Moody Paris

I realise I have been really remiss in not blogging my Paris photos sooner, but it's been a funny old week so I'm hoping doing it now might perk me up a bit. I'm also hoping my internet connection will stay for long enough to do this (now my third attempt).

Paris was grey, damp, dirty and moody...

...but it was also illuminated and filled with a heavy presence I can't describe. During a visit to Notre Dame I would have liked to linger a while, but we had so much to see.

At Les Arts Decoratifs we visited the Jean Paul Goude exhibition 'Goudemalion'. Exploring fashion and body image and image as promotion. I was fascinated by his concept of 'French Correction' and enjoyed looking at his working process through sketchbooks and hand manipulation of images.

Jean Paul Goude

Jean Paul Goude

This mechanical figure in the same exhibition also fascinated me, I could have watched the seemingly endless figures whirling around their mirrored room all day. I loved the way the visual effect was complimented by the sound as cards had been placed to catch on the 'spokes'.

Jean Paul Goude

In Kenzo's shop window in Place des Victoire this simple display caught my eye. Using line to create connections around the space, some used thread tied to map pins, others were printed or drawn and another layer appeared on the glass to create a complex 3D effect; stitching through space. Simple use of block colour created a dramatic effect.

On Sunday morning the lure of the flea markets took us to Marche aux Puces St-Oeun Clignancourt. A dazzling array of antiques and vintage finds, but on the whole I was dissappointed at the attitude of the sellers, who were often incredibly rude. A notable exception to this was Tombees du Camion, who also have other shops in Paris. There we were welcome to pick things up, take photos and prices were clearly marked; I loved the completely mad selection of objects they had and their displays were outrageous.

Tombees du Camion 

Tombees du Camion

Tombees du Camion

Tombees du Camion

Thanks to the two young French women who came to my rescue during a verbal tirade by one particularly grumpy stallholder, I hope they found the wedding dress they were searching for!

There is more but it will have to wait for another day.

A New Journal for Paris

Tomorrow I will be off to Paris with my students for a study trip, and I just hope we have time to do everything we have planned. I am really excited about the arrival of my Moleskine Paris notebook. A piece of pure genius and an object of exquisite design. I can't wait to use it...

Busy Stitching

The last couple of weeks have been pretty busy, and it's been hard to find the time and space to get my work done. However, as always, a deadline does help to focus the mind and two deadlines even more so. I have been working on some new work (towards applying for a couple of things) and after many weeks of waxing, cutting, stitching and pondering, I finally feel like I might be getting somewhere. I had a big breakthrough today when I took the plunge and decided to use the back of the piece. I feel as though I have moved on enormously as a result.

Below are a few images of my stitching, which is more embroidery than I have done for a long time. These are just details but I will show some more once it is 'finished'.

Whetting the appetite

The last couple of days I have been grazing the net researching our imminent study visit to Paris and Maison et Objet in a couple of weeks. Just browsing has whetted my appetite, I can't wait! If anyone has any hot tips for shops, galleries, etc in Paris, especially the more obscure ones, I would be really grateful for your suggestions. It's always great to have some personal recommendations so please a comment.

I also just came across trend guru Li Eidelkort's Trendtablet website. As you would expect if you are used to Li's publications, it showcases a wealth of textile related gems, inspirations from art, design and crafts.

In the meantime I have a huge amount of work to do before submitting a couple of applications before I go.

Making Things

You might be excused for thinking I haven't been doing much lately... but you would be wrong! I have been quietly working away on a couple of ideas and it has felt great to be making again. But first in a little homage to Nancy Holt's Sun Tunnels I was playing about with my camera taking these shots of my waxed materials:

It also felt nice to be choosing my threads and playing with stitches, looking for just the right mark.

Night Night

In case you missed it last night BBC 4 had a series of excellent programs on the theme of Night, it being the longest night or shortest day. The main event of the evening was The Art Of The Night in which Waldemar Januszczak explores the influence of night time on artists ancient and modern, and I thoroughly recommend watching it. I was particularly struck by Nancy Holt's Sun Tunnels in Utah for it's simplicity yet other worldliness. This modern day Stonehenge could only be sited in the epic landscapes of the American west, it needs the space to exist without interruptions. Below is a video of the Sun Tunnels from You Tube by Andy & Lance Olsen although not as spectacular as watching it at sunrise or sunset.

Scratching the Surface - Ephemeral Decay

Check out the street artist Alexanda Farto A.K.A Vhils. Hewn from plaster, brick and stone, he brings the soul of city walls alive. I find them beautiful and deeply moving.

I also recommend Street Sketchbook Journeys by Tristan Manco.

Circling a Beech

In Hirst Wood, a circlet of beech, laid as a hedge around a single forking beech sapling. I wonder who made it?

It takes space to get to simplicity

I had a really productive day yesterday, clearing space on the kitchen wall to finally pin up some ideas that have been whirring around my head. It is quite stunning the difference it makes just having the space to put things out and step back. I felt this unfolding of ideas as I tested out different forms and shapes on the wall; pinning, re-arranging, stepping back, scribbling, applying shapes and stencils.

Paper pieces

I want to start working in a much more abstract and symbolic manner, which I have always found difficult previously, but now it seems like something I need to get out of my system. I am also keen to work on a large scale on 2D work. While I was working I was thinking about work I have seen and found inspirational over the years: Jo Budd, Mark Rothko, Polly Binns and many others, scale and simplicity in abstraction feel important to me right now. I also enjoyed this blog posting from Judy Martin.

Having the physical space to work really helped me find some mental space to zone out and allow thoughts to drift in as I worked. Words of wisdom from all kinds of people seemed to bubble up and connect me with different times and places, a good feeling to have the presence of some brilliant, creative minds with me as I worked.

It takes time to get to simplicity

It's somehow good to know that a kind of clarity of purpose and execution takes others a long time to achieve too. Gwyneth Leech's hand-painted coffee cup installation 'Hypergraphia' at the Flatiron Building in NYC has just that quality; the resolution of years of investigation, distilled into a fabulously striking work with the power to engage with everyone. Read more here.

Convalesance

I have been out of sorts for a while, but for the last week I have been feeling really sorry for myself. The upside of being ill is that I have finally got around to reading some books I meant to read ages ago. The first being the wonderful 'Quilts 1700 - 2010 - Hidden Histories, Untold Stories' accompanying the V&A exhibition of the same name. As I missed out on the original exhibition this is proving to be an excellent alterntive, and whilst nothing can substitute for seeing 'the real thing' it is a pleasure to really take your time. Although I am still nibbling my way through this book, it is a really fascinating read from a very fresh perspective with beautiful images too.

The other book I have been enjoying is Rebecca Crompton's 'Modern Design in Embroidery' (pub.1936). Now I have to confess this has been on my shelves for several years and I haven't got around to properly reading it until now. I now fully appreciate why her ideas created a quiet revolution in the world of embroidery. Although the writing could be seen a slightly vague, her examples demonstrate fully the 'new' way of working she extoles. Exploring line qualties, balancing tonal values and working with blocks of colour, her approach could still teach us all a great deal now. This is definitely a book worth searching out.

Rebecca Crompton, The magic Garden

Knitting & Stitching Show

If you are visiting the Knitting & Stitching Show in Harrogate this weekend please drop by the Bradford School of Arts stands at TG102 at E1 (downstairs). My students will be selling lots of lovely goodies on E1 as they raise funds towards their final shows at taking their work to London for New Designers. Tell them Hannah sent you!