Weeks nine and ten
This blog entry will be two weeks jammed into one, but before people are stricken with panic and start shutting down their computers, rest assured, the content won’t be twice as long. It will also be the last entry until the New Year commences. A fresh start I feel next…..is in order.
There has been a lot of bone discovery recently whilst ‘trudging across the tundra…mile after mile’, the more ‘off road’ I go, the more I find. Although the dispersed carcasses fascinate me, I’m also a little squeamish about picking them up, but the trusty treasure carrier bag I take on such expeditions often proves extremely handy. And now armed with handy tips of disinfecting such finds, I have a growing collection in the studio. Although at times my discoveries locations have to be just noted, as lets just say….they are not quite ready to travel yet. 
Had a couple of days skipping with excitement as I received the finished edit for the promo of the film that Steve is putting together of this residency experience. The promo will be sent to various funding applications. Anyhow you can see the delights for yourself by downloading this address: http://files.me.com/stevewhite99/a12pfm.mov I think you’ll agree he’s done a mighty fine job. 
Spent two busy nights holding ‘taster’ enamel workshops, which hopefully will lead to more in the New Year. It’s a prerequisite of the residency to do some form of creative activity that’s offered to the local community. It seemed to be a success and always a joy to see people discover some of the beauties of enamelling. 
Franky came to stay for a few days and thoroughly enjoyed herself, despite the fact that I promised her a night of authentic traditional Northumberland music. You know the type of situation; a pint in one hand, a fire roaring near by and the head jauntily cocked at an angle to listen to the beautiful sounds gently playing in the background of a cosy pub. 
Well, that’s what I thought the evening would proffer. Which, now on reflection, goes to someway explaining the extent of shock and surprise on our faces as we walked, instead, not into the imagined traditional music, but into full blown Christmas revelry; you know the type of situation; sequins a dancing, arms a swinging, pints a flying, everyone singing along to three men’s rendition of Eric Clapton’s ‘Lay down Sally’, dressed of course as Santa’s. I suppose that’s why we did look like two scarred rabbits in the doorway, eyes wide in confusion, in our anoraks, clutching our halves trying to adjust to a rather different vibe than we had anticipated. 
However on a more successful note, we saw an entertaining play at Bellingham town hall, witnessed twelve shooting stars, discovered that when the sun is trying to come out when completely misty you get ‘mist bows’, went on lumpy bumpy mossy walks, went on muddy walks, followed a heavenly stream to craggy rocks where fairies obviously lived, went Scottish dancing, drank port and brandy, 
won a packet of after eight mints at a raffle, made a star for the local church Christmas’s service, saw glorious sun sets, found microscopic beauty all over the place and had a relaxed and beautiful time together. I think Franky was rather sad to leave after all the adventures we had. 
Franky was excellent as she was fully conscious and thoughtful of my precedence to creating art and I really need to retain that drive throughout. These past two months have been a settling in period and an experimental stage for my artwork, and I feel that I want to push myself harder and harder as the year continues spending longer and longer in the studio. I feel it is crucial to seize this opportunity fully. 
It has been quite a significant time of realisations and it has been an interesting couple of weeks; I’ve enjoyed the delights of no water for a day, no electricity and no heating for an evening, and the car breaking down. Not bad hey! Luckily I wasn’t thirsty, luckily I had candles, and luckily someone had jump leads. Somehow this all rather feels like a steep reminder and learning curve about being prepared and dealing with situations. 
This is not just an artists residency it is a new life experience for me in a completely unfamiliar environment. I feel rather obsessed about making art, which of course is a good thing, however I seem to have times, days and dates all out of sync, what exactly is a Sunday anyhow? Therefore I was genuinely surprised that Christmas was well…errrr…shortly And…. guess what….. I wasn’t prepared when the snow hit. 
Unfortunately not being totally prepared I spent a couple of days fretting, worrying and beating myself up about time, the weather, loosing microphones, and driving conditions. And lo and behold, yep, I can’t do anything about the weather, and someone found my microphone, albeit it spending the night out. Oh and a neighbour kindly helped me out when the Tesco’s delivery van was unable to deliver my food. 
What saddens me most is that I let all those concerns take over completely and in affect lost two days to worrying rather than acknowledging the surrounding frozen beauty…… the here and now of course. Two whole days of snow….Jilly actually missed the joy of two whole days of snow, what a waste, what a Jilly crime! It’s also a lesson of trusting in the local community, they are genuinely supportive, extremely friendly and helpful, and I need to value that, even if I’m the new kid on the block. 
Fortunately the seductive powers of snowman building put me to rights on day three; I built a snowman next to my bird pole so I can look out on him whilst watching the birds; its protruding carrot nose and twiggy hair seem conducive for the birds to perch on before their important decisions are made between lard or nuts. I also discovered that shepherds quad bikes tyres make fantastic patterns in the snow. And, after a heart warming supper at the McCracken’s farm, for the first time in my life, I walked alone in the depths of the night for a long time, in deep virgin snow, in the wilds, as the stars blazed above, and the bitter wind swept along…truly invigorating and truly magical…….(if a tadge spooky at times). As for the snow bound roads, Andy flies in tomorrow evening and he may have to arrive in style by tractor after his flight, it may be the only way in! Apologies for the lack of Christmas greetings etc on my part but would like to wish you all a cheery time over the festive period; thank you for all those who have commented over the past few weeks and for all the support and encouragement given…. its good to know your out there. Love, light and lentils and more in 2010 Week nine and ten done! Over and out!