The Stranger Atom

The Stranger Atom,  at Warwickshire Open Studios, 2019 - 6

This was by far the most thrilling, interesting, all-encompassing experience of Open Studios this year. The private residence of a conceptual artist was turned into a huge installation space that included ceramics, collage, drawing, mixed media, painting, printmaking, sculpture, all around the theme of The Stranger Atom: which means that when metals are mixed together to make alloys, they become stronger.  The house was so packed with objects and it was impossible to tell what was installation and what was part of the everyday life of the house. From the moment go, we entered an enchanted space.

This work is based on extensive, two-year research the artist undertook on massacres

as are the paintings on this wall.

The sitting room

by the door as we entered the artist's studio

the studio

the hallway leading to the breakfast room and kitchen

the breakfast room

Memory, work for sale

We then proceeded to the garden

we turned a corner

and came upon The Tower

a permanent feature of the garden

and nothing like I had ever seen before

the product of years of hard work

we had a look at the pond

before proceeding inside The Tower, which is an elaborate tree house with three rooms

lots of art work inside,

including these tiny ceramic sculptures

which I found fascinating

The whole place is quite Gaudiesque

We left The Tower and took one of the many winding paths

had a look at the back of The Tower

and arrived at the green house

which was also full of art

another winding path leads

to the chickens

and more views of The Tower

back the way we came,

and down the cellar

where a whole room was taken over by Catching Spirits, an installation inspired by a childhood memory of a trip to Jaipur, and a tour of Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors): a dark room, the lights from candles reflected in tiny pieces of mirrors. A highly appropriate way to end the visit to this amazing place.

Warwickshire Open Studios, 2019 - 5

Warwickshire Open Studios, 2019 - 5

Ceramics in this post.

Vicki Behm:

Avril Leigh:

Nicola Richards:

Sally Larke:

First swim of the year...

First swim of the year, and it was fabulous. North wind, calm sea, clean waters, and because we went early enough, not too many people to begin with.

We arrived here in Athens three days ago, and are very grateful as the heatwave that's hit Europe has not materialised here. It's a cool 31oC with a very strong breeze, so, very pleasant. We even have not had the air-con on yet. Things are going to change however, we are told, and it's going to be a scorching 38oC on Thursday, but at least, we've had time to acclimatise ourselves. It's good being here.

Beach life follows a strict pattern: early morning is when old people come for their swim - I remember my mother used to come here about 7:00 in the morning before the sun got too strong, and this seems to be the pattern for most older people. After 10:00 families and people between the ages of 30 and 55 start arriving. After 2:00 it's the time for teenagers and young people in general. Late afternoon and early evening is when people come after work and this includes lots of families. We tend to come around 9:00 and leave around 12:00 when the beach gets unpleasantly busy.

A yacht race is on at the moment which will go on all week, so we could see the yachts in the distance, beyond the net that surrounds our beach.

When the sun gets too hot, it's time to cover up.

Warwickshire Open Studios, 2019 - 4

Warwickshire Open Studios, 2019 - 4

Paintings this time, from artists exhibiting in their own homes in Warwickshire.

Don Mason:

Angela Webb: