Not much to do with art

The sea was like a mill pond this morning, not a ripple. It amazes me that such a vast expance of water can be so still. Down the steep hill to Xatt l-ahmar and on to Ras il hobz Raffi raffi raced. Zig zagging across the path to chase things scurrying through the fields. The sun still watery and cool at this time of the morning.

It's a bad time of year for my eco prints, the ground is so parched and the little vegetation still hanging on has not much to offer in dye. It would be nice to have an alternative 'Land Art' to work on at this time of year. Collecting grasses perhaps.

The view over to Camino was so serene.

By the time we had had a swim (Raffi is still a little reticent) the sun was up and I could feel its' heat already. Into the gallery this morning, finish a painting and then another swim me thinks.

Creating

 The Mill Room Gallery is an exciting new venue in Victoria showcasing local artists and contemporary craft makers set in a traditional old mill building. With two spacious exhibition rooms, artists’ studios surrounding a shady roof terrace along with a cafe it is a lovely place to escape the Summer heat.

Faith Vinal Pollina, herself a glass maker, is the founder member of this new venture. With an abundance of artists on the Island she hopes to create a buzzing artists’ cooperative, where the artists and other interested parties can become members. The gallery will exist as a non profit making venture with the cooperative members taking an active part in the running of the gallery.

Workshops, artists in residence, demonstrations and group projects will create constant interest for artists and the public alike. Already an eclectic mix of creative disciplines exist at the gallery including, painting, sculpture, glass making, silversmithing, jewellery making, mosaics and designer clothing.

The gallery will be open this Summer Monday – Saturday 10am – 1pm

A small selection of my work at the fair last weekend. One of the exhibition rooms is now housing more of my work.

Wonderful roof terrace.

Faith had a plan ! Some potential members were to work on a 'piece' as a group, just to see how we all gelled. More of a social experiment rather than an art collaboration !  We brought bags of fabrics, string, glue, paint, organic material etc etc there was a sisal mat to use as a canvas and we had 1 hr in which to do our best. There was a catch....we had to work in silence. Could we work together and not get upset with what someone else may do to our work, or could we get our ideas across without speaking? In essence how would we all work together without being able to speak  ?

Without any prior collaboration none of us knew what everyone else intended to do. The first 10 or 15 minutes we all concentrated on our own little areas, without encroaching on anyone else's area. It didn't take long for us all to realise that we had to somehow connect all our ideas. One person started to use gold paint to join us up, I started to sew red thread through all the works, not only securing them but as a visual link. The end result was messy but we learnt a little about how the others worked and a realisation that we had to pull together to make the Mill Room Gallery function successfully. 

A post mortem on how it went, a couple of glasses of wine, some new found friends and a jolly good and fun evening.
If you want to see the end result pop down to the gallery this weekend.

If you are an artist or contemporary craft maker interested in this project please contact Faith by sending a message her on The Mill Room Gallery facebook  page.

Wied Il-Hanaq

Wied Il-Hanaq is a little known gem of a valley running below Xaghra towards Ramla Bay. The air was cooler at 6am this morning as Raffi as I set out along the path. The sun coming up over the hill cast long shadows making it a pleasure to stride out. Raffi darted from field to field sniffing excitedly as he went. The lush valley is lined with cane, waiting be harvested for making shade screens or wind breaks for the fields. Apple and plum orchards heavy with fruit flourish in the damp atmosphere. We breakfasted on the sweet deep purple plums over hanging the lane. 

Looking back up towards Nadur

I recently watched a film called Tracks, about an Australian girl who trekked from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean. She took four camels and her dog. It seemed like a mad thing to do and really she bit off more than she could chew, but what an adventure. As I was walking today I mused about an adventure that Raffi and I could embark on. Maybe not something quite so dangerous but a trek around the islands appeals. Probably not in the heat of the Summer or with camels but an prolonged Autumn walk to collect organic materials for my dyeing. I have always had itchy feet but feel very content with life right now, here on Gozo. Walking is a fabulous way to discover what on first sight may seem a limited island, and I haven't even started on Malta yet. There needs to be a goal in mind, like a circumnavigation along the coastal paths. Or a walking meditation linking all the valleys.....I don't know, it requires some thought and a little planning in order to make it an art walk.

Artists seem to need a muse. An inspirational figure or a place or setting that affords the creative flow. I certainly feel that here on Gozo and walking silently with my dog often brings up new ideas and concepts. Having a purpose in my every step, making art as I walk is very appealing and my plant dyed works are a result of this. Books are also a great source of inspiration and I have many art books covering all genres. just flicking through them can spark an idea.  They are currently languishing in a barn in Essex. Little by little I am bringing a case of my 'can't live without' bits out here butI have made the decision not to have most of my 'old life' belongings sent out to Gozo. I have lived without them for this long and have decided I no longer need them. Though I have to say going back to the UK recently and riffling through the boxes I started to believe I needed some of that paraphernalia. No... all I need are some photos of my children and some much loved art, travel and cookery books. The rest my kids can have to furnish a house or flat when the time comes. It is very cathartic to let 'stuff' go. By clearing out the old one allows for the new to enter ones life. 

Have a good day x

I like this poem:

WHEN I MET MY MUSE 

I glanced at her and took my glasses 

off -- they were still singing.  The buzzed

like a locust on the coffee table and then 

ceased.  Her voice belled forth, and the 

sunlight bent.  I felt the ceiling arch, and

knew that nails up there took a new grip 

on whatever they touched.  "I am your own

way of looking at things", she said.  "When

you allow me to live with you, every 

glance at the world around you will be

a sort of salvation."  And I took her hand.

- William Stafford