St Cuthbert's Flowers

I've been commissioned to make a panel featuring a small posy of flowers from St Cuthbert's Banner.  The client has asked for three wood avens and their leaves, to be made in the same materials and techniques as the Banner itself.

So, here I've made a transfer of the flowers and leaves, and ironed it onto some fine linen.  I've then gone round the edge of the leaves in small buttonhole stitch in Madeira stranded cotton 1410:

Then the flower sepals, also in 1410, and the petals in 0104:

It's just like old times!

The Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Recently, I went on an Art Fund trip to the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield, Yorkshire, and the near-by Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP).

I'm afraid it didn't occur to me to take photos of the buildings there, which is a shame as they're very nice, but you're going to have to do without. Also, photography wasn't permitted at the exhibition in their indoor gallery, which was also a shame as it was terrific. Called Fabric-ation, by Yinka Shonibare, it's interesting and thought-provoking, and great fun at the same time, and his use of fabric is wonderful.

Part of it was outside and so photographable, though:

Time was very tight and I had to rush round without seeing everything, so this is just a quick overview of what did see.  Next time I go, I'd like to spend a whole day there - it certainly warrants it.

In the beautiful setting of the the formal garden was an exhibition of work by Hans Josephsohn:

Joan Miro:

Molecule Man 1+1+1, by Jonathan Borofsky:

The Family of Man, by Barbara Hepworth, which I loved - it's very serene, somehow:

Buddha, by Niki de Saint Phalle, which I didn't like at all. It looks like a cyclops dressed as a Mexican wrestler:

Nelly, Mark di Suvero:

I don't know, I couldn't find a label:

Damski Czepek, Ursula von Rydingsvard - it looks like a lace bonnet:

Seated Figures, Magdalena Abakanowicz:

Sitting, Sophie Ryder:

Another unknown:

Promenade, Anthony Caro:

Possibly another Caro, I'm not sure:

Invasion, Michael Zwingmann - it looks very like those plastic-wrapped bales of hay you see in fields!

123454321, Sol LeWitt

There was then a game of Hunt the Gormley. According to the map, I was in the right area, but where was it?  Look up!

One and Other, Antony Gormley:

Tread Pad Pair 1, James Capper:

Part of Bee Library, though I missed the artist's name:

Definitely not sculpture!

Seventy One Steps, David Nash

Uptight Motives 1, 2 and 3, by Henry Moore (with added sheep):

The YSP has a large collection of Moore's work, but I'd run out of time so these were all I had the chance to see.  Definitely a reason for going back.

And finally, a farewell view over the lake to the magnificent Emley Moor tower: