The Winter Hibernation of a Mixed Media Artist

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Yesterday was the last open day of the Studio Gallery for 2013. The Gallery will now become my sitting room for the winter, and will slowly undergo a transformation into "The Movement and Action of Worms" exhibition, which will be part of Coastival in February 2014. Lots of work to do, but 3 years preparation has gone into the planning of the exhibition, and I'm really excited to see the outcome.

I'm going into hibernation so that i can work on the exhibition, a commission and preparation for BCTF in Harrogate in April. All well defined projects, fixed end dates, and predictable outcomes. Just how I like to work. I will be around and about for my birthday weekend 6th December, and there is a musical evening at the gallery in january - details to follow - but essentially i am now out of circulation - not that anyone will notice probably!!!

And then, in the spring/early summer I hope to start working on the totally unpredictable result of one of the hardest personal  journeys I've been on.  The long saga of our property in Lockton, on the Moors near Pickering, came to a head a couple of weeks ago, with news that the sale had fallen through (again) and we knew we needed, at least, to "winterproof" the buildings. While organising that, my enthusiasm for the place, and its potential, just bubbled over again, so The Pantry at Lockton is about to undergo Plan 74:z stage (<iiii) part 109!

Hopefully working with a group of Ryedale artists, and with backing from the Parks Authority and the Parish Council, my husband, Rob, and I, are going to set up a Charitable Trust which will play host to a gallery and seasonal tearooms, run a weekend residential workshop programme, including Poetry, Art, Photography, nature studies, walking groups, and, and, and - with accommodation and activities for up to 6 guests. 

More work needs to be done on the building, and obviously there is a huge mountain of administration and planning to undertake, but Rob and I have re-gained our enthusiasm for Lockton - and each other - with 300 miles distance between us, and the next year will hopefully bear fruit in many aspects of our lives which we have struggled with. Watch this space.

So, until the Spring, you can keep in touch with me on my exhibition blog www.movementofworms.blogspot.com  x x. Have a great Christmas if i dont see you over my birthday weekend. X x.