Soumak and Spot Welding

This was the progress just before we moved the weaving line down again. I am now just under half way..... I have decided to display it with the rest of my work at the End of Year show, rather than it being up in the arboretum, where people might be unable to walk that far, especially on the night of the private view. Had it been established up there as originally planned, and had anyone else been exhibiting in the arboretum, I might have left it there, but I think this is now the best plan. It certainly makes things simpler logistically!

I have done another soumak band, five rows thick, on the right hand side of the tapestry. The lyrical curve is in strong contrast to the dark vertical slits. It will pack down a bit more, and recede into the background once there is more weaving above it.

This is the piece I made during the residency. It's working title was 'Broken Column' when it was taut on the loom, but it folded beautifully, as I predicted it would, because of the eccentric weaving and the mixed thickness weft. I made an armature (fed into the warp) from iron wire, then spot welded it together at the base. The spot welder is just the coolest tool; I love it. I am now searching for the correct title for the piece as it now is. I was going to add papier mache and corrosion products to it, but decided that I like the purity of the textile, and the simplicity of the form and texture. I have to take some proper studio shots for the catalogue, because this will be going into the exhibition.

Two other jolly things happened yesterday: I got the parcel from home with the 'Avebury' pieces ready for the Oxmarket Gallery (Thanks, Mum and Dad!), and then in the afternoon I went down to Selsey for a walk / cobweb blowing on the beach. I found the most perfect little house / studio right on the shoreline. The light, and seaviews would be marvellous. Sadly it is not for sale. However, it may be possible to rent something in the same area..... I have always wanted to live by the sea; I love it in all weathers.