Sporadic - BEAT 2017 w/e 1

So the Sporadic here is more about me than the event which would better be described as Steady.

Gordon Road sign

Whereas my Blogging of late is Sporadic, this could of course be a good thing -anyway more on that later.

Back to BEAT 2017, the second of Ealing's Open Studios.

Photo's on show

Last year Mandie at the Orchard Café took a number of lost souls under he wing and by and large we had quite a jolly time - this year those nomads (or most of them) are finding a temporary home in Gordon Road with Ceramicist Viv Phelan  one of the originators of the event.

Ceramics -A Granddad who lost his wife
(she was sold)

I suppose the main thing that I get from this and other chances to show my photo's is a chance to talk about what I do and also engage with what others do - this year (weekend 1)  there was a fantastically wide selection of personalities - some with there own views and some who just came to look.

Gordon Cookson - Wood-turner 

In main Tim Layden is absent as he has taken a new teaching post in Milton Keynes but he's planning to be around for w/e 2 (Saturday and Sunday) - having got to know Tim a bit (and exhibit with him as half of the 2 Tims) I'm happy to speak a little about his work but it'll be nice to see him talking about it.

2 old 'So & Sos' make a nice present

Of course it's nice to sell prints too but (oddly) I feel a bit sad now when they go (although of course I can reprint).

Ealing arts - BEAT 2017 get your applications in ..(79)

Tim Layden talks to visitors  

Last year had a genuinely lovely experience as part of the first Ealing Art Trail - got to spend time in a nice venue with Tim Layden, Gordon Cookson and (the near legendary) John Kaye  -at the Orchard Café in West Eaing (Thanks Mandie).

We're not sure that the same chance will be on offer this year but would encourage people with work to show during the two w/es and to get involved.

Here's all the stuff you'll need..

John adds up his takings

Gordon - There's a season (Turn Turn Turn) 

£102 20

THE BOROUGH OF EALING ART TRAIL

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Doors

The West End wander continues

I used to work in this street (at No 48)

A flavour of 'Art Deco'

At Richmond Adult Community College Craft Fair (RACC)

An early start

Yesterday was a long day for me (hence no blog) and slightly pleasurable too.

Oddly it seemed at the time I was invited to have a stall at the fair of the RAAC- when I invited a friend (Gordon Cookson) who I was at a shared OPEN studios venue (BEAT) in September he agreed and the die as they say was set.

As is generally the case for any event like this I'm keen to arrive early and make sure all is as it should be (and to secure parking).

Well the good news is that the event was pretty well organised - fly in the ointment being the rather wobbly screens .

Oldy but goldy

Quite a lot of passers-by in evidence and some good chats, sadly though only one sale - but this to a really charming lady and talented, prize winning  ceramicist Jadwiga Low  - she was selling Angel Wings as (mainly) tree decorations.

What I particularly like about her (and was extremely flattered by) was that she asked me to sign the print - it was from a couple of years back and was of Donkeys.

 I also got a chance to have a good chat with Sue Harper who had a stand at the Fair and had taught me Framing at the college some 2 or so years ago - really good advice from her on various topics.

I enjoyed the event and think though I am still very much in a learning phase.

And a wobbly stand.

A shared stand.

Come and see us

Richmond is where it's at

I have said previously that Zac Goldsmith was far from an identikit Tory and this is still my belief - look unlike Boris who said he wouldn't stand for Westminster while he was London Mayor - Zac has kept his word (and lost his seat).

He too was the future once.

In truth I don't think Zac is a genuine  Tory - but he gauged the mood of his constituents wrongly and I'm not too sure that Theresa will be that sorry to see him go (despite reports to the contrary) .

 Having an opposition MP as a thorn in your side is probably marginally more comfortable than one of your own party taking the moral high ground - and it is only a by-election.

What we have now is a 'remain-er' anti-Heathrow MP in West London - let's hope for some more.

And Tomorrow ..

It's about Richmond too - as long as I can get up in the morning I'll be half of one of the best doubl;e acts since Ant and Dec at Richmond Adult Community College  with a stall featuring Photography by me and turned Wood by Gordon Cookson..

See you then

Gordon will be there 

And so will I

Come and see us tomorrow at Richmond Adult Community College (TW9 2RE)

More Beat and Red 44

So today sees the last day of Ealing Art Trail (BEAT) for 2016 and I hope those behind the escapade feel satisfied with what they've achieved  - to get 50 venues with well over 100 participants involved is quite something.

Orchard Café/OPEN Ealing

It's been interesting to see how people have engaged and 'got' the idea - making conversations and talking about things that impact them.




The Three biggest  biggest challenges for any operation like this are to my mind,

Getting the message out  - here BEAT has produced great guides, the right size with useful maps

Feedback forms and balloons 

Highlighting the locations - Posters and balloons heave helped with this

And

Getting feedback - Always a struggle I'm sure there'll be refinements made

Another from Gordon

At the Orchard Cafe we've been especially fortunate to have a place that some visitors already know and have four of us attracting different parties - it's helped having Gordon Cookson doing demonstrations and having a range of tactile artefacts for sale.

From where I'm sitting (and  sometimes standing) I'd say there's little doubt that there's real demand for the initiative and hopefully it'll be back in 2017 bigger and better.

Come and Get your Free Postcards at Orchard Cafe Today!

OPEN HOUSE TOO

[Don't forget OPEN House is on too - it provided a popular image for me that you can see at Orchard Cafe!]

Red 44

Well I've had two wheelers and four  wheelers this is the three wheeler spotted outside  the local Waitrose yesterday  morning.

Stable and energy efficient 

The Ealing BEAT continues and Red 51

So our full day of BEAT at Orchard Cafe (11:00 am to 6:00 pm) and the good news was that we had a fair amount of visitors, many who came armed with the prize draw form (visit 5 'Studio' sites and enter a prize draw for money to spend on Art  seen on the Trail).


The bad news is that it's actually quite hard work - interacting with the visitors not because they're anything less than marvellous but because they are interested, involved and ask great questions.

Soundbite in Dean Gardens West Ealing

West Ealing is a busy area at the weekend with  a Farmer's Market and bargain shops including  £1 stores.

West Ealing Fruit and Veg Market

The area probably had some extra visitors to the area as Soundbite was on but sadly the weather wasn't great so as something outside people may have cut short that particular attraction.

Another Beat Artist at Orchard Cafe

I've known Gordon Cookson for over 3 years and he's a very knowledgeable  and skilled Wood Turner - his membership of Wood Turning groups means that he's sufficiently adept  to be able demonstrate  the skills of Wood turning and he's at Orchard Café this weekend and next-  making things and showing some of his best pieces (they're very varied too in terms of material, price and subject).

Gordon turning wood and producing

One of the pieces Gordon has on show

Gordon's work ranges from the small - he kindly made Mushroom shaped 'Card holders' for us all yesterday to the large - there's a big indoor vase he'd like to find a good home for.

 Part of the beauty of the items is that all the work is  individual and has a story - like this large piece  below (with a history tied to the Quakers) - it welcomes visitors to our collective 'Studio'.

The inscription draws from Quaker philosophy 

Gordon also provided input to me on my 'Red' theme ...

Red 51

Seems odd that I overlooked this - the stairs at OPEN in Singapore Road (where we're showing our work as part of the BEAT project)

Thanks Gordon for helping me see the obvious.

Red was 'Stair-ing' me in the face 

 [see the latest rough cut of the ongoing project here] 

The BEAT starts (Ealing Art Trail) Red 53

Come and see us at the Orchard Café/OPEN Ealing

Well it's here (or very nearly anyway - it starts at 4:00 pm Today )  and I hope it brings some pleasure to those involved and those who come and take a look.

John Kaye 'in the House'

And a vision come to life

Yesterday John Kaye and I both made a start on putting together our individual areas - John's was looking pretty good at the end of proceedings.

Gordon (on the left) -will give demo's

I and 3 others will be showing at The Orchard Café at the back of the old BHS in West Ealing.



As well as static items we want to get people involved -Gordon Cookson the wood-turner will even be giving talks/demo's.




I'm hoping to get people involved with what I'm showing - so please do bring something Red and in return you get to look at over 300 Red images taken by me.

My own area is 'Under Construction'

My area as I got started

So if you get time either today or on Saturday or Sunday please do join Ealing's first Art trail.

Oh and talking about Red..

Red 53

A touch of Red at Street level on this man hole cover denotes 'attention'.

Keep Looking up and down

 [see the latest rough cut of the ongoing project here]