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Writing my last post about the arts – and book art in particular – has got me re-visiting my own creative projects – most of which have been under wraps for far too long. So spent an evening foraging in … Continue reading
May is a fantastic time for exploring the creative arts in North Norfolk with both the North Norfolk Festival and Open Studios weekends running in tandem.
Top of my list at the festival is video artist Bill Viola whose entrancing work is being displayed at a series of venues across Norwich.
The thought of video art leave you cold? Well it did me too …until I discovered Bill Viola; Tristan and Isolde to be specific – filmed sequences created to accompany the opera by Wagner. Rythmic, profound and beautiful, it totally blew me away.
Closer to home, three of the Wighton yoga group are taking part in the artist’s open studios. In Great Walsingham, you will find Sarah Caswell amongst her colourful blooms; together with Heather and her partner Nigel Skinner who run Earth Art Co. Then over at Wells Catherine Laura Ward is showing new work after a busy year exhibiting in London, Norwich and beyond.
For a taster of Catherine’s work and some eye-catching book art generally, The Forum at Norwich is hosting Turning the Page, a two day book art fair and exhibition this weekend.
We have a celebrity in our midst in the Wighton yoga group!
Local artist, Sarah Caswell, has been chosen to take part in BBC2’s Show me the Monet and one of her vibrant flower paintings is currently up for grabs at the Mall Gallery in London.
A selection of Sarah’s work is always on show in her studio at Walsingham Barns but this year she is a hot ticket in London too – at the Society of Botanical Artists later this month and then back by popular demand at the Chelsea Flower Show in May.
My six week stint with the Asian Women’s Group at the Geffrye came to an end this week – it’s been such a great experience I’m sorry to be saying goodbye. Not only has the group been the most enthusiastic and fun I have every had to teach but I have discovered so many new things along the way.
– early morning cycle ride along the Regent’s Canal towpath with its colourful canal boats, funky apartments and watery reflections;
– quirky shops like jewellery gallery @ Work and contemporary furniture maker, Unto This Last on Brick Lane;
– utility homewares at Labour and Wait on Redchurch Street;
– master of the the new wave paper cut Rob Ryan on Columbia Road;
– Vietnamese food in the many wonderful cafes along Kingsland Road;
– morning coffee overlooking the gardens at the Geffrye Museum as they spring into life with tulips, daffodils and an abundance of green.
Hopefully the farewell is more of an au revoir: Julie and her group so enjoyed the yoga sessions that they have asked for more! Something I hope to be able to pursue later in the year if not before.
Working with my new group at the Geffrye has focused my mind on the power of sound to create mood, encourage inner silence and to convey abstract ideas like the meditative state of mind without relying on words. So I will definitely be adding these sounds to my yoga playlist. The first by the amazing Keith Jarrett. The second and third more traditional Gurdjieff sounds.
Keith Jarrett – reading from sacred books
Gurdjieff 1
Gurdjieff 2
The Geffrye Museum in Hoxton is one of London’s hidden gems and most definitely on my top ten list of places to visit. So I’m really excited to have been asked to run a 6 week yoga programme at the Museum, specifically designed for the Asian Women’s Group. The group, like most I teach, is of mixed age and ability but with a high proportion suffering from bad posture and associated lower back problems. So I decided to put together a programme specifically to tackle this. The idea being that at the end of the course the women would understand the difference between good and bad posture and could self correct; and would also have the confidence to practice a series of postures designed to alleviate lower back pain once the classes came to an end.