Handmade Books and more ....

I popped into AVG yesterday to collect some supplies for a workshop, and saw the current exhibition

HANDMADE BOOKS

Sat 14th April - Sat 12th March

A collection of contemporary

and innovative handmade books

made by artists working with

colour & texture, paper and fabric

in surface embellishment

Coincides with the workshop

'Quirky Book Structures'

with Jen Henley on 3rd & 17th May

Also on display in the gallery is the work of textile artist Amanda Hislop.  Amanda combines drawn and painted marks with thread, paper and fabric to produce wonderful textured landscapes in subtle colours.

Just by chance, at the time I was visiting, Viv was chatting to a very talented lady called Lexi, who apart from other things, paints stones.  Now, I know what you're thinking, but they're NOT shiny poster-painted ladybirds, so you can stop that face!  They were really beautiful works of art, in various pebble-type sizes, painted in soft colours with lettering, and maps and hearts - miniature stone charms.  There will be some of her work for sale in the gallery, and hopefully a workshop in the next programme.  

And, if all that wasn't enough to make you want to hot foot it to Art Van Go, it's worth it just to see Viv's dinky little feet in these cute shoes.  

Makes a change from Kev in mis-matched Crocs.

Happy Birthday to Viv!!

Actually, a belated Happy Birthday - it was Viv's birthday yesterday, but I was too busy drinking champagne and tea, and eating cake to worry about blogging!  I arrived just in time to see the results of what had obviously been a wonderful two day workshop run by Frances Pickering, entitled A Few of My Favourite Things - there were some really beautiful books and it seemed as if everyone had been really productive.  Sorry there's no photos, I didn't have my camera with me.

However, I did have my camera last week, when I took part in a two day workshop with Lynda Monk called Scrim, Screens and Scrappy Bits.  We all had a brilliant time, printing through thermofax screens on scrim and Lutrador and pelmet vilene, bonding various layers together and even managing to fit in a bit of stitch, before painting the resulting gorgeously textured surfaces.  As you can see, everyone was far too busy to turn to turn and pose for photos

Here are some of Lynda's fabulous examples and inspiration ..

We did have to stop work briefly during the afternoon of the second day - to listen to Viv who was being interviewed on Three Counties radio, together with one of the artists currently exhibiting in the gallery as 

17@art van go

The interviewer asked a little about the exhibition and the gallery, but seemed more interested in asking what was the definition of 'art'.  Probably worthy of more discussion than a five minute interview would allow, but Viv did her best, and sounded like a radio professional.  

In fact, as Kevin pointed out more than once -  "Viv has the perfect face for radio!"

And finally, talking of perfect faces, Pam only agree to pose with one of Lynda's display pieces, on the proviso that I didn't put it on the blog, and if I did, I couldn't show her face.  But this is such a lovely smiley face, I couldn't just chop it off.  Anyway, she's my friend, and she knows I can't be trusted!

Lynda Monk will be back at Art Van Go as an "Artist in Residence" on Tuesday 8th May and Thursday 21st June between 1030 and 3pm, where you can come along and watch her working and pick up some tips.  There is no charge for these sessions, and booking is not necessary.

I'm hoping to have finished some of my pieces in time to take them along, just to prove to Lynda that I DO occasionally finish something.