A few more

Here are a few more pictures of our visit to Compton Acres

The Italian garden

 This made me think that humans really have not evolved that much in the last 2000 years, only the poison and methods have changed.

 

Cream teas being enjoyed.

Our butler and house maid.

Father's Day

My daughter's knowing my love of all things Japanese took me to Compton Gardens, Poole, Dorset, for my father's day treat. The garden boasts one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in the UK and as usual I took my camera.

There are numerous gardens within the 5 acres and a meandering path took us slowly around and through them. There is an Italian garden, water garden, heather garden etc.

Some years ago I made various ishi-doro (Japanese garden lanterns) as well as stupas (places of worship) and pagodas (tiered towers) and have included pictures of some of these here. As in a previous post I produced a box as a prototype for more designs for these forms.

Here are some pictures of the day.

Various ishi-doro

Pagoda's

Some random pictures from around the Japanese garden

School day, Update

A couple of weeks ago I posted about attending my daughters school to teach the class for the day on the subject of sculpture/making from what we see around us.
This lesson was structured to re-enforce the day previously spent with the class at Lulworth cove and Durdle Door, Dorset.
Initially several sculptures that I have collected from different makers, together with various found items from the beech were placed on each table for the children to view. These included, wood, stone, metal of both abstract and figurative styles and the response was, well, refreshing.  The room was buzzing with excitement and I made it clear that the sculptures should be picked up and explored. 
First we discussed sculpture and the different types on the tables. The difference in perception of children compared to adults was very apparent. One of the sculptures I previously made and took along is shown below.  The response to this from adults in forums and family etc has been interesting, some have seen a human form and others just haven't got it, others have said ' ah a way to use up an old cracked bit of wood' followed by a laugh as they walk away.

But when I asked the class of 26 eight year old children what they thought it represented their hands shot up and the first reply was ' an old man' , followed by,  ' a human' and so it continued.  It struck me how much we lose as adults due to our exposure of opinions from others, and how this effects our view our own work and that of others. But mostly how little creativity we hold onto as we get older without keeping an open 'beginners mind'.
We all go through this as we get older, I know I certainly did, and I arrived at the point of being creatively constipated. Peer pressure meant I would only turn items that were round and showing the wood, as I could be confident that this meant I would receive praise and acceptance rather than ridicule. In turn I would only turn pieces that I really did not want to turn. Eventually my brain shut off and I had to go through a great deal of soul searching to break out of my self imposed mould.

Back to the lesson;

The day went well and the enthusiasm and hard work from the children did not wain at all. It also made me realise how skilled the teachers are as by the end of the day I was exhausted. In a demo I may get one or two questions at a time, with the children as soon as one asked every hand would shoot up and I would be flooded by searching questions. They are not frightened to ask and keep on asking.

The children produced sculptures using wire and other materials including items collected from the beech. In all one of the best experiences I have had and it would appear the children and teachers also enjoyed it so much that I have been asked if I would do it again in the future as well as being asked to become in volved in the designing of their new garden area.

Obviously I was not able to take pictures without parental permission for my blog, however the teachers did and some of these can be seen on the official school web site here. Pictures are at the bottom of the page if you scroll down and click on page 7, you will see me grinning at the back in one of them. :-)

Bronze figarative Geisha, again a sample of my collection taken for the students to view.

AAW, San Jose, Update

Just a quick update in that I was very pleased to find that the piece that I was invited to submit to the AAW POP exhibition in San Jose, California, was purchased during the exhibition.

This is a wonderful conclusion to the making of the piece as it which quite a task to get it to America.

The  first piece made and sent did not arrive it in one piece. Being close to the deadline meant I had to make a second. The pressure of working to a time scale which is always fraught with danger when making something that has so much of the maker in it induced further problems.

The result being that the form turned and for a second time textured I was not totally happy with, it was still good all the same and with the piece embodying impermanence I had to accept that I could in no way make an exact replica of the one before, the process of texturing does not lend itself to this so I decided to continue.

Anyway I decided to ring a friend up about the progress of the second piece and my thoughts as it is always good to talk to others as often they can give a unbiased view of the problem.


After the chat I decided that if I was not toally happy I would not submit the piece at all and may be try on another occassion. Not wanting to give up though I decided with the time ticking

Back to the lathe again, but this time more time spent on the form and then into the early hours of the morning texturing and colouring. However before starting I took some time out to sit and think about the situation and the pressure/deadline I was under. I laughed at the process of making a piece which embodied impermenace and Wabi-Sabi in which beauty comes from things that are not perfect.

This for me being why the piece is so special to me, albeit now with a new owner. Not only did the process take all of my self to get through, but the path both I and the piece took during this taxing but enjoyable process became far more that just a piece made to represent the philosophy of impermanace for an exhibition, it in the end embodied it. As such it is to date the most significant and important piece that I have produced.

A few pictures of the third piece being made.

Week away

Last week was spent in Alcudia, Mallorca with my family. It is the second time that we have been to the same destination.

As always I took my camera not only to capture family pictures but also for reference.

Here are a few of the picture that I took while away.