Letter from over the Indian Ocean

I can’t believe that I am now in the air once more heading to New Zealand. I have spent 7 weeks in the UK, visiting groups to talk and teach, I had a stand at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate and have been helping out (or sticking my oar in) at the Beetroot Tree. 

I have to thank my Mum and Dad as ever, for allowing me to disrupt their already busy routines. I am sure that they are ready for their house guest to leave after all of the the added complications of my coming and going, eating at odd times, taking one of the cars at regular intervals, extra washing, ironing and cleaning. It is a lesson for me to remember – you never stop being a parent. All parents are told this at an early stage in their family’s development. I think perhaps it is only when your own children are older, when they could be independent being at an age when, as a child or young adult yourself, you image yourself to be on a separate trajectory from your parents and can’t imagine why they should have concerns for you and certainly should not need to suggest or impose upon your behaviours, that you begin to realise what it means to ‘never stop being a parent’. My children are now at that stage and I fully comprehend the sensation that they will always be my children to help and support. This makes me truly grateful for the hospitality and generosity my parents continue to give.

Mum and Dad, getting into the Christmas spirit

It seems to have been a trip especially full of making work. So much for much in the way of social catch up, this trip has seen me spend a huge amount of time creating work. There were three workshops to make the samples for, all of the work to show at the Knitting and Stitching Show, then 50 Christmas cards and an embroidery to commemorate my the Golden Wedding Anniversary of my parents (to keep this secret, this had to be completed after going to bed at night and during the evenings after the Knitting and Stitching Show had closed each day). 

 

 

Happy Golden Wedding

I continue to hope that on future trips I will be a lady of leisure between engagements and enjoy more cultural experiences. Dream on!

  

The third week in November is the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate. On the first day the weather was trying to snow, and having been snowed in at this show three years ago I was slightly apprehensive, but it soon became obvious that the ground was too wet to allow any snow to settle. The trees have turned to their proper, and stunning, autumn colours, beautiful gold, copper and red. 

The exhibitions are always stunning, a real treat. Where else in the country can you find such a concentration of exhibits including original artists work, from well known textile artists to new graduates, historical and cultural displays, and vast knowledge and art supplies in one place?

The main exhibitions this year included work by Dorothy Caldwell, Sue Chapman, Viv Prideaux, Bobby Britnell and Ruth Issett, Jan Beaney  and Jean Littlejohn, a display of historical and new crewel work by Phillipa of the Crewelwork Company.

One of the pleasures of shows is catching up with friends and acquaintances, both artists, business owners and visitors. Here are just a few ...

Jean Draper helped by Hilary Hollingworth. Jean's new book 'Structure for Stitch' is fabulous - get your copy here

Jan and Jean, as always accompanied by their better halves!

Recognisably stitched by Jan Beaney

Intricate surfaces by Jean Littlejohn

Michelle Gillam Hull is also a regular exhibitor at the Beetroot Tree, see her work ...

Ruth Issett, also with better half, Chaz.

Val Holmes giving the game away. Not that we always have a bottle on the go, but it helps!

Viv and Kev from Art Van Go. Smiling even at the last!

 My little corner looked like this:

Using every inch of space on the small stand!

And to see more of the new work, look out for images on 'alysnsburntofferings', or visit the exhibition at the Beetroot Tree where they are on display until the 4th January.

My last couple of days in the UK were spent helping Paul at the Beetroot Tree to set the Christmas exhibition. Called 'By Invitation'. I have chosen to invite two of my favourite textile artists, Matthew Harris and Vivian Prideaux. This was during the set up:

Setting up 'by invitation' at the Beetroot Tree

Starting to take shape

 Go take a peek at the finished exhibition ....

Once back on kiwi soil I am hoping for a bit of family time. Both of my girls will have finished school for the year and will have time for some social activities (this often involves me taking them shopping for ‘essential’ items such as party clothes). The summer months in NZ are also a time for festivals and celebrations which we enjoyed last year and look forward to again. Christmas is just around the corner. Let us hope for another lovely long dry hot summer. 

I return to the UK early in July 2014 for another ‘tour’, taking in Norwich, Wales, Hertfordshire, various dates in the Midlands including the huge Quilt Show at the NEC in August. 

See you then,

Alysn

Agreeing to disagree

Have you ever noticed that visiting a show by yourself is a different experience to visiting it with a companion? I often find that another pair of eyes on an artists' work helps me to see and feel more at an exhibition, even when we disagree about our reactions to it. In fact, that is what is so valuable about discussion. It doesn't make you or your companion more right or wrong than each other, after all opinion is only opinion and personal reactions are unique.

This clip from an article by Mark Amery (The Dominion Post) echoed the same thought:

 

“It’s like we attended a different show,” exclaimed guest Martin Patrick on the visual arts podcast I host, Circuit Cast last week. Such was the difference in our impressions of an exhibition (Soundful at City Gallery). What was old hat for me, proved stimulating to him.

So it often is, and should be. Relish the diversity of taste around fine things I say. Tussle with it. Particularly when contemporary art itself continues to get ever more varied in approach.

Feelings can also vary widely across an artist’s practise. Art is speculative. Good artists take risks, leading to a mix of failures and great pay offs – far more interesting than years of ho-hum production. In all this flux the role of the critic is to empower difference in opinion and our confidence in stating it. It’s often more interesting when you disagree. "

 So next time you visit the Beetroot Tree, bring a friend to talk to, catch us at the desk or when serving your coffee and have a chat about the pieces on display then we will all have a richer, deeper experience.

Alysn

Letter from Dubai

Once again I am in Dubai airport. Though I am not convinced that I have ever been through the same terminal or gate in all of the times I have passed through. It is less of an airport, more of a town! Fortunately the flight was pretty light on the passenger front and I had 4 seats all to myself to stretch out and sleep for the night, though it was s good job that I wasn’t hungry as, unusually for Emirates, the evening meal was inedible. Starbucks have supplied a welcome caffeine supplement and I am waiting on the connection to Birmingham in a hour or so.

I have left my eldest son with orders to be the ‘house husband’ whilst I am away and already he is talking about changing the cooking and the rota – I foresee chaos with a collection of three determined  young personalities, and Brian cowering in the corner trying to keep out of it all! (Though Alex with a chainsaw in his hands could be quite persuasive!)Understandably it is hard for Alex, having lived at Uni for 3 years, being independent and having loads of friends all interested in the same activities as he is, to move continent, have no income, no friends and being further away from his beloved mountains and have to take the role of domestic goddess for a few weeks. We are doing all we can to get his job application for the police force underway and making connections for him, but it feels like a slow business as life and work has to go on for the rest of us as well.

We have been spending quite a bit of time getting the university applications made for Bryony. She is applying for Medicine in both NZ and the UK, which makes for interesting logistical issues as well as extra costs. Cutting a long story short, she has a secure place in NZ now but still hopes to get an offer from her preferred choice of Nottingham (UK). At least she can gain confidence that she has been accepted at Otago for the course of her choice, and, to Bryony, more importantly, she has a place in the only halls with ensuites in the student accommodation! The application system for NZ universities is completely different to that in the UK and we have spent many hours trying to work out what is going on – thank goodness that is all over, and by the time Amber is ready to apply we will be expert in the proceedings!

Travelling this time from spring in NZ which is just starting to benefit from the summer sunshine to a UK in which I have been warned to bring clothes fit for snow, plus samples for workshops and an exhibition of work for the Knitting and stitching show has proved interesting; 3 days of packing, sorting, unpacking, rearranging, discarding and repacking have been a little frustrating  - I am sure that all travellers have to get used to this, I am just not quite there yet and still spend far too much time working out what to take and not, then attempting to keep within the weight limit! Thank goodness I have a sister who is not much smaller than me in clothes sizing and if I choose some of her looser fitting items, I should be able to supplement my wardrobe to manage the coming 7 weeks. 

I have l once again had to leave Brian in charge of installing work at an exhibition which has to happen this weekend or next and I am sorry that I have to miss the preview event on 3^rd November.

If you are reading this in NZ and want to see the pieces, they are at the Kiapara Sculpture Garden from 3^rd Nov 2013 for a year. If you can't get or want a preview, see my blog. These pieces are a whole new set of work using  metal, wires and huge yummy glass beads from India and recycled glass beads from Ghana.  The idea is that they emerge from the planting and will move and sway slightly on flexible fibre glass rods when there are breezes. 

I will ask Brian to send me pictures of them once in situ., then probably have to go and rearrange them when I get back to NZ!! (not that I don’t trust Brian’s creative instincts, but  ... I just like to have the control!)

I was really sorry to hear that one of the first appointments I will have in the UK is to attend the funeral of Norma Bean, a colleague on the East Midlands Regional Committee for the Embroiderers guild. For those who knew Norma, an enthusiastic member of Lincolnshire Branch for many years, she will be remembered for her superb organisation of many inspirational Summer Schools over several years, and her unstinting involvement with the "Bonnets" Project.

During this visit I will be at the Beetroot Tree often, please link to the newsletter to keep up to date, in particular we have a special event on 26^th October  based on my 100 day project. .... please drop in to join me. (No link on the website just yet - sorry!)

Let’s hope that the snow holds off in the UK and that I don’t miss too much time in the sun at the beach in NZ, and that you all keep supporting artists and being creative.

Alysn

xx

Letter from New Zealand (September 2013)

Since returning to NZ at the beginning of August, the routine of school, work and domestic chores has seemed to predominate, in fact I look forward to my UK visits as I seem to get more time to concentrate on textiles. I am looking forward to seeing the Makers Mark exhibition at the gallery, to buying Helen Parrott’s new book which is all about making marks for textiles, what an amazing coincidence that was. And for the Xmas exhibition, the Beetroot Tree staff and partners have selected their own choices of artists. I have invited two of my favourite textile artists, Viv Pridaeux and Matthew Harris – both well known, very collectable and I can’t wait to see the exhibition.

I will also be travelling to several embroidery groups and have to prepare for the Knitting and Stitching Show at Harrogate in November. If you will be at one of the lectures or the show, please drop by and say hello.

I often get asked how are we the family doing?, so a quick run down for you:
Apart from it being exam time, the girls have been enjoying some special times.
Amber has been in a cupcake frenzy this term as she is attending cake decorating classes, so each week more cakes have to be prepared for icing. She has been having tremendous fun making flowers, figures and animals. To counter this I am trying to go running and swimming more often as I would hate to refuse to sample the creations!

Mmmm...

Last week we also went to a talk by Kathy Reichs, who is her favourite author and role model. 

Amber meets Kathy

Bryony has been concentrating on exams but has just had her end of school ball, after which she spent the next day asleep, so I guess it was good!

Bryony, in the middle with the charcoal dress

Alex has now joined us, having completed his degree in the UK. As he has not started work yet, both Brian and I are making good use of him. Brian’s motorbike needed a good overhaul, which takes two bodies, and is coming along very nicely now. For me, Alex has been chopping trees, turning over the garden and planting vegetable seedlings. So we have various pumpkins, courgettes, sweetcorn, beetroot (of course), broccoli, spinach, peppers, chillies, peas, broad beans, butter beans, tomatoes and cucumber so far. We have left room for the kumara which are due into the shops in a couple of weeks. This year will be an experiment to see how things grow. The soil is very clay like and we know that it gets dry in the summer, so we will need to keep adding as much compost and water as we can. Eventually the aim is to grow much more, but small steps and learning on a limited scale will be very useful I think.

The dogs love chasing balls on the beach and swim in the sea most days, but dogs being dogs, they would enjoy being anywhere so long as they get food and love! 

 

For details of what I have been up to, have a glance at my blog

 

In NZ the days are drawing out now and spring is definitely around. Though the flowering plants don’t seem to care what season it is! We have camellias and rhododendrons, freesias and crocosmia, cherry blossom and jasmine all happily flowering, some have even continued through the winter. I suppose the imported plants just go with the climate conditions they are used to and don’t care what the season is! Neither do I, the scent of jasmine and freesia in the air is welcome at any time and to see both familiar and unusual flowers is fabulous.

I suppose one day I will get inured to the green and red flash of the parrots and the petrol blue and green kingfishers sitting on the power cables and the strange song of the Tui, but not too soon I hope.

Thinking of you all,

Alysn

xx