The Base is purpose-built and opened in 2019. There’s a large gallery, studios, a workshop and a café. I once attended a talk there but have not previously taken advantage of the rich exhibitions of work by local artists. Yesterday was a special Arts & Crafts fair. I find such things can be very disappointing, but this was a lively, friendly collection of stallholders, some selling food and drink. Each one of the artist’s stalls were highly individual and I enjoyed sampling a delicious cake made from ube, or purple yam. I got rather carried away as I tend to do with wildlife art.
It was good to see Odd Bindings in prime position, Hand Bound Books – Odd Bindings – Unique Books. I have bought a number of her very pretty notebooks before, see here: A Blackbird in the house, more lilies and some very pretty notebooks – Animal Wild. I added this one to my collection. A potential customer asked her about restoring a much-loved family cook book, the sort of question I have very often been asked. It’s never easy to answer, since the time and skill involved, if you can find a binder willing to do it at all, are necessarily very expensive.
Emma Green’s work had a strong appeal too. hawksburyprint.co.uk. I feel a connection to Collared Doves, see Collared Dove – Animal Wild, and loved this hand-printed image, initialled and numbered by the artist, which has a very tactile raised texture.
A strange phenomenon with the above – the picture from my phone has completely changed the colours. Twice. Would love to know why. The background is actually much greener, the dove less grey and more brown.
Brothers George and Zac Sheppard create a range of mugs and bird feeders and other ceramics, Rotherwick Bird Feeders, and I thought this mug was stunning.
Rory Simpson of Woolandothercrafts starts with sheep fleeces and washes cards, dyes and then needle felts into flowers and all sorts of other pieces. The sheep reminded me of Hamish, my old friend at Trindledown (animal rescue), with his grey face. See Animal Trust and Animal Wild for more about Hamish.
And this woollen sunflower would surely brighten anyone’s day.
Finally, Sticky Metal Art, Sticky Metal Art. I asked the artist if he had made my garden lion (see AI Reggae, Radioactive Rhinos, BTO News and the Art of Andy Goldsworthy – Animal Wild) since at least one other work on display was very reminiscent of him, but that was not the case.
I kept walking away and coming back to his gazebo, knowing that I had already spent more than enough for the day, then decided to enjoy a gin and tonic in the sunshine, an indulgence which seemed perfectly in keeping with the spirit of the event. Thus fortified, I went back again and bought these two pieces, perfect companions for the lion and my collection of metal birds.
I have a abiding inclination for art which is achieved by subtraction, taking away. It made me think of Michael Seuphor (1901-1999), Belgian poet and creator of abstract lacunary art (ah yes, that’s the word). Vibrancy and light seems to be emitted from the spaces in between his lines and shapes. We tried but failed to sell a collection of his books and letters and proofs of etchings on behalf of Natalie d’Arbeloff, painter, printmaker, book artist and writer, at the same time we endeavoured to assist in placing her own archive. Her Seuphor à Natalie, NdA Press, 1978, which includes blind-embossed etchings and extracts from their correspondence, is wonderful. Seuphor’s books are masterpieces of understated elegance.
A sudden profusion of Michaelmas Daisies in the garden again this year:
Meanwhile the songbirds, whilst definitely fewer in number, have not been completely wiped out by the Sparrowhawk, there being a few Great Tits around today, but I remain uncertain about the Dunnocks – easy pickings for such a fast and efficient bird of prey. I just now got a very good view of the raptor flying in and away (even her face this time), seemingly without catching anyone – far too quick for me to get my camera ready. Stunningly beautiful but I kind of wish she’d feast elsewhere.
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