FFFF Monday and Tuesday

Having sorted out the equipment, charged batteries (mechanical and human) and girded loins, we loaded up the poor overworked car and set off for Steyning, an attractive village just north of Brighton, but not over blessed with eateries open on Mondays.

As we prepared to set off on Tuesday morning I discovered that Charles' hat had fallen out of the car the previous evening (apparently my fault of course). Lying as it was on the ground, said headgear had experienced more than a little rain during the night. It was sodden, and the weather still being of an inclement nature, CM wished to keep his head warm and dry. I was not the most popular bunny.

However we decamped to Ditchling and for safety's sake parked the car next to the wonderful little museum in that village. Although the museum is officially closed at present, not only was Hilary (the curator) there, but also a gentleman who was giving a demonstration of the Stanhope press which used to belong to Pepler (dated 1805). Now CM owns miles upon miles of typeset and a couple of presses which will come into their own in the next but however many house renovations, so he was absolutely delighted to be able to see the press in action (as was I actually, it was fascinating) - DAY SAVED!

We also trudged round Ditchling in the wind and the rain getting film and photos for the bio of Brangwyn to be included in FBSG, and even went up to the Jack and Jill windmills where the wind was so strong we nearly got blown away.

Next port of call, Lewes, to interview Martin Eidelberg, Professor Emeritus of Art History, Rutgers University, an expert on all matters Tiffany, and a lovely, lovely man with a great sense of fun (see photo). Not only did he give us lunch and do the agreed Tiffany/Brangwyn/Bing interview but he also talked about the Clara Driscoll book for DRIFTWOOD! (See also Crackers, 13 Janaury 2008) What a STAR!

Followed by a V E R Y L O N G dark, wet drive to London, catching the rush hour traffic. UGH!

FABULOUS FEBRUARY FLYABOUT FORAY

Got the chair - where's my crew?

With abject apologies for flagging the incorrect title previously!

Armed with my special FFFF folder (FFFFF) mit pretty pink label, I arrived at Film Farm (FF) on a wonderful sunny Saturday to be greeted as usual by Muriel and Dot. After catching up with their news, Charles I had lunch, over which he expounded on the recent techy exhibition he had attended (Broadcast Live & Video Forum at Earl's Court 2), in particular the podcast seminar. I had been contemplating how I could reach a wider audience with my lectures (since the fees marginally lessen the hole in my pocket resulting from my independent research projects). Would a podcast be the answer?

We mulled over possibilities whilst making marmalade for Hare in the Gate enterprises, this particular batch being named Groundhog Marmalade in honour of the day.

Like Topsy (not Morris) the idea grew, became totally unassociated with the initial scheme, took on a life of its own, and by Sunday evening we had evolved the idea of a general arts podcast along the lines of a radio magazine programme, taking in art exhibitions, book revues, poetry, music, food, the inevitable Brangwyn soundbite, and a rant. It is to be titled DRIFTWOOD.

Being incapable of resisting a challenge has led me into many strange activities including marathon running, triathlons, frisking round in Dawlish cove in distinctly cold weather, and writing film scripts. I have more than sufficient on my platter as it is without taking on more responsibilities. Am I completely barking? Answers on a postcard.

Have you noticed the favicon on my website? Isn't that fun? A design FB stencilled on the exterior of Bing's Galerie L'Art Nouveau in Paris, 1895, no less!

Progress

Progress - what progress?

Well, the article about the Stations of the Cross was posted today, so hopefully that is done and dusted, provided the client likes the product. Writing the catalogue notes is almost finished, following which it's the long winded polishing and double checking, plus a bio of FB and a brief history of stained glass. So, as a result of back to back 9-9's, almost on the new course as predicted at the start of this year.

A minor hiccup occurred when Gareth announced that his health was suffering following an operation last autumn. However, he's sticking with the project, albeit with an extended deadline, so we are now looking towards the end of the year (literally) and loads of extra visits to Wales to record progress, before the DVD will be published.
More exercise, more water, continuing to cook up storms and enjoying myself also on course, and next week Charles and I embark on the Fantabuloso February Flying Foray taking in Ditchling, Lewes, London, Bucklebury and a Waitrose near you, after which the filming (apart from Gareth) is complete.

the good, the bad and the ugly

The good news is that the book we wrote for the Brangwyn exhibition last year, Frank Brangwyn 1867-1956, has been nominated for the William M B Berger Prize forArt History 2007. So, 2nd year in a row for Brangwyn!

The bad and the ugly is that the news in the paper today is that small schools may be threatened with closure.

I just hope that this does not include Elveden School, which Ofsted listed as outstanding last year within the 'personal development and well being' judgement and 'spiritual, moral, social and cultural development' criteria. It also gained the International School Award from the British Council.

Bright and Beautiful

When Gillian Turner mentioned the hymn All things bright and beautiful on 16 May last year (see blog entry), little did she know what she was letting herself in for! But, being Gillian, she set the whole thing up, and the next thing I know we are off to Elveden, to record the children at Elveden CEVA Primary School - an old fashioned village school with 3 classrooms and a hall and a wonderful ethos and friendly atmosphere.

All 52 pupils assembled in the hall and sung their hearts out for us, for which we are hugely grateful. Afterwards Charles and I fielded questions from the older class, and very intelligent and insightful questions they were. Some budding filmmakers there. And for the young man who asked how many windows Brangwyn designed - the almost definitive answer is: 28 panels were designed of which about 22 were produced.

Following the recording C&I fell back on a reinvigorating cup of tea at the Elveden Estate shop and then fell foul of retail therapy in the form of wonderful cheeses and oils etc etc. Plus a visit to the Paper Mill Shop at Spalding where Charles did his 'kid in a sweet shop act' and gaily amassed coloured paper.

Eureka moment!

It suddenly struck me to check all the birds and animals FB had managed to squeeze into the British Empire panels, and there's a superb little booklet produced by Swansea Museums Service in 1987 which names just about everything - and hey presto, I've found my crested white bird - it's a white peacock and appears in Panel 10. Yippee!
There's still the 4 petalled flower to sort out and some pretty pink and blue love birds which Swansea say are leadbeaters but I can't find them on the net or even in the RSPB. Never say never. Tomorrow is another day the last I heard.

Crackers

Well, what a cracking start to the year. Read four books, including the rather wonderful and very illuminating one by Martin Eidelberg et al about Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany girls - turns out they produced many of the designs Tiffany took credit for! Re-read lots of articles, finished Tiffany and Manaton notes apart from fine tuning and polishing, spent some time in Photoshop tweaking images for the catalogue, visited Hurstmonceaux to look at a Brangwyn, the RA to check on sketchbook images, saw Tim Wilcox when working at the V&A Library (another contributor to the Brangwyn book 2006) - he's putting together what sounds to be a super exhibition about Laura Knight at the Lowry and Nottingham Castle - the circus and all the fun of the fair.

Thinking about books did you see the article in the Grodian Thursday - apparently 1/4 people in the UK haven't read a single book in the past year. I just cannot credit the fact - what are they doing instead? Wallowing in soaps? Sounds like intellectual poverty.

Anyway, back to work after that quick aside - examining the Manaton window in detail and describing the wildlife and vegetation involved much work with the Observer's books saved from my childhood days plus other references, but I cannot decide what this red four petalled flower is, nor the white bird with blue crest. One of the problems is that FB's nature and animals frequently became generic and the bright orange fruit in the window are actually apples (I have a letter from FB himself to prove it) so one cannot necessarily go by colour either!

Any sensible suggestions as to identification gratefully accepted.