MAKING MEMORIES JULIE COWDY

Arps

One day last summer, at our French house, my glance arrested on the pair of flip flops, casually discarded at the edge of the rug. That scene reminded me of Van Gogh’s painting of a pair of old leather boots. I reflected that I’d seen this little tableau many times, when my husband pulled on and laced up his work boots again each day.

We had bought the property in the Occitanie region twenty years ago, as a joint project, after I recovered from a medical condition that had nearly cost me my life. Over the ensuing years, we acquired many new practical skills, including, in my case, a passionate enjoyment of photography. In 2009 I documented my husband’s demolition of two barns, which adjoined the house, to create a courtyard. This photographic diary made me appreciate the power of making memories.

In the eye of the perfect storm of pandemic and post-Brexit, we have decided, regretfully, to put the property on the market. As an antidote to my sadness, I set about making an image library of the many little scenes that evoke memories of the restoration work which we have carried out.

I decided to keep the compositions as minimal as possible, each one framing an artefact which has a special significance. I chose a square format and a monochrome representation to give cohesion to the project. Each picture forms part of a grid, all standing alone but nevertheless interconnected, telling the story of the renovation.

In selecting the images, I was drawn first to the serpentine curves of the chestnut staircase, designed by my husband for the grand salon to emulate the restored, nineteenth century violiné staircase below. Aspects of rooms

I had decorated, and sinuous details of antique French furniture, begged to be photographed. Charming features of patinated metalwork, whorled woodwork and old stonework also warranted inclusion.

When we finally turn the key on the aptly named ‘Manoir de Bonnefont’ (manor of good foundation) and the page on that chapter of our lives, I am glad that we will have a physical memoire to look back upon.

Rhs Silver Medal

In the last issue (no. 86, September 2021) we featured another of Julie’s photographic projects, Fruits of the Earth . We are thrilled to announce that since publication Julie has been awarded an RHS Silver Medal for her portfolio of 6 Fruits of the Earth images when judging took place at the Saatchi Gallery of the RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show. The panel was then displayed as part of a three week exhibition, to complement the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Julie will be presenting some of her work at the RPS Creative Eye Members’ Day in June 2022