Meat and Potatoes

 Chris Cowdrill

When I was a student one of my lecturers had an exhibition titled 'Meat and potatoes' and I remember never really getting the title at the time, however I found myself revisiting these thoughts this weekend. I went to a private view on Friday at The Works gallery in Birmingham by a group of local artist who are working under the umbrella Indigo Octagon. I returned to this idea of 'Meat and potatoes' and the notion that creativity in any form, if it is going to be successful, first and for most has to come from something simple, and uncomplicated: A desire and drive to share/make sense of the world around us. A love of colour, or surface. A connection between space and sound. I really enjoyed the exhibition and if you get chance go and see it its on until 23rd November.

Box of Knives and paintings by Shaun Morris

                       


I also went to The New Art gallery Walsall on Saturday to see Artist Fiona Rae talk about her paintings. I liked her work when I was doing my degree so was interested to see how I felt about it post degree, knowing how different my interests now are. I have to say it was really interesting, and also fell straight into those meat and potato thoughts id been having since the private view the evening before. It was great to hear an established artists be open about their work and processes, in a very down to earth, playful way (not over theorised). She said (and how true it is) it can be embarrasing and daunting revealing your inner world to others. I often feel its very exposing making any kind of work and always feel a little nervous about sharing new things I have made. I liked the use of found/constructed titles with the paintings, they were quite romantic, and suggestive of actions or situations which could be interpreted in whatever-way the viewer deemed. Fiona Described them as proposals which she makes and we chose to or not to take. I liked her playful use of colour even though it is saccharine in places. I even liked the glitter (should I say that?) But most of all I was really interested in the fact she wanted to see what she could do with paint, and how she allowed the work to generate itself, responding to mark making, mistakes and space within the frame as the paintings developed.

P.S Painting isnt dead; you just read too many books that told you it was.

I always knew it was about the stuff!

Last weekend I went to see Thomas Heatherwick at the V&A- I have to say it was one of the most inspiring exhibitions I have ever seen for a number of reasons. One thing that stuck with me, and is still swirling round my brain was the fact that the work shown was made from an interest in stuff. I use the word stuff purposefully because it really was about exploring the limits of materials, and also the idea that one action can change the dynamic of a shape, thing, or material. i.e the crushing of a piece of paper radically transforms not only the physical qualities of the material, but also its functionality. The result of the one action has such a radical impact on the final 'product'. Just this alone has had me thinking all week about my relationship with materials and the process of making. I came away feeling relieved as I think sometimes design has this reputation of being about 'heavy concepts', but actually its always (for me) been about stuff. Touching stuff. Playing with stuff. Seeing what happens when you do stuff to stuff. There was also this little bit of text I read and to summarise it said that design was not about 'desining' but about choosing. From now on I think im going to worry less about the end result and play more with stuff.

land(e)scape

                     Nämforsen Sweden

Balticly Beautiful

I have been travelling a little over the past three weeks, in the beautiful and very green lands of Sweden. Whilst there I discovered some beautiful places, in particular a beach made from granite off the coast of the Baltic sea. This place really stole my heart, and I felt like I had found the end of the world. Whilst there I took photographs of the lines and crevices made by the water through the granite, which I will use for a new series of rings I have been mulling over since visiting the beach. Here are a few of my favourite journeying lines- and it also worth mentioning there was lots of my favourite (Grey!)

During my visit, we descovered these delicate little (abandoned) wasps nest in some outbuildings, which I found mesmorising. The surface of these nests were incredibly thin, like a lace, and when the light shone through them, they were simply stunning. I imagined them as pieces of jewellery and took a few quick photos to note down some ideas before I begin drawing different possibilities out now back home. These houses made by wasps blew my mind, and I couldnt help but be amazed at how the sturcutre of the nest came into being. Nature truely is wonderful.

SURface

 

 

 

 

circles have been a continuous source of inspiration for me for as long as I can remember, and on recent adventures I have encountered different kinds of circular forms. Alongside these, Iam still continuing to develop my love affair with greys, and the above charcoaled surface of a boat, with this beautiful gold crackled stripe has been on my mind a lot. I hope this will weave its way into some new things I have been working on.

48 browns, 100 greys

Mari Ishikawa

  

Annika Pettersson:

I fell in love with grey a long time ago, its cool mysterious sophistication is often effortless, timeless and captivating. Not only does grey reflect other hues within itself but has many guises, and there isnt one I have ever found that I dislike. It can be worn with almost anything, I particularly like it with Yellow.

 There is a Japanese saying: '48 browns, 100 greys', go out into the world and find them, collect them and treasure their mystery.

Nothing but Navy

I found these beautiful geometric creations on Nothing But Navy and Instantly found their worn blueness charming.

   

 Bridget Harvey 

These rings and bracelets are designed and made by Bridget Harvey (link above)- I also quite liked these: