Thursday 25 June 2015

a peek at using pages as support & pages as material...

Lytham and St Annes Art Circles are busy developing their work for their respective arts festivals.  

Work is under-wraps until the 4th July and 18th July respectively but here's a peek of "using pages as a support" and "using pages as material". 










Art Circle: 
Lytham Library Weds 11 - 12.30
St Annes Library Thurs 11 - 12.30 

Wednesday 24 June 2015

observation & imagination

The task:  to draw the origami boat then create a setting around it. 
The group:  Lytham Library's "Teenage Group" 

This group meet the last Wednesday of the month to try a variety of  activities.  They are having a break now but will return in September.
  
Please contact the library if you're interested in joining in.

Their excellent results are below.












Saturday 20 June 2015

Lytham & St Annes "have a go" art activities, experts welcome too...

Love's in the Detail:  Perspectives of Lytham
Lytham Library
Wed 11 - 5pm
8th July 2015

Love's in the Detail: Perspectives of Lytham 
Come along and help artist Christine Stringfellow make a panorama of Lytham as viewed from the river. The finished piece will include places / activities / occasions / etc that you love. Experts and beginners welcome - suitable for all ages and abilities - no need to book, just drop-in and have a go. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
part of Lytham Arts Festival

Bright & Breezy
St Annes Library
Thurs 11 - 5pm
23rd July 2012

Bright & Breezy 
Come along and help artist Christine Stringfellow make colourful things that fly; from butterflies and space ships to texts and cupid's arrows.  Experts and beginners welcome - suitable for all ages and abilities - no need to book, just drop-in and have a go. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
part of St Annes Music & Arts Festival

At the same time... 
find out more about Art Circle which will be meeting as usual on both days.

Friday 19 June 2015

Public Art: The Mexico Disaster & Les Dawson

Art Circle spent an interesting morning comparing two statues of men placed within a 5 minute walk of each other on St Annes' sea front. 

Appearance, resemblance, sensibilities, scale, material, process, historical & social context, location & setting were discussed and how successful or otherwise the pieces worked.

Inevitably the statue of Eric Morecambe, in Morecambe was brought into the discussion too.  

 

The consensus of opinion was the statue of The Mexico Disaster was a moving memorial to all who lost their lives and their families.  The scale and orientation of the piece, looking out to see, was perfect.  We felt it was unfortunate that modern public toilets were the backdrop to the statue but from the promenade where banks and shrubs masked them the statue work beautifully.

Les Dawson however, seemed lost and disconnected to his surroundings both historically and visually.  Inadvertently his legs were tied together by the string holding artificial flowers on his feet.  His gaze was to the flats on the other side of the road amplifying the impression that he didn't want to be there.


   


Our task was to consider how we might improve the site of Les Dawson's statue.  
  







We decided either improve the setting by; 

  • including more show business aspects to the garden using the west wall (statues, busts of other popular acts & murals) although this was discounted as being more appropriate to Blackpool
  • adopt one of the shelters as "The Les Dawson Pavilion" 
  • add a piano
  • include benches in front of the statue to enable viewers to become an audience
  • widen the plinth to enable easier photo opportunities and allow impromptu performances by visitors
  • insert some of his jokes into the paths (similar to Blackpool's Comedy Carpet)
  • plant appropriate plants in the bed in front of him rather than attach artificial flowers
or... move him to Blackpool.

I said to the chemist, 'Can I have some sleeping pills for the wife?' He said, 'Why?' I said, 'She keeps waking up. 

more jokes







Thursday 11 June 2015

Next week, Thursday 18th July - weather permitting - St Annes Art Circle is out & about.

Meet 11 am at St Annes Library - we may finish later than our usual 12.30.

We'll be discussing artworks on the prom and sketching so bring your sketch book & preferred drawing medium.  I'll bring drawing boards, paper & pencils too.

Newcomers & Lytham Art Circle welcome. 

Any queries, do contact me.

Chris Riddell & doodling

Chris Riddell, our new Children's Laureate was the inspiration behind this week's Art Circle sessions.  

So doodling it was.
A page of doodles, abstracted to mini masterpieces which have the potential to be magical beginnings... 


Betty




Jane


Janette


Jo


Jonti
  
Wyn