Art Circle: Tate Britain & Consequences Christmas Trees...

We looked at some of Tate Britain's Christmas Trees made by contemporary artists and we had a go at making our own "consequences" versions.

Random results...

St Thomas's School Choir sang to us too.

"Peace on Earth" Fiona Banner 2007
tree and handmade, kit models of all the world's fighter aircraft

Later, in 2011 Fiona Banner brought two life-sized sculptures made from a decommissioned Sea Harrier and a Jaguar into the Tate making the terrifying into beautiful thought provoking pieces.

film to add context / comment by artist

"Harrier & Jaguar" Fiona Banner 2011
BAe Sea Harrier, paint, rigging

untitled, Lisa Milroy 1990
tree & painted baubles on canvases

Lisa Milroy's work around 1990 was about grouping beautifully painted, mostly everyday objects either on one large canvas or on individual smaller canvases.  This tree is unmistakable by Milroy.

Mark Wallinger 2003
aspen tree & rosaries

In Mark Wallinger's piece we're reminded of the birth and death of Jesus. 

The Rosary Beads are a guide to assist in prayer and meditation centring on the Virgin Mary, Mother of God; the tree is a reminder of the wood of the cross; and its sparseness, the loss to the world at the crucifixion. 

Christian or not it's a powerful reminder that life and death walk hand in hand.  

Art Circle: abstraction / composition

Henri Matisse was the starting point for today's session although we glanced at 

Jim Lambie, Jasper John and Mark Rothko too.

All art is an abstraction in some way:  our approach this morning was to find an accessible way - no right or wrong - just having a go.  

The excellent results are below.  Well done everyone!  

Matisse:  The Yellow Curtain, 1915 

Matisse:  The Sheaf 1953

Matisse:  The Snail 1953

Jim Lambie:  Fruit Market Edinburgh 1999       

Jasper John:  0 through 9 1960

Cutting and pasting using wallpaper, coloured paper and free magazines.

Cutting again if necessary, reorganising and finding the image by cropping.

Graham:  untitled

 

Richard:  festival

Angie:  untitled

                

Monica:  untitled

 

Monica:  untitled

Our last session this year is next week, 18th December.  

Art Circle returns 8th January 2015.

Want to have a go too?  

Come and join us.  Beginners, improvers and experts welcome...

Art Circle: Mr Turner & Back to Basics

To quote an artist who taught me a great deal especially how to draw, "It's a good start."  Hear this with a beautiful, broad Lancashire accent.

Indeed it was a good start.  The prospect of the circle is very exciting.  We've already shared ideas for the future including outings, sand sculpture, photography of found objects and a hands on approach to abstract art which we will touch on next week, 11th December.  We'll also look more closely at the work of James Turrell and more traditional abstract artists along with a contemporary one. 

The first session was about getting to know each other a little and sharing what Art Circle is and can be.  (An outline of this is on a separate page within this blog.)  We also tried different drawing media and different papers in a back to basics approach.  

The Turner Prize was discussed alongside "Mr Turner", the film which depicts the last 25 years of Turner's life.  This eccentric landscape painter shocked the art world with his work and his behaviour...  fab!

Your not too late to join us.  There are two more sessions before Christmas, 11th & 18th December then we return on 8th January.  

Art Circle:  Back to Basics

St Annes Library and its link to Carnegie Hall, New York

Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, and emigrated to the United States with his very poor parents in 1848.  Carnegie started as a telegrapher and by the 1860s had investments in railroads, railroad sleeping cars, bridges and oil derricks.  He accumulated further wealth as a bond salesman raising money for American enterprise in Europe.  He built Pittsburgh's Carnegie Steel Company, which he sold in 1901 for $480 million (in 2014, $13.6 billion) creating the U.S. Steel Corporation.  Carnegie devoted the remainder of his life to large-scale philanthropy with special emphasis on local libraries, world peace, education and scientific research.  With the fortune he made from business, he built Carnegie Hall and founded the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Carnegie Institution for Science, Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, Carnegie Hero Fund, Carnegie Mellon University and the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh among others.  His life has often been referred to as a true "rags to riches" story.

A total of 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, St Annes Library was one of the public libraries built others included university library systems.  1,689 libraries were built in the United States, 660 in Britain and Ireland, 125 in Canada, and others in Australia, New Zealand, Serbia, the Caribbean, Mauritius, Malaysia and Fiji.

The foundation stone of St. Anne's Library was laid in August 1904 and the building was officially opened on 10 January 1906. The land was given by the St. Annes on the Sea Land and Building Company and Andrew Carnegie paid for the building.

(Information mostly gathered from Wikipedia.) 

Art Circle at St Annes Library...

Thursdays, 11 - 12.30 from 4th December

This hands-on, new initiative is for all abilities to "have a go" at making visual art.  

We'll learn about how artists work and how to read artworks:  we'll work in different scales:  we'll work outside as well as inside:  we'll make things as individuals and we'll make things together.  We'll use words/text in our work and when we're more confident, we might exhibit what we have made.  Most importantly, we'll develop our creativity and extend our ways of seeing.

Cost will be kept to a minimum and will cover materials.  (approx. £2.50 - £4 per session)  The first session is £2.50.  

All welcome - if demand is high I'll organise more sessions.

with very best wishes

Christine 

Christmas Craft & Health Fair

Christmas Craft and Health Fair

30 November at 11:00

Memorial Hall, St Albans Road, St Annes on Sea, FY8 1XD

making & using mandala...

Mandala workshop with Circles of Light - Fylde

It's easy - anyone can do it!
Come and give it a go.

Booking Essential - either with Simone at The Angel Lounge or with me. 

Mandalas, Sacred Geometry & Meditation

10.30 - 4.30, Saturday 18th October 

The Angel Lounge St Annes

£33 (inc materials)  

limited space, booking essential

a practical day making and using mandalas - no experience necessary

Colour Codes with Christine

Self-portrait by Jeanette at the start of the evening

Christine by Sophie

Jeanette by Simone

Drawing after relaxation/meditation by Jeanette

Simone's drawings: after relaxation; at the start of the evening and Simone by Jeanette  

Apologies to Jackie, Lisa, Michelle, Dawn & Sophie for forgetting my camera.  Your drawings were wonderful too...  Michelle's 8 year old daughter spent the time making beautiful drawings of angels - sorry again, no piccie.  

Thank you everyone for making it a very special evening & to Simone at the Angel Lounge for making us so welcome. 

Also, a special thank you to Pamela Young.  We referred to Pam's colour meanings which came to her during meditation at a Rainbow Group in 1988.  Her biography, "Hope Street" is well worth reading.  'When you read Hope Street, you are uplifted, exhilarated, excited at the profound truths that shine through. This radiant book will bring great comfort, healing and hope to all who are blessed by reading it.'   

Watch this space for more sessions combining different visual art media with spiritual subjects and processes or become a follower and info will go straight to your inbox. 

Pinch Pots with Jeanette aka Cosmic Pots

 

...meditation enabled us to make pinch pots with our eyes closed! 

 Above made during relaxation thinking about trees.

Below using guided meditation.  

All pots were fired and glazed to enhance texture.

 

 

 

 

 

More sessions coming soon.  Watch this space or become a member and the information will go directly to your inbox.

Colour Codes Workshop: We'll explore what an aura is and have a go at drawing them using meditation and the beautiful colours of artists' quality soft pastels.

Colour Codes: 

7 – 9pm, Tuesday, 29^th July 2014

The Angel Lounge, 17 Alexander Drive, St Annes

No experience needed - all materials supplied - £8

Programme

Welcome and Introductions

Overview of Session

Aura Self-portraits

Meditation/relaxation & Mark Making

Short break

Working in pairs:  Meditation & Aura Portraits and intuitive reflection on work made

Colour Meanings

Reflection on all work made using Colour Meanings – Does it fit?

Summary & What’s next?

Please book by contacting me or emailing, circlesoflight-fylde@hotmail.co.uk 

Colour Codes: Orange I

Colour Codes - "Orange I", ink on paper, 18 x 12 cm 

Colour Codes

acrylic paint or ink on paper, assorted sizes July 2014

With a nod to the Rorschach inkblot tests, this series of work sits between a visual meditation of the chakras (the subtle energy centres of the body) and a labyrinthine journey to the soul.

Although superficially symmetrical, as the viewer engages with the piece differences become more and more apparent.  Rather like a child’s “spot the difference” game the eye is shifting back and forth to catch the variations.  Once accepting the differences, the eye can follow an inward journey around the work and gently absorb the colour which will imbue its own qualities into the viewer.

... at the Angel Lounge 18th July

Pinch Pots: a meditation with clay
18th July:  Friday, 9.30 - 11am
£7
(plus £8 if you would like your work to be glazed and fired)

We'll use meditation to connect with our creativity and enhance our experience of working with clay. 
No experience needed

Circles of Light – Fylde at The Angel Lounge

17 Alexandria Drive, Lytham St Annes FY8 1JF

 

To book please email simone@theangellounge.com

... at The Angel Lounge 29th July

Colour Codes:  exploring chakras using visual art & meditation/relaxation

£8 (materials included)

29^th July:  Tuesday, 7 - 9pm

We'll explore what an aura is and have a go at drawing them using meditation and the beautiful colours of artists' quality soft pastels.
No experience needed. 

Circles of Light – Fylde at The Angel Lounge

17 Alexandria Drive, Lytham St Annes FY8 1JF

To book please email simone@theangellounge.com

art / craft work experience / testing ideas

Thank you to everyone who applied. 
This has potential to be on going so if you would like to take up this opportunity please see previous post.

art / craft work experience / testing ideas

A friend who works with adults with learning difficulties is looking for creative activities they can take part in. 

Unfortunately this will be voluntary with some materials provided but would be great for work experience or maybe trying out new ideas.  The participants can come to you or you could meet in an art room / workshop space in Kirkham, Lancashire.  Any art form will be considered.

If you are interested please send a paragraph of what you would like to do and a current cv to Christine, email below which I will happily pass on.

circlesoflight-fylde@hotmail.co.uk