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Artist in Residence - Brisons Veor 2022
She gave each of the participants one of her paper mache creatures and we spent the day dressing it from her stash of vintage fabrics and lovely wools. It was one of the most relaxing, creative and fulfilling workshops I have attended. I decided there and then that my residency would be spent making some small paper mache items and I would try to recreate that relaxing atmosphere for a whole week!
It is not difficult to relax at Brisons Veor. In wild weather all you can hear is the sea crashing against the rocks, and the wind howling outside. It was misty during part of my stay which added yet another dimension. There is no televsion or radio and the sounds of nature are so welcome. Lunches were spent with the doors open looking out to sea.
On day one, I went to collect rubbish from the rocky foreshore at Priest's Cove, just below the cottage. I was very surprised to find only six items, three plastic bottles and three pieces of polystyrene. However, this was plenty for the starting point of my project.
In early January I was lucky enough to return to Brisons Veor for a second residency. In mid December I had been on a workshop with folk artist Julie Arkell at Loop in London. https://loopknitting.com/collections/julie-arkell
In preparation for the residency I had made batches of paper mache from books, stamps, egg boxes and envelopes. I had also scoured charity shops and was thrilled to find some floral patterned cotton fabric which evoked a vivid memory of the bedroom my mother had created for me as a teenager. She was a whiz on a sewing machine and made curtains, a duvet cover, pillow cases and covered an old blanket box in the same fabric. Even the wallpaper was the same pattern! There was so much brown and white pattern in that bedroom it is etched into my memory like a metal printing plate! I arrived at Brisons Veor with a vague idea of making some small "creatures" but no definite idea of what they might be.
I covered the bottles and polystyrene I had found in paper mache and soon some little characters started to emerge. They held some of my childhood memories. My maternal grandmother ran a haberdashery and often sent my mother the end "bolts" of material. She would get on her industrial sewing machine (which was set up in the corner of the lounge) and start to make different items of clothing for all my playmates who lived on the same street. It is quite funny, looking back, seeing kids wearing tartan trousers, or a skirt, a waistcoat or a hat. There always seemed to be enough material so that everyone had something to wear! As my creatures emerged it was obvious they were the characters I remember from the street and school.
The kid who wore his school tie on his head instead of round his neck,
The innocent girl who didn't have tv so was quiet and unable to join in some of our conversations.
The short boy who never seemed to take off his coat or hat and wasn't big on hygiene.
The pretty girl, teacher's pet, who was always immaculately dressed and surrounded by other girls.
The lonesome girl who spent all day practicing her ballet moves and could not wait for her dance lessons on a Friday.
And, of course, the kid every one was attracted to, the clown!
Brisons Veor is in such a unique place. There is a manmade, sea water filled, swimming pool just below it and local people were taking advantage of this spectacular place to swim. It is easy to walk into St Just and to visit Kurt Jackson's Gallery, and there's a very nice cafe practically next door. If you are looking for a place to shed the trappings of a busy life and to spend time focussing on one project, I cannot recommend this place more highly!
