Looking back on BEAT 2017

Well the BEAT  2017 , Ealing Open Studios was I think largely a positive experience for me - a great opportunity to talk to new people about activities around Photography and other creative endeavours - really appreciated that some of my friends came to see me (Thanks so much to Norman & Sandra, Nick & Susana, John, Nev and Ed).

Planning is worthwhile

I was able to use some of my knowledge from an earlier  CityLit course in terms of planning how I displayed my Photos' which was good.

Ladies who look

Also great that Tim Layden (my co- conspirator from earlier in the year)  had some of his work on show and was able to come down and be part of the 2nd w/e.



It was incredibly kind  of Viv (and Greg) to invite in a few of us 'Waifs and Strays' to share her space.


As well as people I know there were loads of people who were obviously talented in many ways - some top notch photographers and people who just like being part of the whole event.

We have a general meeting of the BEAT participants and a party to look forward to - I'm hoping that we can get more involvement from other parts of the Borough it feels currently like Acton, Greenford and Southall  are under represented and we need edgier stuff as well as  more younger people too.

Nice that some exhibitors became visitors this year too.

Ealing Park Tavern- A varied menu and plenty of time to chat 

I'm genuinely excited when someone wants something I've done and when one guy wanted a card (just £3.00) I almost paid him rather than received it.

A Meal at the Ealing Park Tavern on Sunday evening was a super way of celebrating the whole experience.

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).

It was about Time

It was about ..

After something like three  weeks of 7 of my Photo's  being on show at the very excellent Grapevine Bar (Part of Questors' theatre Ealing) it was time to take down the framed prints along with co-exhibitor Dr Tim Layden.


The hanging at the bar gave me a chance to take account of what I'd been exposed to in Shirley Read's City Lit course (and in looking around at Galleries and exhibitions).

So before I went I did try out what worked together..

and on the wall

And on the wall

And it was commented on that I had the pictures at 'eye height' too.

So now looking for another venue and (still) taking pictures.

That Fund

And behind £169 50 will be £170 we can assume

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

ealingbeat.org.uk

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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'

Orchard Café Sunday and Red 50

Orchard Cafe is behind West Ealing BHS

Yesterday (Day 3 Beat w/e 1) went well for us at Orchard Café which is 23+ in the excellent BEAT brochure.

Early on in the day we had  a visit from Naomi Healy who is a guiding light of the project and has been busy visiting as many of the locations as he can.

Interest was high particularly for John Kaye's work and a few items were sold.

Tim Layden who exhibited a broad range of work from figurative to abstract and some colour field in there too) was able to explain to many interested visitors his knowledge of Synesthesia a condition many artists have sought to represent (Wikipedia describes it as "a neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second")

Large and varied canvases from Tim Layden

Colour Fields -A Touch of the Rothko's perhaps?

As you can see as well as interest for Tim Layden's work John too was busy selling

Tim Layden (left) chats with  Naomi Healy from the  BEAT committee  in front of  some of his  work

'Red dot' John

One of the works sold by John Kaye

Sadly there was a bit of dismantling and clearing to do as the site will be used for other things in the week to come - but so I can re-assemble it next week (and you can pretend you were there) here's a Photosynth image of my corner.

Red 50

Caught in the breeze - I can almost feel it

Blowing in the Wind

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