weaving weekend

This tapestry was a nice surprise in my inbox this week. I taught Naomi to weave when she was about 13 or 14 and although life has taken her in other directions she still finds the time and inclination to make tapestries now and then.

This summer I will be teaching a beginners tapestry weekend in Montsalès.  If there is enough take up it will be at the Salles des Fêtes and if there's only a few of us we'll probably do it at my studio. The dates are 20 and 21 July from 9.30 - 12.30 and 2 till 6pm. (This is France, there has to be a long lunch break!) The cost is 200€ with all the proceeds going to the Tour. You can find a list of other workshops on offer here.

univers d'artistes

ceramics by jean-pierre chollet

painting by jean-pierre gilly

carved wooden reliefs by Kathryn O'Kell

ceramics by sylviane perret

painting by jean-pierre gilly

I managed to take a few photos before my camera battery gave out. Will go back and try again.

univers d'artistes

Univers d'Artistes is an exhibition of the work of seven artists at Galerie la Tour Montsalès until the 28th of May.

There are three ceramicists (Jean-Pierre Chollet, Sylviane Perret and Patrice Teulières) two wood carvers (Jean-François Delorme and Kathryn O'Kell), one painter (Jean-Pierre Gilly) and me!
Alongside their own work each artist is showing objects from their homes or workshops which have particular emotional significance for them.  There are stones, fossils, birds nests and tools as well as some works by other artists and makers, each accompanied by a short text.  I'll post some photos of the show just as soon as I take them but in the meantime if you should be in the area, do drop by!

carved wood panel above by Jean-François Delorme

new work

chemin # 2

chemin

Two new tapestries which are on show until May 28th  in 'Univers d'Artistes' at Galerie la Tour Montsalès.  Just recently I've come to realise that in fact my tapestries are landscapes.  Not in the sense of direct representation but as a reaction to repeatedly being in and moving through the landscape which surrounds our home.

edinburgh

I've just had an unexpected few days in Edinburgh. What a city it is, I never cease to be amazed by it. Arthur's seat, seeing the sea from the Bridges, the Castle Mound, that long view over the Waverley and Princes Street Gardens. I feel so much more affection for Edinburgh than I do for Dublin, my home town.  Not so pleased about the proliferation of tartan tat shops. Were they there when I was a student? I don't remember so many.

We went to the Dovecote and saw the Wendy Ramshaw show. I appreciate her rigour and liked the early jewellery and large scale work but the Room of Dreams didn't transport me - it was good to see in any case.  Unfortunately it was after 3pm so we weren't able to go to the viewing gallery and see the weavers working. (Open noon till 3pm).  Another day we popped into the City Art Centre where we saw the Derek Williams collection, the highlight for me being  an Ivon Hitchens ( Arched Trees) and a little Lowry - can't remember the title - of a boat with an island behind it. Dark and flat and empty. I don't think I've ever seen a Lowry in the flesh before.

Of course no visit to Edinburgh could possibly be contemplated without a visit to the Kalpna - so we did - twice!

happy christmas

and all the best in 2013.

Weaving the Century

 

                                              Untitled - August 2012


Anyone with the chance to go to Edinburgh should try and see the Dovecote's centenary exhibition "Weaving the Century: Tapestry from Dovecote Studios 1912 - 2012" 13th July - 7th October 2012. Go here for more details.