Monday 16.10.06OCTOBER 2006
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30
Henrietta, Kev and Isaac arrive from Devon where they have been on holiday in Kev's parents apartment. I make a large birthday card in watercolour and wrap presents in readiness for Henrietta's birthday tomorrow.
with a little help Isaac paints several sheet of paper with blueberry puree and Greek yoghurt which we then turn into" Isaac's Book of Patience" for his Mummy's Birthday ; we have a family meal of carrot soufflé and pink champagne followed by one of Richard's chocolate birthday cakes.
E mail from James Leith at Wentworth Wooden Jigsaws asking for permission to reproduce The Bar.
marvellous package full of books, DVDs and a map of Tallinn arrive in the post sent by Margus, the Ambassador. He's also enclosed a DVD on Arvo Pårt, the Estonian composer.
More to the Cantilever Bar painting.
ditto
Bob and Sylvia come to collect their two small paintings.
We drive to London to take Henrietta and Isaac back. Richard then collects Nathan and Rebecca for another supper to celebrate Henrietta's birthday. Isaac sits at the table holding court from his high chair whist Nathan gives him his tea.
After taking Nathan and Rebecca back to Stoke Newington we drive to Salisbury, arriving in the early hours, for John Raisbeck's birthday luncheon party.
We are pleased to find on waking that you can see Salisbury Cathedral's tower from our bedroom window. It was from this spot that Constable painted his famous painting of the Cathedral across the water meadows. As we walk to the Cathedral we pass over Harnham Bridge which he also painted. It's so pleasing to find that no large buildings obscure these views as they would in many other cities now. The Cathedral is beautiful and we sit and enjoy Matins before wandering through its architectural glory to observe the East Window, a predominantly blue mosaic like design with tiny heads amongst the fragments, dedicated to All Prisoners of Conscience. It was designed by Gabriel Loire of Chartres Cathedral, in 1980.
It's so nice to see Sue and John with their children Gary and Joanne, who did a study of my work last year; also Bob and Jacqui. Amongst the other guests is Charlotte, who like Sue originally came from Weston super Mare; she says that Caroline, another guest who was at school with them remember going to Wales with her boyfriend in a van full of my soft toy designs when I worked in my early 20s as a designer for Peggy Nisbett. A group of these designs received a Council of Industrial Design Award and some were exhibited at Gloucester Folk Museum the year before last.
We get back about 7.30; it's good to be able to do a longish stint in the studio. I begin to get withdrawal symptoms if I am away for long.
Over supper we watch the DVD that Margus has sent us on Tallinn. It's a most beautiful mediaeval city, magical like a scenario from an exquisite folk tale. We then watch the DVD on the Estonian composer Arvo Pårt. What a fascinating man; like his music he feels to be wonderfully spiritual.
Large package arrives in the post from the Morohashi Museum, containing an exhibition report, newspaper cuttings etc. from the exhibition. There were 2 TV reports, 14 newspaper articles, 8 magazine articles and 3 web site articles. There are photographs of the exhibition installation which took place in two large galleries of the Museum, the entrance to each was surrounded by a huge reproduction of two of my painting's frames through which 32,163 people entered. Hung amidst the exhibition were large information panels which seem to have photographs of me and the studio too. There were also related educational activities.
Yesterday we received a copy of the Press Release from the Draakoni Galerii in Tallin with an essay by Margus which is again most perceptive and sensitively written. And today they have e mailed us images of the exhibition which they have now hung beautifully. It looks to be a marvellous space. Also call from Rachel Harrison of the Echo, who is writing a piece on the Estonian exhibition and trip.
Thought for the Day: The Lancet has published estimated figures for the number of Iraqis who have died since the beginning of the Iraq War - 650,000. It isn't as if anything has been gained other than civil war. Any death is one too many, Churchill that veteran leader said that Jaw Jaw is better than War War. Why on earth didn't Bush and Blair spend all those resources on building bridges between Israel and Palestine and learn to better understand the Middle East.
Cantilever Bar painting has made considerable progress over the last three days. I really wanted to feel that the composition and colours were all more or less worked out before we go to Estonia as I need to have it photographed by the end of the month.
Phone call from John at Courtyard Books, checking details for the Book Festival event at the Tithe Barn in Bishop's Cleeve on Sunday. My talk is at 12 noon but R is going to take some exhibition posters and other materials along to them on Saturday in preparation for their display.
Brian Sinfield rings to ask if I have any works I can let him have. I say there is one that has come back today from the museum show in Japan.
The builders are doing dramatic things to the existing house at the moment. They have just taken down a wall to make a mezzanine on the top floor, in the space that was the loft. Of course this poses the question, what do we do with all the things that have been hidden out of sight stored there fir years. R's unearthed some interesting treasures including write-ups in various newspapers. A very nice picture in the Times of my painting The Garden, which won a prize in an exhibition called The Gift of Life in the early nineties. And a wonderful little painting by Nathan called Portal Pig that he painted at Eric Lister's invitation whist a little boy, which was exhibited in one of their Christmas shows. He also came across four newspaper obituaries about Eric, who apart from his partnership in the Portal Gallery, was said to be one of the best jazz vocalists in the country; he used to play clarinet at Langan's Brasserie; once drove to China with SJ Perleman in an old MG (and wrote about it in his book Don't Mention the Marx Brothers) and a couple of books on the artists he represented. We till miss him all these years on.
During the evening we attend a drinks party at the Hon mark and Rosy Vestey's home during which there was a presentation of the National Star College's ambitious development plans for the future; Helen also drew a very good verbal picture of the College and the students. The Vestey's house is beautiful a perfect setting for the occasion and they are the most charming and attractive hosts. The elegant and tasty nibbles were laid on by "Foxy Ladies" (their daughter's catering firm)
Send most of day tying up ends and packing.
R comes back with copy of Gloucestershire Echo which has tonight written a piece on the exhibition. I'm rather pleased as the accompanying magazine has a page on Toyah; who is today opening the Mind and Spirit exhibition at the Pump Rooms.
We arrive at the Book Festival with our car packed, in perfect time for the talk. My Mum's sitting in the centre of the front row with her friend Joan. The seats are filing quickly and one lady introduces herself, Joan Hatton local councillor, who seems to have been following my work for some years. Although we haven't met before, she's been cutting out pieces from newspapers and sending them to me via Eddy our builder. After the introduction I begin to talk and explain that like the paintings I don;t prepare it before hand, preferring spontaneity, which means that each talk is different I remember somethings and forget others. I speak for about 50 minutes and with questions, an hour. Which means I have exceeded my allotted time by half an hour! I then do a book signing session - they ran out so Richard had to go home for more. Sadly we didn't have long to look at the rest of the fair but I did meet a very nice young poet and publisher called St Mark O Williams from Birmingham when he introduced himself. We'd had to decline the lunch invitation as we were afraid we might be held up in the traffic. We are about to drive off when John, rushes out of the door with another catalogue to sign. It's wonderful that he and Brian who organised the Festival are so dedicated, having to compete against much larger bookshops like Waterstones and Amazon. They should be a Cheltenham Literature Fringe event but because Waterstones are a major sponsor, they won't allow anyone else to sell books which again means that small independent booksellers often struggle to make a living.
Drive to the airport and catch the 7.30 flight to Tallinn.
Estonian Airlines are great as they encourage you to bring your own food which is particularly good for non meat eaters and about £100 cheaper than British Airways with whom you have to change en route. After collecting our luggage we are met by Gerli from the Gallery which is very kind as it's half past midnight local time. She gets a taxi and takes us to the apartment in the Old Town which is beautiful, very old and beautifully restored inside.
Unfortunately we both woke up with sore throats yesterday morning. Today we have full blown colds, so feel rather uncomfortable about having brought an English virus to Estonia. When we were at the drinks party and presentation on Friday evening, one of the guests was coughing and spluttering so much that he had to leave the room so imagine that like us all the other guests now have a cold. As we walk to the gallery during the afternoon we are overwhelmed by the beauty of this fairy tale medieval architecture. The exhibition is hung well and is accompanied by a beautiful little leaflet with an essay by Dr Margus Laidre, and reproductions of both Yuri's work and mine. This is my first introduction to Juri Arak's work in reality, I've only seen reproductions which do not convey the full impact of his vibrant use of colour and the texture of the glowing paint.
We are invited to a Private View in the gallery downstairs; quite extraordinary exhibits. The artist makes wines from unusual ingredients and then creates labels and surrounds them with frames. We then wander off into the Old Town in search of provisions. In the supermarket that Elin (director of the Draakoni) has told us about, where we stock up with aspirin to subdue the cold. Whilst hovering over the yoghourt a tall young man points at a particular variety and tells us that they are the healthy ones. He chatters on in English and tells us that he can say 'thank you' in at least sixty different languages! I try him out in Japanese and find he can speak considerably more that just the 'thank you'. He's worked in Santa Monica, California as a nanny and says he now knows why single women want male nannies but then he is tall and handsome with a bit of a twinkle in his eye so it's perhaps not surprising. R gives him one of the exhibition leaflets and we invite him to tomorrows private view.
Walk home and change for dinner. Gerli calls for us at 7. The restaurant is only 5 minutes walk away, very smart Italian (they felt traditional Estonian might be too heavy). Margus comes out to greet us, introduces us to his beautiful wife Eva and then the artist Juri Arak and his exquisite wife Evie. They are delightful people and we spend a most enjoyable evening. Margus cleverly guides the conversation, asking Richard, Juri and I what it is that inspires and motivates us. Eva is an art historian and Evie a psychologist. Juri apologises for his English but speaks it perfectly; there's generous invitation from him to go and stay in their house in the country next time where I could work in his studio.
We try to sleep as late as possible to cure the colds. We meet Juri and Evie at the gallery at 4.30 as he's taking us to see a little chapel that he has designed in the Theological Institute. It's beautiful with a simple oak cross again painted in a vibrant glowing orange with an iconic figure of Christ and sculpted in metal just above it, the eye of God. Two stained glass windows also by Juri, light the small chapel in daylight he has also designed lights and the deep red pews carved with the stepped pattern of the church next door's gabled roof. Even the Bible and candle sticks are of Juri's design. It's an exquisite experience.
Back at the Gallery it is now beginning to fill up. Margus introduces me to Nigel the British Ambassador then to the TV Interviewer (who he says a top reporter from Estonian state television). There's a lot of photograph taking before we make our speeches. Ellin Kard the Director speaks first, then Margus who amongst others thanks the sponsor; he also says that the new President was coming but he has to baby-sit!! Then it's my turn - unlike at the exhibition I had in the South of France where I had a go in French, here I stuck to English as most people in the gallery seemed to communicate beautifully in it. The gallery has been transformed with candles, waiters, glasses and canapés. Next comes my live television interview so I hope I do credit to Queen (who arrives on Thursday) and country.
Throughout the evening I have several times been presented with single
stemmed flowers. The first comes from a marvellous man who during the Soviet
Communist Occupation managed to accumulate a collection Estonian art, money
rarely changed hands but I'm sure his passion helped keep the spirit of
creativity alive. We meet a young Austrian woman who has just made a film
on his collection which has now become part of the National Collection and
numbers over 10,000 pieces. He also gives me a copy of a film he has made
on the work of the artist (who makes wine) whose opening we went to yesterday.
I'm also presented with a gourd that is shaped like a sunshine. Margus introduces
me to an art critic whom he says would like to write a lengthy article and
like him would like to see a much more in depth exhibition in Estonia. He
looks a little like a darker haired Donald Sutherland. Then a fascinating
art historian and philosopher who looks as if he might have stepped out
of a Tolstoy novel. They are some of the most fascinating men I have observed.
The Estonians as a people are very cultured, intelligent yet modest and
the women, generous of spirit and beautiful in a particular way. Later I'm
introduced to John Beevor, the Honorary Estonian Consul, (who i'd met very
briefly at the pv at Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum) - when I compliment
him on his impeccable English accent which doesn't seem to have a trace
of Estonian, he chuckles and retorts that it's probably because he comes
from Yorkshire. It hadn't crossed my mind that he would be English. He introduces
me to a beautiful blonde woman Davey who's a lawyer (and ex Miss Estonia);
she's accompanied by her lovely almost 15 year old daughter. John asks her
to tell me what it was like in 1991/2 when apparently the only thing you
were guaranteed to be able to buy was bread. Her husband couldn't be paid
because his boss had no money to pay him with so she had to break into her
daughter's money box to buy food. John is godfather to her two youngest
boys.
I meet so many people that my head is now full of new faces and voices.
We go for dinner with Wallace, (who commissioned a new painting recently
) his sister Madge and her husband Aemon who have also commissioned a work.
They have come to see the exhibition and also to celebrate their 25 wedding
anniversary. Last night they had dined at a rather unusual restaurant that
is actually a wine bar. We are ushered into a private room deep under the
old city walls lined by bottles of wine. Madge it seems is very good at
selecting wines and tells me that when she went to select last night she
thought they have a couple of cigar rooms and pointed to one full of boxes.
I go in to investigate, the wooden boxes they contain yet more bottles of
wine! I am totally unaware of the table of men sitting behind me. A voice
makes me turn when it asks how did you find found this ? and there at the
table with a group of business men is John Beevor! He's amazed to find that
Madge had read about it - he brings people to this bar feeling that it is
a secret and a discreet place to discuss business. He invites us to join
them for coffee and recommends the pea soup which they are just being served.
We do enjoy the soup and after we've finished our main course (R has mackerel,
I have beetroot) the waiter says the gentlemen ask if we would like to join
them but knowing that our table is larger we invite them to join us. The
Honorary Consul and his group entertain us for the next couple of hours
; also an international Corporate Lawyer he knows a huge amount about the
country. Amongst fascinating snippets of information he tells us that the
writers Arthur Ransom and Graham Greene both lived in Estonia. It seems
that Ransom based Swallows and Amazons on the islands of Estonia and some
suspected that he might have been a spy though were never sure who for.
Greene wrote one of his most famous novels here - the first that came to
mind (seeming the most unlikely) was 'Our Man in Havana'. Yes he said, it
was going to be 'Our Man in Tallinn" the publishers didn't think Tallinn
sounded exciting enough so it was altered to Havana; having now wandered
through the tiny cobbled streets of the Old Town I can imagine how it would
have inspired.
When the bar closes John suggests we go for a night cap to the Helli Hunt. I wasn't sure what sort of place this would be as the name sounds rather dark but he explains it means 'gentle wolf'. We drink there for another couple of hours till 2.30 am, John regaling us with stories,the history of the country and his experiences here over many years. The anecdotes are witty and he again keeps us all enthralled.
We meet Evie at the gallery at 2 am; there's a young English guy at
the desk looking through my book - a performance artist ( on bicycle) in
a circus who is going to China soon. He has enjoyed Estonia so much he has
already stayed for a month. Evie looks like a painting, so elegant in her
hat with the upturned brim. She walks briskly as she takes us to the Winter
Gardens within the Theatre and Opera House to see the exhibition of Juri's
rugs. He has made full scale designs for each but they have been woven in
Russia by a weaver who approached him over 10 years ago. He told her that
if she got the first one right then she could produce a series which are
very beautiful in colour and pictorial design. We then walk go Gallery G
to see the exhibition of paintings. Four of the canvases are devoted to
the Evangelists, beautiful in their simplicity and vibrant in hue. Some
of the very moving works relate to his family but all are religious in content.
The exhibition is called 'The Secret Script' - each painting contains areas
of text, often looking as if it has been carved into wood or stone or written
on paper. They are all Biblical but the text is Juri's own meaning that
the viewer is precluded from knowing what the letters actually mean, only
Juri and Evie know that but perhaps it is an invitation to the viewer to
interpret it from their own viewpoint. Afterwards we have a cup of tea with
Evie in a cafe in Freedom Square. She tells us that Juri's studio is on
the 6th floor and there is no lift but he feels this keeps him fit. I ask
if it is difficult when working on a large piece she explains that when
he painted a 4 metre high altarpiece it had to be painted in parts - the
first time he saw it whole was when it was installed. Evie is a psychologist
who also paints (abstracts). Juri himself seems to be a national icon, people
know him all over the country, more than any other artist and a retrospective
will open at Kumu, the National
Museum of Estonian Art next week.
When Evie leaves to meet Juri, we walk up to Toompea Hill where you can look over both Tallinn and the Baltic from the ancient fortress wall. This is also the site of the first (Danish) castle - which is now the parliament building having been remodelled in the time of Peter the Great. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, (Russian orthodox) built in the late 19th century with it's ornate interior and turquoise pillars is also situated here. As we enter I am fascinated to see an intimate confession taking place; it's very moving to see both the physical and spiritual closeness of priest and penitent who seems to whisper in his left ear and at other times look intensely into his eyes, their faces as close as it's possible to be without touching; very intense. We stay in this opulent cathedral for another hour and a half watching the service , most of which is conducted behind the ornate doors that obscure the altar from the congregation who remain mute and standing throughout the service, frequently bowing and genuflecting, sometimes touching the floor. Some would move from icon to icon kissing the feet of a statue. or painting. One hunched old lady in headscarf would wander around not only kissing and kneeling in front of the numerous icons but also up to other members of the congregation who would then proffer money with which she would purchase candles. Periodically one of the three doors would open and one, two or three priests emerge, sometimes with incense. The choir were always hidden, it was voice only no organ or other instrument, just the beautiful chanting of the priest. The contrast between this and the much older Lutheran church that we visited next was stark. This ancient building is painted white, it's walls covered in huge carved wooden armourial memorial plaques is beautifully primitive. An organ recital is in progress and the pews are full. We wander back down to the castle gate following the narrow road into the Lower Old Town, back to the apartment then out again to meet Wallace, Madge and Aemon for dinner.
Wallace is waiting outside Old Haansa ( John Beevor had recommended it) which specialises in Medieval Estonian food. Our waitress (who is in costume) eventually manages to find us a table next to the live musicians playing medieval music on drum, pipe and hurdy gurdy. It's a huge eating house on four floors - we are on the third. Wallace notices that there is Bear on the menu so we enquire of the waitress whether it is real bear ? she tells us Estonia is the one country where bear hunting is still possible. It is very expensive so I imagine people forego this dish due either to sensibilities or pocket. We have mushroom soup followed by fish stew and light wheat beer with cinnamon, the finale being the house coffee with cake. All portions were large. We again end up at Helli Hunt.
This morning we visit the City of Tallinn Museum which is directly next
door to our apartment. There are some beautiful old model ships as part
of a room displaying the old Hanseatic League shipping routes; a couple
of rooms full of huge portraits, Peter the Great and Catherine the Great.
We are taken by surprise when we come to a temporary exhibit of Muslim clothes
and jewellery. Interestingly I think the collection I gathered in Saudi
Arabia of old costumes and antique jewellery is probably finer; perhaps
because I had done quite a lot of research beforehand and had Mamdouh as
my guide and advisor; my finds compared well with the museums in Saudi Arabia.
On the top floor a lovely old Estonian Museum guide starts to tell us what is happening on the film conveying life in Tallinn from their earlier independence 1920 through to the German Occupation of 1940; the Germans conscripted 33,000 young Estonian men into their army. When the Germans left the Russians came back, conscripting 38,000 young males (many still boys) into the Russian Army and sent 10,000 exiles into the Siberian Gulags. Life was exceedingly hard, under a communist regime that sometimes turned father against son. He then showed us newer film shot in 1988 at the time of the Singing Revolution where two thirds of the country turned out to sing in the singing fields later they made a human chain of singing, hand holding people across the country - such grace and fortitude are the Estonian people made of.
The oldest Lutheran Church in Tallinn with its marvellous 14th century three dimensional altarpiece (which Robert Fripp had told us about ) is next on our list. Around three sides of the nave is a heavy dark wooden balcony with many painted panels depicting Biblical stories and on the pillars more paintings hang. A service is about to begin so we make our way over to the Museum of Marzipan where Wallace is already waiting for us. After selecting various items of hand painted marzipan animals and figures cast in 19th century moulds, we pop into the marzipan cafe for a light lunch. Then pop into the Draakonni gallery who call us a taxi to go to the new National Museum of Estonian Art (Kumu). We are somewhat surprised when it drops us, to find a group of Irish Guardsmen standing at the bottom of the walkway up to it. We become a little concerned, our fears confirmed when we ask "are you open?" and a woman says "No!" without qualifying it. At the bottom we ask a Guards sergeant if the Queen is visiting the Museum and yes she is at 4 o'clock. I remember as we walk away that Margus told me that the British Council were funding a wildlife photography exhibition. We are consoled when we find that having now walked passed the President's pink palace and onto Peter the Great's residence, (the best example of Baroque architecture in Estonia) that it is open and pleased to see us (as we seem to be the only visitors). All three are situated in Kadriorg Park, the gardens and forest laid out by Peter and Catherine the Great. It's beautiful and not on a grand scale. In one of the first rooms I come across two circular paintings by Angelica Kauffmann that look almost like part of the group she painted for the Royal Academy of Art's (in London) ceiling. She was amazingly popular as it was very rare for a woman artist to succeed at that time (1741-1807). Amongst the other paintings are Breughal the Younger, a splendid little Cranach and later some superb Russian Realists, often known as The Wanderers. I can feel real compassion and empathy for the sitter and reverence for the landscape in these. For me they are the best things here. They echo Tolstoy's sympathetic but unsentimental character studies in War and Peace and the short stories.
We were also intrigued by the enormous stoves, usually in the corner
of the rooms, from floor to ceiling, covered in blue and white tiles, rather
like Delpth with what looked like Estonian scenes freely painted on them.
A small metal door low down that might have been for fuel.
After tea in the Museum where Wallace treats us to what he thinks are
pink blancmanges (they look like the Nipples of Venus), we start walking
down through the Park. We are about cross over the road to look at the lake
when one of the policemen dotted along the route stops us; a minute afterwards
the Queen's motorcade drives past, Prince Philip gives us a very nice smile
and wave. We walk down into the city to catch a tram back to the Old Town.
The architecture along this route is fascinating, ranging from old wooden
houses to 1920s Deco. When the tram stops we all rush into the middle of
the road to get on as the tram track seem to be either in the middle or
on the other side.
We and Wallace then separate as he is staying at the old railway hotel
at the bottom of Toompea Hill. Two hours later we all meet up again in the
soft lamplight of Cafe Chocletiere where we sip tea and hot chocolate on
the Chenille clad chairs at the chenille covered tables; until we move on
to dinner at Troika the best Russian restaurant in town. As we enter the
atmosphere immediately feels rather more debauched (in contrast with the
gentler Estonians) and we pass several girls sitting on the laps of young
men. It's hard to hear our own conversation above the laughter and music.
We take out waitresses advice and start with iced Vodka (poured from three
or four feet above the glasses in a continuous stream) served with sauerkraut.
The neat vodka is not as difficult to drink as I had imagined and we wonder
whether pouring though the air mellows the flavour. I have Vladivostok Catfish
for my main course followed by flambéed apples and pears.
Making our way back across the Town Hall Square we see an official car draw up to inspect the temporary stand in which the Queen will sit to watch tomorrow's open air performance of singing and dancing - it's Nigel the British Ambassador in his white tie having come from the Blackheads Hall where the Queen has been attending the State Banquet. She is 80 this year and the Duke of Edinburgh 85 ; they must have amazing stamina as this is the third country of the tour they have already been to Lithuania and Latvia.
As we pack we hear the Estonian voices of the singers entertaining the Queen and see the now coated figures of the dancers passing down the cobbled street below. We call at the gallery and talk to Gerli before having a final walk around and shopping in the antique shop where I buy two gas masks, some old tins, a little wooden toy piano and a decorative brass fronted icon ( Madonna and Child ) that the girl tells us is 19th century. Adding these to our suitcase before we meet Gerli at the apartment is a bit of a struggle; she's organised a taxi and travels with us to the airport. In daylight we can see that this route travels through blocks of grey flats - put up I would think, during the Russian Occupation perhaps when they imported 40,000 Russians into Estonia.
At the airport we talk further about that time over bowls of shrimp soup, then we make our farewells. Gerli has been such a kind and attentive friend during our stay; we tell her again that we hope she will come to the UK. The flight seems to be full of press and security from the Queen's visit and between the seats in front of me I can see images of the Queen at the museum on the photojournalist's lap top. I'm sitting next to a Russian who's doing a crossword. Interestingly he doesn't like us using our lap top during the permitted period on the flight but starts to operate his mobile phone before the seat belt signs go off after landing. He's very friendly really and often moves for me to see what is happening through the window; we communicate in single words and gestures.We land at about 6.30pmand are home by 10.30pm.
Wallace rings and says "Guess who was on our flight?" "John Beevor!" I exclaim.
Even after a wonderful trip it's good to be back in the studio.
Call in the afternoon from Alain Blondel, my Paris dealer, who has visited a specialist frame shop for me on the Left Bank. They stock particularly beautiful frames, often old, and the circular bare wooden one that I am needing for a commission for New York. This is where I usually get them but as we haven't been to Paris at all this year, He says they don't have the size I want -it would take a month to get one but they do have a 10 cm smaller round frame. Disappointed I have to opt for the latter as I need it soon. He kindly offered to go and get it on Tuesday and send it to me by Federal Express which is a tremendous help.
I'm back on the Cantilever commission though in the evening I start a flurry of small ideas for Chenderit.
Have now partially resolved the two bottom corners of the Cantilever commission; later I continue on the new small works.
Another quiet day in the house as Eddy ( our builder seems to be off with flu). Before starting on the Cantilever painting I hand colour one of my Zani etchings for R to take to have framed
E mail from Margus saying that he hoped we had enjoyed the rest of our visit to Tallinn and the mini Song Festival staged for the Queen.
Working on the commission for Caroline and Simon.
Lee rings from New York to see how the Estonian exhibition had gone and how the commission is progressing. I explain that Alain is sending me a frame from Paris and it should arrive before the end of the week but not that it is smaller I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it!
E mail from Margus saying he enjoyed our travelogue - that we seem to have spoken to half his country!
Frame arrives from Paris. It's the right size! It's perfect!
Working on all fronts.
Phone call from Sheila during the evening to say that one of our dear friends isn't well.
Saturday 28.10.06
R's been busy working on the floor of the newly built prospective studio, filling all the little screw holes that John has made with wax, there are apparently 2000 of them!! He varnishes half of it in the evening.
The clocks went back last night - I'm always grateful to regain the extra hour lost in the Spring.
Still working with head down on the commissions and the new tiny pieces for the forthcoming exhibition.
Monday 30.10.06
Working on the Cantilever painting.
Tuesday 31.10.06
R takes the paintings and constructions in a big van to Chenderit to place and hang them. Wallace arrives with his triptych The Angel and the Multitude which he is kindly loaning to the exhibition. He helps Richard place all the works and then they hang two and a half walls. It's the first time Wallace has done this.
Meanwhile I'm back working on the Cantilever commission.
