Vidya Wolton

I have had the opportunity to attend several Summer Schools in conjunction with Quay Arts including pottery and had the delight today of seeing my pieces in their glazed state from the kiln. This is a truely fascinating process of transformation. I was a bit at sixes and sevens with the various glazes and oxides, not knowing what they would do but am now the proud owner of a plethora of pots and vases. Here is the kiln in readiness for the firing that took place last weekend, representing a variety of student work  and all under the careful guidance of potter Sue Paraskeva whose work in porcelain is nationally and internationally recognised. Sue’s latest venture is the hitting of pots with sticks to distort and partially break the original piece in what is quite a radical action on what would otherwise be perfectly formed pots.

For the past few weeks I have been attending a course on photomanipulation using Photoshop. I have enjoyed refreshing my knowledge and at the same time am aware of my desire to go back in time to ‘old technology’. To this end I am now the proud owner of a second-hand electric typewriter. I relish this experience in a different and contrasting way to Photoshop. I see my Fine Art practice as embracing the new alongside the old and to this end  am definitely keeping all my options open as well as annoying all around with that relentless tapping of the keys in keeping with traditional forms of communication.

Here is an example of what I did today at the class, based on some photos at the allotment when we were a bit keener to get our hands in the soil.

Felt-making is practical, hands-on and I have to say, at times unpredictable! I managed to produce a rather multi-coloured version of the Isle of Wight map, re-drawing certain boundaries and leave a big hole in the middle. Could the later be an environmental degradation? The other piece here is entitled ‘healing of the land’  and I have also shown the earlier stage of development known as pre-felt. I have come away from the workshop with a felt-making starter kit, so it remains to be seen how I will progress. Several years ago, on a textiles course I did a bit of felt-making but found it incredibly chancy. Hopefully now there is more control on my part and a learning from having seen the process through stage by stage

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First attempt!

Today I was part of a group embarking on some experimental feltmaking with tutor Jeanette Appleton, who is currently showing a major body of work at Quay Arts. Jeanette is truely international in her themes, drawing on impressions of the landscape in Spain where she lives and driving home a message on environmental issues through the most subtle and delicate of means. This is an exhibition not to be missed as it pushes the boundaries of feltmaking beyond the purely decorative to challenge the viewer concerning the meaning behind the work. The works are beautiful, well-crafted, yet potent as a means of comment on environment and tourism issues with their associated politics.

A teaparty atmosphere was developing this week outside the Methodist Church in Cowes as part of Cowes Week for an event hosted by the churhes entitled ‘Holy Cowes’! I was enlisted for the art activity and came up with the idea of decorating bunting. It was so good to involve children in some messy art which can no longer be taken for granted as part of the curriculum in schools. Look out next year for the party atmosphere and copious amounts of free tea and cake (always going to be a draw).

Thanks Christian (yes, that really is his name) for the photograph! Thanks also to the team of helpers who enabled my activity to happen.

Well it’s not quite ‘Saturday Live’  Radio 4 style but I was booked for a session of crafty activity today at the YMCA near Shanklin to deliver a workshop in ‘Book Art’. This is as an offshoot of my own practice which is branching out into the whole idea of the ‘artist’s book’.  Today I had the opportunity to work with mainly women enjoying respite as carers within the family. Here are a couple of book cover examples  for the approach adopted (courtesy of Sandy), which centred on collage – paper, fabric, ribbon….. all combined with plenty of glue! Well done to everyone who took part and for entering into the activity so fully.