Two wonders of creativity

If you get the chance watch 'I'm here'. It's 30min short film by Spike Jonze and is only available to watch online. It's very touching, quirky and original - as you would expect from Spike.



Also check out the UK's pavilion as part of the Shangai World Expo. It's designed by Thomas Heatherwick. The huge six storey high object is formed from slender transparent rods, which extend from the structure and quiver in the breeze. During the day, the rods draw in the daylight to illuminate the interior. At night, light sources at the interior end of each rod allow the whole structure to glow. Inside the giant dandelion-esque object there is a 'seed cathedral' with each of the rods holding a single seed. The pavilion sits on what looks like an massive piece of crumpled paper that once wrapped the biodiverse object.

M3 magazine

I am featured in my local free magazine. Check it out on:

http://www.salfordm3.com/ then click on download Spring 10 Issue 2. I'm on page 19.

Here is an extract:

'Peeping in to Beverley Gee’s studio at Islington Mill is rather like sneaking a glimpse into a secret world, one that we seldom get chance to see. It is so still and quiet that you could walk past her door without noticing Beverley sitting there, patiently bringing a lump of clay to life between her hands on the spinning potter’s wheel. Her skill is fascinating and, looking around the
studio, it is obvious that here is someone who knows her craft and absolutely enjoys her work. The shelves are full of her pottery, a blur of shape and texture with lots of lovely pastels. Somehow the colours make you think of winter snows and spring sunshine.

Beverley, who has lived in Trinity for about four years, says that she enjoys working at ‘The Mill’ because “There are like minded creative people there who have helped and inspired me to follow a creative way of life.” '

Written by Joyce Withers.

Retrospective lost and found?

Last year I went to Bournemouth for the first time. I really liked it. The Jurassic Coast is fantastic and beautiful. I love being by the sea. Inspired by the landsape I hid some of my aqua cups (I didn't leave any on the beach though). Checking their positions the next day, they had all been found - I wonder where they are now? If you found one then please let me know how they are doing.

Lost - small cup and pebble

Have you found this small cup and pebble?



Or this cup and pebble?

During my stay in Barcelona I hid two cups on pebbles for someone or something to discover and hopefully treasure. If you have found one then please get in touch, I would be interested in what you think of them and what you will do with them. (They are free!)

Barcelona - isn't it just lovely!

I've just spent a few days in Barcelona. It is so lovely. It must be one of my favourite cities - great architecture and design, Gaudi, Miro, tapas, and a beach! I enjoyed walking around and spotting fantastic facades with their ornate plasterwork, stained glass windows and verandahs. It must be a real joy coming home if you live in one of these beautiful townhouses. I managed to take a peek inside one of these wonderful buildings. It was a furniture shop named 'Cubina'. In the window it had room sets segmented by old style boardroom type doors and walls. I really liked the way they had incorporated the contemporary pieces with the sophisticated original style of the place.





The above images are from the inside of the Sagrada Familia. Gaudi was inspired by nature and the cathedral illustrates this beautifully. You can see the huge stone trees that support the golden canopy have elliptical scars that mimic how a tree protects itself after a branch has been cut off. The circular staircase is enveloped in a honeycomb shell as it winds it's way skyward.





The above images are of a piece by Claudi Casanovas in the Ceramics Museum at Palau Reial de Pedralbas.


Paul Soldner.



Antoni Tapies.



Parc Guell.

New Gadget

I've bought a gadget that will scan my mountains of negatives (old school photos) and transfer them into digital files. I have a feeling that this could be a lifetime's work! I've posted two images of my days in Japan but they seem to be rather soft focus and not as good as the originals. Perhaps I'm expecting too much of the machine or probably more likely I don't know how to use it properly. The photos by the way were taken in Daizaifu during autumn. The autumnal foilage was spectacular. The figures guarding the shrine had newly knitted hats to keep them warm and protect them.