I went back down to Marlborough over last weekend, for the SKETCH 2013 seminar. It was very interesting to hear the four artists talking about how they use sketch books (or not) and how important the acts of drawing, collating, pasting, writing and collecting imagery and other sources of inspiration are to their practice – in all cases, very.
The question and answer session was quite interesting at the time, too, although, because I have been so busy since I got back, I can remember little about it. I am sure that once I settle down into a calmer routine, things will come flooding back; they usually do. There is information on the Rabley Drawing Centre web site and blog:
http://rabley.wordpress.com/2013/09/01/sketch-2013…
http://www.rableydrawingcentre.com
Once back in North Yorkshire I hit the ground running as they say, with builders back on site at home. Monday afternoons for ten weeks are now dedicated to a fabulous course that I am attending on Ten Twentieth Century Poets at Woodend Creative in Scarborough, facilitated by Jonathan Brown; a wonderful teacher.
On Tuesday: a meeting with East Street Arts, Leeds, on behalf of Ryedale ArtWorks along with Andrew Dalton, our treasurer. We are looking for a good venue that is outside the Ryedale region in which to exhibit work by the group. It will be a flag ship event, showcasing the best of what the group does. Up until ESA replied to our email, we were beginning to despair that we would find a venue. It seems ironic that even with funding in the bank, only one of the many organisations we contacted actually got back to us.
However, it was a very productive meeting. Andy and I were shown round their central building (they have many buildings at their disposal, including one in Warren Street, London). We were drooling with envy at their facilities – it was like my dream for RAW had materialised!
Minds firmly on the job in hand we had some useful and vigorous discussion about what our plans are and both Andy and I are excited that ESA are interested in helping us to find a venue and we are really looking forward to collaborating with them.
The next RAW meeting is looming and we are using it to announce the mentoring project. I must remember to book a venue this week!
William Tillyer has kindly agreed to show the group around his exhibition at MIMA, “Against Nature”, in early November and we will use the upcoming RAW meeting as an opportunity to encourage members to sign up for the mini-bus. Which I must also remember to book. . . .
Speaking of Tillyer; I went to the North York Moors National Parks visitor center at Danby today to see his exhibition of watercolours there. Entitled “Haven”, it is a fabulous showcase of William’s virtuosity with watercolour. Stunning. There was also one of his acrylic pieces worked on 3 rectangular sections of industrial mesh. I like these a lot although I am pondering on the reasons for having a support you can see through if you are going to place it on a wall, and the reflections off the metal were a bit distracting. The paint on them was great though.
Tomorrow, I am off to The Gallery, Ryedale Folk Museum, to make some notes on the Jennifer Tetlow exhibition, “The Museum as Muse”, which Jennifer has asked me to review.
Studio work? Nah. No chance at the moment, but my sketch book is nearly full.
