Back to the Burrell for more sketching. This time Roman art. My drawing skills are coming along, practice, practice, practice! I did attempt to draw this lady - but it turned out like a bad Susan Boyle. Too bad to share here!
And as for the question, what have the Romans ever done for us? Just ask Monty Python...
Harald Hauswald is a photographer who was once considered to be an enemy of the state. Living in East Germany he was followed for several years by the Stasi. Marc Thummler's film uses the text from the actual state security reports in combination with Hauswald's images to produce a very thought provoking film. It is the mundane details that the Stasi recorded that surprised me, from how many tins of fish he brought to the number plates of cars going in and out of a drive. There was also a clumsy nature to the observations, losing their trail and being unsure of numbers. They also referred to him as the cyclist, yet he didn't actually own a bike! Hauswald sent many photos to the west for publication, and this led the Stasi to attempt to art critique his work, all of which is contained in his security files. I was lucky enough to go to a showing of this film at the CCA, where Harald Hauswald and Marc Thummler were present to discuss the work. Hauswald spoke of his experiences - being followed by ten Stasi agents, being questioned and even arrested, all for taking photographs. The film is a good starting point to debate what is freedom of expression, and do we take these rights for granted?
For UWA I had to visit a building in a classical style. I chose GoMA, with its giant Corinthian orders that dominate the Royal Exchange square, displaying the great wealth of the merchants.
Not feeling the full on festive force? Why not crochet a humbug and then sew felt letters to it. Seems like a perfectly good waste of my time :) I made a chain row the length of the humbug in white, then as I went back along doing a couple of single crochet stitches, then doubles in the middle (to create girth) and then singles again till the end. I then swapped colour, did a row of singles, and on the way back did as above. Repeat, whilst changing colour for stripes, until it can be joined up. Sorry - my crochet pattern abilities are pretty dire! Any problems just ask me.
I'd like to point out that I do love Christmas. The cosy feeling, an endless supply of nibbles, eating chocolate for breakfast, a few days off work, adding bling to a plastic tree, an excuse to heat up wine and bring dried fruit in to the house. But what I don't love is somehow Christmas has become a spendathon. Dear Santa, bring me a satsuma and a walnut please!
The weekend was spent on a 'supplementary warp' weaving workshop at the magnificent Stirling Castle. The view on Saturday morning was just beautiful. The workshop was led by the very talented Louise Martin. Supplementary warps create 3-D structures with endless possibilities. Actually creating the supplementary warps - well that is the tricky part! They are made by using yourself to provide the tension for the extra warps, instead of a frame. This involves a using a rod or cane and a back strap. It took a little time to get used to such a set up! We also learnt how to create smaller supplementary warps using fingers to create loops to needle weave. The result from both these methods is fluid structures appearing from the base, taking on quite organic forms. Both my samples remain on the loom, as the problem with these extra warps is that they need to be sewn in for stability, so I must find some time for that dull job! I have also joined the British Tapestry Group in the hope that this inspires me to get weaving!
Other lovely things today include:
