Become a patron of the Arts!

Where did the summer go?

My poor blog - so neglected! But looking back at just a few photos, I can see why - I've been living, not blogging! Lots of walking on the beach and bird-spotting (the little cuties above are turnstones).

We've been to lots of local events, big thanks to Herne Bay Promo Team for giving us such a great summer!

Went to see Coco and the Butterfields, for FREE, twice!

If you haven't heard them, I recommend giving them a listen. They have a bizarre blend of folk and hiphop, and tremendous energy.

I hadn't heard of Marcel Duchamp (sorry, I'm a philistine), but the festival in Herne Bay was great with lots of original work to enjoy. His local collection was that he sent a postcard to someone saying "I'm not dead, I'm in Herne Bay". Hmmm. 

There were decorated bikes all over town, I liked this one because #1 it's knitted, and #2 there are CAKES!

More birdwatching?

We've been enjoying the garden (and the sea view!) too... as was this spectacular moth. Don't know what it is (do you?) but it was beautiful, so fragile, almost like parchment.

Somehow we found time to help our son and new daughter- in-law move house, with the assistance of their kittens. You saw the wedding pics, I hope? My dancing blisters are healed now!

Then there was a torch procession and fireworks...

We sat on the slopes at Tankerton and watched the Waterski World Championship (I think!). No idea who was winning but my goodness they were fast. 

We also watched a lot of sailors enjoying the sea

And of course we're still fossil hunting. Our collection of fossil sharks teeth now has around 150, but we have finally found two fossil fish vertebra after months of searching. 

I found the first, and then MrNifty found the second one the next day.

I found time to knit a ghostbuster! He'll be going to meet his actor friend with Barry next month, so there will be another photo of him in the fan section soon.

We'll be moving (yes, again) in the spring when our current lease expires, so thought we'd have a week in Bognor Regis, to see if we fancied trying living there. By the end of the week we've decided that Bognor itself isn't for us, but the outskirts look promising, maybe Felpham or Aldwick

The clouds were amazing that day, there was almost a straight line.

Big beaches - and yay, we found fossils!! Rotularia bognoriensis to be precise, fossil marine worms (I haven't suddenly become an expert, we saw some later in the museum!)

Bognor even has pretty street lights along the seaside!

We had lunch at the Fox one day, where William Blake was arrested for sedition! We also ate at another local pub, the Thatched House - both made us want to move there NOW.

So that's just a little of what I've been up to during the last couple of months - how was your summer?

Folkestone Triennial: the making of my favourite piece!

I blogged last month about my stroll around Folkestone looking at the Triennial Art, and was later contacted with details of how the wonderful knitted wall came into being. Many thanks to Inferential Grin for permission to share their story and fabulous photos! I also got back on my favourite soapbox (What is Art?)...but more of that later!

The intention was to organise a community project that included rather than excluded the people of Folkestone and this was a beautiful project to launch. There were a few sleepless nights worrying about the amount of creations that would be received, but there were plenty from as far afield as Liverpool and France.

The knitted wall is actually two installations, "Flower Power" and "Sea Change". The slide show that follows has a *lot* of photos, but I found the process fascinating (and awe-inspiring!)

You may remember that part of my difficulty in deciding "What is Art?" is my feeling that to be "Art" rather than "craft" there needs to be a message - well, turns out this has not one but two!

Each flower, stem and leaf in "Flower Power" represents someone affected by domestic abuse in our communities.

'Sea Change' encourages us to look at the beauty of the place where we live.

There have been consequences! The Purl Queens have been invited to take part in yarn bombing for the Rugby World Cup which they have been busy making for, and a yarn shop in Canterbury have asked them to cover their building. It has been an extremely positive experience and has brought lots of people together in a lovely community way. We think Moda has become the most photographed building in Folkestone now and it makes us all very proud to be part of something beautiful.

This 'yarn bomb' is just one of many local artworks, made possible through the Fringe which is completely self funded. The exhibition continues through August and September (details on the website here) so if you're not too far from Folkestone, go go go!

Meanwhile...back to "What is Art?"

I apologised to Purl Queen for saying the knitted wall wasn't Art, explaining that I thought part of my reason was that I'm a knitter. So if *I* could knit flowers too - then it wasn't Art. With hindsight that sounds a bit like traditional British self-deprecation! More to come ... and I've changed my mind. How can a work of such beauty, skill and purpose *not* be Art?

Folkestone Triennial - is it ART?

So we're back to an old favourite - what is "Art"? I rambled about Banksy way back in May so you'll know I'm not exactly qualified as an expert - I'm not even sure what I like, and even less sure about what I think is "Art"!

However, I'm always up for a day at the sea, so we headed off to Folkestone to check out their Triennial which runs till September 25th. We wandered around looking at installations (with a brief break for a picnic by the sea, of course) and didn't manage to see everything in almost 5 hours - so be prepared! There is a map showing the permanent exhibits and those that are new for this year, but the first piece I spotted was neither, and had no "label" telling me who it was by. I liked it though - especially as it had a conveniently meerkat-sized nostril!



We straight away hit my "problem" with Art. I like this - Folkestone is surrounded by farmland and of course the harbour, so an animal with steampunk-like components seemed very apt to me. But I don't know what the artist intended. I believe Art is a collaboration, a communication between Artist and Audience. I'm not even quite sure what I mean by that though! I suppose i mean there needs to be a message of some sort - but is what I *think* I've understood by the piece the same message that the Artist was intending? And does it matter anyway?

The next piece didn't seem to be on the map either, but as a knitter I loved it and I'm not sure it needs to say anything more than knitting is fun!
*edited* I've just been advised that the next piece is 'Yarn Bomb' by Purl Queens for the Folkestone Triennial Fringe. It's a communal art project for the Inferential Grin - The Triennial Fringe which is organised and funded by the 'Johnny Cotter Gallery' and the building landlord. Thank you Purl Queens and Inferential Grin :-)



We knew we had to see the Folkestone Mermaid by Cornelia Parker, but I was disappointed to only see her from the back. Maybe the front aspect can be seen when the tide is out.



It's beautiful I think - though I've read quite a few negative comments mostly based around "how can it be a mermaid, where's her tail?" and I know that's the first thing many children would ask. When I read how it was made, I had more questions still.

This is taken from Kentonline, you can read the full article here :

"Painting quick setting latex on to her body and then plastering over the top, Cornelia cast Georgina’s back first, then did her front, legs and arms and finally her head. All the while Georgina had to sit motionless, striking the same pose on a granite rock."

So - back to my "What is Art?" question. Cornelia has used Georgina's actual body, and the pose from the Copenhagen mermaid. So is it Art? And who is the artist? Seems to be that Georgina (the model) has done a lot of the work! (No offence intended to Cornelia - I think it's lovely, I'm just trying to understand my own confusion)



I was really pleased to hear Cornelia say: "I like that about Art, that it's very hard to understand what it's for." I don't feel quite so inadequate now!

The next piece threw me completely. I had read that there were several Tracey Emin pieces, but only realised I was looking at one when I saw someone else taking a photo.



Had it not been for the other photographer, I would have seen this as a genuine lost baby shoe. Her other pieces are similar, there's a mitten on a railing



a little cardigan



and others. But why? To me, the knitted pieces in particular looked as if they were actual garments dipped in plaster of paris - though actually they're bronzes. They're quite fun because they fooled me at first, I thought they were real. I've often seen lost baby clothes that a kind passerby has picked up and displayed prominently in the hope that they're found - but is it Art?

This is the description from the website: "Tracey Emin’s art is one of disclosure, using events from her personal life as inspiration for her work. ‘Baby Things’, Emin’s perfect bronze simulacra of baby clothes can be found tucked underneath benches, hanging from railings and lying by a kerb. Exuding an aura of the forlorn and dejected, they are poignant reminders of Folkestone’s high teenage pregnancy rate, which is similar to that of Margate, Emin’s home town."

Sorry - can't see it. I would never have understood that without reading about it.

There are so many many more pieces - but we rather liked this one because we could *do* something. It's also the only piece that resulted in a conversation with other people.



From the website: "Dolven’s installation features a 16th-century tenor bell from Scraptoft Church in Leicestershire, which had been removed for not being in tune with the others. It will be suspended from a steel cable strung between two 20m high steel beams, placed 30m apart. The bell can be rung by visitors using a traditional rope bell-pull."

The poor lady who'd got there before us thought she'd broken it - she hadn't seen the sign that said you have to wait two minutes between pulls!

The website also explains "Since the 1990s Norwegian artist A K Dolven has worked with the idea of being at odds with one’s surroundings" so maybe that's why I liked this - I'm at odds with Art!

Art? Graffiti? Banksy?

While we were in Brighton this week our son suggested we went to see the Banksy on a pub wall near where he lives.

Brighton has loads of street art (or graffiti, depending on your point of view) and I've shared photos of it before *click here*

Banksy, however, is considered a *real* artist and commands very high prices - which got me thinking about "Art", as we wandered the streets looking for the Prince Albert pub, site of the "Art" in question.

First we spotted John Peel. He's especially famous in our family. Many many years ago (1983) at stupid o'clock in the morning he played a track by my brother, who was briefly with "Those Attractive Magnets". (Incidentally I still have a mint copy of "night life", feel free to make me an offer!)



I don't know who painted John Peel - neither do I know who painted this:



But this is what we'd come to see:



I've only just noticed my reflection in the policemen's trousers - do you think it adds to the image? Here it is again, without me!



As you see, it's been covered with perspex and framed because it'd been vandalised. Vandalised? Yes, apparently someone had painted graffiti on it...

Hmmm.

I don't know the back story - feel free to explain in a comment if you know. It is of course a political piece - Brighton is the gay capital of the UK and this image of gay policemen was painted in 2004. It wasn't until 2007 that uniformed gay policemen were allowed to take part in Brighton's Gay Pride march.

As I took my photo, a barman rolled out a barrel from the pub and stopped to chat. He explained that what I was photographing wasn't actually the "real" Banksy, it was a copy. The "real" one has been removed and is for sale!

This got my brain ticking further. Who "owns" street art? Presumably Banksy wasn't commissioned by the publican, I imagine he painted it as a statement and intended it for all to see and react to. To my mind, Art is a conversation between artist and audience - this is why I never understand so-called Art painted by elephants or copies of Old Masters. OK so maybe they're pretty, but there is no dialogue.

Leaving that aside - I was happily photographing a fake. And I wasn't the only photographer, even in the brief minute I stood there.

Who would get the money? I googled, and apparently it's likely to make a million pounds. The publican says it'll go to maintain the pub.

Does it matter that the one now on show is a fake? I wouldn't have known if the barman hadn't been feeling chatty. Would you have known?

The newest Banksy is apparently in London. Westminster Council removed the last one (it didn't have planning permission) so hurry up if you want to see it!

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Personally, I enjoy street art and think it brightens up our urban environment. I totally understand why the publican would want to capitalise on his luck - but at the same time I think the Art deserves to stay where it is for all to experience. At the same time though, I would have been just as happy with the copy because I wouldn't have known. But now...I *do* know. I don't like it when people copy my own work. But this isn't about what the Artist himself thinks, he hasn't (as far as I know) given an opinion. He's painted, expressed himself, moved on.

Street Art by its very nature is ephemeral. A Graffiti Artist knows the council may remove his work at any time. If he wanted it to be permanent, he'd buy a canvas, wouldn't he?

And yet - oh I don't know. What do YOU think? Just to confuse the issue still further - this was just around the corner!



Finally - Banksy is very very welcome to come paint on my walls as a million pounds would come in handy ;-)

This is ...

ETC, ink

Fractal 2

Favourite colour?

Right now I am loving the rich purples and teals as well as the brighter aquas and you can always soothe everything with a soft antique white.

Exposed Steel Taper Candlestick Holders

Favourite smell?

The smell of the ocean. Whether it is a hot humid day with the air standing still or cool winter days that make you want to bundle, nothing beats ocean air.

Nifty: me too!

Favourite place?

Well it would be redundant to say "See above" but... The ocean. More specifically the ocean in winter, deserted beaches, only your foot prints in the sand and then going home to cuddle on the couch with a blanket and a book and the ocean out the window.

Industrial Coat Hook Rack

Favourite sound?

Thunderstorms. They are of course the most magnificent at the beach, but I can enjoy a good thunderstorm anywhere.

Favourite way to spend your time?

I call them lazy days. You spend all day in your pajamas, eat whatever you want whenever you feel like and if you want to do something productive, you do it.

Favourite item in your shop of all time? My ducks.



I did this piece in college and still have it hanging in my computer room. Just looking at it makes me feel happy.

Favourite shop that isn’t yours?

There are really too many amazing shops to choose from. However when I am hungry I longingly look at Nicole's Homemade Treats. Nifty: don't we all?



What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt so far that you’d like to pass on to our readers?

If creating stuff makes you happy then do it. It doesn't matter if you get 1 sale or 100, selling really should come second to creating. There is a perfect balance, but if you get too business minded then you lose sight of why you first started selling. Do what makes you the happiest.

Thanks Erica - what a lovely thought to end with.

ETC, ink on Etsy
Facebook: http://facebook.com/etcink
Website/blog: http://etcink.com

This is…

...Jay!

Jay is a new fellow-member of Etteam, and owns two Etsy shops:
Ziggy and Friends and Sunshinescot .

card by Ziggy

Favourite colour?

warm colours like yellows and reds

Original vintage artwork

Favourite smell?

sea breeze, fresh bread, vanilla

Favourite place?

Too many to choose from so I'd like to pick where I'd wish to go next - New York please!

Favourite sound?

The lapping waves on the beach

Baby horse collage

Favourite way to spend your time?

I really do love to travel...

Favourite item in your shop of all time?

Moon 3



Why?

It was the kick start for becoming creative again after a very very long period of artistic inertia for myself

Favourite shop that isn’t yours?

Oooh there really are so many but I'm going to say sprouthead - it's the one that got me interested in Etsy in the first place as I only used to buy work. I heard about this site called Etsy and decided to use it to gather materials for projects and I used them with my art and design students.

detail from Inverness, by sprouthead

What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt so far that you’d like to pass on to our readers?

That it's hard work and you have to believe in yourself and be patient and be as proactive as you can, especially if you don't have a huge huge group of family and friends to get you started and placed on the Etsy map! But it's a great feeling when you sell something!

Thanks Jay - and good luck!

Links:

ziggy's blog ziggyandfriends.blogspot.com/

ziggy's shop Ziggy and friends

jay's blog jklthree.blogspot.com/

sunshinescot's shop sunshinescot

Strange creations in the forest

Geocaching in Kings Wood we discovered huge sculptures.

The first one we saw brought out my "grumpy old woman" because as far as I can tell it is *just* a fence. In my opinion Art is about communication, and this says nothing to me except "Why bother?"



After getting home we looked up the artist on the website (I'd have liked to have been able to read this at the time, why weren't there info boards in the Forest?)

"Peter Fillingham: The Last Eleven Years, 2004/5

Peter Fillingham has designed a railing to lead you through the forest, but it doesn’t lead anywhere in particular and is at times quite hard to follow. As a fence it keeps nothing in or out but disappears into the trees its end unseen. Made by a local fencer in softwood it sits lightly in its forest surroundings drawing a line through the forest and raising the question, Is it an artwork or is it a Forestry construction? A piece for your imagination to play with."

The next piece, Ring by Rosie Leventon I liked.



The reflections of the trees in the water were lovely - but I can't help feeling they'd look just as lovely in one of the numerous natural ponds.

Score for a hole in the ground by Jem Finer looked interesting, but again no information board meant we'll have to wait till we go there again (now that we've read up) to fully appreciate it.



Jem says "it is a post-digital work that relies purely on gravity and water to generate music. Inspired by suikinkutsu, water chimes found in temple gardens of Japan, Score for a Hole in the Ground uses tuned percussive instruments, played by falling water, to create music."

We thought maybe you were supposed to chuck stones in it...sorry ;-(

Most beautiful *art* we saw on this walk?



This communicates with me. Awe, wonder, fragility of nature, delicate colours, the softness and texture of the wings, the ephemeral nature of life...