The soft and swift passage of time
Such a lot seems to have happened, and yet very little. There are times like that, aren't there, when one seems to have been standing still, yet at the same time covered one hundred miles. These last few months seem to me to have been one of those times, where the internal becomes external for a while. But enough philosophising, and on to the interesting stuff.
We got it together for our One Year On exhibition at Bradford. It was strange and exciting to be back in the space, and to be back to the place where we all met, interesting too to see the work of this year's graduates.
This is a (very bad!) photo of our descriptive board, which enabled us to include Sue in the exhibition through some of her samples alongside images that we were using as sources of inspiration for our individual works.
The experience of 'curating' the exhibition was a new one for me; I think I learnt a lot from it.
We were next able to gather at Sue's memorial in Sheffield earlier this month. A fine day, meteorologically speaking as well as in every other way. To see so many people gathered, and to have them share their Sue with those present was a very moving and strangely peaceful event, not least when Nic talked about Sue as a member of our Common Threads family. I am so glad that we were all able to make it.
And now for something random.
I went to an agricultural show a couple of weeks ago, and was transfixed by heavy horses and chickens. Yes.
My serious point is to do with naturally occurring pattern and design, as illustrated below.
The hide of a young shire horse, burnished for the show ring, but not distorted by the grooming. And
The plumage of a show-bantam, variety alas un-noted. Whilst I have no way of knowing whether this feather pattern is entirely original, and how much if at all it has been enhanced for effect by breeding, I still find it striking.
Both the hide and the plumage have functions to perform - protection and camouflage, warmth and elasticity - to ensure the creature's survival. To achieve that end with such beauty gives pause for thought, and even greater belief in William Morris's mission.
But we all know that anyway!
