Midday we packed the car and headed off to interview Patrick Reyntiens (above), Britain's pre-eminent stained glass designer and maker. He was absolutely charming, talked about Brangwyn's glass design, his collaboration with John Piper and his own work, showing us some beautiful autonomous glass panels, his delightful sketchbooks (tea bags and turmeric) and his wonderful library where he declaimed some of the Idylls of Theocritus for our benefit. Amazing how contemporary they sound, proves something about human nature. I would just love to be able to catalogue Patrick's stained glass windows and panels - but can't afford to without some sort of backing or sponsorship. How come thicko footballers get book deals but when one wants to do some serious work nothing is forthcoming? Rhetorical possibly.
Saturday, 17 November 2007
The Glory of Glass
Having devoured a ginormous cooked breakfast (CM) and a delicate bowl of grapefruit (me), we took a stroll through the town, decided on a venue for Monday's extravaganza, didn't spy a single black swan (swizzle), and then walked up to Mike and Kate Westbrook's house to say hello and have a coffee. Mike and Charles have worked on a number of projects together and go way back. Unfortunately Mike was suffering from a dreadful cough but says he will still accompany us tomorrow (recording Miscellany). Kate has a wonderful studio in the attic and is a hugely talented painter, not completely abstract, not completely naturalistic, and very multi-layered, like looking at life through gauze or blurred glasses.Midday we packed the car and headed off to interview Patrick Reyntiens (above), Britain's pre-eminent stained glass designer and maker. He was absolutely charming, talked about Brangwyn's glass design, his collaboration with John Piper and his own work, showing us some beautiful autonomous glass panels, his delightful sketchbooks (tea bags and turmeric) and his wonderful library where he declaimed some of the Idylls of Theocritus for our benefit. Amazing how contemporary they sound, proves something about human nature. I would just love to be able to catalogue Patrick's stained glass windows and panels - but can't afford to without some sort of backing or sponsorship. How come thicko footballers get book deals but when one wants to do some serious work nothing is forthcoming? Rhetorical possibly.
Midday we packed the car and headed off to interview Patrick Reyntiens (above), Britain's pre-eminent stained glass designer and maker. He was absolutely charming, talked about Brangwyn's glass design, his collaboration with John Piper and his own work, showing us some beautiful autonomous glass panels, his delightful sketchbooks (tea bags and turmeric) and his wonderful library where he declaimed some of the Idylls of Theocritus for our benefit. Amazing how contemporary they sound, proves something about human nature. I would just love to be able to catalogue Patrick's stained glass windows and panels - but can't afford to without some sort of backing or sponsorship. How come thicko footballers get book deals but when one wants to do some serious work nothing is forthcoming? Rhetorical possibly.
Friday, 16 November 2007
West Country
The great west country saga began on Wednesday when I travelled up to Film Farm. The following day Charles charged batteries and sorted the gear which was duly piled up in the hall ready to go first thing Friday. And what a phenomenal pile it was too - all the usual paraphernalia PLUS the new microphone in a huge metal box, mike stand, the new 4 track digital surround sound recorder and miles of cables. Packing the car on this morning was reminiscent of 'how many policeman can one fit in a mini' and worthy of a Guinness record. Packed to the gunnels is no exaggeration but somehow or other I managed to leave space for the driver (MOI) and Charles' very long legs. The worst aspect of travelling with all the film gear is that we dare not leave the car, so coffee and lunch and other breaks have to be staggered. Six hours later we arrived in Dawlish (our base for the next 4 days), collected a wet suit (of which more anon) and booked in to our superb B&B, beautifully appointed, views of the sea, and, as it transpires, cooked breakfasts to die for. If ever you are in Dawlish, the Lammas Park House is the place to be.
Monday, 12 November 2007
Fellowship is Life ...
Lack of Fellowship is Death - so wrote William Morris. Unfortunately the London Borough of Waltham Forest don't see things in the same way and have decided to sack the staff and close the unique gallery which is complete and utter intellectual vandalism to my mind - don't get me started! Anyway, the highly esteemed curator, Peter Cormack, is due to leave mid December, so we had to get in quickly to interview him about stained glass in general and Brangwyn's efforts in particular. He was great, so knowledgeable, very articulate, but all conducted with a wry sense of humour. I think all three of us enjoyed the morning hugely. And here is the man himself in front of a green screen so that we can project him in front of any of the stained glass windows we have filmed!
Saturday, 3 November 2007
on the road
No, not Kerouac, but the FBSG leviathan! A week Monday we interview Peter Cormack, then the following weekend my slangam friend and I have a bumper bundle and will be giggiting about the west country. We interview Patrick Reyntiens no less, to which I am greatly looking forward; record Miscellany performing Mike Westbrook's composition; interview Mike about his inspiration; film in Manaton church and do a couple more interviews and photography sessions.
Meanwhile the hunt for illustrations has borne fruit and I've been spending some happy hours in Photoshop!
Meanwhile the hunt for illustrations has borne fruit and I've been spending some happy hours in Photoshop!
curious incidents
There's a fascinating article about Brangwyn and art collections by Peter Duffy in the British Art Journal, Vol VIII, No 1, amusingly titled 'Frank Brangwyn (1867-1956) and the curious incidence of the art in the Tate'. Unfortunately the article went to press without Peter being able to proof read, so Fig 6 went out turned through 90 degrees and without the measurements supplied, and the last sentence is missing - it should read 'accommodate both reception and critique' - you heard it here first. Some extremely interesting revelations, and it's good to see people standing up against the authorities - but I doubt Peter will be allowed through the portals of the Tate again!
A RANT!
This is YOUR Post Office they say - USE IT! Well, I do, but feel I'm being ripped off and just wonder whether there are, in reality, any standards and do I have faith in my post arriving at its destination? For example, when based in a small Yorkshire village during the summer I had occasion to send two A4 envelopes to a colleague. I went to the PO and had them weighed and the PO man himself stamped them. The post did not arrive, but about 2 weeks later my colleague received a note saying that two envelopes were awaiting his collection - they had been underpaid! So HE had to pay extra to recover them from bondage.
A couple of days ago I needed to send a parcel speedily to Dorset (not exactly the other end of the world) and since I was working in the V&A Library that day, popped into the S Ken PO. The lady told me the parcel would cost £20! I nearly shrieked (well, OK I did shriek!). She then said it could go for £9 if I wanted but it would take up to 2 weeks - for crying out loud I could run it faster! Pressed further she said there was a 3rd method of postage whereby it would cost £14 and may arrive in 2 days. I compromised and went for the £14 which involved her in taking down the address. At that point she announced there was no such post code. For the next 10 minutes she and another member of staff reiterated their stance that the post code did not exist, therefore the package could not be accepted. By this time the queue was out into the road and I gave up, waltzing out in a distinct huff.
Yesterday I took same parcel to my local PO in Kent. £7 she said - my eyes opened wide in astonishment - but how long will it take? Oh, couple of days tops! You could have knocked me down with a feather.
Oh, and the postcode is completely and utterly bone vide - I've checked.
A couple of days ago I needed to send a parcel speedily to Dorset (not exactly the other end of the world) and since I was working in the V&A Library that day, popped into the S Ken PO. The lady told me the parcel would cost £20! I nearly shrieked (well, OK I did shriek!). She then said it could go for £9 if I wanted but it would take up to 2 weeks - for crying out loud I could run it faster! Pressed further she said there was a 3rd method of postage whereby it would cost £14 and may arrive in 2 days. I compromised and went for the £14 which involved her in taking down the address. At that point she announced there was no such post code. For the next 10 minutes she and another member of staff reiterated their stance that the post code did not exist, therefore the package could not be accepted. By this time the queue was out into the road and I gave up, waltzing out in a distinct huff.
Yesterday I took same parcel to my local PO in Kent. £7 she said - my eyes opened wide in astonishment - but how long will it take? Oh, couple of days tops! You could have knocked me down with a feather.
Oh, and the postcode is completely and utterly bone vide - I've checked.
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
FREEDOM!
I took my mother back to Yorkshire this weekend, after a 3 week stay with us in Kent. Whilst there we also attended the funeral of her younger sister, so this year is not the best ever. However, I'm now a free agent again after 10 long weeks, and hope to recover my inimitable Tiggerish ebullience, bounce, energy and enthusiasm and return to work with a vengeance.
On my return journey south I dropped in at Film Farm to scan a tranny, choose some images of Bucklebury for my catalogue and catch up with Muriel and Dot (shedding their feathers everywhere so not looking their finest). Great food as usual, including the excellent Cote Hill Blue*, the wine flowed and we viewed Charles' latest film about the superb potter Phil Rogers (see http://www.philrogerspottery.com)
*(Made by Osgodby farmers Mike and Mary Davenport who only started making cheese 2 years ago but have received their 3rd gold medal at the British Cheese Awards for the Cote Hill Blue, whilst not a single Stilton was rated as highly)
On my return journey south I dropped in at Film Farm to scan a tranny, choose some images of Bucklebury for my catalogue and catch up with Muriel and Dot (shedding their feathers everywhere so not looking their finest). Great food as usual, including the excellent Cote Hill Blue*, the wine flowed and we viewed Charles' latest film about the superb potter Phil Rogers (see http://www.philrogerspottery.com)
*(Made by Osgodby farmers Mike and Mary Davenport who only started making cheese 2 years ago but have received their 3rd gold medal at the British Cheese Awards for the Cote Hill Blue, whilst not a single Stilton was rated as highly)
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