ISSUE 11: April 2014
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www.griffin-photography.co.uk
HELLO‌ It has been a busy old month, and an interesting one to boot. We have had the pleasure of meeting the couple behind the successful Sam’s restaurants. Spent time with the lovely artist Julie Moss to catch up and see what is in store for her in 2014. During her recent trip to Innsbruck, the artist Kate Walters visited the Tyrolean Folk museum, a place we had never heard of, we asked Kate if she could write about the museum and share with us the images she captured there, it is now firmly on our places to go list. Our editor-in-chief has done a number of amazing photoshoots, which you can also see in this months edition and we have a great illustrator shared with us by Caroline Pedler. After a lot of thought and discussion we have decided that this issue will be the penultimate edition of the magazine. While we still love to produce Aesthetip every month it is proving to not be sustainable, so please do watch our for our final May edition, we hope it will be our best. Thank you for reading our magazine, as ever its been a pleasure to put together. Steve Kenyon / Deputy EDITOR
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CONTRIBUTORS EMMA GRIFFIN Editor
STEVE KENYON Deputy Editor
CAROLINE PEDLER Illustration
SILVIA MCKIDDIE Cook
MAISIE MARSHALL PHOTOGRAPHER
CHARLOTTE DAVIS Artist
MARANDA STEVENS WRITER
HOLLY KENYON Writer
LAURA PARSONS Writer
Lily Rice Fashion Designer
Toni cogdell Writer / Artist
Kate Walters Artist
CONTRIBUTE… If you would like to be featured in Aesthetip. We are looking for, graphic designers, fashion designers, illustrators, designer markers, artists, performers and photographers based in Cornwall. If you have an event you would like to share with us, please get in touch.
follow…
https://www.facebook.com/ pages/Aesthetip/ 385560578221024?ref=hl
http://aesthetipmagazine .blogspot.co.uk/
All submissions and enquiries: aesthetip@gmail.com
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contents 08 ARTIST OF THE MONTH 18 insight 22 studio journal 28 Exhibition / michael Porter 32 the tyrolean Folk Museum 42 illustration 48 photographer / maisie marshall 52 photographer / andrea pennington 56 fashion designer / Rachel Bent 60 fashion shoot 72 fashion shoot 84 That beard 86 girls skate 92 events 88 breathing water 96 spotlight / Sam’s 118 wellbeing with lily rice 120 studio bites with silvia mckiddie
FRONT COVER
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MODEL / KIA KAEOLOR HAIR STYLIST / MEGAN PIEKARZ PHOTOGRAPHER / GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY
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artist of the month / Julie Moss
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Interview / Steve Kenyon PHOTOGRAPHER / Griffin Photography
What is a typical working day like for you? I am an early riser and I like to spend the first hour of the morning quietly with a cup of tea writing in my journal, before breakfast I either swim, run or practice yoga, as I find physical movement helps to clear my head and gives me space in which to mentally shift from family life to my practice in my studio. I am usually in my studio by around 10am and carry on until I run out of steam mid afternoon. 2013 was a fantastic year for you, how is 2014 shaping up for you? 2014 has been good so far, very laid back with us spending a month in Antigua in January. I took my sketchbooks and inks and sketched everyday. Whilst I was out there I entered the RA summer exhibition and have just found out my painting has been shortlisted, so fingers crossed it makes it through to the next round! You are associated with Turps Banana, can you tell us a little about how that came about? I met a fellow graduate of Falmouth and she told me how she had been accepted onto the Turps Banana course in London, I thought it was an amazing opportunity to receive mentoring from established painters. I looked into it and found out that there was a year’s correspondence course, I decided to apply and was surprised when I received a place. There were 12 others in the group, which included painters from as far away as California, Lisbon, and Paris and culminated with a group show in London last December. We are all getting a feature in the spring edition of Turps this year and I have now taken up their offer to continue to receive mentoring with them for a second year.
Do you prefer to draw on real life inspiration or from sourced imagery? I prefer to draw on real life experiences, as my work is of nature and the landscape - both internal and external. It revolves around ideas concerning beauty, loss, damage, renewal and the disconnection between man and the natural World. You’ve just come back from a short trip, how was this experience, do you think any you have seen will make its way into your art? Travel is an inspiration to me and I have recently returned from a short trip to Morocco, one of my dream destinations. Marrakech had a mystery and beauty that was very appealing , the sights, sounds, smells and colours will stay with me for quite a while and I am sure some of the intense colours will eventually make their way into some of my work. Although your work is primarily in oils, you prefer to do your sketch work using ink, specifically focussing on Japanese Sumi painting, could you share with us how working in this technique came about? I love the fluidity of inks and I am interested in Japanese Sumi painting especially the broken ink technique (no hard lines) I attended an evening class in Japanese brushstroke painting over twenty years ago and I guess some of the techniques must have rubbed off! You currently have two studios, one of which is smaller, the other a larger space, how do your share your time between them? I am lucky in that I have two spaces in which to work, I write and sketch in my smaller studio as it is warmer and I paint in oils and have room to work on quite larger canvases from my other studio. Each painting can take quite a long time as I work in thin layers of oils so I tend to have several pieces that I work on at the same time.
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Do you have a favourite place in Cornwall? I love the peace and quiet of the area I live in and my home and studio overlooks the Gannel Estuary in Newquay, after renting several different studios over the past few years I feel I am lucky to have at last a place were I can combine my work with my personal life with ease. We understand you were selected to join the one year mentoring course at the Newlyn School of Art, how has this affected yourself and your practice if at all, would you recommend it to others? I am a member of the NSA and I am also on a years mentoring course at the Newlyn School of Art, we meet on a weekly basis and it is great to have a sense of security and support from my peer group and the art community there. We are planning a group show at the PZ gallery in Penzance from the 6th June until the 11th June (private views on the Saturday 7th June 6pm till 9pm).
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Do you collect works by any other artists? I have a couple of Portrait paintings by Sarah Ball and also paintings by Carl Melagari who also shows his work at the same gallery as me, Hadfield fine art in Cheltenham. Where can people see more of your work? To see more of my work I have a website www.juliemossfineart.co.uk and I will be also be taking part in Cornwall’s Open studio from the 24th May to the 1st of June.
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insight / suzanne williams Based in a large shed in Porthleven is the artist Suzanne Williams’s studio. From the outside it looks like a normal well-kept shed, but inside it is a well used studio space. There were paint splatters everywhere but the space was orderly and everything had a place. Suzanne surrounds herself with ideas and source material as well as pictures of her loved ones.
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An interesting space and a great Insight into the artists head space. Suzanne is a busy artist and a gallery owner of the Four Crows in Porthleven.
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Studio journal March 2014 / Kate Walters
Lovely cards from my friends Andrew and Karen: Queen of the Night relief (from southern Iraq), British Museum; and Redon’s glorious Hommage a Goya, solitary head, gaze turning away, floating over a dark land/sea. Little birds to raise my rather weary spirit, after long journeys to and from York. I was staying in a little girl’s room; there was a large wolf poster and a large cuddly wolf watching me. And insistent ladybirds. I enjoyed dusky walks around the ancient ruins of York; I had the best hot chocolates – several! - in the fabulous Italian deli next door to the New Schoolhouse Gallery; I gave three interviews, enjoying the opportunity to open up themes in my work although perhaps allowing myself to be guided too much by the interviewer, not insisting enough on speaking about the actual work, rather than events in my life behind some of the work. The film I made with Robert Teed, the curator at the New Schoolhouse, was an exception to this. The film should be running in the show by now.
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I met a very interesting – and kind, generous - artist at the Opening, Jake Attree, who said some great things about my work which I am very grateful for. We looked at ‘Earth follows Heaven’, a large work for me, and he spoke about what a large piece it is, indeed we decided in our conversation that most of my works are big works even if the actual physical space they occupy is small.
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I’m reading a book by Alan Bleakley, Fruits of the Moon Tree: Medicine Wheel and Transpersonal Psychology, and found this great quote: “Blake knew that it is what we have made invisible to ourselves that is important, that the unexplored side of our human natures was in the close ‘primitive’ senses, touch, smell, taste, .. These were the ways to true naked thin-skinned feeling…” (p.vi) And I am continuing to make works in oil – on paper, panel, and canvas. I’ve been making works in which I think I as a figure am more central, less equivocal, less shadowy, in the background; and I am incorporating some of my subtle or visionary experiences into the work – or, rather, they are emerging as I work. A woman with green hair in a pink field of colour became a woman with breasts issuing forth the sea, upon which floated two boats, on water travelling uphill towards a spirit tree. There are now two spirit trees, one figure with her hair coming alive and somehow containing the physical or lower world. The sea and the boats have gone, but they may return elsewhere.
Kate will be teaching drawing workshops at St Ives School of Painting on July 8th — 11th for more information: http://schoolofpainting.co.uk/ And has a workshop at Newlyn School of Art, Drawing Meanings, Methods and Materials, August 18 – 20th http://www.newlynartschool.co.uk/
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The best news: I have been selected to move into Studio 6 at Trewarveneth studios, Newlyn. I will have room to breathe! And to make works in series. Really thrilled and excited! Please see my blog for a review of the show in York by a musician and writer, Eliza Gregory. http://www.katewalters.co.uk/blog
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Exhibition/ Michael Porter
A new body of work by Newlyn-based artist Michael Porter. These small densely layered works, inspired by the environment around Porter’s Newlyn studio, combine digital printing overworked with gouache and acrylic painting. Intricate details interplay with a more gestural painterly sub-layer to carefully build up an impression of depth and organic entanglement. Porter has exhibited nationally and internationally. He has work in many collections including The V&A, The Arts Council, The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew and The New York Public Library. Says Porter of his work: “These paintings are small for a purpose. The images themselves are precise portions of the natural world, more often than not, exactly the same size as the images depicted. It is easy when looking at the landscape to overlook what is beneath our feet. It is usual when describing the landscape to concentrate on the view, the distance, the horizon, however, these works celebrate the landscape you can pick up and put in your pocket.
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We often overlook the earth we tread on, the world that sticks to our feet and wash off before we enter the house, but, it is as much a landscape as the grandeur of a John Martin or a Frederic Church. They are small in order to draw the viewer closer to the painted surface as one scrutinizes the stone or leaf within the work and have the jewel like quality we find in an Indian miniature and hopefully prove that a small well conceived painting can be as significant as the grand gesture.” This Picture Room exhibition runs concurrently with Curiosity: Art and the Pleasures of Knowing, showing until 26th April at The Newlyn Art Gallery. http://newlynartgallery.co.uk/
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The Tyrolean Folk Museum / Kate Walters The Tyrolean Folk Museum is situated in the centre of Innsbruck, in the old town, very near the Dom, or Cathedral. Created in 1888 and recently re-furbished, it is a fantastic and fascinating place to spend a few hours. I visited in February on my free day in Innsbruck whilst presenting at the university. Spread over several floors, with a light installation reminiscent of something I saw recently at the Venice Biennale, it’s an amazing collection of different aspects of hand-made vernacular culture, much of it extraordinary, full of heart, earth, animal, working-by-firesfeelings, and very touching. On the ground floor alongside the excellent cafÊ there is a beautiful collection of nativity miniatures. There are actually quite large tableaux, in some cases 3 m wide, and they are varied, intricate, beautiful and lit in such a way that they seem to come to life. You can see the continuity of this tradition in certain shop window displays in the town as well.
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On the first floor there is a wide range of decorated farm implements, ranging from stunningly beautiful hand-embroidered animal bell necklaces or collars, to sculptures of Christ carried by a donkey, religious paintings, huge flowery headdresses, costumes for festivals, cooking tools and ceramics. Every item is hand-made, and either refers lovingly to a strong connection to Nature, tradition, faith, or all three. The second floor focuses on the life events of the-only-just pre-modern local people, where death and life were daily closely interwoven. Child-birth in remote mountainous regions was sometimes a risky matter, and there are many little magical paintings depicting the prayers and agonies of the people. Children were often lost during birth, and there are paintings and dolls depicting these little souls. The after-life was also a preoccupation, and there are many references to local beliefs, lovingly depicted as if to ward off that which is feared, yet also attempting to appease.
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There were also life-size reconstructions of actual rooms: furnished entirely in wood, with leaded light windows and enormous decorated ceramic stoves, perhaps one decorative/religious item per room, and hard wooden furniture, these rooms were spartan but beautiful and lovingly re-created.
There were hundreds of examples of hand-embroidered ribbons, tiny boxes made of bone or horn, finely decorated with beautiful animal forms; hand-woven rugs and textiles, and hand-carved wooden tools for all manner of culinary and domestic tasks. I came away with a strong sense of a time and place that felt both near and remote in the context of our modern lives, but that there is also an enduring pulse in the desire to create beauty in the everyday as well as celebrating significant events in the passage of lives where living could sometimes be very hard. I was hoping there would be a great big catalogue, given the exhibition was so rich, but there was nothing! I was glad I had taken so many photos. http://www.katewalters.co.uk/blog
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illustration / caroline pedler
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Tom Hubman is an illustrator who fits his own mould and I respect him heavily for it. He is an ambassador for the underground doodlers whose heads are bubbling up past the acceptably educated and doing it for himself, very successfully. Go see his site, it is a treat of contrasting and complimentary colours, characters and the imaginary. Here’s a little about him. Tom Hubmann is an illustrator living in Falmouth, Cornwall. He’s been doodling, designing and image making professionally since leaving the MA: Authorial Practice course at Falmouth in 2011. Apart from working to briefs for ‘commercial’ clients, he’s always undertaking his own projects such as his FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD exhibition which was shown in Bristol just before Christmas as well as Espressini in Falmouth. His inspiration comes from the things he feels strongly about and has a genuine interest in. The major themes seem to be nature, the outdoors, food and drink, story telling, music and the wonderment of everyday life. His work is naïve, charming, playful, graphic and evokes a strong sense of nostalgia like opening up a chest of toys from an age gone by. And like opening a chest of toys from your childhood, it’s likely to put a big smile on your face!
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Much of the work is content driven which very much shapes the look and feel of the final piece. Using pens, brushes, pencils, collage and a computer, the overall body of work takes on quite an eclectic form. Recently he’s just finished an exhibition stand for an international rights agency for the Bologna Children’s Publishers Fair, which measures an impressive 14m x 2m. It took him around 6 weeks to complete and he’s got lots of interesting things in the pipeline. During 2013, he began working in collaboration with some interesting designers and makers, which allowed his work to be translated into different mediums. For the Brighton Festival he worked with a stained glass maker to create a set of 4 pieces around the theme of wellbeing. He says ‘it was a great opportunity to bounce ideas around with a master craftsman. I really enjoyed this process and due to the limitations of the medium and my very basic understanding of it, we really pushed each other to explore new territory.’ The final pieces saw coloured glass fused onto clear glass and mounted onto white opaque glass. They were painted onto then encased with a traditional lead frame. He’s just finishing up a tea tray made in collaboration with Felix Macormick who is a Cornish based designer maker adding to the FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD collection. 44
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With several artist books and zines in the pipeline, a range of screen printed products and of course new commissions, there’s much to look forward too over the coming year. To find out more, you can check out his website and tumblr out at: www.tomhubmann.com www.peasontoast.tumblr.com
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PHOTOGRAPHER / maisie marshall
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http://maisiemarymarshall.blogspot.co.uk/
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http://maisiemarymarshall.blogspot.co.uk/
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PHOTOGRAPHER / ANDREA PENNINGTON Photographer Andrea Pennington has been working on an ongoing project with Cornwall Dance School. We are lucky to be able to share some of the beautiful images captured by Andrea. Cornwall Dance School was formed 2 years ago with the aim to provide high quality professional dance training at affordable prices to students who love to dance and perform across Cornwall. The School’s principle Lisa Ann McNally wanted to create a family friendly atmosphere within the school, promoting enthusiasm and teamwork, with an aim to build students confidence by giving them responsibility within the school and keeping in direct contact with students and parents to gain feedback and follow individual students progress. Cornwall Dance School had there first set of professional exams last year and have just undergone their second set with the IDTA, producing fantastic results with 100% pass rate and 2/3’s of students achieving Honours. Lisa Ann aims to be able to provide professional training starting in September 2014 for students to continue qualifications within the school to an Associate Teacher Level and continues to provide many performance platforms locally for students in Cornwall who wish to gain experience performing. “I believe very strongly that local Performing Arts Schools should be supporting platforms for students to perform and compete locally. Everyone knows that travelling from Cornwall to get experience can be a costly venture, but we can provide these experiences right on their doorsteps in a place that they feel comfortable in and can gain confidence in.”
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We want to be able to give our students life experience within the school, by giving them chances to grow. For example, one of our students has recently designed our new Kit and continues to design Teeshirts for events and for fun! We encourage every student to follow their passion and to help others as they do so. Any moaning is not prohibited within the school, and this is clear as you enter the classroom; ’Our students are forever commenting on their ’Dance Fam’ friends and if there is ever a student who walks in looking down we do our very best to make sure they are smiling by the time they leave!’ Studies have shown that strong social ties and socializing with friends contribute to high self-esteem and a positive outlook.
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Dance is great for the mind and body, increasing flexibility, stamina and strength, balance and co-ordination along with releasing stress. We believe dance is a way of life Live life, Love and Dance! http://www. cornwalldanceschool.co.uk/
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fashion designer / Rachel Bent
We understand that you are a student at Falmouth University, what course are you on? I’m a second year Performance Sportswear Designer What do you want to do when you have finished your BA? I would love to work with a small but established company within cornwall that focuses on quality and sustainable production. How does being in Cornwall inspire you? The landscape! watching fields on the horizon change with the seasons, my heritage and the heritage of the Kernow. Tell us about your jacket what was your inspiration behind your design? The simplified silhouettes of fishermen’s smocks, rugged woodsmen’s workwear with the warmth from classic and practical undergarments like long-johns. It was essential to be aware of todays customers needs to fulfil the modern day criteria of ethical production, sustainable sourcing with light weight, contemporary fabrics.
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What has it been like to collaborate which such a huge brand such as Finisterre? Truly amazing! their overall ethos and work ethics is where I aspire to be in this creative industry. WGSN have predicted that cold water surfing will be the new product category for 2015 and it is great that a Cornish company are leading the way. I also love their i-SPY traceability program (currently being re-designed) which can tell you how and where each process of a garment is created.
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Is this the area you find interesting in menswear? Definitely! Taking inspiration from my ancestry roots of the hard working generations I ask Why over complicate a garment when all we need is comfort, quality and warmth. clothes should be loved and hold memories. What are you working on next? Our next brief is for Griffin, a menswear brand based in North Devon. Influenced by military workwear and quality production so right up my street. http:// www.finisterreuk.com/ http:// www.griffin-studio.com
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BRIDE BEHIND BARS
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MODELS / Katie Mcloughlin & katie Chown MAKEUP ARTIST / Kerry Richards HAIR STYLIST / Emma Venables PHOTOGRAPHER / Emma Griffin Shot on location in police cells.
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once upon a dream MODELS / Roland Bray, Crystal Lily, Holly Bee, Megan Sharp MAKEUP ARTIST / Roland Bray HAIR STYLIST / Megan Piekarz HEADWEAR / Holly Young PHOTOGRAPHER / Emma Griffin
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POP FASHION
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thAT beard / MARANDA STEVENS
Today’s concoction of generational on-trendiness is usually oval shaped, sometimes unexpectedly ginger and sometimes impossible to tame, clinging with wild claws and even wilder devotion to many a man’s (and sometimes a woman’s) cheek and jowl, chin and beyond. The real 21st century beard holds Rasputin as its pin-up and wartime slacks as the new black. But though we have dragged it out of hibernation and into the cold colloquial sun of facial decoration, it was and is still, in a way, a physical embodiment of wistful age that accompanies wise eyes and sleeveless cardigans. That’s right people; beards, to me, are that ‘back in my day’ road sign telling you to veer left and take that road to the wizardry waffle of an old man shaking the benign off the bygone, and filling the air with story-like condensation whilst you sit soaking up the tales that make you question your own position in history.
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Well, that’s what you have me interpreting beards as, anyway; that clash of old and new symbolism, that beard a symbol of stories of life and experience. You see, the clean shaven Oscar Wilde once wrote that experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes. He also said that to live is the rarest thing in the world. And so on that note, it is my intention to write with art as my heart and The Beard as my soap box. The context to all of this, the place that ultimately offers up the rare commodity called freedom was—is-- Cornwall. Of course, as I understand it you have to give up freedom to get it, and so I have given up Cornwall to get it back one day. Its current legacy has instilled a constant desire to interpret creativity in all its variants, and so here I present The Beard; my monthly attempt to mumble jargon and justify it with something profound at the end.
Because isn’t everything just about trying to find value in the mumbled jargon of life, anyway? mhstevens27@gmail.com
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GIRLS SKATE CORNWALL / holly kenyon We have recently moved out to Stithians, I was very pleased to learn that there is a skate park in the village, so went down to check it out. Its in a bit of strange location right at the end of a rugby pitch next to a field full of grazing cows, but was pleasantly suprised by what was there. There is nice smooth concrete, a small quarterpipe, fun box with rails, some boxes and a couple of vert ramps. Its great fun and fantastic for someone like me who is still learning. We mostly had the park to ourselves which gave me chance to practise and learn how to do ollies. A friend had told me the best way to start was to learn on grass first as it stops the board from rolling away and gives you chance to get used to the board. It took a lot of tries but after a while I was able to get the board of the fround without loosing my grip. I then put some of the wheels onto the concrete and tried that, not so successful, but pleased with what I achieved. I can’t wait to go back with some friends and start making some films.
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Event Calendar / APRIL The mornings are lighter, the days are brighter and inspiration waits around every corner. With that in mind, here’s our pick of the creative events to watch out for in the weeks ahead! Newlyn School of Art – Chywoone Hill Of all the fantastic courses being offered by the Newlyn School of Art this month the one which stands out for us is the two-day Artist’s Book Weekend with Alex Higlett and Georgina Hounsome. The course aims to unpick the artist’s book, exploring its physical attributes and its potential for showcasing work. Students will be taught about book structures, introduced to basic binding techniques and complete exercises which will go towards producing a book of their own. Check out the Newlyn School of Art calendar for a full run down of all the classes coming up over the next few months. http://www.newlynartschool.co.uk/ art-courses/
Newlyn Art Gallery (Newlyn) and The Exchange (Penzance) As we’ve already given several perspectives on the Curiosity: Art and the Pleasures of Knowing exhibition introduced to Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange at the end of January, we’ll use this month’s event calendar to highlight some of the fabulous one-off events the galleries are hosting this month. The annual Young People’s Art Prize will be running from 3rd April until the 19th. This year’s theme is curious creatures and submissions can be produced in any media. Guests can participate in the Visitors Vote and help chose the winning piece. If you’ve got crafty kids and need an activity to occupy them this Easter, the DIY sessions held at both the Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange could be a godsend. From the 5th – 19th of April there will be free drop-in events running in both venues. Meanwhile, there’s also an event for adults in the form of the Jukebox Jump (scheduled for Friday April 4th) DJ Richard Ballinger will be playing records non-stop from 8pm to Midnight so dust off those dancing shoes. Finally, pop along to The Exchange on Saturday 5th, 12th or 19th of April and participate in The Curious Exchange. Simply bring along your own unusual object or bizarre curio and swap it with another to help create a refreshed, organic display every week.
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For more information about exhibitions and events being held at Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange please visit: http://www.newlynartgallery.co.uk/
Millennium – St Ives
The Belgrave – 22 Fore Street, St Ives
Distinctive and dramatic landscapes are the province of artist Mark Surridge, and his bold Alignments exhibition will remain at the Millennium gallery until mid April. Surridge has been touted as one of a new generation of British artists and his work is joined at the Millennium by the eerie and unearthly backlit prints of Roger Thorp. The Fountain Road collective has a beautiful haunting quality and is one of the most unique must-see exhibitions this April.
The exclusive Brian Rice exhibition, 50 Years of Printmaking, will be holding court at The Belgrave until the end of March. This salute to a half century of innovation will make way for Michael Snow’s Retrospective and the St Ives Exhibition. More details for both of these displays will be published on the 31st of March at:
http://www.millenniumgallery.co.uk/ Cornwall Contemporary – Chapel Street, Penzance When a good cause and great art combine it’s usually a recipe for success, and that’s certainly the case with Cornwall Contemporary’s upcoming exhibition. From April 9th until the beginning of May the gallery will be displaying a selection of works for sale with a proportion of all profit going straight to Breast Cancer Care. As the names of the artists to be included in the Easter exhibition have yet to be released you’ll have to check it out for yourself over the next few weeks. http://www.cornwallcontemporary.com/
http://www.belgravestives.co.uk/ Tate St Ives – Porthmeor Beach, St Ives We’ve got just one more month to wait before Tate St Ives reopens following its extensive refurbishment. To find out more about what we can expect when the gallery’s doors reopen in May check out: http://www.tate.org.uk/about/projects/ tate-st-ives-phase-two You may also want to consider becoming part of the Tate by joining as a member. As well as benefiting from free entry to all exhibitions and having access to exclusive members rooms and events, you’ll be sent the Tate magazine and ‘What’s On’ guide straight to your door. More information can be found at: http://www.tate.org.uk/ join-support/members
LAURA PARSONS / lp121966@gmail.com
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Breathing Water / Toni Cogdell Now you see us. We’ve inhabited a time that wasn’t ours, this submerged and obscured existence, standing so still, watching you. And now you see us. We have looked on from our aqueous bed in silence, breathing water, gradually relinquishing our leafy tongues, for five thousand years. Although time is hard to measure here, you lose yourself under the movements of the tide, the faint pull of planets and orbiting bodies, you lose yourself. But now you see us. Unprecedented storms peeled back the sands, our cloak of mummification, allowing the direct touch of the sun to embroider us a newly decorated skin, with a light so intense it erased a millennia of murky absorbency, a living without colour. And now you gather on the Cornish shoreline looking at our seaweed knitted roots, the remains of our tangled saline lives.
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Do you see us, or do you see yourselves? The disturbance of trees under your known waters. Did it disorder the elements for you, reverse your polarity, leaving you questioning the sphere of land and sea, where you begin and where you end. Can you sense a life preceding yours, looking at us lined up like a row of coins, the currency of time, a snapshot of what came before, a ghost print. Your history is our territory, and a foretelling of your future. The cycles and circles of things bigger than you, far beyond you yet part of you. We know you, we’ve been here all along remember. You’ve given your stories to the sea, tossed them in with skimming rocks, hoping your heartache would sink into the fizz of the ocean with them. Our rooted, woody threads held you then. You’ve brought your children here, their delights and reveries and unrelenting nature to run free, twirling like Autumn leaves, like our leaves, when they fall from us, flying free like ribbons in the wind. We understand you more than you know. You’ve brought your dreams here. Yes, we have seen them.
Watching you slumber a long with them bundled deep in your pockets, carrying them like heavy stones, the weight of hope sometimes unfathomable to you, too much to bear, but you have sent your wishes out to sea regardless, earnest messages in bottles. A courageous act. The drag of the water is already learning how to conceal us once more. Soon we will be hidden. Back to a world where gravity is a very different creature, disobedient to the instructions of land and air. Back to immersive memories of the strong, tall forests we were while our physical vision blurrily witnesses a life we understand but cannot touch. This is not said with sadness, it is merely fact. The reality is each day brings its own salvation, its own joys, the circular dance of the sun, the swell of creativity and the stillness of us. The water is a lullaby, but this is no ordinary sleep. Grind the salt from my bones, stardust and sand, you and us, you and me, we are one. http://www.toni-art.co.uk/ writing.html
Jayne Anita Smith / Untitled-1 Clinging series http://www.jaynesmith.co.uk/
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SPOTLIGHT / SAM’S
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words / Steve Kenyon PHOTOGRAPHER / Griffin Photography
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In the hospitality industry it is a given that in order to maintain customer loyalty you have to have a talent for producing good food, which is very true of the Sam’s restaurants, however there is far more behind the success of the business. Originally starting out with the Fowey Sam’s bistro ,which is still the heart of the business to this day, Emma and Sam Sixton have since expanded adding two further premises bringing their unique dinning experience to Polkerris (Sam’s On The Beach) and more recently Truro (Sam’s In The City). Each Sam’s has a personality of its own, and operates in a different way which is partly down to the location, but mostly attributed to staff running it. Emma and Sam took a day out of their busy schedules to give us guided tours of the Polkerris and Truro venues and introduced us to some of the team who are instrumental on the success.
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Sam’s On The Beach is literally as the name describes, right on the shore line -housed in the old lifeboat house, opening a restaurant here would not be without its challenges. With no gas available in this sleepy unspoilt location, the couple rose to the challenge and had a wood burning stove craned in and installed. Inside the property there is a wonderful feeling of warmth and friendliness, with enviable sea views out across St Austell Bay, this cavernous space has laid back style oozing from all corners. Here the kitchen is open for all to see, showcasing the passion for food and the creativity behind each dish, the setting just greatly enhances the dinning out experience. Designed by Emma Sixton, along with the other Sam’s venues, there are nods to the past with original memorial plaques from the days when the lifeboats were housed there sitting comfortably with nautical themed film memoriabilia. The calm still waters and safe enclosed beaches are perfect for families to wind down on a summers evening watching the sun set eating fresh pizzas from the wood fired oven sitting on the old slip way. Emma designed each property with the location and the spirit of the building in mind, there are certain family traits that are found througout all the venues, memoribila from the music and film industries with a lifetime of collecting being showcased.
Sam’s in the City has a completely different vibe, more urban and a little edgier and trendy. Similar to the other restaurants there are original vintage posters on the wall, film cells from animations, but in this case they even have one of Def Leppards original drum kits located in the upstairs bar. Also located upstairs, there is a shrine to Sam’s personal heros, Elvis. Ali and Bowie, music is constantly played throughout the Sam’s restaurants with all staff encouraged to bring in MP3 players and share with each other, the younger generations inspiring the elders and vice versa. Using fresh locally sourced produce has been a passion for Sam from the very begining working with seasonal and fresh products from day to day, driven by making good fresh localy sourced food everyday. The combination of simple good hearty food, and well designed venues is enough on its own to make Sam’s successful, but there is one more important element that for us is the real reason behind the Sam’s triumph and that is the personalities of the all the staff, several of which have been with Sam since the very beginning. The teams at each location are welcoming, passionate and creative, there is a real feeling of fun that is infectious that runs throughout, it is one big family that even socialise out side of the work environment.
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As a little insight into some of the key members of the team, Ivan LLoyd from Sam’s In The City has written the following piece. There is a man, a man at Sam’s, A man at Sam’s who says he can, He can see and he can plan he can do and do not, Who has been and has seen and has done the lot A man who always brings it and always sees it through And tells you in some degree, what is and what to do. He will ignite your confidence, will allay your fears with a swish of his ponytail he’ll start grinding his gears. A man of family and philosophical thought, Of hard work and diligence, a managerial juggernaut. Where Fowey is his toy and most his fish are caught, That man to you and to I – is a man named Scott.
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There is another man, another man at Sam’s, Another man who drives the Vans. Who drives the vans at Sam’s, as best he can. The sights he sees are alive and well, By the river, by the sea, by the chime of the bells, Who can shake and pour and cook and sell, The wares of Sam and his Vans and to say, That he’s here, as are you but that you’re to blame For the weather not playing fair – but after all, its only rain! His way with the ladies quite beggars belief. With his sideways glance and his shiny white teeth. The man of Sam’s who drives the Vans is known to most as Mojito Steve.
Sammy T is sometimes seen, sipping a glass of fine wine in his hut on the beach, Ever reliable, a smile undeniable – revealing underneath an air of mischief. At Sam’s from the start and rarely apart, has he been from the man we all call Chief. Cut from the cloth who love their glam rock, to Sam’s Van Halen – he must be Lee Roth. Calm and considered,
{paraphrasing ‘Pulp Fiction – Zed’s Dead scene’} Fabienne: Whose motorcycle is this? Butch: It’s a chopper, baby. Fabienne: Whose chopper is this? Butch: It’s Ed’s. Fabienne: Who’s Ed? Butch: Ed’s not dead, baby. Ed’s not dead… …He’s just grown a beard and works in Truro instead! Ivan Lloyd / ivan@samscornwall.co.uk
he’s always delivered – one might say a key ingredient to the company broth.
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http://samscornwall.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/samsinthecity
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Balancing Act / LILY RICE (LEXIE SPORT)
For the creative mind, distractions and stress can prove not only an irritating annoyance but actually block the ability to produce the very thing you’re most passionate about.
Nestled in the heart Raised in Cornwall, of Redruth is Holistic Nadine feels the county Therapies, a bijou clinic is the perfect location for for women opened by Nadine, her clinic not only due to a qualified therapist for the natural surroundings over 13 years, “when I was but also for the people, very young I use to think “Cornwall has some of the up new treatments that most beautiful scenery, I would offer in my own both costal and rolling Creating a balance can be holistic spa”. hills, it also has a slower difficult but this is the pace of life. Which allows philosophy behind Holistic Nadine believes that people an opportunity to Therapy, a form of healing Holistic therapy can have find and try new ideas and that incorporates not just particular benefits for therapies. Having always the body and mind but the creative minds and is been home to a number of spirit and emotional particularly passionate creative minds, be that wellbeing; about healing: poets, painters, therapists, “Holistic therapies “I enjoy giving people arts and crafts, singers etc allow for a deep level of that hour or so of peace I believe this encourages relaxation to clear away and taking away their pain and accepts new ideas.” negativity, as a result or anxiety (as much as is We asked Nadine to explain it also helps develops possible) however some how the therapies work: new ideas and thoughts. people just need someone Holistic therapies use calm to talk to and have the What is the difference environments to deepen the security that the between Holistic therapies benefits of the treatments, information given will and conventional encouraging the natural never be passed on. medicines? process that allows us Everyone has different ways To answer this question to tap into our inner to de-stress and deal with I need to explain the resources. This involves the turmoils of life, my job difference between accessing your creative, is to help where I am able.” complementary therapies intuitive mind which is and alternative therapies often over-shadowed by which can become confused. your busy, rational, Complementary therapies over-stressed mind.” are advised to work along Therapist / side conventional medicines Nadie Cherrie - Bennett where as alternative is suggested to be used as a treatment instead of conventional medicine. 118
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Both therapies are holistic in their approach and include treatments from many historical and cultural origins. There is a large choice of treatments available to suit all walks of life and any age. How do the treatments work? The treatments often need the client to play a large role in their own healing process, lifestyle changes (e.g. diet, exercise and positive thinking) The ways in which these therapies are believed to work are diverse, however most are based on the idea of treating the body as a whole adjusting every treatment to suit the individual and encouraging the body’s ability to heal itself. For more information: www.holistictherapiescornwall.info
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Hello my dears‌ The warm weather is coming our way at long last. I will have to think about mowing my lawn, the grass has grown so high. I lost poor Rodney my beloved pug the other day. He was in the garden but completely covered in the unruly grass! I was hyperventilating and nearly called the police, I can tell you dears I was so shocked I had a large gin and tonic at 11.30am. I was so relieved when I saw his little curly tail bobbing along the flower bed. Bless him.
Well, my love life is still rather interesting. Three gentlemen on the go at the moment. One in Wales who writes regularly, but is rather boring as all he talks about is cycling and latex outfits, not sure if that’s not rather naughty... will have to keep an eye on him. Second gentleman, is very nice indeed but lives a long way away, but I do receive lovely phone calls and he doesn’t wear latex. Thank goodness. Third gentleman is a very dear friend and we regularly exchange news. He is the only one I would like to see wearing latex. Naughty but nice! Now down to our Studio Bites this month. The recipe is an Orange and Lemon Fruit Cake. This is incredibly easy to make and lasts a long time if kept in a tin. Just right for taking on a picnic now the weather is getting better.
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METHOD Grease and line a 15cm (6inch) round cake tin or a 450g (1 lb) loaf tin. Sift the flour into a bowl. Rub the butter into the flour until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add sugar, fruit, lemon and orange rind. Mix to a batter with the egg and milk. Stir with a metal spoon until evenly combined. Do not beat. Transfer to prepared tin. Bake at 180c (350F) Gas mark 4 for one and a quarter or one and a half hours, or until a wooden cocktail stick, inserted into the center, comes out clean. Leave in the tin for five minutes and then turn out on to a wire cooling rack. Peel off the greased paper. Store in an airtight container when cold. This cake is also very nice with ice cream or cream.
INGRED IENTS 225g ( 8oz) self raisin g flou 100g ( r 4oz) b u tter 100g ( 4oz) caster 100g ( sugar 4oz) mi x ed dried 5ml (1 fruits tsp) grated 5ml (1 tsp) grated lemon rind orange rind 1 egg 75ml ( 5tbsp) fresh milk
Well my dears, until we chat again, take care and keep smiling. Yours, Silvia McKiddie
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