Wow! Where did the summer go?
Looking back, stripping Wallpaper off on the hottest day in June was about the worst idea ever! But thankfully it means we now have a newly designed light and airy bedroom, long overdue!
Managed to get to an exhibition of local artist Terry Shave’s work at the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce on Festival Park. Beautifully displayed in their open Lounge/Meeting area we chatted with Terry and had a coffee while admiring his colourful and wonderfully constructed art photography.
A few weeks later we went up to Keele University to see ‘Forty-Seven The last bottle ovens and kilns of The Potteries’ by Phil Crow. Unfortunately it was the last day and the room was unlit in parts so I am going to see the exhibition at Middleport Pottery this week.
I was so surprised when I saw this advertised because in my foundation year at Uni I had researched and decided to photograph all forty-seven of the remaining bottle ovens. I called my project ’47’. I find them absolutely fascinating and thoroughly enjoyed finding and photographing them…they are quite hidden in the mayhem of the rest of the city now. I just LOVE them. I produced three images for my final exhibition and a photobook which I treasure. I had four other books reproduced for members of my family.
My mum loved the history of Stoke on Trent and its pottery industry so that must be where I get it from. I think she would have been thrilled with my book.
So in a way I’m quite gutted that someone else had the idea to make an exhibition before I did! Ah well that’s life I guess.
Here are two images of my work in the Foundation Exhibition.
