Have been not spending time on my web pages, as been creating an individual blog from recent project with Matravers School - www.westburyquest.blogspot.com. Now going to create an individual blog for Museum of Possibilities - see where it takes me!

Dear Roger

Thank for your part in making possible the Dreams, Masks & Mirrors exhibition.  It was brilliant that you and your wife visited on the Open View.  During the two weeks following the show was very well received, and I really didn't want to take it down as there was a myriad of response, engagement, activities and sales!  

In fact, it was very exciting when in the midst of the 'artist in residence day', in the space of about ten minutes, my business mentor arrived with her art student daughter, together with a writing group from University of Bristol, other folk came in too, then a chap turned up who looked highly interested. At the very moment he told me his name and that he was from the Arts Council,  Isla (mentor who kept telling me I had to follow up contacts) leant forward and said she wanted to buy Girl with Mask.  And, I have to say, it was another occasion for a scream, when he said he was a funding manager and I said I had never met anyone from AC in regard to my work, and that I had written the day before to say thank you for their support after reflecting on the fact that their funding had underpinned so much of my practice.  I told him how brilliant Creativity Works were and just kept jumping up and down on the spot, saying, red dot, arts council, red dot, arts council.  Phew.  Add this to the storytelling day, the seminar for posh professionals who wanted discourse and evidence, and the diverse and interesting audience from new mums and babies to the last visitors being two beautiful elder ladies who presented me with a pair of knitted clowns for my collections "We just wandered in off the street dear, we are totally transfixed, the images are magical.  Our friend Peg made the clowns, take them on your next journey, dear"...It was, I have to say, all a bit full on.  I am totally emptied out, but my visitors book is full with poetry, stories, drawings, comments and possibilities.

Two weeks to go to the exhibition. People are saying they are coming and there is nothing to go in that large empty room. As yet. Ann writes to say she is bringing a writing group. Its all very exciting, but at this stage I am seriously doubting my sanity. She said my work is about narratives and collaboration. But, one has to consider why on earth anyone would want to be an artist, let alone social engagement art at this stage in the proceedings. Last week I had a complete and utter meltdown, had to step away from the phone, the screen, my brain and take time out. One and a half days. Why did I think I could stretch the possibilities of a seventeen day residency into an extra two months of solid work. I thought it was supposed to be about play! Trying to get things right, evidence stuff, include absolutely everyone and make sure everything is positioned carefully and correctly, kills any spontaneity. It is the business end of the job. Phew, Hilds said, unplug, walk away. Jayne said, lets go to Glastonbury. Mary said, go hug a tree. Julie said your voice is getting smaller and smaller. Mags said oh no, oh no. Got to Glastonbury to find somebody had wrecked the tree. So no hugging going on there. Gill said, take Dr Bach flower remedy. Good for capable people that now and then get overwhelmed with responsibility. The little bottle of Elm is close by ready to sip when things still haven't reached a completion point. All I can say is that I feel like putting a sign on my head that reads SILENCE. Meanwhile, Dave has been brilliant and his booming voice steadies the nerves when it comes to deciding which print format to go with, size, layout, order and costs. Meanwhile, my eyeballs have been glued to the computer for endless endless hours, days and weeks making photobooks. Went and led a group for women My Time, My Space, don't know who benefitted more. After, Philippa said, wasn't your residency all about reflecting your practice. Flip, I thought, its all been about telling the Big Story, and the only thing I haven't done is actually written up my small most mad thoughts inside my very own pages of my journal. Think I will get myself a little mirror and get cracking.

Colleagues,

Jill Carter is an artist having a installation/exhibition at the RWA.  The publicity attached describes it:

An engaging collection of photoworks and curiosities which explore ideas around the notion of play, fairy tale and myth -
The Travelling Museum of Possibilities. Jill Carter was commissioned, as artist in residence by Creativity Works, to respond
to a community festival in Radstock. Creativity Works are now delighted to host this exhibition, storytelling sessions, and
artist/curator talk.

Jill has very kindly agreed to participate in a writing afternoon with us, in which we would visit her show and then write in response to her work which is very much concerned with narrative and the collaborative.  Part of my collection of costume dolls is to feature in the exhibition, and I am sure we will find it very provocative as a prompt to writing.

There are some access issues as there are about five steps down into the gallery and no lift.  I can only apologise for this.

We will meet at 2.30 and write, talk to Jill, and read our work - if that seems appropriate.  We may well repair to Patisserie Valerie or Browns for tea and cake afterwards.  Space is not particularly limited, but please let me know if you would like to join us.

Every best wish,

Ann

Philippa

Glad you received your photo ok. I love it.  Utter madness.  I so delighted and relieved to get your story, just doing finishing touches to The Book of Everyone...and worrying...that it will create a stir, that I will either be sued, or create memories, or a lot of laughter.  Meanwhile, I have learnt some interesting stuff about you, you country file girl you!

OMG!!!!! who is that girl. Did I ever tell you that I used to be a milkmaid?........
Well.... when I was a teenager,....I live in Devon...I had a Guernsey cow called Mabel! and every morning before school and every afternoon after school I would milk her and bring a big bucket full of frothy milk down to the house. When it had stood  a day I would cream off the top for puddings and cakes! Lovely!!! I kept the tamey lambs and looked after them all...Horace, Borris and Morris were a cheeky trio! and there were many more. I had a Jacob ewe and all her offspring. And Oscar my young calf. It's hardly surprising I became a vegetarian!!
Those were the days, ....when I was a farming girl!
 
Do I sound like I'm 88?!
It's the yoga you know that keeps me going

Talked to Ali today, mum of the friend of the mysterious girl. She was delighted to know that portrait images of the community were to be in an exhibition at the Royal West of England Academy. I told her I was hugely excited and that the first person I shared the news with of the exhibition Dreams, Masks & Mirrors was Lennie, my window cleaner. I"m coming, he said, I"ve never been anywhere royal. Whilst there was something burning under the grill, we discussed on the phone the desire to be 'Other'..."Well, we all want to be someone different - don't we" said the Mum of the best friend of the mysterious little girl, who had appeared as though from nowhere and dressed in a different outfit over ten times. I explained the photographs taken during the ten day art/works festival was to explore the theme of a contemporary take on fairytale & myth. Isobel loved the Travelling Museum of Possibilities, she still talks about it...told her Nan on Christmas Day all about what took place, dressing up, in the media bus. She wore her Travelling Museum badge on her Christmas dress". "I dream of being on Front Row".

Subject: The Family

Mary

You are a star. Spent most of a sleepless night worrying about how the show at the RWA will be,
and this is after writing to you about staying calm for your workshop.  
Let's hope the porcelain family collection will help focus our keeping calm situations.
Sending a photograph of the new folk to you - it looks like they have lost their head too
at some point in their lives. Maybe the nasty looking small bell person had something to do with it.

Jillx

You are right she would cause many a sleepless night. Found a charming top
half of a lady evidently her bottom half would have been a pin cushion --
hence the look on her face. I am loving looking for figurines to transform
if, only a pair of wings could do the same for humans !!!! hhmmmm
Mary x

Ha! Just received a Christmas card from Gill, marked:

'Jill The Coat Carter'

It comes to something when your friends have to sponsor your clothing. I must get famous then I could pay them back for my arms in cashmere.

It is winter and a good time for reflection. So, I have been thinking about all the people I would thank for being so supportive, insightful, inspirational and formative as part of my journey. So, whilst it is snowing outside and my Christmas tree sits bereft of any dressing as yet, I have just wrapped an artist's copy of my portfolio/photobook journal to send as a thank-you gift to someone special. I am posting this publication (wrapped in brown paper which is very significant), because this once upon a time tutor, along with other fine teachers, had to weather three years of my tears, tantrums, laughter, inconsistent, enthusiastic, mad and human wanderings of ideas, thoughts, actions and impressions. I was awarded, along with a fine gang of others, a leaving certificate which sort of said we were fit to take our art into the real world. And, I have done this, embarked upon an adventure which embraces the spirit of how we need to stay open to opportunities and changes of direction. So, I just wanted to be able to say, a big thank you, for all the wisdom, encouragement and tremendous support, I have received from all my teachers, present and past, together with artists, educators, agencies and friends, who have experienced with me a huge learning curve, along the way, a process which has enabled me and others to discover the key to possibilities.

Masks: Persona, comic tragedy. Protection. Concealment. performance. ritual, theatrical, magical, religious. They help mediate spirits identity or lose of...
Mirror: Water - Narcissus - reflecting back insight. Important in religious concepts of many peoples. Lose of soul. But a mirror confirms the existence of something, surrealism, image superior to everyday reality. The mirror belongs to man as the most important attribute to his surroundings - self control and to check on everyday life.
Child/children: the embodiment of potentialities of the future - simplicity, innocence. Children are embryonic in the Great Mother, controller of the Great Waters.
Pig/Swine: In many ancient cultures, a symbol of the heavily fecund, but possibly devouring, Great Mother. A fertility symbol, prosperity, greed, lust, anger and passion and the unclean. Good luck in some cultures.
Rabbit: a lunar animal, associated with Moon Goddess and Earth Mothers. Trickster.
Wolf: the earth, evil, fierceness, often familiars of the primitive gods of the dead. Emblem of St Francis of Assissi who tamed the wolf. Valour.

Yesterday, when I came out of the RWA with Julie, after meeting with Mags, spoke on the phone to Roger Watson, curator of the Fox Talbot Photographic Museum, National Trust, Lacock. I had heard of Roger over the years, thought he was some little dusty brainy bloke with silver goatee and tiny glasses, but no, he was some larger than life warm hearted american guy, hugely knowledgeable, with a big laugh. He had agreed that I could go and see him regarding editing my collection of images for the show. " Oh yes, 10 Jan I could see you". "Fine" I said, but what about tomorrow? He roared with laughter "Will I regret this?"... So it was I found myself in front of the huge creaking barn doors of Lacock, all alone with Roger, a table and the ghosts of Christmas past. I spread the collection of B & W images taken as part of my residency at Radstock. The series of portraits of people dressed up, were inspired by me exploring the idea of us all as though being in a contemporary fairytale. "Why is that lady wearing a pig's mask and wedding veil drinking tea" he asked. "She sort of scares me"....Hmm, I thought, remembering the lovely lady in the Methodist Drop in coffee morning. And so it went on...each image had a story, which Roger brilliantly reduced down to some sense. "They are a bit too psychological for me" he mused, turning over the two postmen in his hands, one a wolf, the other a rabbit, whilst recalling the memory of himself dressing up now and then. "The little girl is lovely (with the mirror and wig with ears), she is a cross between Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf"...she has no guile, he went on, as I showed him the series of this child who had presented herself to me without a word between us. It had been part of the family fun day, I was dashing between media bus and dressing up tent. Every so often she would dress up and then come and tap me on my leg, I would nod, and off we would go to silently engage in this photographic exchange, in front of tent, or bush or church wall. Her mum was nowhere to be seen, it was as though she appeared from nowhere. Later, I was to learn who she was when Julie and I went through the names/permissions obtained, that she was with a friend and her mum, who I had photographed in the oval mirror - looking as though from India. Looking through the images with Roger really helped. He was brilliant. He said the series of images went beyond telling a story about the people of Radstock. We talked about the associations and symbolism. There was tea mentioned a lot, the Far East, Madonna, animal masks, mirrors, wings, crowns and swords. He suggested the works opened up the possibility of storytelling. He gave me references of Ralph Eugene Meteyard, who did a whole series of images of children in grotesque masks. Edward Stichen. Cindy Sherman for the photos of when Julie & I dress up, with Diane Arbus also for other. He talked Julia Margaret Cameron and Major Henry Wood in the 1860s. The Life of Lucibel Carter. We discussed the tradition of the itinerant photographers who would go from place to place, setting up their scenes using a crumbled black cloth and the creation of living vivant. It was utterly fantastic to have someone explore themes and bring the storytelling and make-believe into context. On preparing to leave after generously being given considerable time to consider how the heck to reduce the story down, I learnt I can't pronounce giclee and confessed to still being really in the dark about an f-stop. It was time to go, and before leaving the shadowy museum to step out into the just before Christmas dark snow starting to blizzard evening, I handed Roger a crumbled paper bag. "I hope you like chocolate" I said, "I do" he cried "I didn't get to look like this eating a rice cracker"...So, I handed over the chilli chocolate and drove off into the evening having a cry of happiness that someone had shared and acknowledged the stories.

I have been truly blessed, met the other day with Lesley (Director) of Creativity Works & Mags in Radstock. It was agreed that we will collaborate on an exhibition drawn from the Travelling Museum of Possibilities images - particularly the black & white series - exploring a theme of Dreams, Masks & MIrrors - a contemporary take on fairytale & myth. Incredibly the event will take place at the Feddon Room at the Royal Academy West of England, Bristol, during the Open Photographic Exhibition The idea to draw together and celebrate and share the stories and artistic outcomes from the project with a Co-Create Forum for artists February 18.

Spent a delicious sheepie weekend with Gill and Mieke in Bristol. It was all about indulgence, delight, insight, reflection, support, wisdom, love and laughter. It is truly beneficial to allow these times-out for nourishing body, mind and spirit. The sheepie reference is our every now and then ritual of allowing a space to wrap ourselves in whatever we need and once upon a time that included a pair of wool sheepskins, some tears of happiness and exhaustion, a boiled egg, and a view of the wind-filled sea shore. This weekend, we nestled high up as though in the branches of a tree and, together sat in front of Gill's fire, and discussed heartfelt matters, poetry,keeping track of our thoughts, and what women want! Retail. MMmmm. Stretch the back, bird-like wrapping and buttock beating session? MMMmm. Make a decision to stand one's ground. Let go? Mmmm. Retail. Maybe think of gifting for others? MMM...mm. Retail.

And so it was we went on a quest for a pair of funky yet practical boots for all, a coat for moi, a hat and scarf that is never going to leave her body for Gill, a cardi and talk of a mini skirt for model legs Mieke. We spent six long hours journeying around the inside airless interior of Cribbs Causeway, glimpsing the sun setting from a far away window, until finally falling in love with a purple wool coat. I frantically ring Graham and throw in a comment that I am in a vast shopping centre circumnavigating a wonderfully smart woollen coat. What you have to ask yourself, he says, do you actually need it? We go off to sink into a deep seat and scoff sweet cakes and coffee. I mutter about the guilt of getting something really out of the zone. The girls gave me courage to indulge and say they will invest in my creativity by buying an arm of the coat each. Mmmm, I think, maybe my husband could pay for the collar. And so it was, on a snowy wintery dark journey back home, I listen to the radio in the car and it is all about investments, in jewels, pink diamonds, they cost about 31 million pounds, so I reckon with my amethyst coat, I have a bargain. So, thank goodness for the kindness and solidarity of women friends. Now I have to be brave enough to wear it, and Mother Nature seems to have stepped in with the coldest chill, so that is sorted. Mieke had talked about some woman in the papers who wore the same dress for a year, maybe I could do that with my coat - as part of the Museum of Possibilities. So, watch this space!

Chris invited me to London yesterday to meet a women's group, inspired by networking through the Mary Foundation. Met amazing women working in diverse settings around the world. Caroline is on the quest for anyone called Mary, so I signed up to her Facebook project, as one who has Mary as a second name. We talked at length about the Travelling of Museum of Possibilities, she asked me about DOCUMENTATION & EVALUATION. Asked me too, whether the process could be repeated elsewhere. Yes, I cried, then she said "what about with two communities who don't get on"...Mmm, I thought, where exactly? "India & Pakistan", she said.

Took the collection of Black & White images to Mish Mash meeting. Invited a response from the writers in the collective. Oooh they said "They are as though of another time". "Lots of Masks & Mirrors", said another. This has started me thinking about how to reflect the work back to the community, to tell a story, to unravel a fairytale. Sarah asked if she could have a copy of Girl with the Mirror.

Dear Jill

Thanks so much for sending me the picture, much appreciated. I thought afterwards it was a bit of a cheek me asking you for it... I loved the whole collection and I am totally in awe of your photographic skills. The pictures were magical, beautiful, quirky, unsettling and all so well framed and set up, I am agog they were uncropped, unedited originals. You are brilliant.

I think this picture would make such a brilliant novel cover so I am hoping it will inspire a story...

I enjoyed the meeting too. It was like bathing in a golden pool of creative energy, very healing and inspiring.

Lots of love,
Sarah xxx

Have spent the last week reflecting, inviting the possibility of slowing down, feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, full of doubt, sorting out materials, costings, returning loaned items with gifts of thanks, emptying the brain, allowing impressions to unfold, stories to layer, after such an intense, relatively short period of project time. And, ultimately, asking the question what was that journey all about and wouldn't it be better if I got a job in a shop or something?

Dear Cleo

Just wanted to say a big thank you for your support at the Holbourne Museum in helping making possible the Travelling Museum of Possibilities.  It was huge fun.  All ages got involved in making story trays and loads and loads of folk had huge fun in dressing up and becoming a character in a possible fairytale as yet to be....

Thanks for all your advice, the project continued to unfold in all sorts of unexpectedness, including not getting insurance on the promised camper van.  The night before it all began, a local company loaned me instead a vintage VW called Beryl, she was a star.  The art/works festival and the residency was rewarding. It was a total privilege to meet folk along the way and be taken to meet a lovely lady of 102 years and her sixty dolls, which perhaps represented the 56 children she helped deliver into the world.  I never did get to find the special dress with moons, stars and glitter, but was given a rather fabulous set of outfits and wore silver shoes and fur to show off and share my curious ever changing set of collections.  If you would like to find out more do visit my website & blog.

Kind regards


Dear Jill,
 
 how absolutely great – well done!  It’s such a different deal when you are the
One on whom it all depends and its sounds (and looks!) as if it was lovely and
Contributed greatly to the jollity of the world and Radstock in particular.  So pleased
It was helpful, really enjoyed our meeting. And I loved the blog….just been to a meeting about
Peter Blake exhibition next year which reopens the museum – A Museum for Myself is the
Title! You must come…
 
Best
 
Cleo
 
Cleo Witt,    
Head of Education 

Dear Jill,
Thank you so much for the quantity and quality of your work as artist in residence at art|works.  The community seemed to be really ready to engage with your offerings and your ideas, and the photographs that you showed us on Monday evening were very strong and thoroughly enchanting.  I hope that you now have time to reflect on, collate and transform all the material that you have collected, collections, visual, oral and written material [and whatever else] and I look forward to experiencing this stage of the process as and when you are able to produce it.  I hope also that you have opportunity to reflect on the engagement process and its meaning and impact for you as an artist.  I also would be most interested in your ideas about where it might go next.  
Thank you again.
Best wishes
Lesley
 
Lesley Featherstone
Director
Tel: 01761 438 852
Creativity Works, Leigh House, 1 Wells Road, Radstock.  BA3 3RN
www.nesacreativechange.org.uk

Supported by Bath & North East Somerset Council and Arts Council England
Registered Charity No. 1075812 Company No. 3768255 nesa is a company limited by guarantee registered in England

Dear Lesley

Thank you for the opportunity to be artist in residence and to trust me with what started as an open brief.  The overall feeling I have from the residency was one of privilege, a process that allowed for experimentation and artistic development.  It was wonderful meeting people along the way, that some of the Radstock community opened their minds, hearts and homes to me.  As you say, it would not have been possible to work in the way I did, without a huge amount of support from Julie - who is an absolute star, from my friends and family, and the support too of other individuals and agencies, including Creativity Works team, in particular Mags, & Mobile Media, Swindon.  This sort of process is truly collaborative.

I keep thinking of the stories and the images that were unearthed.  I think I will create a retrospective journal as a way of gathering my thoughts, ideas, outcomes and visions.  The photographic works fit in with the genre of Julia Margaret Cameron - do you know her work? I went to her home and now museum on the Isle of Wight.  She loved getting friends and working folk to dress up in imaginary characters.  Only this morning I thought of her as  reference.  I would benefit from some time to reflect, to get someone to look over the imagery/work with a curatorial eye.  Shall we meet at some point for a review of the residency itself and discuss ways forward?

Meanwhile, hope Creativity Works goes from strength to strength from your new base.

Kind regards
Jill

p.s. I have just bought Julie a pink plastic flamingo which I know she had her heart set on everytime we whizzed through Devizes on the way to Radstock it was in a pet shop window and now it is to be wrapped up with a big bow!

The theme of gifting has carried on through the residency of this ten day project. Mobile Media/Create Studios, Swindon, were hugely generous and trusting, loaning me their digital arts bus for the family fun day. At the end of what was for us a really busy day, a fit looking chap stood at the steps of the RV looking up at an exhausted artist.... "Are you Jill, the one who never came on that bicycle ride with me?” Gulp, I thought, it’s Eugene, the cycling co-ordinator from the local sports and active leisure team. “Yes” I said.  "Would I have been healthier going out on that tandem trail with you, rather than dashing round Radstock meeting interesting characters, do you think?"  He talked of how to encourage folk to join their cycle rides as part of the festival.  I moved the conversation swiftly on.... "Do you fancy dressing up?" and suddenly he shared the notion that he possibly had an interest in the culture of cross dressing.  In a flash, Tina's rather gorgeous kimono (which had lived on the back of her door for years) was donned, together with a bamboo chinese hat, Karen’s lovely champagne whicker carrier and an armful of Jan's garden.  The madly creative day was made possible by a team of myself, Julie, Gray (and van) and son Toby who brought Tony, Monica and Jan alias Win, plus food and drink passed to us at critical times by Lesley and Mags. There was the drop in and dress up tent (a gazebo with pretend window loaned by Tony), whilst inside the huge Winabago 37’ Mobile Media van there was rocker sound engineer Barry wearing the white fluffy ‘interview jacket’ knitted by Mon with lots of glitter, watched over by Liz who got rather attached to our Mysterious Woman cloak. The bus was bursting with potential, laptops showing photo happenings from the day/week, story collections exhibited, with space to make - children enjoyed making story boxes from my collections, parents reading nursery ryhthme books, drawings being made and maps, memory stories, songs, poetry and singing being recorded. There was the gentleman who dropped in and admired my collections in an old suitcase. “Do, you know who she is” he asked “A Betterware Brush Lady” and I whooshed him into Barry’s studio to record memories collected from doorsteps.

Our tables outside the van also had all sorts of items “It’s all about communication” said a teacher/mum, as she spent considerable time and focus questioning me about my aims and objectives and whether at any point did I have a plan. “It’s interesting, but could be a bit off-putting do you think?” she said as she fingered some pale hairless biscuit dolls in an old lunchbox, whilst eyeing up my retro household items and memorabolia, including the beautiful gold edged bone bird coffee set. We talked fairytale and myth, its light and dark menacing aspects. “It’s all about play, isn’t it...” she said. Later, I found her happily gazing into her changed reflection in the oval mirror, after spending considerable time negotiating with her son that if she wore a helmet would he wear a brown curly wig and boggle eyed glasses. Meanwhile, I was balancing my wig and endless hats, dashing back and forth to photo document from van to tent, and suddenly everyone was co-creating and celebrating their dramatic skills. “This is such fun” said an entire family “I wish we had this at home”, as the dad donned a pink sari and all became rather regal in front of the landscape. There was, of course, Naeve, a small girl who must have changed outfits at least two dozen times, each time coming to find me to take her photograph. Another tiari, veil and wig wearing father said “Do take a photo with my face included, as I can’t remember the last time I had so much hair”... All the helpers pitched in, and as I dashed back to the bus I remembered Barry’s comment that it had never looked like this before, and gasped when I realised some kid managed to leave his mark on the vintage U S of A vehicle with bluey ink all down the doorway. The mum was cross and the kid subdued, but it was me forgetting I had left my blue ink pad in my art box and he had decided to do a set of fingerprints on a card and then exited leaving a trail.   As we were drawing tiredly but happily to a close, a little creative genius of a girl called Mocca was found in the dressing up gazebo, which nearly fell to the ground at one point so many people had arms and legs folding in and out of clothing. Seemingly alone with all the masks, loaned clothes and fabulous wigs and jewels, her sweet voice could be heard singing "Castle in a Cloud" whilst two small knights looked on rather disparagingly. As we started to pack up, a gang of teenagers I had photographed earlier in the week in the streets donning a Star Wars head and multiple glasses arrived. After great discussion and laughter they took on new characters, realising the once-upon-a-time local Rev Skinner’s dream that Radstock was the home of Camelot, and, as the sun went down, they chased each other round the field wearing cloak and wings.

The whole ten days has been about laughter, being playful, finding out what is possible, inspiring, gathering and developing story. There were so many small and beautiful contributions included in the ever changing collections which provoked people's stories of home and away.  Mary made glass wings for a tea drinking couple, brought a cheery looking foreign lady and Araldite glue, and together with her blue candlewick dressing gown was up for joining in with a local group of residents, and later running madly round an empty field with a feather duster.  Mags, gave yellow cups and saucers and endless encouragement, Radstock residents contributed their get up and go, stories, ideas, and temporarily donated their personal items and, of course, there was the herb pillow. Philippa gave words of encouragement and wore my purple wellies; and a suitcase was loaned. Sophie had a clear out and gave the museum a small box of stones and icons and there was Shan's mother's vase & a bunch of stocks, Wend's biscuits, swiss rolls, a calendar and candles, a tiny jewelled ring mirror and pen.  There were Jan’s hats & Karen & John’s 1950’s memorabolia of Coronation cut-outs, a tin of dominoes and a book of the worlds marvels. Hild's poetry, play, and performative introduction of pac-a-mac wearing Mrs Watson; including her story bag - which had inside many small items, including a ship in a bottle and a film clapper board. Jayne's tray and fox mother-in-law's stole, Julie's sister's whimsies and a blue table that never made it out. Included in the inventory must be, of course,Tony's support, words and advice together with his red camper that wasn't allowed out to play, a 1950's picnic set and huge sacks of hats. Gill’s gnome and mum’s kilt with enamel jug and bowl, Mieke’s wicker hampers & friend Sue’s curtain fabrics. My window cleaner Lennie's painting of a set of blokes he recommended I would never want to meet, which when exhibited on the media bus gathered very positive comments.  Monica's sit-in outside of small knitted houses and vehicles, including knittings of outfits, scarves and hopes for the future.  Sue's amazing artwork which made the logo for the badges and stickers that on the last day I never got to dab onto anyone it was sooooo busy and I forgot! There was of course Jennifer and her journey, and the invitation by Allayne, Andrew and others to visit folk along the way. A huge thank you to Somer Valley FM for the loan of a recording kit, Classic Rent a Bug, Radstock, for their VW Beryl, together with Marilyn & Shahina letting me have the Mobile Media bus to play with - I felt like I had gone to heaven...

It has been about discovering the many layers of community, and celebrating friendship. So, a big thank you all who contributed with giftings, time, enthusiasm and skills, co-creating and making possible the Travelling Museum of Possibilities!

Julie

OMG I can hardly walk this morning - what about you?

I just wanted to say a million trillion thank you's. You made the journey possible.

I wish we had got someone to take a pic of us together, lets do that tomorrow. 

Wrapped in happiness, fatigue and many blankets today.  I couldn't face rushing off in the car for a day with the girls.  And, the thought of opening the back of that van with all the gear inside is giving me nightmares. I dreamt last night of my india journal was empty inside. 

You are a brilliant friend and superb team mate and member of the MOP.

jx

Too tired to write. tbc

Our morning at the Methodist Church coffee morning was really interesting. As we carried the huge laundry basket loaned from Mieke towards the church building, we couldn’t find a way in, we kept circumnavigating the building. A passerby shouted, “what have you got in that basket, a giant cat?”. We finally found a hidden door which a kind gentleman unlocked and let us in. Our entrance into the cafe was interesting too, as people looked up from stirring their tea and saw us plonk our basket full of faces, hats, glasses, a pirates bandana, a sombrero and Sue’s left over curtains for potential cape material. Vince was anxiously waiting with his precious collection of minature books that we had agreed he would bring to show - Pilgrim’s Progress. We set them out on a tray covered in flowers that Allayne offered from behind the counter and a photograph was taken. “Fancy dressing up?” I enquired, as people sat around chatting, trying to ignore the fact that we looked suspicious. “Nooooooo”, they all said, one by one. Ten minutes later, there was Peter reclining against a wall under the clock, wearing Sombrero and curtain blowing me a kiss. Nearby a little chap was smiling, waiting endlessly for a bus, “He could be Winston Churchill?” said a voice. Another lady offered up her son. “What about being a pirate?”, he looked uncertain, but minutes later he was ‘Ooooing and aaaarghing’ and wielding a knife directed by his mother. “How about the pig’s mask and a bride’s veil for you?” I enquired and she flung herself whole heartedly into the correct donning of wig, and mask and netting. I love this, she said, its fun, do you know I once went to an Ugly Bug ball? Suddnely folk on the next door table sprang to life inspired by a chap with a cardie wearing the Dame Edna Everidge glasses “You look like a Cling-on” said one lady, whilst the wife of the said gentlemen agreed to take part and looked rather grand. Finally another chap decided to don a gnome hat, “give him some green hair” was the cry, and so I did. Then they went on to look at the black and white photos on my camera. Ohhhh, they are great. How about making them into a book, with a competition that folk could vote on, the best picture, the funniest, strangest, creepiest. The book could be in the library, we could donate money and buy a copy. Perhaps the money could go to a good cause. “yes, I said” how about the artist’s rest fund?”.

Yesterday was such fun. We met some really interesting characters along the way - they said they were “visitors to Radstock”. We went to the Museum, where staff said people were searching for us. Well, Mary, who found us wearing her rather splended candlewick dressing gown, who then proceeded to say she couldn’t run anyway, but did so, round the greenfield with a feather duster. At the Museum we stayed a while and found out about some history of the railways and mines, of a scratchy vicar who wrote lots of stuff about his parish in his journals, the hard working life of both the men and women. We got lost and talked about what is what, then went on our way again. We met a rather vivacious beautiful lady who was cross that we weren’t in the right place at the right time and that she couldn’t get into the Radstock Museum to the see the art show without coughing up money (which she had already spent on her onions). We went back to her place and talked about gifts lost and found. Later, we slopped off tot he pub and then as the full moon rose over the Pitt Wheel we ended up in art therapy at the Baptist Church, saw two dollies hanging from coat hooks from their hair and a wooden wall full of signs. Got introduced to a rather nice chap “He’s a bit cynical about you” was a comment, but minutes later he had agreed to bring along to Methodist drop in session his beloved collection of books, which include a series of Pilgrims Progress.

Val

I can't believe I am yet again on this flipping machine in pyjamas receiving and being able to respond to emails so early in what is a really dark and rain filled morning. Re your not being able to come down today, no worries. It is what it is.  The most important thing is the well-being of yourself and family.  No problems re the house today, absolutely none.  My plans have gone pear shaped too, including the idea of being parked up for the afternoon in a vehicle (which I haven't got) outside the Radstock Museum, only to be advised last night, that the dear chap who had kindly offered to contact someone at the Council to rubber stamp the unlocking of one bollard is sadly unwell, and didn't/couldn't/had'nt as yet, or simply they wouldn't let an artist loose on the centre of town. I am past caring at this stage.  The Manager of the Museum suggested maybe I would like to wear an old coat and, with a set of bags, lay on the park bench outside instead.  Oh I thought, a chance to be still, rest and reflect for a moment.  Now, it's pouring with rain and my plan was to be out and about in the urban and rural landscape. All I can think of to take down to the day is my pac a mac and a newly acquired purple feather duster whilst I think my friend Julie was going to bring a cape and a nurse's hat!

Monday afternoon Mags and I are organising the final little soirree/closing event - a chance to meet other festival organisers, with a drink, nibbles, photographs and stories from the week's activities, Church Tea Rooms 6.15 pm.  If you were able to be there that would be fabulous, you could see your house in a different light!

Have a restful day, may your husband be rested and well.

Jill

Mary rings to confirm she will join in the journey of the MOP and we will meet her at the Pitt Wheel. We discuss what needs to brought... I mention Anniversary Girl... “You should have heard the gasp of delight” I tell her “When I wound her up at the OAP lunch”... “She’s got wing’s” they said. Since then her wing has been repaired but has dropped off again. She promises to bring some special glue and suggests we set up an Emergency Ward 10 scenario. I inform her that Philippa has promised a new arts & health photographic/ music group will be joining us. “Will they know whose who” said Mary, “Maybe they could take my picture, I’ll go and find my candlewick dressing gown to be ready”. Are you taking a day off, she enquires. Well, I say, I am still in my dressing gown. I think your brain must be boiling. Go get one of those swimming caps that look like a brain, she recommends and then changes her mind. “Well, I think you should go and lay in a darkened room and play whale music”. I agree, so I’m off to find my 1970’s box of music.

Eugene,

I can't believe I have missed not one, but two of your bicycle rides. At the moment I am struggling to sort out website, photo collections, materials etc, and it is not very health giving and I would much rather be in the great outdoors seeing some of the beautiful surrounding countryside of the Radstock area. I do hope you have a great journey this morning., Look forward to receiving the photographs you took. Thank you so much!

Jill


On 22 Sep 2010, at 08:59, Eugene Kertzman wrote:, , Hi Jill, , I have got some photographs of the picnic ride, I will send them from my hjome PC as I can't do it from work., , Kind regards,

Eugene

Hi Maudey
 
Wow you've really pulled it off ............you all look fab. What's the drill for Sat shall I come to you first or are you staying in Radstock? Karen is coming and maybe Val if she is up to it. I hear the VW isn't for the whole week have you come up with a difinative plan yet?
 
The Fete went really well and we sold all the cakes ...........I'll be glad when Val is back in action makes you realise how much effort she and Karen put into the whole village thing.
I am going to an 80's thing at the Wyvern and am dressing up.....Adele has come up trumps again and it's like Madonna all over again.
 
Get back to me soon with details
 
Love
Win


Dearest

Plan, what plan?  I am not sure yet what is happening.  Mobile Media, Swindon, are loaning me the media bus, with Barry the brilliant sound production manager.  However, not sure yet whether the 'quirky beast' of the converted american rv will get round the corner onto the green field site on the family fun day. "It is made for the open road" he said, so maybe we could just take off to the beach.  Won't know till the eleventh hour - but nothing new there!  I may be able to get my hand on a stretched VW black limousine, which is apparently being used today for a funeral with a cheerful slant to it, according to Dave of Classic Bug for Hire, Radstock.  How does this all fit, with a gazebo, and/or what was originally intended to be a 40' circular marquee tent, no tables, and a huge collection of dressing up stuff for portraits and a nice oval mirror and some fabrics from Mieke's friend Sue - with a collection of small dollies with no clothes, jewels etc etc.  Monica is coming with a knitted shell. I am hoping to rope in Agent Graham, perhaps Toby if I can convince him, there will be Hilds too, Julie and me all retroe-d out.  Plus, Tony is recovering from his operation and hopes to attend, so we may need to find him a bed or at least a deckchair from somewhere....  I have no idea what we are actually going to do, but my front room is full of stuff - need to involve the tiny ones - but how, all my permanent pens got used up at the last event.  Some of the children from last week are promising to return with a farmyard set and a collection of cars, I was thinking they could build little theatres or gardens, dress up as their own characters. If we get the media van it is techno inside till I get my hands on it...then we would have stuff outside too. Or if it rains....Gulp?

I do hope Val is able to come with Karen, she will be totally uplifted by seeing the knitted house in the nave of the Church.  If it feels too much on Saturday, there is Monica there on Monday afternoon, installed by the house knitting with drop in visitors.  xxx

I am going down at crack of dawn to set up for 9.00 am. Do you want to come down with Hilds a bit later - the event is 12-5?

I am looking forward to checking out the 80's look.  We are bringing a 'mysterious woman' cape!

Off to see Jolyen today to get body re-aligned after all this excitement.

Yours, somebody, not sure who, it’s too early to tell. xx


On 21 Sep 2010, at 21:15, Jan Willis wrote:

John

Can you help? I have been avidly blogging my Travelling Museum of Possibilities project and can't seem to find a way of seeing all the entries for that subject on my website. I want to save and print the collection, so I can bring to Bluegate or any writer’s group, get a collection published, get famous etc, invest in a nice place by the sea.  Is there a way of doing that?

I've done it - see attached
You too can do it like this:

1, Click on Blog on top menu
2. Click on the RED ARROW HEAD  at the bottom of the screen
3. Scroll to find the Museum of Possibilities
4. Click on Museum of Possibilities
5. on the TOP OF SCREEN MENU click on File the Print
6. When the Print window comes up click on PDF in the bottom right hand corner
7. When the drop down PDF menu comes up click on SAVE AS PDF
8. Mutter under your breath "He's bloody briillant!"
9 Job done

Best 
John 
visit my forum & blog
at the BlueGate Poets website

Val

Just wanted to say to you and your group of knitters, thank you so much for making the house happen in Radstock. I love the way it is snuggled in the nave of the church.  I saw it for the first time today, and really appreciate that you were all up for the challenge of installing.  Children from the school assembly were bringing their parents back to see it. One little girl I know called Courtnay, said "I soooooooooooo want to be in it".   Who would you be, if you could be in it' I asked. "God" she replied. "What would you wear" I said. "White, all white".  This little girl comes from a street where the parents were very unhappy about their living conditions and no garden for them to play in.  So, with Monica's knittings and a Christmas fairy I made the story come alive.

Hope your husband is healing well.  Hope to see you soon.


Dear Jill

I am so pleased that you like the house and truly moved that it meant so much to that little soul.  I am hoping to get down on Thursday for some part of the day. Geoff is making good progress thank the Lord.

kindest regards
Val

Hi Chris

Unfortunately I now will not be able to make the bike ride with Eugune on Wednesday. A whole wealth of materials and opportunities have arrived out of being artist in residence and, I was hoping to be resident in Radstock during the week in a camper van. Unfortunately, I couldn't get insurance.  So, I have been driving back and forth from Swindon, but  I will need a day at home tomorrow to organise materials, sort photographs collected etc, write up accounts etc.  However, perhaps I will just have to dust off my own bike and at the end of the day get and ride round the block to celebrate and be in tandem with events.  It would have been lovely to see the area.  If it is possible for anyoneto to take any pics please let me know - as I am showing a digital collection of event imagery on Saturday in mobile media bus hopefully. So, riders welcome to bring along your pics to share and on the Monday evening celebration and review!

Hi my dear
are you resting!!?? The photos are great We are doing good stuff !
The lunch yesterday was wonderful, sorry I had to leave before the story telling, the Knitted house has been a huge success and an amazing
project to undertake, they must be really pleased with the response.
I do think the 10 day festival may have been a bit ambitious for Radstock, but I think this Saturday will be busy, I have my knitting
needles at the ready. I am sorry now that I ditched the huge knitted shell I made and exhibited some years ago, may be I should do another !!!
see you on Saturday, when are you setting up? I will be there to help.
love and hugs
Monx

You are a flipping star.  Not got to the resting bit, still in pyjamas mid-day sorting out photos, knitted house images, and portraits a Radstock family wanted of their little girl from two years ago, a proposed picnic to the beach plushow to organise the arrival and use of the mobile media van and Barry. Most importantly I urgently have to sort out all the flipping collection before I tip over the edge. Hilds suggested tying the little dollies to the traintrack.

Yesterday had a wealth of stories, history and stuff to set seeds of ideas for the future. Margaret at the lunch club who shared her love of knitting and her wish that she could knit again with hands that can’t be still, really moved me. Is it possible to find out how to help?

I love the idea of a knitted book. How easy is that?

I will be setting up from 10.00 ish on Saturday, need to confirm when van will arrive. It will be a treat to have you there too.

Off to sort out stuff, But going to get some fresh air too, I have neglected my garden of herbs.

lots of love. jx

A kind invitation pulled out of the hat through Allayne’s networking skills magically enabled the Travelling Museum of Possibilities to appear as part of St Hugh’s lunch club on Tuesday lunchtime. Julie and I appeared, together with Monica and a pile of knitting in tow. We sat with lunchtime members and enjoyed a lovely shepherd’s pie (my Mum’s favourite comforting meal for us) followed by a cheesecake with fruity topping, and a raffle for afters. Everyone was very welcoming and I was given a special visitor’s tablecloth and long table to set up my stuff for my ‘talk’ - a circle of chairs was set out for the members to sit and listen. OMG I thought as I stood behind the table which could only be described as looking like a bring and buy stall. “Is that teapot for sale?” a voice asked. Hmm, I thought, as I noticed a seemingly rather formidable lady’s amythest and diamond crucifix glinting at her throat, whilst I sent up a quick prayer for some inspiration as to how I should make this work. I grabbed a tray from hall and started setting out some of the materials which looked all wrong “Is that rubbish?” I asked, “Yes” replied most of the ‘audience’ whose kind but seriously attentive faces peered back at me. I peered back, over the tartan blanket, the flags, the Scottish kilted girl, the 1950’s sun specs, the knitterlings, tea sets, books and the much admired teapot.

Hilds had earlier said, “get control” only take one box of collections, but I have to say, that a bit more stuff was hauled out to set the scene, including Julie’s Chinese red dress (that she wonders if it would be possible to ever get into), a series of wigs, glasses and gloves, plus a pink Cowgirl hat and a feather boa. Blinking heck, I thought, and donned the Cowgirl hat and feather boa and said “Do you think I am mad”? “Yes,” said Julie rather loudly. So, that was it....”Margaret” I cried “You loved knitting” and grabbed a huge fat aluminium teapot from the kitchen and placed it on the tray, “What has knitting got to do with teapots”? “A cosy?” said another. And so we were off. It was like being Paul Daniels on speed. I had to pull out of the hat and respond to stories and resource materials which could tell of marriages - with a wedding dress with holes (lace & net), bridesmaids, flowers and a ring that cost a thousand. There was serious tutting from the room when I turned a lady’s coat inside out to make the lining represent the wedding dress - “How about use the white table cloth instead” was offered ...”and put it in the girl with a hole in her head, as her veil”. Ideas and associations started to sparkle. “Has anyone ever met the Queen? “No” only the Duke, was the reply. A dream is shared of tea with the queen. “What would you wear, if you were invited to a garden party”? “A ballgown!” was the prompt reply. “What! in the day” came a retort from the seats. “What sort of biscuits would the Queen have at the tea party? “Chocolate” said a lady, whilst a quiet voice whispered “Give the Queen Ginger Nuts” -when I could only put my hand on a packet of Rich Tea. All this mingled with talk of health concerns, a wish to knit, cruises, trips to Africa, mining history, tragedies, the wish to find a dress that fitted, baby blankets, blood transfusions and a decision to say nothing to a daughter-in-law. “How about you all put something on the tray together” I say, and so it was that jewellery of one hundred years and less was trustingly placed on the tray, watches, rings, together with a poodle called Mitsi, keys, money, a beautiful lilac scarf, a Vera Lynn CD and a lovely list of signatures. Stand on a chair to take that said a man’s voice”Because we have gone up in the world”. “Not very health and safety” was the cry. Julie rushed to hold the chair, whilst I periously peered down the camera lens. Lovely, I thought, then I looked more closely and realised it could read like evidence found from a retro swing party. Oh, well, I thought, its all about possibilities. We finished it all off in a flurry, as three dear ladies dressed up as though in a scene ‘Mrs Watson attends the Queen’s garden party and finds there are no biscuits, not even Ginger Nuts”. As the drivers waited to drive them home, I struggled to retrieve and quickly unwrap Chinese Dress lady very gingerly. The satiny dress got rather stuck and visions of a rather petite beautiful person being taken to casualty came to mind. I must say I reflected urgently that I didn’t anticipate any of the above when previously completing the dreaded risk assessment form. “Oh well”, said the lady suddenly freed of the red dress, “its all about having fun”!

a handful of tiny gemlike fairies (one called Ruby) dancing with a silvered satin toed mouse
a man/woman/rabbit headscarved gloved creature wishing for someone to dance
musical people clinking and clonking
a snow white dog
a glade of youths
with wound- up lady - sat in a corner, wishing it was all her idea
& man with an owl dressing up set and a pair of lucky slippers

I am shattered. Me, the gifted beautiful VW Beryl, a gaggle of gorgeous friends and residents of Radstock featured and created story trays as part of our travelling picnic in a lay-by tableaux on day one of the festival. We were dressed in a cross between land girls meet “Shall I do you now, Sir” cleaning scenario. I dusted off Michael Evis’ Glastonbury beard, whilst Mon swept and Julie held the fort. Later, the visiting poet Hilds was to arrive and don my pac-a-mac and piggie blonde wig and basket and walk down the Church steps over and over. Later, Beryl became filled with what could be a contemporary take on the holy family arriving at the inn to find noone would strangely take them in. I invited folk to respond by simply placing things on Jayne’s tray. No thanks, said one lady, when I asked if she would like to respond, “You might get me doing something daft”. “Doesn’t look like anything much different is happening here” said another passerby. Whilst a little Mocca and her Mum had a fabulous time and told a strangely beautiful tale, dressed up like an animal/fairylike creature and ate my biscuits.

Barry

Ab fab that you are up for it!   I can't believe it is possible to merge my worlds. Mobile Media, Swindon / meets Creativity Works, Radstock.  The festival organisers are thrilled this is going to happen and I think it will be a first for the community.  During the Artworks festival there is lots of different workshops, including some animation, so it would be great to join up the dots in some way.  At the moment, my brain has gone on melt down and I can hardly walk, type or speak from trying to make things happen.  It is always at this point that I try and remember what my proposal consisted of....  And, now my car is packed to the gunnels, I look like hell, and I have no idea what to wear out of my retro wardrobe and I realise I haven't any flipping signage because it was all designed for a tiny Susuki camper van, that I couldnt get flipping insurance on, despite a friend with only one kidney loaning it to me. I am threatening the whole lot going pair shaped if I don't find some energy from somewhere.  Still, I will get back to you next week with practical stuff, like measurements of the tiny gap at the side of the Church Tea Rooms, which is the main entrance to the Green Field site, and whether your golden lobsters are up for a journey to make that van interior a bit more shi-shy.  If all else fails re acces,  we shall have to park up the local slag heap, which I always wanted to do anyway.

So, I will get cracking tomorrow, see what happens. But really I think I need to climb inside the tiny bed of the donated VW camper van that I have managed to pull out of the bag at the last minute and read books with my friends.  Over the next week, something really really serious high end quality art might happen.  If not, some fun needs to be had!

 I was looking up the Singing Detective today, do you remember that series...I loved it. Surreal.  Cheers!  Look forward to working again together. 

Will be in touch. Just nobody mention risk assessments to me for another 48 hours at least.

Allayne

Oh my goodness, at the eleventh hour, a VW camper van has been pulled out of the bag! The Classic Rent a Bug comapny, amazingly from Radstock, have kindly gifted me with the use of a classic VW. Googling, phoning, beggings, searching, asking and praying has paid off.  Dave the owner has been hugely generous and agreed to provide me with a van, and talking with his daughter Rachel, "make it my home".  What a kind family, this is what community is all about - they are supporting the festival and the creative project with a beautiful 1974 split window VW which is a gorgeous green and white (phew will go with our outfits)!  It has been converted to take people to weddings.  What fun. Maybe there is time to find an old wedding dress?

So, at the time of writing, I won't be residing in Radstock, but who knows, something else might come out of the bag.  But I will be arriving to meet Sam the driver at 9.00 am tomorrow. The van has a converted interior so it has no kitchen, but there is a fold down bed which I aim to install Hilda as she is still poorly, so I may be calling on you for jugs of hot water to fill our flasks to keep the spirits up if that is ok?

Must dash, got a risk assessment form to fill in, now I know what I am doing.

PS Mags, said the knitted house looks amazing.

PPS If you want to preview look inside, do visit. I shall be parked outside St Nicholas’ Church, Radstock mid-day onwards. I hope someone brings cakes and sandwiches.

http://classicrentabug.com

Hi Hilds

Just to give a quick update.  Apparently it is not possible to be insured to use the little red Suzuki camper van, unless for domestic, social and pleasure.  I thought the aim of the project was all of that...  Tony originally thought if push came to shove he could drive the van down with Gray, but I have absolutely insisted he is not well enough and needs to recuperate.  It is such a shame that Rev Sue, at Radstock , VW camper van doesnt have an MOT on it, otherwise it would have made the most sense, to park that up in a field of vintage beauties and to sit their and sip from our flasks and read poetry aloud.  So, to summarise, I have signage ready to collect this morning and no vehicle on which to apply it...I rang M4 Vans late last night in Swindon and spoke to a really nice man called Lee who said it all sounded intriguing and totally unique, when I asked if they could donate me a van (they have a rather cute one sticking out the roof of their building).  He said he would ask the boss about the possible loan of a 1983 camper (I have a feeling mustardy yellow).  I spent the rest of the evening re-packing the collections trying to pare it down (...that old thought about if your house was to catch fire what would you take out first) and worrying could I reverse a 1983 camper van in a tight corner.  I had to re-do postcards with Moo as they merged two files on line, but a lovely lady said she would sort that for next week some time.  As for today 24 hour count down, I am having to wait in for delivery of a camera (as last one that I used in Radstock the kids managed to dent in a lost garden), hoping too that a set of vintage nest suitcases and a pair of jeans that I may be able to fit myself and gear into arrives.  All I can think is that when late in life studying fine art, my brilliant tutor said it was not about making pictures, more about problem solving, which is interesting, perhaps we could make a book between us on life's puzzles generated in participatory art schemes. Mags wrote saying THINK LATERALLY.  It is not about the space it is about you. She also said she had persuaded Somer Valley FM to loan a tape recorder gismo to capture story, but because of this apparently I had to be particularly nice to Rupert. I shall need to go re-check my contract.  Oh dear, I so wanted us to have a space to hang out in, to generate stories, documents objects, make little diaromas. Yesterday I went to say goodbye to a brilliant assistant photographer called Madeleine at the Mobile Media team, she is going off on her travels.  When everyone was chatting they talked about journeys and being able to be someone completely different, one's alter ego, when abroad.  What if you are multi-personality? I thought.  Discussions turned to outward bound courses for team building/survival - they all said who would be good at that..."Jill they all replied in unison".  Gasp, I thought, but they all reckoned I could make anything out of anything.  I was telling them about the loan of the camper van, the Museum of Possibilities and I used the word 'graunch' which no-one had heard of, I am sure it is a builder's term for prizing something out of a situation. Then Marilyn said "What about the Mobile Media Bus and I wonder if Barry would be available to drive it - suddenly I can hear the music from the Singing Detective"?  Well, it is that huge retro U S of A beastie fitted out with all mod techno, which does need a bit of a makeover and va va voom inside, as we talked about previously. MMMmm.  But it would be amazing if it could be there on the 25th for all the young and old to have a go at bringing stories alive. So, what do you think matey.  At the moment, Tony has a lent me a navy blue pop up gazebo with sides and a floor. He also, I remembered in the dead of night, has a toilet tent, I wonder what colour that is... Now, surely, no one could possibly refuse insurance on any of that lot!  Meanwhile, on the pyjama clad dawn raid of google I discovered a company in Radstock that hires VW Camper vans for weddings.  Could we get away with that do you think, but the only thing that isn' t in my dressing basket is a flipping wedding dress.  Meanwhile, I would complete the risk assessment if I knew what flipping risk anyone was going to be faced with, apart from at this stage, me leaving the house.   But I am still thinking if you have an artist in residence where is she going to park up with her lovely creative friends, collections and ideas?  The man at the Van garage asked if I was going in convey.  Double gulp.   Fingers crossed, let's see what the day holds, and I have to remind myself that I had intended a couple of things at the start of this project, to consider my work a holiday, to find out how we could develop this as an idea to work in the community nearer to home and maybe far away, and work in miniature.  Maybe it is, as Mary wrote last night, as the Buddha said - 'it is as it is'.

Shall we speak on the phone?

Dear Ton

How have you been today?  Thanks for your words. Hope you haven't been doing wheelies in your head worrying about the little ole MOP project. I really really appreciate all your sterling support. You must have been a flipping gherka in another life.  I have been all day on the flipping case, with Julie calling in at 11.30 and finally we packed it all in at 6.00 pm. However, one or two sets of china washed, a small bird tray received, with a tiny china family, basket and fur. Later in the day the findings of wigs and a beautifully illustrated Wizard of Oz book, the hunt for a retro camera and thoughts of Martin Parr; the acquisition of a rather spotty blouse and strange jacket - and bob's your uncle, or nearly.   Have been endlessly on the hunt for interesting gear for the dressing up session, and I had to stop Julie with an urge to get a donkey mask. In the fancy dress place, in the midst of trying on ‘The Mysterious Woman’s Cape’ with a rather dishelleved Japanese lady’s wig on - I got a phone call - an invite from Mary to go to meet the ladies at St Hughes elders lunch club, so now I will be fed on Monday lunchtime. We shall shepherd’s pie and cheesecake apparently and I shall take my trolley. I am exhausted, shall need to come to Radstock for a holiday!


this new dawn


as Radstock folk sleep
in distant broad Hinton
an artist's mind moves
moves towards them

spirits and minds 
will meet later today
people will become 
engaged
enthralled
excited

because an artist's mind
has moved towards them

Dearest Becca

Here at home feeling on a bit of a meltdown. The little red camper van was installed on our drive last week, then the owner Tony, who kindly gifted me the loan of the van went off to donate his Kidney to his sister.  Gray and I spent a whole day cleaning the little vehicle which was very down at heart . It needed repairs, sorting out and had me fussing around worrying was it what I really needed, could I make it work - could all the ideas come together.  Then during a telephone conversation with Phillipa it was revealed that the local Somerset Guardian had featured me and the camper and they had said I was going to be a resident in Radstock for 10 days. Gulp.  So, more cleaning, planning, sorting, thinking how I could get all my curious collections and myself inside it's tiny interior. Then Julie arrived who is going to pitch in with me during the festival. We had all the retro picnic gear out, the vintage dresses, figurines, dolls and cake stand, table and chairs set, plastic fairies and some very nice serviettes. It looked strange to say the least and felt all wrong. Then my window cleaner Lennie arrived who is a cross between a guru, a philosopher and a mad man with a lovely kind heart.  He said, feel the love, see it as a gift, how much is in your budget?  And so it went on, me trying to be positive, whilst my heart was in my socks.  For me, the little set of wheels was so much of my friend and not me. Was I being fussy? 

All my collections of stuff has been growing with me being given all sorts of stuff, including a mink jacket and a fox stole.  So, I decided to go back to the drawing board. Ok, I could get repaired the leaking pipe thingey to the radiator, back pipe leaking thingey and broken window; and not mind about damaged windscreen and side window. Then the real Radstock museum rang, as I will be parked up outside their place on Thurs 23.  Nigel queried "What exactly will you have in your van".  Sigh.  Well, I said, I had somehow acquired a lot of yellow and white pyrex, a kilt and a pair of grown up fairy wings.  "Will you have anything from the Radstock area in there?" he further enquired.  "Yes" I replied, "well, I hope too, that was the plan..."  So, back to the drawing board again. What was my original idea, oh yes, "What is it you really would like to do?" had asked Mags, the festival organiser at the very outset, whilst we sat in the Pump Rooms at Bath sipping tea whilst a nice man played piano.  "Go on holiday in Radstock, and be paid for it?" I thought.  

It’s all about paradox apparently (according to my yoga teacher Suzanne), so I have been trying to get to the root of what it is I would really like to do and what is possible? Meanwhile, Mary is digging out her candlewick dressing gown and a pair of mules. On reflection, it is such a joy when travelling on an artist’s sketchbook tour, say to India, when the the focus is not on making art, just living life and responding, keeping a journal, collecting some small interesting things.  Hmm, I thought, I really would have loved a childhood dream of my own little camper van - a place I could invite my friends and visitors to come and play.  I have been struggling with this ever since, as can I spend tax payer's money on a journey such as this?  If I do hire one, what about money in the post-production budget, will there be enough for a Treasure Trove Book at the end, which I bravely promised and thought was a good idea at the time?  How much should I keep aside in my budget for endless picnics in the form of a pop-up cafe, postcards and pink wafer biscuits, let along Health & Safety and Risk Assessments.

All in all, I shall need a flipping holiday to get over all this thinking about what is to be done. Meanwhile, I haven't a flowery vintage dress to wear to the Tea Dance on the second day of the festival, but I do have a nice set of short purple wellies.  All this frivolity and worry is not a good heady mix, and I guess it is about simply letting go and knowing something will come together. Well Becca, any thoughts would be gratefully accepted, but your hammock in France sounds ideal, I wish I was waiting my turn to have a swing and enjoy the abundance of figs and be there with you too.  It is raining here in the UK and blowing a gale, there is nothing in the fridge for tea but Gray has got his ticket clipped by going and mowing the church grass.   Phew, I”m boring myself now. Time to remember it’s Friday night and I have just received a phone call about a ‘lovely lady called Elaine’ who apparently has offered me her gorgeous driveway to park on!

Hi Hilds

Saw Tony today...running on high octane fuel. Now have the red camper van parked here, with running repairs to sort, a broken window, graffiti and a petrol cap cover with no key to unlock. Apart from that it is all systems go. In exchange he has got all our Christmas lights for his daughter's leaving to go to Uni party tonight, and when we dropped off the stuff at his old place there was about 10 minutes to spare before being interviewed by the press about giving away his kidney to his sister.  He kept dashing up a ladder in his garden asking me did I want some Bramleys whilst I paced up and down.  I feel a certain stomach sinking sense of apprehension about the Museum of Possibilities being on rather rocky ground as a starting point.  Way to go! Phew!

Hi Mags

Confirm I have sent my proposal as artist in residency, with my project which will be a series of travelling interventions entitled the Museum of Possibilities.  I confirm I will be responding to and aim to have fun setting up different scenarios as part of the Art/works Festival 2010 at Radstock, over the period of Sept 18 - 27.  The camper van is organised and I will be picking it up on Wednesday.  As I tell people about the project my collections that I will be bringing with me are growing, adding to the retro picnic set is a suitcase of dressing up stuff, a bundle of red and white gingham, an interestingly curious series of found and given objects which now includes a small sewing cupboard, a set of tiny wooden clogs and a teaspoon with a seaside view on it.   I confirm I have organised to go and meet with the Education Manager at the Holbourne Museum, Bath at 12 midday to discuss curatorial concerns.  I will be then driving directly over to you as there is a need to spread the news, so I will be over to you to meet up with you on for podcast at Somer Valley FM. Could we meet a bit later than 2.00, say 2.30 if possible?  If not I will make a dash. Where shall we meet?

I confirm also that I will be at the start of the festival on the 18th and 25th, and as I will be exploring journeys, notions of home and away, I have booked a bike ride possibly on a tandem, gulp, plus want to do something with the giant knitted house and Monica's mad knitting workshop, plus animation workshop.  The tea dance is a must. So is the final event, when and where will that be? Plus want to liaise with the library, as I was wondering if I was asking for people to bring maybe old stuff to create collections the library could be a drop off point, or nesa new office.  Which would work best?

Jillx

Hi Fiona

I understand you work in Willow. I am going to be the artist in residence during the art/works festival.  I am creating a travelling intervention, called The Museum of Possibilities, it will have a retro/vintage feel and aims to create a series of happenings, which will unearth and inspire stories in relationship to notion of journey, inspired by narratives of home and away, rituals of everyday life, exploring a contemporary take on fairytale and myths to celebrate the nature and spirit of community.

As part of the festival I will be asking workshop facilitators to respond, if they would like, to the Museum of Possibilities, and somehow then this could link up the different activities.  In the animation workshop this theme will be hopefully explored, and too in the Drop in and Dress Up Tent - where someone has already donated a huge bag of hats.   I wondered if you would be happy to get participants in your workshops to make fairytale inspired objects, to make crowns, wings, wands?  

My base will be the gifted loan of a camper van, and I already have a growing series of given and found object collections, a friend has made stained glass wings for a collection of figurines.  My latest acquisition is a tiny 4" fairydoll with glittery pipe cleaner wings and a rather odd stare.  So, I was wondering if anything resulting from your workshop could also be contributed that would be great.  I was wondering too, that it would be great fun for the Drop in and Dress Up tent for a pair of wings to be available, or even for me to wear during the week.   I wondered if they could be made from willow, or is that mad, and would wire and tissue paper would better????

Hope this all makes sense.  It would be great to talk on the phone if you prefer, and I could always ring you.

Hi Chris

Nice to speak today, great idea about joining in with the Artworks Festival bike ride on Tuesday 21. I like the idea of a Castles & Cauldrons picnic, but I can't believe I am organising to join in and get myself on a tandem bike.  To confirm I have left a message on Eugene's mobile, asking him to ring me - and we shall take it from there!

Meanwhile, I am worrying what to wear and how to carry my picnic set.