been finding it hard to get into, so my thoughts were to go deeper and look first into Sylvia herself, I thought if I knew more about her then I will make the connection. I then went to see her grave in Heptenstall and when I got a chance on my own (peeps crawling all over the place to find her) I had a few words.

The huge amount of pens that people leave for Sylvia

I'm really enjoying her work now and really getting into the flow of my first piece and I've started with the poem "Mirror".

Next week though I'll be also getting my outfit ready for our Open studios Xmas eve and the theme is glam rock (just artist dress up, unless you want to?) so watch this space but after all there's really nothing shocking about a glimpse of Xmas Stocking

Open night Friday 7th December, 6.30 til 8.30 come along for free mulled wine and mince pies and bring along a little glitter if you fancy?

My international debut.....Milan's Spettacoli

Follow the link below for the full article

Spettacoli

Working It

 

The build up to my show last week was a fandango flurry, at times I felt like a doll in a box, although when interviewed I soon warmed to the peeps as they were very kind and appreciated my Halloween build up, dress for success.

Simon and I put up the show, although it took us a while I think we did the best job, we wanted you to be hit by the Witches when you came through the door then taken by the colour of the others soon after.

On a cold All Hallows Eve a party was hosted by Simon W Desmond at Newman St Gallery, he addressed a room of influential people from the world of art and a few of my mates, each well- dressed and sipping on prosecco. It was a night of glitz, the venue was packed by 5.50 and my do didn't start till 6.30.

                                              More Press!!

All our guests rather liked the pictures and Simon and Megan had me working the room and telling clues about the work, below is the article in the independent and Simon and I talking about the Witches, we kind of go off on one at the end but I guess that's what we do, you're not wrong there love!


Independent article

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/interview-with-a-pendle-witch-8256171.html

Monicle Radio interview 36:20 in

http://www.monocle.com/monocle24/?openepisode=11100055

Spookee false fun the day after, well it was Halloween!