ELLIE CHANEY AND GUESTS: DRAWING IN THE COTTAGE GARDEN

After seeing an example of Anna Marie Truter's botanical drawing during the course of Ellie's research it was clear that a drawing session at the Cottage would be appropriate.  In the absence of much of Truter's work, what better way to introduce and provide context for her story than to invite people to produce new work of their own.

And so on sunday Ellie Chaney invited visitors to meet in Truter's husband's family garden to search among its plants and overgrowth, and record what they found.

Drawing is fundamental; it's a way of  developing an understanding of the world by examining it and giving an account of what you see. A way of defining the relationship between you and what isn't you.

It can be difficult and requiring of a cold eye. It can be a way of passing on primary information about personal experience or objective reality.
Equally, it can provoke a shared experience.
And if you work in other disciplines, requiring a different kind of enquiry or response  it can be like calling home.


As always we also had a number of visitors who were there to see the cottage. Dan from Greenlane arrived to work on the garden, and when the session moved indoors to avoid the rain there were questions and conversations about the building, books opened and passed around, and addresses exchanged.

Ellie's session was a great example of what we are trying to do here, to reposition the cottage as a living space with a role in the life of the town. A site for creativity, expression and serious intent, but not just something colonised by artists. Something accessible and available, to be examined and remade by whoever walks through the door.

And the drawings produced were really good.  Scroll down for more pictures.

More of this I think.






"Lovely relaxing afternoon. Great to be given space to get back into drawing with no pressure."

"A very enjoyable time spent observing in the garden. Very tranquil."

"Fascinating. Definately taught me to look at plants in more detail."

BUGS AND BOTANICALS AT THE SJB COTTAGE. A FREE DRAWING WORKSHOP WITH ELLIE CHANEY

Coming up, Sunday the 12th at the Cottage.
Come and meet Ellie Chaney, explore the cottage garden and take part in her free drawing workshop...
All comers welcome, Children should be accompanied by an adult.
Use your own materials or ours.

UNDER THE WEATHER. THE 'OSS BIDES HIS TIME.

I put a mic under the velux last night and woke to find  a recording of screaming gulls and the first hours of a storm. Towards the end there's just a series of oddly rhythmic bumps and shuffles that made me wonder if I'd just subjected a sensitive mic to several hours of sustained abuse.

The mic is fine though, so it could be the response of a fading battery, either way it made for interesting listening for Alex and me this morning while the next few gallons poured down onto the cottage.

Between deluges we still had visitors. Some have become regulars. Others have been drawn by stories of renovation and a feel for period detail, or are curious about the open door into a childhood mystery.
A camper wandered up from Bardsea; liked the building and the 'obby 'oss but declined a look into the attic...

Ah yes, the 'oss.  The 'oss has grown a jaw, and will soon be up and about on poles.  Nine feet plus of occupied hollow, set to bend and sway  under drapery and a winter sky.

A KITCHEN OF DISTINCTION. LINDSAY, EMILY, IAIN, MARZIPAN.

It's been a sunny day in Ulverston and the cottage was the best place to cool down, chat and make something sweet, colourful and nut-free if required with Lindsay Ward and her assistant Emily.

Our neighbours brought flowers to brighten the room, Iain was on hand with the introductions and the local knowledge, and soon one half of the cottage was buzzing with talk about Sir John, the Ice Age, The Isle Of Man and the the Roman occupation while in the other half our visitors sat down with Lindsay and Emily and got to work..

There is something very pleasing about making a small pear from marzipan...I had first go...my bananas weren't quite as successful...











We'll be in the cottage again on saturday (July 28th), this time with Alex. The plan is to walk his 9ft high 'obby' 'oss around the garden.
Iain will be on hand next thursday with his books, artefacts and arcane  knowledge, and on August 11th, Ellie Chaney will be hosting a drawing session.
Look out for more information.

So, plenty going on at The Sir John Barrow Cottage.

Luckily Emily provided a visitors comments book for today..

"an unexpected surprise for us to take part in some wonderful marzipan fruit decorating. Thank you."

"...expert tuition from Emily Ward and Lindsay, Emily's mum."

Come and see us.

DRY FELTING AT ULVERSTON LIBRARY WITH LEX BLAKEWAY

Well, that went well.
Many thanks to all who took part in Lexi's felting session today, and to Ulverston Library for hosting this and the exhibition of her work.
Hopefully we can do some more of these sessions.. there's clearly plenty of interest and skill
out there.

Great work Lexi.

2 DAYS FOR THE DIARY..LINDSAY'S MARZIPAN SWEETIE KITCHEN, ALEX'S 'OSS AND YOUR GUIDE IAIN McNICOL.

Lots of Ulverston people remember the Sir John Barrow Cottage as a sweet shop, and for one day only, on Thursday July 26th, it will be again. Kind of.

Lindsay Ward and her junior assistant will be running a Marzipan Fruit Sweets kitchen, where visitors will be able to make tiny sweets with marzipan and food colouring as part of our shared open day with Green Lane Archaeology and Historian Iain McNicol.

Iain opens the cottage to visitors every thursday. Last week a group of Year Three boys and girls from SJB school arrived, and Iain says some have made return visits, and acted as Guide to their little brothers and sisters.

On Saturday July 28th John and Alex will be in the cottage, where you'll have a chance to see how  Alex's 'obby 'oss is progressing. More on that to follow.

Iain will be in the cottage on thursday from 11am till 4pm, and Lindsay will be on hand to make sweets with you from 11am till 2pm, for as long as stocks last.
A warning though; marzipan contains nuts.

Alex and John will be on hand on saturday from 10 till 2.

LEX BLAKEWAY AT SJB: SOUVENIRS.

"A medley of bags from the Year 6 class I worked with at Sir John Barrow, what a fabulously creative and determined class they were."
(Lex)


This is the last week at SJB  and as Lexi's project ends we hear that the children will be loading up their new Drawstring Bags with souvenirs of their time in Year Six.

I called in today to catch what was Lexi's final session, and the last of our whole programme. 

The plan was to demonstrate new skills  that could be revisited and re-applied as the children progress through school, and to provide the school staff with some thorough and process-based  lesson plans that can be used, re-used, adapted and re-adapted. 

Alex, Lexi, Dominic and me have all enjoyed our time at SJB enormously. We all believe wholeheartedly in the value of the arts at all levels of education and we will do anything we can to support our local schools in their efforts to introduce and develop art and craft skills in our young people, along with the early signposting that might just set someone out there on a career path.  

We hope we can keep the relationship going; we will be meeting soon to discuss how it can be done. 

In the meantime, show off those bags, soon-to-be erstwhile Year Sixers, and get some use out of them. Lovely work.