When I was thinking of what I was going to write my brother sent me a video clip which I have included here. It made me smile. I hope it does the same for you. We all need a smile in the morning to start the day to get the face muscles moving in the right direction! Access might be immediate on opening the package if not try this; right click on the title highlight package object then there is another popup menu, choose activate contents, good luck. drill_team_for_retired_guys1.wmv
Many people have read last week’s blog by Grace, by Monday 109 visits which I don't think is bad at all. In fact, we have had several messages showing appreciation for the blog and passing the address on to other people which is what we want. With that in mind we have now made some progress towards the Reform club drinks reception fundraiser as Prof Mathias has agreed to be the guest speaker. He is the autonomic nervous system specialist and works closely with Prof Andrew Lees. They are both my consultants. The invitations will go out at the beginning of January for the event on 9 February 2012.
The other exciting thing that is happening is that my collection of contemporary ceramics built up around 20 years is to be exhibited in the Craven Museum for three months. It will enable me to see the pots in a different light and Liz to clean the shelves and live in a half empty house. There is something satisfying about this, a celebration and closure of part of me. The exhibition starts on 19 January with a preview evening on 18 January 2012.
That leads my thoughts on to the wider crafts community. Yesterday we went to King Street workshops in Pateley Bridge for their annual Christmas open workshop event. We particularly like to see Debbie Moxon, a jeweller who mostly works in titanium. We met each other 25 years ago in the Otley workshops when I was working as the Visual Arts Officer for Yorkshire Arts, which was at the time the regional arts development agency for Yorkshire. We have purchased her work periodically over that time. Nothing is too much trouble for her including commissions and repairs. What I like about visiting people like Debbie in their workplace is that you can support a small business producing beautiful things at a marginal cost of High Street shopping. Craftspeople like Debbie are also an integral part of the creative industries. They are largely ignored because they are lifestyle businesses and have little or no potential for growth. Anyway Debbie was very excited because in the New Year they are going to strip out their workshop and rebuild it completely to celebrate their twentieth anniversary in Pateley Bridge.
There are also a very good felt maker, a maker of exquisite hats and glass blowers on the site. The glass blowers, Sanders and Wallace, were able to set up 25 years ago because they received a Yorkshire Arts grant recommended by me. They have been terrifically successful ever since. They make enough money to have the kind of lifestyle they want and make beautiful glass perfume bottles, vases and lots of other things. Watching them hand blow the glass is mesmerising and so skilful. I support lifestyle businesses because at the very least they are employing themselves, buying goods and services so consequently making a contribution to the local economy. Do you agree? In many ways I envy them because they are able to continue their creative work and give people pleasure and be valued long past retirement age.
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