Snapshot from the Cole Library …
Few weeks in now; and barely begun to reclassify the Cole Library. I cannot pretend it is the most interesting library I have encountered. Nonetheless it is extraordinary in as much there are endless books about frogs and this week it has been snails. Neither of which do I get excited about. So in that respect I am the best person to do the job; not spending too long looking at the images.
Although this book binding did take my eye; and thinking about recreating it as a wood engraving … Loving it … oh dear its getting to me it will be slugs next!
At the Yellow Teapot Cafe …
On Saturday last, I began my journey as a tea maker, author and artist in the Yellow Teapot Cafe; where we had a small exhibition and meeting space during the Open Day at the Rising Sun Art Centre. Beside a fire, we welcomed those who were coming and going to the taster workshops that happened throughout the day. It was a busy, noisy delight but not conducive to talk of art and the finer things of life.
I served mostly green tea and a little white, alongside normal teas, coffee and cake, by other volunteers. Later, alcohol was offered with the musical entertainment that went on into the night.
I was able to present my newly written book more quietly at a Poetry Reading session that proved most successful.
It wasn’t the best way to start my new venture as it was much going on; but it happened, with some lessons learned.
Now I am able to take stock and work out ways I can go forward to print my book and sell it.
Words for Wednesday …
My youngest child lives in Brazil; a migrant who sometimes finds the life in a foreign country difficult and the benefits hard to see and overcome.
On my desk stands an inkwell, that contains permanent ink. Today’s difficulty which in the light of real hardship is of course minuscule. Nonetheless, I will share it; permanent ink is inclined to clog the pen nib, unless used and washed regularly; so I do write daily and give it a rinse occasionally. Then, there is the inkwell made by Mont Blanc, not looking like a mountain unless you have seen those in Rio. It would seem that the mountains do get in the way of communication links, so tunnels are made through them … Like I said we can find ways to get through.
Permanent ink well,
Like a mountain in Rio
Tunnel underneath.
Love
Love comes and goes with our breath, as with hate, despair, grief and any other emotion we might ‘feel.’ It and the others can not be held against our chest in case we need it again or grasped to use at a later date with malice.
Nonetheless, the feelings seem real with pain or joy, they can motivate us, give us hope, remind us of life’s disorders, our vulnerability and our non-lasting properties.
So yes! There are plenty of images that remind us of love and the good feelings … vital … lest we forget.
Monday … day after Yesterday
Two or three weeks ago I did a viscosity printing workshop. Where I learned the use of inks,oils and glue and the ways they react when used on a collage plate. It seems that the stickiness of the ink and its combination with the oil on the plate that has various textures and layers of glue make for an image, full of colour, texture, light, shade, shape and density.
It is a complicated procedure and the results are as you can image, mixed and not always pleasing at first sight.
What I mean is, while we might have idea in our head and work towards that; often the result is not as we hoped. It can go one of two ways, good or bad. However, in the classroom situation there is always another point of view and we can find some redeeming features. This all might sound like the Mutual Admiration Society but this is what we do.
Until we get home and give it a go! While getting to grips, trying to remember the ‘recipe,’ methods and keeping to the rules; I struggled this weekend. Frustrated as I had limited time; I put away my prints until next time. This of course is not a disaster it will give me a chance to rethink, consider the viscosity of the ink and colours used, the rollers etc., I will add another layer of glue and re-shellac.
I am not expecting any answers … it is just that while working alone it does take time to hear that little voice of our inner artist.
These practice pieces will be layered with more glue so the surface resists the ink more readily. However, this is a work in progress and I do like the intensity of the colour in parts.
So here I am the morning after the day before, the prints are a little more attractive and my initial thought good/bad is somewhere in between and they are not now destined for the bin.
Silent Sunday …
Saturday … At the Rising Sun
Today, I have looked forward to for weeks; even before I knew about the Rising Sun Art Centre’s Open Day. I have dreamt about a day, when I began planning and creating my little book that I would be able to show it to a wider audience. So the coming together of these two events is very fortuitous.
However, the day is not about me or my book; it is the day when the Rising Sun Art Centre can celebrate and show what facilities they can share with the families of the local community and have been doing for a very long time. Starting at 11am there will an exhibition, workshops, an art auction and a cabaret into the night. It will be a fun packed day. I will be working in the Yellow Teapot Cafe and exhibition space serving some Chinese tea, and later presenting my book and poem at a poetry workshop.
My journey does not finish here, although my book or rather manuscript is very nice, it has come as far as I can take it. I would like to have it made into a printed book so I can sell a few copies. This of course requires funding but more important someone to see beyond the paper, printing, poem and string; and that is the difficult part. Not the funding, but the constructive element is testing.
Nonetheless as mark of my small triumph I have written a haiku and send good wishes to those who have helped me thus far and those might might consider helping in the future.
Words and pictures done
To bind fine hand made paper
Scarlet knot tied.
Wednesday’s wise woman ….
Yesterday we celebrated women and their place in the world. On Monday I was invited to a presentation by Jean Binta Breeze. She read some poems and told some stories and gave me hope … for which I am grateful Thank you Jean.
I read today that the government has cut Reading Borough’s grant funding by 40% this amounts £39 million to be saved over the next 3 years. This is dreadful; already funds are stretched to the limit. The list of proposed cuts is huge and I won’t dwell on it now now suffice to say libraries will be closed, the buildings mothballed or used for commercial enterprises. Public toilets will be closed. The Town Hall and Museum will be subjected to staff reductions and the Hexagon and South Street will not offer the range of entertainment we have come to expect. The list that affects the elderly, children, those without work and the vulnerable is worrying. These numbers will increase as the meagre funds dwindle, as a result the housing stock will not meet the needs. Those already on the poverty levels will be expected to pay more towards the community charges. The list goes on…
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Weekly Photo Challenge … harmony
As a gardener I can provide plenty of images to represent harmony; as I am sure an artist, musician, dancers and the like. Yet, this desirable snapshot is as it says on the tin, a fragment, it cannot be bottled, held or enjoyed for more than a moment. We have all tried to find, get or create harmony; however in my humble it is nigh impossible like herding cats. Similar, to world peace unless we are all singing from the same hymn sheet … it ain’t gonna happen. So I will settle for a beautiful bloom and sweet perfume created only by the boss … Mother Nature
Monday and the dreaded list …
It is Monday and the beginning of a busy week; as usual I am squeezing 2 pints into half pint pot. However, this busy-ness can be liberating, especially if it results in some tasks crossed of the ever growing list.
This afternoon I am meeting a friend, to chat and to share a poetry recital; not a chore, of course but somehow if these occasions are not ‘listed’ they too remain undone.
Then, this coming Saturday we have a Open Day at the Rising Sun Art Centre here in Reading. I am a new volunteer and have lots of ideas and tasks to do (on the list) These very noble contributions to the day are not necessarily practically compatible or even on the agenda. So while part of me wants to be a social dynamo, the bigger part would rather I left it to the experts and I died quietly in the corner.
I am going to present my poem and the draft of my book at some point in the procedures, and the book has not yet been bound. So still on the list. I have never given such a performance in public, before so while I have been working on the project for weeks and the story is imprinted on my mind; I am potentially over prepared; yet my heart sinks as I think about it, and would prefer to strike from the list now.
Then there is my plan to serve a selection of Chinese tea. Over the last few weeks I have been learning from the experts the best way to do this and again I am well prepared. Yesterday afternoon I was practicing with my new kettle (crossed of the list last Monday) with various teas and again I see no flaw in my delivery. Yet again, the fear is resounding and I begin to doubt myself and consider throwing the list in the bin.
Item no 10 ‘Sort out items for the Exhibition’ I have a perfectly adequate selection of works to grace any wall, that need mounting and framing. Oh dear! then the coat from the dry cleaners all before lunch!
Oh if only I had taken up cake baking or rather just eating it!
Coat Hanger Doll's House 