Tag: Etruria canal festival

Morris dancing

Posted on Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , Leave a comment

Etruria Canal festival. Doomsday Morris dancing by the side of the junction of the Trent and Mersey canal and the Cauldon canal. I love watching them. They have a small group of musicians playing and clash sticks together as they dance. You can hear their boots stomp and the bells they wear jangle loudly. They dance in intricate patterns and whirl and twirl in convoluted ways. A brilliant display of ancient terpsichory.

“In Greek mythology, Terpsichore is one of the nine Muses and goddess of dance and chorus. She lends her name to the word “terpsichorean”, which means “of or relating to dance”. Terpsichore is usually depicted sitting down, holding a lyre, accompanying the dancers’ choirs with her music. Her name comes from the Greek words τέρπω and χoρός.Wikipedia”

Steam punk portrait

Posted on Posted in Fine Art, Memories, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , 1 Comment

Going through my art trying to find images  with sunlight in them. I came across the this semi abstract portrait of a Steam Punk. It’s from a photo I took at The Etruria Canal Festival either last year or the year before?

I like experimenting, especially since my arm shakes, so I can integrate that into the paintings, or try something even more different if I want?

Insect puppet!

Posted on Posted in Fine Art, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , 2 Comments

I think this man sized puppet at Etruria canal festival a couple of weeks ago was meant to be a preying mantis. I didn’t get the details of the puppet theatre company but they are obviously very skilled makers! I think this is absolutely beautiful (sorry if you don’t like insects), the colours are amazing and the way it is painted with such great detail is a tour de force. If anyone knows the name of the puppiteers please let me know, put it in the comments. Then I will edit this post and include it here. X

Steam punk morris dancer

Posted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , 4 Comments

We went to Etruria canal festival today. It was a brilliant sunny day, huge crowds (that made me anxious) (I still haven’t learnt to feel safe again after the pandemic). But there was lots to see and some incredible exhibits. There were hawks and snakes and a puppet theatre which made huge insect puppets. Lots about climate change and Morris dancers too! The industrial museum was open for free to the public and there was a massive queue for the cafe. B’arts were involved in a lot of the work and Etruria Artists had a stall there using clay to create objects children could take home with them. @ladybirdsu had her little caravan there and was running a little print workshop. You could print on cards that have wild flower seeds pressed into the paper. You literally plant them to grow wild flowers…

Overall it was an enjoyable experience, although I did tear up for a while. Something set me off and I needed a hug. Life can sometimes jump out on you when you’re not looking and hit you between the eyes!

Anyway, the photo is of a lovely steam punk, (I think he’s with the Doomsday Morris who were performing at the festival).

Hand cranked music

Posted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Using a handle, the owner of this small but pretty organ was playing at the Etruria Canal festival today. The birds on to of the organ sang and whistled too. They could work independently of the organ and it was good to hear their beautiful sound.

I think the mechanism must drive bellows that sends air down the different pipes of the organ. I didn’t look at the mechanism but it probably runs on cardboard/wood slats with holes and slots cut into them to hold the organ stops open for different lengths of time in order to play music. Presumably the music changes speed depending on how fast the handle is spun round.

Art for sale

Posted on Posted in Fine Art, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , 3 Comments

Some of my prints and necklaces for sale at Etruria Industrial Museum today inside the cafe. I really like the way they have been displayed. One thing about being an artist is the gamble that people will like your work enough to enjoy it and even buy it. The trouble is that I paint things that ‘speak’ to me. If I try and paint something I think people will like I don’t get the feeling out of it and it doesn’t seem to work. Do all artists feel that way. In the same way I don’t like doing the same or similar thing over and over. I get bored. Probably too easily. I just have to create…..

Bubble

Posted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Awesome bubble created by a large hoop of string drawn through bubble mixture then wafted through the air. This was taken during Etruria Canal festival a few years ago. I love the filmy colours created because the thickness of the bubbles skin is only a few atoms thick and acts like a rainbow refracting the light. A bit like the thin layer of oil you sometimes get on a puddle that causes rainbow colour effects that swirl and create fascinating patterns.

Canal festival at Etruria.

Posted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

From bubbles and paradise gardens to bubbles and canal boats. Etruria festival whuch started today and continues tomorrow was abuzz with fun and frolics. There were human fruit machines and storytellers, lions and bonzai. The place was having fun.

You can go and see the flint mill in steam, buy candyfloss and look at the Sculpted Steel blacksmith. I’ve taken photos but not too many. Just enough to give an idea. Good to see Etruria artists and their stall. I’m a member but things have been a bit busy lately.

Anyway it’s on again tomorrow.

X