Olympic Values - Friendship..

I am lucky enough to be able to say that I have some of the best friends in the world..

One of them Cherry Hall decided to celebrate her birthday with a flourish an exhibition celebrating the Olympic Value -  'Friendship'

Showing now Chelmsford library, Essex.

(You can just see Cherry in the poster reflection)

 

Cherry's work 'Medal A Day'

 

Here a view of Cherry's work.. Looking through the cabinet. I love all of the patterns around the sides.. Looks as if its in Kew gardens glass house not Chelmsford Library....

The Olympic paper children are the work of Joan Glen-Martin . Amazingly completed despite suffering from kidney stones and a rotten virus.

The beautiful handmade book is the work of Linda Wilks, her flag book set off the cabinet with a flourish of patriotism.

.....Close up.. Whilst waiting to be put on show

 

My work was put into two tall glass cabinets 108 dolls all linked with red thread..

My blurb..

'A Common Thread'

by

Julie Howe

This installation is about imperceptible links that join us all.

The Olympics have joined athletes their coaches, families and spectators across the world in a unique way through sport, we join them for a brief moment as we watch their race to the Olympic line.

This installation was born through sadness and loss and ended up as a self-exploratory piece looking at the invisible threads that link us all .

It begun with a simple pattern made from a cereal box cut out in calico and stitched. Each and every 'doll' started with the same pattern (their own DNA), stretched and altered, evolving as they were made. One 'doll' led to another and became this installation of 108* pieces.

This work was started in despair and ended in the reassuring knowledge that we are all linked in some way by 'A Common Thread'.

“An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle but will never break.” - An ancient Chinese belief" - Author unknown.

*Note:108 is a sacred number.

 ********************************

   "Friends have all things in common."- Plato

My installation is set up at the Firstsite gallery.. Hurrah!!

My blurb.......

A COMMON THREAD

This work evolved in an involuntary way. It begun as a simple pattern made from a cereal box laid out onto calico that was stitched and in turn become a sitter doll, which lead to another and ended up becoming an installation of over 100 pieces.  The process was cathartic dealing with great sadness and loss but ended up as a self exploratory piece looking at all types of scars, bereavement, injury, worries that we all carry around with us.

 

Firstsite

Today I delivered my girls to the 'Firstsite' gallery in Colchester.

They will be exhibited from Wednesday onwards...

'A Common Thread' by Julie Howe

This work started out with a cereal packet and an idea for one doll. There are now over 100 dolls, in the final setting up of the installation I shall add a red thread.

We have been on holiday to.....

'Another Place'

How can I explain this experience, as we walked through a very wet and soggy car-park along an even wetter and muddier walk-way (the builders are working on the sea defences) up and over a ridge to look down onto the beach at Crosby bay, Liverpool. As you can see from my photographs it was a pale blue and lilac grey day.

My first view of the installation was of just a head and shoulders, a man walking out into the bay, as I turned and looked along this vast expanse of sand these 'men' were all gently looking out to sea, we had the whole exhibition virtually to ourselves, the beach was very quiet (not many walkers on a wet and windy November morning) just a few people with their dogs.

Although I had seen pictures of 'Another Place' nothing could of prepared me for the beauty of this work and all of the questions that it was asking me, my pictures only begin to explain what I felt, and the profound effect it has had on me.

(If you open up this picture you can see the wind farm far into the distance)

(If you open up this picture you can see more of the figures spread out along the beach)

The installation consists of 100 identical solid cast iron body forms which face out to sea, they are revealed as the tides ebb and flow and I'm sure must change with the weather conditions.... I would love to see them on an incoming tide at the height of a storm snuggled up with a thermos and waterproofs.

They stand along the bay at Crosby Sands, its about a 2 mile/3km walk (which we did in the wind and rain with no hat or waterproofs).

Each of the figures is 6' 2½" tall, and weighs in at an amazing 1400 lbs/650kg.

The figures are taken from an original cast of Gormleys' own body.... and a fine figure of a man he is, I might add.

We have had the most amazing few days staying in the Peak District National Park. (more about that next time)

Just one regret ............. not to have see them

sooner........

'My girls'

I'll let you make up your own minds.................