One of Mair's pieces of sculpture in situ

Article in The Journal about Geological Etiquette exhibition

Here's a link to Barbara Hodgson's preview article for the show at the Mining Institute:

http://www.journallive.co.uk/culture-newcastle/arts-news/2012/05/17/preview-geological-etiquette-at-mining-institute-newcastle-61634-30985491/

exhibition coming up

Here's the lovely poster Mair has designed for our exhibition in The Mining Institute.

If you are in or around Newcastle please come along and visit it.

Different Kinds of Darkness

Two of the 'carved coal' sculptures are now complete, and have a shiny coat thanks to liberal application of black boot polish. It's time to work on the hanging fixtures and the 'leaf crown' that will be suspended above them. I'm looking forward to seeing them in the Mining Institute Library, and I like the idea that I'll be replacing the original crystal lamps with shiny, black, impenetrable objects, reflecting and absorbing light rather than emitting it.

slowly progressing work in studio

Phew! I feel like I'm getting there now. The sculptures for the Mining Institute show: Geological Etiquette (May 16th - June 16th) are really coming on now. In fact they are taking over not only my studio, but other parts of the house, much to my husband's dismay!

I feel my plaster mixing days are nearly over, have set a finish date for April 12th for these pieces, at least an end to the plaster process, they may have some kind of surface finish, but I'm undecided on that as yet.......

layers of information, layers of time

The sculpture I am making will be the word STRATA constructed in three dimensions, so naturally I've been pondering the meaning of this word. Whilst looking round the mining institute, I was struck by the amount of information there is in that one room, layer upon layer of it.

I took several photos of the book spines on the shelves, particularly liked the title "The Granite Controversy" conjures up images of political scandals and infidelities all documented through grainy black and white photos shot with telescopic lenses. I didn't look inside but I have a feeling it isn't like that ....

Sopwith table

The sculptural work I am making for the Mining Institute centres round one of the two fantastic tables in the library. They are twelve foot long and take up the majority of the floor space. They were designed and made in Sopwith's Newcastle based furniture / cabinet making workshops. See image above.

I have spent quite some time sitting at these tables and recently a fair bit of time underneath them taking measurements so that the sculptures I am making fit together on top and underneath the table.

The sculptures are taking shape (slowly), overall I feel like I am about half way with them. With 6 weeks to go before Mair and I install our works this is a reasonably comfortable place to be......