Glad Things #7
A bird shall carry the voice.
It’s been a gentle week so far, very welcome after a super busy open studio weekend plus a Lichfield Gospel Choir concert on Sunday evening. Today I’m off to Paris with my darling sister for a weekend of sisterly balm and Hockney at the Fondation Louis Vuitton.
My open studio/house/whatever-we’re-calling-it continued just as wonderfully over the weekend. I’ve had some lovely commissions for pieces like this one, which I’ve been meaning to do more of for a long time (but struggle to make time for because really, who do I think I am, branching out from characterful mountain goats and cheery looking ants? An artist?!) and sold another smaller piece to some neighbours who live a few minutes’ walk away, but hadn’t met before. Definitely one of the best things about putting 450 postcards through doors (often at a run, because it’s a bit awkward so why not add some lycra) is that some people actually come, and have a cup of tea chat about nice walks or gardens or dogs (I had so many lovely Gladys-related conversations) and even actually buy things from me. Sometimes they try to buy things off my mantlepiece, and I have to explain that these are my own personal ornaments, thank you.
I went to Yorkshire Sculpture Park on Tuesday with friends to see the completely brilliant William Kentridge exhibition. It’s on til April 2026 and I urge you to go. I left itching to make things and full of joy. Also loved seeing Lesley Barnes and Ross McAuley’s beautiful wooden people sculptures in person and going for a great big walk around the park. The best kind of day.
YSP - William Kentridge, Lesley Barnes and Ross McAuley, Hemali Bhuta, Laura Ellen Bacon. On Wednesday I spoke to my best friend on the phone (and then slept better than I have for ages). Here’s ‘best’ from Ella Risbridger’s Set Me on Fire; a book of poetry which, like Ella and Caroline, we passed between us like sweeties from paper bag (via email) for months in 2020. (I think Laura Webb is Ella’s pseudonym?)
I’ll be on my way to London to catch the Eurostar when this Glad edition is published! À bientôt!
Kate x
