It’s stepping up a pace, tonight is the PV Open Night and Julie’s last day in the shop :'(
Her residency has been a really lovely one, it’s been tough going getting people interested and in the door but the last week or so it’s really picked up. Her workshop last Saturday was constant if not full, lots of people in and out all day. A school workshop Tuesday, a local arts group ‘With These Hands’ had their monthly meeting in the shop and also made trees. I went out to a Scout group and help a workshop there too.
During the PV, Julie will be systematically taking down the community forest committing de-forestation and re-populating the space with the paper spruce trees she’s been making. I know she’s worried it wont work on the night but it will. It’ll be fabulous I’m sure.
Local farm have donated asparagus and so I’m making a massive pan of asparagus soup to share. We’ll have tea/coffee and juice available at the front. No wine out so the local drunks wont feel the need to come in this time I hope. Such a shame that but I really don’t want them falling asleep and ruing Julies big night.
We’ll have a bottle out the back to help Julie celebrate.
Tomorrow our 3rd artist Andrea Bassil starts her residency. I’ll be up early, in taking down Julie’s exhibition and getting ready for Andrea to start.
Andrea is an illustrator, with many childrens books under her belt. She will be producing ‘stepping’ stones all based around the inhabitants of the park that will then be placed into the park at the end of June.
She’s travelling a long way to get here, with elderly Mum and dog in tow and staying at a relatives house so I really hope it all goes well for her this month and she gets lots of interest.
We found out this week we’ve received another small grant for the Butterlfy Park, its great as it means we can now organise lots more workshops for the park and shop. Not art based but nature based, planting, foraging, talks about local history, walks and talks about butterlflies, moths newts etc.
So another way of engaging the local people. Quite exciting.
