'Theatre Silentum Memorias'

We have put up the  exhibition, it has been called..

 'Nine Lives', 

It is firstly being shown at Slack Space, in Colchester, we are having a meet the artists evening this Friday from 7.30pm you are all welcome, come in spirit if you can't make it in body..

The exhibition is set up, and is looking wonderful, now you can finally get to see the completed work.. 

Brief: An ordinary shoe box, to make nine artifacts in nine months that fit inside the box.
The restraints:
1 - Doll - Alice
2 - Bundle of letters – Rolled poems and words, never to be told
3 - Heart - An amulet
4 - Pin cushion - Skull
5 - Item of clothing – Child’s first shoe
6 - A piece from a toy or game - Ark
7 - Jewellery – Paper beaded necklace
8 - A rattle – Sampler
9 - A memento of a significant event – Memories trapped in Glass wax
together with a Journal..

The story behind my heirloom box is not what it started out to be, after a lot of heart searching it became a box about Samantha and the memories of my beautiful girl. That is the reason for the box and why it is called  'Theatre of Silent Memories'.   
"Silent memories"? Because when you have lost someone so precious, those memories are your memories, and as family and friends forget that your grief still tears you apart a little more each day,  you stay silent... Enough Julie! Enough! Now to get on with the box.. 

 

1 - Doll - Alice

I have already introduced you to Alice and her alter ego the Cheshire Cat, she looks so innocent with those big innocent eyes, and the cat has a wicked grin that doesn't reach it's eyes at all..

I chose Alice in Wonderland Chapter 4, because this is when she gets stuck in the rabbits house...

.... when her eye fell upon a little bottle that stood near the looking- glass. There was no label this time with the words 'DRINK ME,' but nevertheless she uncorked it and put it to her lips. 'I know something interesting is sure to happen,' she said to herself, 'whenever I eat or drink anything; so I'll just see what this bottle does. I do hope it'll make me grow large again, for really I'm quite tired of being such a tiny little thing!' 
Alice is a metaphor for my daughter Samantha,when she was growing up always felt too tall, she also loved this passage when Alice gets stuck in the rabbits house. I also painted Alice's hair red, as was Samantha's.

 2- Bundle of letters – Rolled poems and words, never to be told

These are tied bundles of letters and poems things that I would have loved to have said and shared with my daughter.. Made from old papers, stained with coffee and vanilla tea wrapped tightly around a wooden skewer then wrapped with pale grey threads..

 

3 - Heart - An amulet

The Heart amulet was decided by a lucky find in a church yard a little shard of flint in the shape of a heart. What I have made is a 'breve' a textual amulet, these were placed in the cots of new the new born to protect them.  Tucked inside the breve is a little pocket in which holds a special prayer. The heart form chosen for what it signifies, a heart ripped out, but still pumping..

4 - Pin cushion - Skull
The Skull is a reminder of  death and mortality,  completed with hundreds of tiny pearls which are used as a metaphor for tears.. Each stitched on with the help of a magnifying glass and many a pricked finger.  The nose is from a broken necklace from the 1930's, the eye on the right is a strange old button, the left eye is half of a popper and the mouth is one half of a skirt fastener, the nearest thing I could get to a voice that can't be heard.

5 - Item of clothing – Child’s first shoe
A lost shoe is used as a metaphor for one of my children are missing.  Made from a tiny pattern found on the internet for a dolls shoe, made from calico then painted and finished with a cute button from the 1950's. All of my children had red shoes as their first shoes, another small link.

6 - A piece from a toy or game - Ark

The toy was the first item to be made. Simply made from an old cereal box and tissue paper, the ladder is from silver wire that I had brought many years ago.

Why an 'Ark', in ancient Egyptian mythology, mummies were buried with a boat in case of flood and a ladder to help them climb to the afterlife..

 7 - Jewellery – Paper beaded necklace

The necklace is made from some of Samantha's art work, the first time I have included any of my daughters art work in conjunction with in my own.  The pieces that I used where three small pieces of Samantha's water colour paper that looked as if she was testing colours for a new project.  I can't tell you how many tears I shed and how long it took me to pluck up the courage to cut into her work.. Sam would have probably thrown the paper away..

8 - A rattle – Sampler  

The rattle was a puzzling, my first instinct was to make it out of papier mache, but I had to include a sampler of some kind as in the brief.. Some months previously my son had given me a tiny tin that had held mints, he also gave me 22 ball bearings which was the age that Samantha was when she died.. These fitted in the tin perfectly and give an amazing sound.. So with needle and fine wool I designed the cover 'Pisces', my daughters birth sign for one side and a sampler of patterns on the other.. Stitched once again with the use of my wonderful magnifying glass.

 

9 - A memento of a significant event – Memories trapped in Glass wax
This was the hardest to do, my significant event became all of the events that were snatched away from me that we would never have together. To show this I used time,  trapped in the  glass wax are clocks, a key hole to signify things that can't be quite seen, and her age.. Just 22.  The wax glass is very fragile and small pieces break off easily this was perfect as the time we have with our children is so precious and we must make the most of every day as time chips away and precious moments pass without us noticing..

The Journal
 A hand made book which includes 9 lino prints one for each object in the box, as you open the book there is some of Samantha's handwriting from her dissertation.. I enlarged it to make it a little more abstracted in appearance.

 

 'Theatre Silentum Memorias'

 And here it is placed on a shelf at roughly eye level, together with the Journal and the book in which I worked out what, where and how I was going to make the heirloom box.

Nine artists, nine months, nine boxes. Meeting up once a month to discuss and develop the ideas for the nine pieces of work which each box would eventually contain. It was a journey like no other. A meeting of minds of friendships made, laughter and sorrow gently mixed together with the kindness of nine women.

On my work bench - A Cheshire cat -

 With an evil look in his eyes.

Doll house

 'Doll houses'.. 

I've no time to tell the story of these girls today, I'll let them do the talking, that's if they want to of course.

An angel.. A postcard update .... And dates for Open studio's...

I have been working on a project which I'd tentatively started a few weeks ago, you might remember some little hand made dresses which I'd pinned to my notice board a few weeks ago that I called  developing wings . At the same time I met an artist called Barbara Morrison who asked me to help her with her MA by making two postcards for the project she was working on... Which I was delighted to take part in.  I continued to run with the theme which was developing, I called the post cards..'Lost children'   

The work has continued to develop... It's been very therapeutic as I've been trying to get my head around all the sadness that I've been struggling with.

'The sad angel' is all part of this work, she just needed to be made...

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Postcard project update:  The 'Lost children' have arrived safely... Amazingly in one piece.. Good old Royal Mail..

'Whisper'                          'Breath'

These were the two I sent to Barbara and in return she has sent me...

 'In my dreams I can dance still'

There are so many layers to this piece, the photo does not do it justice.. I am so excited about how this project is going to develop.. I'll let you know as soon as I have any news.

*******

OPEN STUDIOS happens in a couple of weeks, I've popped a link in the top left hand corner, so just click for times dates, maps etc..

I would love to see you.. Please come for a chat, I might be able to find you a cup of tea and a biscuit if your lucky...

'The fish wives' and the 'Weird and Wonderful Wood'

First I have to tell you about the ''Weird and Wonderful Wood'   

An event held at Haughley Park, Wetherden, Stowmarket last weekend.  I can't believe that I haven't been before.. Click on the link, it was wonderful, with everything from wood turners to a teller of tales, from paper making to a man making wood burners out of recycled bits from motor bikes and window latches - They had to be seen to be believed - Amazing...And they worked.  There was also a Juggler called 'Dan The Hat'  (do have a look at the link, so clever, he had everyone enthralled)  and a man carving with an 'axe'!!!

 

One of the best bits of the day....... I had the great pleasure of meeting the lovely, and very talented Rima Staines  and her partner Tom Hirons, who was charming.  I forgot my camera... Numpty!!!   Needless to say I haven't any photographs of Rima's wonderful work or of Tom's amazing leather masks.... Or of this truly wonderful day, so please take a look at the links, I have tried to find some pictures of Tom's work but have only found his website of poetry and tales to be told, which will have you all captivated I'm sure.  

So, together with great food, amazing musicians, craftsmen and women, and the many wonderful people whom we met..........you have my idea of a perfect day...  Oh!  almost forgot, there was a lovely man playing a 'Hurdy Gurdy' as we left to make our way home... A perfect ending, to a perfect day.

And if you have a chance of getting to the 'Weird and Wonderful Wood' next year... Drop everything, and go!

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 Next

New art doll

. 

'The Fish Wives'

It has been some time since I last made an art doll... Lost my enthusiasm.... Needed to explore other ways of seeing, so, inspired by Karen Mead  here is the first peek at my new work.

 

'They' are a work in progress... I love that expression, it means, "I haven't got the foggiest idea what to do next"....Nothing new there I hear you say...

Still got to tweak a few things, 'they' are coming along... As one might say, a work in progress... He! he!

Last chance to enter giveaway...

...ends midnight tonight

 Just leave your name and where you are from for a chance to win 'A Walk in the Park'.

An Art Doll giveaway - Who will it be?

I've been trying to decide which of my art dolls to give away, yesterday I took my grandson to the park and the seed of an idea was planted... I asked Reu which of my dolls I should  give to someone as a special gift, he chose 'Off to the Park', he said it was his favorite and his best.  So here is what my gift to one lucky winner will be....

"Hi,we are the twins, and we are... 'Off to the Park'. And this is our perambulator.. Our artist likes that word she says that it sounds so much better than pram!".

"Our artist has put one of her special labels on the bottom of our perambulator, so that you can remember who she was in a hundred years time...Long after she is gone and just a vague memory.... If we are looked after our artist say's we will be around for a hundred years, hopefully to become an heirloom within someones family".

A walk in the Park' is made entirely of papier mache then painted and finished with two coats of matt varnish to seal in the art work. The perambulator has been finished with vintage buttons, which are fixed into position, they do not turn.

To enter

Just leave me a "Hello", from wherever you live in this world, and I will pull out a winner on  April 1st.

Motherly love - New work

Sailing away.........

...To live in the USA.

~ Have fun my little 'Hide and Seek' ~

'Our Little Castles' A new series of art dolls

 'Their Own Home'

Introducing 'Their Own Home' ~ a unique little art doll just 10cm tall made from quilters muslin and paper clay then painted in my usual way.. paint.. sand.. paint... sand.. paint...varnish.

The little 'castle' is made from vintage pages from a children's book it has has fabric and stitched details there are loose threads, which give a sense of life to the little home.

Each piece is free standing and signed by me Julie.

The little 'Castle' even has a back door.

For sale in ' My Curiosity Shop'  

My name is ...

'Miette'

 

Update: Miette has been SOLD - Thank you

"My artist has finally given me a name which apparently means ...small sweet thing or little one, quite appropriate as I'm not very tall... she thinks that I look French?  May be I do..."

This little art doll is just 4"tall and 2" wide, made of cloth and clay filled with sand and wadding, finished with vintage buttons to keep her balanced.

"Look at my wheels"

"Buttons........that is how I get around" said the little fellow.

Progress report collagraph and Grace

Collagraph....Thinking first!!!...

...About bits of wallpaper and cardboard and where to stick them?

Well that's got to be a first for me, I'm far too impatient..

...And Grace, drying amongst the glue pots and sissors.

Grace... an update

'Grace' 

Slow progress... I keep getting distracted with the veggie garden....

A friend for Hannah

This is 'Sarah' she looks after 'Moon Flowers'.

(More pictures soon trying to get them finished)

'On a brighter note'

What a strange few days........ they get very dark sometimes don't they?... in your head I mean... good job I have my family whom I thank from the bottom of my heart and of course my work... where would I be without them ..... ??

On a brighter note... this is what I've been up to a mixed media piece consisting of paperclay, papier mache, a watch face, a golden heart from a broken necklace together with wire and lots of patience this is what I've come up with.

'My Heart is Empty'

It is a free standing piece approx 4.5" x 3.25"

This little mixed media piece sums up how I've felt this past few days/years. Making work like this is not depressing it's quite cathartic in many ways, a kind of cleansing, emotionally and psychologically, laying to rest some of my ghosts.... some would say.

I have made another slightly larger one but, my lovely son has got my camera once again. I will post a picture or two as soon as it shows up again.

It sounds as if I have been depressed as I write this, but I haven't, just thoughts of what should have been...... bear with me I've just been having a moment that's all.. and I'm getting it together once again... that's if I ever can.........

(I would like to say a special 'thank you' to those that left kind thoughts on my last post )