On the way to the Grain Warehouse this moring I picked up the Sheffield Telegraph and there was the article about GRAIN. It’s very positive what Ian Soutar has written there.
This morning I had four visitors and I’ve got two more hours to go after lunch. Have done twelve grains so far and will manage another twelve.
My friend Helen who visited yesterday afternoon wrote:
I had such an amazing time today coming to see you with Poppy…I took some photos of our journey in from Attercliffe. Pete has put them on a disc for me so I can give them to you. I feel I should have also taken a vid of you carving as at the end I did a vid you to get the noise of the steel works. It was quite stunning the contrast between the noise and pollution of the industrial area and the serene atmosphere in your space and the wonderful smell. I loved the smooth rounded textures of the grains and the whole thing has left me with strong images creating powerful memories. Knowing you as I do I also thought the work was very “you” as I always think you have a wonderful calming aura. I’m very glad you didn’t end upstairs in the pub as I thought the Grain Warehouse was the perfect setting. Maybe some things are just meant to be…
As well as the peace I really enjoyed the physicality of your work. You must be acheing+++…but I see so many people from manual jobs and this is a massive part of working in industry! I’m really interested in how being in silence has affected you having watched a great programme called the Big Silence…there must be a spiritual element to the process for you.
I personally would prefer no assistant and the peace and quiet of observing you in the peaceful room and you could just have written information and a chat forum online…perhaps similar to some of the exhibitions. A tricky one as I suspect some people prefer having the assistant to talk to.
Hope some people turned up tonight. We would all like to come to your closing do if it is ok to bring the children. If not I’ll come on my own.
Thank you for a wonderful and memorable day that I will never forget.
Thank you Helen. I appreciate your thoughtfulness!!
