Panto

IMG_20191010_230438_optimized

Have you heard of Panto? Or better known as Pantomime?

No? It’s something that goes on here in the UK around Christmas time.

Usually seen in a theatre it consists of brightly coloured sets, with brightly clothed people, messing about, telling an adventurous story while telling awful jokes and singing contemporary songs.

We do this in Penkhull, but for the at two years someone from the group has written the panto/pantomime, rather than buying in a script.

We started rehearsing last week. Lots of people who have done it before, greatful to get a couple of lines and be able to play act again. Most modern pantos seem to have commercial sponsorship, but in our case we just mention local shops. We don’t have advertisements in the panto, unless it’s jokey ones in the programme.

This time we are doing Aladdin. Set to open for four performances (too many for’s?) in February 2020, so the cast can take Christmas off!

Oh yes we can!

The little Goldmine

DSC_2364

Saw this in Burslem today. On the main road from Cobridge up to Burslem.

Arthur Berry was an artist based in Stoke-on-Trent where he produced pictures of everyday figures and landscapes with a style of his own. Charcoal and pastels are used to chisel faces out of blackness, strokes of grey and white float on top of murky reds to bring out the dark shapes of buildings.

Arthur was also a writer and poet. We attended several of his plays when they were performed at the Victoria Theatre in Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent in the 1980’s. We have a copy of a couple of his books. He was a very creative artist.

Making glass pieces

DSC_2370DSC_2371

Just been making some more glass work. I used some more dichroic glass to add some sparkle and interesting effects. Now waiting to be fired by my friend Angela who ran the workshop. Hopefully they will come out nice and I can use them for jewellery. Each piece is about half the size of previous ones I’ve done.

Gossware falcon

Screenshot_20191011-232028

On the gable end of the Falcon Works. Visible from Sturgess Street in Stoke.

I see you, Falcon,

Goss Hawk, swooping.

Air sifting between stone feathers.

Built as a plaque of identity,

Goss ware, pottery, strong and sturdy.

History, trade mark, art, bird.

Bird of prey,

Snatching art from thin air,

Your claws knead the clay….

Finished paintings

IMG_20191013_155234_088

Finished paintings delivered to the Waiting room gallery today. They are going to be part of the “Home is Where the Art is” exhibition starting soon. Now I need to work on paintings for the Brampton Christmas sale exhibition. I’ve only got a week to get some appropriate work done. I might also find out about getting some cards made from my images.

 

Progress

15709232116956248549019902494543it’s coming on. But I know I’m looking too closely, which means I need to stand back and work out what if anything is wrong. I still need to add more bricks and sort out the trees. If I get this done I might do one of the bottle ovens.

Little brushes, lots of bricks, tiles, leaves, boards on the windows…. A derelict building, falling down gradually. I wish someone would take it on and look after it.

Started painting Falcon works

I’m in the middle of painting this nightmare of bricks! I’m also struggling with the perspective. I want to do more to it but I’m having a break for a bit. I’ve noticed that the windows are not lined up properly so I will have to over paint  a section of it. Also, although the photo is quite dark I’m trying to get more shaping and brighter colours into the autumn leaves and I think I will try and lighten the bricks possibly by adding lines of paler mortar between the bricks. Anyway it’s a work in progress and it needs more work.

X

 

Old pottery

I have a project for the weekend. Which of these should I paint? I wasn’t necessarily going to paint a bottle oven (these are at the Falcon works, with the Goss hawk at the end of the building). They are situated around the back of Portmeirion pottery. And I quite like the architecture. I might paint a negative image….

I have seen these buildings for years but didn’t investigate them much. I learned more about them and the owner today from a friend. Apparently the owner treated his work force very well and he even introduced a fire extinguishing system in the pottery to prevent fires.

Pottery results

_20191009_161459

These are my pottery pieces from the BCB, British Ceramic Biennial that is on at the China Halls at Spode until this weekend.

The two pieces are an ironic and unique take on staffordshire pottery flatware (with flat backs).

The first is a boat with Trumps head in it, feet in boots or socks heading in the other direction. There is a happy lion on the prow and the crucifixion at the top with people weeping on either side. Barrels and boxes are piled up at the stern where a white sale flaps in the wind. A monkey sits above the prow watching the scene. I named it Trump mania.

The second piece is called OMG, a couple stand caught in horror as something catches their eyes. Their hands over their mouthed in shock. I enjoyed adding details to the figures. I realise these are not the run of the mill figures, that is why it was even more fun.

Hoe Down?

_20191007_140050

Who fancies coming to a Barn dance up at Penkhull village hall, Stoke-on-Trent on 19.10.19? It’s in aid of the annual Penkhull Mystery Play, next due to happen in July 2020. A huge community project that includes theatre, creative writing, music and FUN !

There’s dancing and spinning, hornpipes and all sorts of mad frivolities at the Barn Dance. Plus pie and peas (and a vegetarian option), oh and yes there’s a real ale bar.

The band is the Shropshire Heroes and the caller is the inimitable Baz Parkes who cajoles and explains the steps of the dances, gets the right numbers of people to join in and encourages people to miraculous efforts, including me!

So if you happen to be in Penkhull on the 19th and you are feeling energetic, why not come along?