ARTISTS TALKING

# 65 [10 October 2007]

SEWING

Stitches. Lots of the names link with the allotment: seeding, snail trail, stem, thorn, lazy daisy, fern. Our roots are in the land and being here day after day brings this to mind. My head rings with the intertwining of ourselves and what we call nature (as if we were apart from the natural world): the names of stitches, the tree of life, wallpaper patterns, trunk and branches of trees in roofs and structures of buildings. I am drawing on the blackboard better. I drew stitches on canvas today.

Trillions of seeds are ripening. Judith is collecting and counting them.

Tonight I will make a seed cake.

# 64 [10 October 2007]

TABLES

Rain yesterday meant a day to stay indoors, sort through material and data, and begin to put it into some sort of order. Also a good opportunity to identify areas where more information is needed.

Weather forecast good for the rest of the week.

# 63 [9 October 2007]

DAY 6

Today: A cloudy start with outbreaks of rain. The rain becoming heavy and persistent at times, especially over eastern parts, but it should ease in the west later in the afternoon.

# 62 [8 October 2007]

SCHOOL AGAIN

We are gaining a rhythm together. Our discussions bear fruit. The invitations are ready; most have been sent by email because of the postal strike. But people can pick up a souvenir card at the Open Day on Tuesday 16th.

The Seed Table is complete and is stored against the rain predicted for tomorrow. Needlework on the timetable: I practised seeding stitch and stem stitch.

# 61 [7 October 2007]

SUNDAY

Nipped Jeannie up to the allotment to get spinach and picked greens for supper.

Laid out the stem prints and they looked like sewing/sowing. This links with the seed collection and the seed table/seed pot. There is a seeding embroidery stitch. Will concentrate on stitches this week.

I wonder what will arise from the discipline of working on the plot; of the daily observation sessions and the plant drawing.

# 60 [7 October 2007]

HOMEWORK

As well as sorting out our invitations, the weekend break has allowed a little time for trying out ideas.

I have

# 59 [7 October 2007]

OPEN DAY

We have set a date for our Open Day and have been finalising our invitations, though it seems that our printed cards will not be of much use now because of the postal strike. We will have to send most of our invitations by e-mail.

Although time is rushing by, it is exciting to have an event to work towards.

# 58 [6 October 2007]

AWAY DAY

Went to work yesterday, it seemed odd not to be on the allotment and to chalk up the date, weather and lesson. Spent the evening sorting, grouping, deleting photos.

The stem prints are dry enough to cut into strips this morning. Time to pause and consider. I think about the aims of the residency: to look, to learn and to see what it is like working in residence. I notice how my love of the allotment has grown. Another aim is to find out about collaboration; to see how Judith and I can work together; does the allotment collaborate?

I realise that despite measuring the allotment in runner beans, bodylengths, carrots and courgettes, I have no idea of the length and width of the allotment in standard measurements of feet, yards, metres. What I remember is lying on the damp grass, the smell of the freshly pulled carrot and how the runner bean turned as I measured.

# 57 [4 October 2007]

HALF TERM

One crow sat on top of the elder and called to another perched on a lamppost. Lots of birdsong on this damp dewy morning.

After our conflab, the sun came out and we printed stems together.

Simon turned up as we were eating a late lunch and we discussed shelters. We collected seeds and started the seed table.

Halfway through the residency and time to start 100 lines.

# 56 [4 October 2007]

DAY 4 – COLLECTION (cont’d)

Collected 30 varieties of seed

Antirrhinum Artichoke Beetroot Bindweed Comfrey Coriander Evening Primrose Gladiolus Golden Rod Green Alkanet Hollyhock Iris Lavender Lupin Marigold Mullein Nasturtium Onion Oregano Pine Poppy Rose Sunflower Sweet Pea Tansy and 5 varieties yet to be identified.

Worked with Roz to make stem prints.

FRIDAY: Studio-bound to catch up on admin and studio work.