Yesterday I went to the New Schoolhouse Gallery in York, to talk about the show I will be having there next year (Dates are March 7th – April 26th 2014). Robert Teed and I had a very productive meeting and I feel very excited about taking my work to a new area of the country, and also about working in the residency space there. The gallery is housed in a fine victorian schoolhouse, and pretty gardens provide a peaceful and secluded air. I spoke about the Venice Biennale, The Encyclopaedic Palace, and when Robert told me the history of the place, how it housed and educated boys and now disseminates the fruits of human lives through Art, we thought it could be thought of as a mini Encyclopaedic Palace! www.schoolhousegallery.co.uk
I also visited York Minster to give thanks for my safe journey, and was treated to beautiful organ music and delicious cakes from the stall there, run by volunteers. Last year they raised £6000 for various charities, from selling cakes to visitors. Afterwards I followed my feet into a little 13th century church called The Holy Trinity which has beautiful 14th century stained glass windows and a flag stone floor, and little wooden compartments for families to pray in; it looked (and felt) like a little boat.
I had a great time in Yorkshire. Everyone I met was incredibly kind and helpful. I will look forward to returning. The train journey is 8 hours long and I used my time writing my blog about my recent trip to Venice, as well as planning lessons for the next few weeks – next Tuesday and Wednesday I will be teaching a workshop on drawing at The Newlyn School of Art.
The following week I will be leading a workshop considering how creativity can help us empathise with, lean towards, those who have been victims of torture.
