“Will you walk into my parlour?” said the Spider to the Fly,
‘Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I’ve a many curious things to shew when you are there.”
Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.” ”
Day ten at Aller today and I have run out of wool….. nah only joking. I have more at home, but I have used all that I took on day one and I really didn’t think I would use all that! Amazing. Also I am spotting that daddy long legs are using my work to rest and keep dry.
Richard has also been working very hard in the garden today as you can see in the time lapse film for today!
I was also having a but of another wonder around the garden and this plant caught my eye, it looks really terrific in the rain.
It was a short day today and I will be taking a rest tomorrow from Aller, as the weather report is looking extremely grim! but will be back on Wednesday.
The last fortnight has been a rather mad whirlwind leading to SAW’s opening, managing both my venues between other day-to-day commitments, testing my sanity. Miraculously, the Garden of Eden came together on time. With the support and help of good friends and a few late nights finishing off, I managed to complete my 3 installations at Esotera, set up at Thornreed Studio (venue 94), get to the Abundance micro feast at East Lambrook, do a talk and workshop on the first Saturday and thoroughly enjoy chatting to visitors for the past week. Thanks to Pauline Watson and team, the Harveys (owners at Esotera) and Hicks & Don (wine sponsors) for their hard work, food and drink contributions to the private view, it was a lovely event.
I asked a photographer (from 35mil) to take some pics of the work. We re-scheduled 3 times due to poor weather and it was third time lucky when the sun finally broke through after a dull, cold day. Dappled sunlight heightens the enchantment on the largest piece – lichen-inspired work set in a copse of silver birch trees. What’s really needed now is more sunshine to do its magic over this last coming weekend to encourage a wider, more abundant audience.
I’ve received many appreciative, insightful comments about the Garden of Eden and yesterday was a particularly good day at Esotera, with a large range of visitors of all ages. A friend even made a visit from above in a glider. Grass is starting to grow through my main installation, and although I regularly collect some of the leaves/debri that fall onto the work (especially after high winds last week), they almost enhance it. The work is settling into the site – perhaps it should remain a permanent feature! Gengis the cat is enjoying the extra attention and Scruffy – one of the free-roaming chickens – has an odd habit of pecking at visitors’ feet/legs! Ahh sweet!
I am feeling positive about the whole experience, apart from poor weather at times bringing less visitors (and a few recoiling when faced with the NGS entrance fee). It has been hard work, challenging, great fun, addictive even – and I think, successful.
“The word ‘clue’ derives from ‘clew,’ meaning a ball of thread or yarn. It had come to mean ‘that which points the way’ because of the Greek myth in which Theseus uses a ball of yarn, given to him by Ariadne, to find his way out of the Minotaur’s labyrinth. The writers of the mid-nineteenth century still had this image in mind when they used the word… .
The thread that led Theseus out of the maze was true to another principle of Whicher’s investigation: the progress of a detective was backwards. To find his way out of danger and confusion, Theseus had to retrace his steps, return to the origin. The solution to a crime was the beginning as well as the end of a story.”
Day Nine at Aller today. I am finally to my brightest and last colour yellow.
The work is not far from finished, just a few bits to tweak. I have had some lovely visitors today and some very inspiring conversations!
It was a rain free day today but it was cloudy, so not a good day to take pictures of the gardens. Once the sun is out I will take some pictures promise!
Well it is exactly a week since I have started this installation and I am very happy with how far I am now into it, though I know not to relax and take it easy. Time has a way of creeping away from you when your not paying attention!
I woke up with a bang of thunder this morning and really thought the gods were having a laugh at me!
Though thankfully the weather was only slightly drizzly at Aller today.
Gradually over the past few days I have started to feel my fingers really getting sore from the constant weaving and last night my fingers started to bleed! Now I have an assortment of plasters on my fingers….. blood, sweat, tears!
I have also spotted that the plant life around the garden (while I was having a wonder today) are starting to become all lovely autumn colours and I believe I need to some pictures of theses for tomorrows blog!
“If you really believe in what you’re doing, work hard, take nothing personally and if something blocks one route, find another. Never give up”
I feel as the maker of the Labyrinth I cannot help but be also tested or put on some journey myself. I am getting very tired right now and today I hit a wall (metaphorically speaking).
The Labyrinth is somewhat testing me and basically I have to stay focused and keep my head down!
I also saw this online (see below) while I was researching and thought this was rather relevant with my thoughts for today.
“The Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool. A labyrinth is an archetype with which we can have a direct experience. We can walk it. It is a metaphor for life’s journey. It is a symbol that creates a sacred space which leads us into its heart, then back out again along the same path. Although one is able to cross the lines at any time, we are compelled to follow the meandering path to the centre and back again.
The Labyrinth represents both a journey to our own centre and back out again into the world… at the same time as acting as a metaphor for the path we walk throughout our lives.
There is no getting lost in a Labyrinth. Rather, one is offered a path that weaves back and forth, in and out, until it ends in a central circular area. Here, walkers pause to reflect before departing as they came, carrying back wisdom gained on the inbound journey. Labyrinth walkers say the certitude of the path—knowing all decisions about direction have been made—frees them to focus on contemplation instead of navigation. Some call this prayer; others, deep reflection. Whatever the name, the practice has been used to nourish the soul around the world for several thousand of years.
The Labyrinth is a powerful geometric symbol with which we have formed an almost symbiotic relationship, which allows us to enter within its physical form at the same time as entering into a non-physical communication with ourselves.
Because they are so ancient, the various interpretations of the Labyrinth today may not agree with the same concept of the labyrinths in ancient times. It is curious then that the same identical symbol is found in countries and major religious traditions from around the ancient world (such as India, France, Egypt, Scandinavia, Crete, Sumeria, America, the British Isles, and Italy), and that in all cases, they share a common theme of pilgrimage and spiritual reward. This has led some claim they represent a universal pattern in human consciousness.”
A wet day, but at least the rain wasn’t torrential. A thick mist blanketed the Quantocks Hills obscuring our view from the tump. With the weather still being quite warm, the garden itself was steaming. The ‘Horn’ has now gone all shaggy in the rain, with the ends of the raffia hanging down vertically, and now resembles a wet, shaggy dog.
Well it has been a wet, though productive day. It has not torrential rain however so I should really be thankful for that one!
I have been rather lethargic today because of this drizzle, but I was cheered up by one of the visitors today. The gentleman in question is on holiday from London and happened to spot the garden on his walk. He told me he prayed that the garden would be open for him to have a look around and was delighted to see we were, i quote ” I love gardens and I love art so this has really made my trip”
He was also a very big fan of Louise Bourgeois so we had a lot to talk about! Thank you back pack man, you made my day!
Today I made the decision to make the most of the frame and make life a little bit difficult for the viewer to enter the space.
I am starting to block off areas within the space and make some areas denser than others so you have to bend down into some bits to get through the entrance.
I am currently feeling that the walls are caving in around me which is also the effect I want to achieve within it.
Depressing end to the day however as the rain started to pour down! I am proud of myself though, I put my waterproofs on and persisted. I have no pictures of this however because I did not want a broken nikon which is my pride and joy!
sawabundance.wordpress.com 