Italy!

I have been so busy recently that blogs have been few and far between but suddenly, just like busses, three come along at once this week.
I had to think long and hard but after a nano second, I have accepted an invitation to work in Italy for three months next year. To be honest, I really didn't believe that I had even got the placement at first, I needed to get other people to check the email. Thanks to the generosity of the Brian Mercer Foundation, I shall be in a bronze foundry in Pietrasanta, northern Tuscany, top left hand side of Italy, I shall be there starting in January so I expect it to be a tad chilly and will have to come home at the start of the spring. I shall miss Polly the dog but I know she will have a great time and probably not notice I have gone.
I have been asked if I need an assistant several times already, please form an orderly queue

The heat is on

  

Another fine bronze course at Morley College. Thankfully the weather is cool for July but still hot dressed in leather with a furnace going, about the same temperature as my Grans front room.

Busy painting for Brancaster Chronicles

I have had a super busy time in the studio, very ably assisted by an intern who really has been amazing. I did not expect to enjoy having someone else around let alone teaching them but she has been brilliant, good company and is smart! I think she will do well when she graduates and I am delighted with the new work which she has helped me with and I shall miss her. Now though it is all systems go to get the studio cleared, cleaned and painted for the next set of Brancaster Chronicles. This annual discussion forum  brings together a group of invited artists to discuss our work in each of our studios.  As I shall be hosting the paintings of Fred Pollock, a painter I have long admired, it seemed a good plan to have a tidy up. I am so glad I started early, it has been hard work up and down ladders painting and making sure spiders get to a new home safely outside and there has been far more to do than I expected. I now have a clean studio with white painted walls which make the space so much lighter.
Last years discussion of my sculpture can be found -: https://brancasterchronicles.wordpress.com/2014/10/28/brancaster-chronicle-no-14-alexandra-harley-sculptures
I shall let you know when this years one is up online
meanwhile if anyone can tell me why the new apple Photos system has collapsed yet again I would be grateful, the only photo I can load is this new one in progress

Creekside photos

There was a fantastic turnout for the Creekside Open PV so I waited till later before taking the photos. Otherwise all you would have seen was happy people but no art work. On until 31st May.

Creekside Open

Hurrah!! I am delighted to be invited to show in the Creekside Open in the rather fab APT gallery in Deptford. 'Mossom' was selected by Lucy Milroy for the first exhibition.

A.P.T Gallery
Harold Wharf, 6 Creekside, Deptford, London SE8 4SA
7 to 31 May 2015 and 11 June to 5 July 2015
The exhibitions at the A.P.T Gallery will be open Thursday to Sunday from 12noon to 5pm and at other times by appointment.
Transport Links :
Southeastern Trains to Deptford or Greenwich DLR to Deptford Bridge or Greenwich
London Overground to New Cross
Buses: 47, 53, 177,180, 453 

Dead car

Alas and alack, the car has finally died. It has come to an end while queuing for the Blackwall Tunnel, which is never a good place to break down, overheating because the fan switch packed up. I had a photographer waiting for me at my studio being looked after by the ever resourceful and excellent intern while I waited for the AA who were, as usual, brilliant. I sat with Polly the spaniel by the side of the A12 watching other gaskets being blown, this time in human form as drivers fumed at the traffic jam. The garage assures me that despite the repairs, this time the problem is terminal. I doubt that there is anyone looking for a very elderly Corsa in need of attention, despite the smell of dead and rotting squirrel (not a new fragrance found in car shops, but a reminder of some piping in October 2012) being finally overridden by the rather stronger aroma of wet dog.

interns and farty dogs

I was contacted a few months ago by a jewellery student taking a sabbatical work experience year who wanted to come and work with/for me so that she could learn about wood. I am all for encouraging people but I really was convinced that it would be a disaster for us both. I did not want to spend all my time supporting her rather than getting on and, most importantly, I was not at all sure that I would be able to give her enough of the right sort of experience nor did I want to exploit her. However, she is very persuasive!! She was sure that things would work ok, she really had done her homework looking at my sculpture on the website so she knew that I don't do dinky and cute. I tried to tell her how cold the studio can be but when she came to meet me she said that as you cannot see the breath in front of your face, it cannot be that cold, I began to think it might work at that point and even Polly the soppy spaniel was welcome despite the excessive farts that day. My intern has been superb! She works hard, asks good questions, checks stuff and even tells me when she thinks it is all going horribly wrong rather than hide the evidence. If you are a 'creative' looking for an intern then let me know, she is looking for experience and anything legal will be considered, short or long term placements in London and she comes with immaculate references.
Currently she is splitting logs, which may possibly feel at times like being in a chain gang breaking stones and under my direction has so far gone from-:
log pile to .....................................................................................the start of a sculpture