Leapt out on a flick through

The Munch catalogue from the current British Museum exhibition, Edvard Munch: love and angst arrived in the post today.  I have only managed a quick flick through the pages.  It looks interesting and comprehensive - yet, the image which stopped me in my tracks is by Vuillard.  I had not encountered it before, but it leapt out at me, and I love it.

Vuillard: Aurelien-Marie Lugne-Poe (image from here) 

Another garden outing

A few days ago we went to Hinton Ampner gardens, not far from us.  The weather was sunny, and despite a bitter wind, the gardens are mostly sheltered enough to make it a hot day.  Our timing was certainly perfect for the tulips.  I don't think I have ever seen such a consistent mass of unblemished formal plantings of tulips.

There was an easter egg hunt on, and there were many folk there when we arrived just a few minutes after opening, but we were able to enjoy walks in quieter parts.  As we left, however, past the glorious old oak (number 16 on the map of the ancient tree trail here) we could see that the place was filling up rapidly.

When we arrived home we found a delightful surprise bunch of flowers in the post.

An inspiring exhibition

Poster for a talk with West Street Potters in Farnham last month - with images from the exhibition.
There is a fascinating exhibition of pottery on at the Crafts Study Centre in Farnham.  I managed to visit today, not long before it comes to an end next week.
"This exhibition, curated by Professor Simon Olding and Professor Magdalene Odundo, is comprised of ceramics (with some textiles) from the important collection drawn together by Michael OBrien. The ceramics explore his deep and resourceful fascination with pots made in Africa, and most especially in Nigeria. In addition, the exhibition is used to encourage a critical reflection on OBrien’s own ceramics, which are less well known. We can see Africa in them, too."

Michael OBrian's dish above is not in the exhibition - image from here
Here is an illustrated list of the work in the exhibition.  I particularly like Michael OBrian's square dishes.

Unfortunately I did not take my camera with me, and the textiles in the show are not included in the list.  My favourite - and the most dramatic piece has been captured by Tim Parry Williams in his tweet on the exhibition, here (the pot below is also from the tweet).

The large pots from Nigeria have such a presence, and I also particularly liked their woven supports.  Have a look at pages 5 and 6 of the hand list pictures, and see the 'cushions' under the large pots.

Michael OBrian examining a teapot by Danlami Aliyu - image from here 
Interview with Michael OBrian here.

I found the exhibition inspiring, and perhaps has nudged the beginnings of an idea for a project.  Enough to give me something to think about, anyway.

Recent finds

I miss two great magazines which used to provide me with much thinking, both now no longer: Fiber Arts Magazine and Craft Arts International.  Both had serious articles, and eclectic within their remit.

Recently I saw an ad for the new Art North magazine and took a subscription - and the first issue I have found is well worth it.  For me it requires slow steady reading, article by article, each of which has been leaving me with chunks to mull over.

(image from here)
Through the one podcast I listen to - Shedunnit - I learned of another podcast: The Lonely Palette, which takes a work of art from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and talks about it after first asking visitors what they see.  Again, it is a serious but universally approachable talk, with only one bugbear for me: I find the background music headache-inducing if I listen to more than a couple of episodes at a time.

This came

to me today - inspired, I think by two areas of thought.  The ever-pressing depression, helplessness, anger, hair-tearing desperate nightmare of the Brexit situation joined the sadness at hearing of the death of Rose Hilton, and speculation about talent perhaps under-developed - although I am a great admirer of her work.  I drew the figure from a photo of Rose Hilton.

As usual, this popped into my mind when I should have been working on something else.