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You are here: Home / Archives for Genevieve Rudd

Genevieve Rudd

Nicci Dedman

11th March 2021 By Genevieve Rudd

My creations derive from a fascination with wire and the forms that can be achieved using wire alone.

The inspiration for my work has been the floral and animal subjects I can view from my garden and local neighbourhood based on the Norfolk/Suffolk border.

Photographs are taken, studies are made and final drawings with scribbles allow me to then create each sculpture individually by hand. I like to show movement in the wildlife subjects and attention to detail is given to the floral subjects anatomy.

More examples of my work can be seen at www.niccidedman.co.uk 

Filed Under: Featured Member, Member Artists

Looking Out, March 2021

8th March 2021 By Genevieve Rudd

Three Hares Running

Morning walks cheer us

Hares run unhindered in fields

We are one with nature now

 

Pink sun on silver frost. I see the hares. Out of the oilseed rape, across the ditch, onto the plough. Three hares running, running not crouching in the tramlines or jinking erratically for cover. It lifts the spirits this early morning race. Tugged by sap rising, March hares put life into empty fields. Today they own the landscape. They remind me of the symbol of three hares, the mystical motifs found in Devon churches. Three hares each with two ears but only three ears between them.**

This year I saw them in February and some mornings I would catch them in a dance of eight or nine running and circling. They have woven their magic after a full moon night. Give them space to run and a place to shelter. Three hares running.

It is March at last and after a long winter of flood, snow, frost and lockdown we search for signs of spring. There is warmth in the sun when it appears and the longer days mean that birds are on the move. Winter has stripped the countryside bare. The trees are shrivelled by cold winds and frost, branches snapped, last leaves tossed to the fields. Gales felled hedgerow trees tumbled in a sprawl of ivy. Dried tufts of grasses are flattened by the wind, shrink wrapped against field edges.

This is the ‘Hungry Gap’ – the end of winter when last year’s food reserves are at their lowest but there is still little growth to provide new seeds and insects have yet to emerge.  The Hungry Gap was named by gardeners for this time of year, when all that was left on the allotment were a few cabbages, potatoes and carrots. The winter diet was uninspiring and yet the new crops were only just being set and a long way from providing food.

The yellowhammers have been here most mornings, their cheery song bursting from the hawthorn bushes, a splash of citron caught in first light. There are usually eight foraging on aniseed coated seed that spills from the bird feeders. No reed buntings or tree sparrows now – just two species that have been rubbed out of our landscape.

But we look for signs of hope and March brings one of the first of the spring migrations. On warm moist nights the toads are moving. I organise the toad rota in the village and each night someone goes out to rescue toads who are setting off across the road for their amorous tryst in the village pond.

Toads use the lunar cycle to co-ordinate their gatherings, ensuring that enough males and females come together at the same time. They arrive at the breeding sites, mate and spawn around the full Moon. This maximises their breeding success and reduces the odds of being eaten. But they also need night-time temperatures to be above 5 or 6 degrees.

There is a magic about toad collecting. We drag ourselves away from the fire, take buckets and torches and walk up to the green. A Little Owl calls its mournful whoooo. Pigeons clatter, disturbed from their roost. Dusk falls. The air is quiet. Then a squeaking call from the ditch. Toads emerge, tentative, a face peering from grass verge, venturing onto the road, heading for water.  For an hour we follow a route round the pond and down the side roads from where toads are emerging in ones and twos. Some are already paired up. ‘The bucket dating agency’ one of my patrollers says.

We count males and females, frogs, newts. Some nights we collect hundreds and remove those we didn’t manage to save from passing cars. Gently they are released into the rippled depths of the pond. The torch spotlights them. Some make off, strong kicking back legs, needing to make up for lost time. Some hang there, floating, back legs splayed, remembering the feel of water after a winter in earth and wood.

There is much to enjoy about the coming of spring, the feeling of release as the cold and the dark lose their grip on the countryside. Armed with camera, notebook and pen I try to capture the sights and sounds, smells and tastes of March.

**The story of the search for the three hares motif is told in a book published in 2016 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2082809-the-three-hares-motif-is-an-ancient-mystery-for-our-times/

Figure 1 European Hare: Piet Munsterman

Filed Under: Blog

SPRINGING BACK

8th March 2021 By Genevieve Rudd

New readers start here…

The story so far  Our ‘new generation team’ – chair Genevieve Rudd, secretary Jo Butcher, marketing Hatty Leith – are introduced to acclaim at the 2019 agm. They are a hugely successful injection of youth, but sadly have to resign in the face of the personal economic pressures that covid brought. And W&BA’s finances are hit hard by the cancellation of most of its 2020 events – critically, the sculpture trail. The 2020 agm brings back two of the old guard – Nicky Stainton as treasurer, Brian Guthrie as secretary – and a relatively new face as chair, Halesworth representative Ann Follows.

Now read on  The management committee, and its Recovery sub-committee, have worked hard, over many Zoom meetings, to plan for 2021. And there is good news.

Thanks to our reserves, and some judicious fund-raising, we are planning three main events over the spring and summer. All are helped by the government’s new roadmap for easing lockdown (as well as subject to disruption if things go badly after all).

The sculpture trail ­– Sculpture in the Valley, at Potton Hall, near Westleton – is on.  After some difficult date juggling, we’ve settled on Friday 28 May to Sunday 27 June. Most of the sculptors lined uo for last year are still there, with some others.  The yurt café will be open and we’re hoping to feature a short film and some music. ‘Looking forward to it’ is a bit of an understatement.

Spell Songs in the Green is an exciting project invented by Janet Koralambe, who some of you will know as an inspiring choir leader round here. She has recruited a choir (rehearsing on Zoom is a challenge of course) to sing a suite of songs based on the Lost Words book by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris. The Millennium Green in Halesworth was to be the venue for performances involving the 50-strong choir, local schoolchildren, adult dancers and various community groups. Covid restrictions scuppered that, so instead we are commissioning a film of the whole thing. That is in turn an exciting project, and well supported financially by the town and others.

The Two Rivers Book Festival will be early in September and will incorporate some of the events we had to abandon last year, as well as new stuff. Dates and details to come. We had one date, 2 July, when we were planning an event at the Southwold Arts Festival. But, stop press: sadly, the organisers have taken the agonising decision to cancel the festival for this year because of the uncertainty about covid. They will regroup and so will we.

As there have been for the last 11 years, there will be Walks, starting in July and so far including Great Yarmouth, Westleton, Lowestoft, Earsham, Bungay, Halesworth and the climate-threatened coastline.

And that’s not all  We have just begun planning an ambitious project linking the arts and the climate emergency. We will keep you informed of course, but meanwhile those of you who remember our successful Arts in an Age of Austerity conference in 2018 will have a clue.

Springing forward

As part of our new strategy we have hired Jo Leverett to work part time on marketing and project coordination. Jo is very experienced in this field, and has done similar work for among others the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival and The Cut.

Just in the last month we have also recruited three new area representatives as part of the management committee –  Lisa Henshall in Harleston, Clare Johnson in Lowestoft and Chris Reeve in Bungay  – with more to come we hope.

Brian Guthrie

March 2021

 

Filed Under: Blog

Beach of Dreams

8th March 2021 By Genevieve Rudd

Beach of Dreams is an epic journey to discover the hidden gems of the East Coast of England, inviting collaboration from communities and artists along the way in Suffolk, Essex, Southend, and Thurrock.

Kinetika’s Artistic Director, Ali Pretty, and Guardian journalist Kevin Rushby are walking the entire route, joined by artists, writers, scientists, and local residents.  Together, guided by strong environmental themes and the challenges of our current time, they will consider the question “How can we creatively reimagine our future?”

Get involved, share a location, and share your dream! Everyone is invited to choose a mile to walk, submit an image of the landscape, a drawing and a few words about your connection to it and your dream for its future. Visit www.kinetika.co.uk and visit the Beach of Dreams page for more details.

Filed Under: Blog, Member Activities

We’ll Meet Again Part 1

4th March 2021 By Genevieve Rudd

Recollections of some of Waveney & Blyth Arts’ projects in the last ten years

Yes there will be a time when we can run events, open galleries and studios, join walks and workshops. Until then – let’s remind ourselves of some of the amazing activities that W&BA has created over the last ten years.

What better way to start than Finding Paradise. Devised by Simon Raven this trail of artworks, each portraying a letter from the word Paradise, was laid out along the two river valleys in 2015. It celebrated the landscape of the Waveney and Blyth valleys and the creative work of some of our members.

Let’s reprieve the Paradise Pilgrim who set out that summer to find the letters hosted by arts venues. Here are some extracts from the slightly tongue-in-cheek diary:

One August day I set off in pursuit of capital A. This required Paradise Pilgrim to leave the gentle headwaters of the Waveney and, like an otter in search of new territory, head cross country through villages such as Metfield and Linstead. In less than an hour I arrived in Halesworth to start my search. The Cut, Halesworth’s arts centre and theatre, is welcoming all sorts of boffins on the day I arrive. Part of its science café season, the foyer is full of displays about antibiotics, soil, compost and the value of eating broccoli. Having tried broccoli soup, explored renewable energy options and tasted tea and carrot cake, I finally tracked down capital A and was told that I was not the first person to come looking. You could say that by now ‘I was hooked’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1 Capital A at The Cut

After successfully tracking down the E, I could no longer be chasing the tail of paradise but set off in search of dragons. As dragons begin with D and so does Diss, it was a simple decision to find Designer Makers in the Heritage Triangle, as this part of Diss has become known. Stepping across the threshold, there were old friends from Diss Corn Hall and, as in all good quests, a guide came to our aid – print maker Annette Rolston. Annette showed us round the tardis like interior. There were necklaces, knitted goods, stained glass, mosaics, prints, finely crafted clothes and willow baskets. It was a true emporium of artistic talent. The whole concept of Designer Makers is that not only do people work together, making unique and beautiful objects, but the public can come and buy direct from the makers and see how the pieces are made.

But what about the dragon? It truly epitomises the spirit of Designer Makers; several of the artists contributed to its design and construction and there it was, coiled, sleeping, suspended on a wall.

Figure 2 D at Designer Makers

I am nearing the halfway mark on the Paradise Trail which takes me away from our market towns to a village easily bypassed on the A143 – Brockdish. I am killing two birds with one stone for not only is Brockdish playing host to Paradise ‘I’, it is the venue for August’s Arts and Eats. The Old Kings Head, a fourteenth century pub at the centre of the village, was bought last year by brother and sister, Jonathan Townley and Louise Lees. After complete refurbishment it now offers not only the traditional bar and restaurant but a café serving cakes and cappuccino – always a hit with Paradise Pilgrim, who has been known to navigate the county on the basis of the best coffee shops. Joined by Jonathan’s wife Vicky, an art teacher, the pub now offers an art gallery and a venue for some creative activities.

It was not difficult to locate I, startling, vivid, well-padded and set amongst paintings, not too far from the cakes!

Figure 3 I in The Kings Head, Brockdish

I found an opportunity to track down P in Bungay. It was the Doggerland workshop – Words on the Edge – that lured me this far along the Waveney. Venturing further down this valley into the little market town, home of the Fisher Theatre, I indeed felt like a fisherman. I was hoping to catch P hooked up in the Gallery upstairs or hanging above the coffee machine. Imagine Pilgrim’s own slough of despond on discovering that the theatre is closed on Sundays. The P went unstamped.

And now comes the sad conclusion – I can see no way down the Waveney and Blyth rivers before the trail ends on 30th September (2015). Paradise Pilgrim has therefore drawn the search to a close and admits to only collecting an IDEA of PARADISE.

Figure 4 Only an Idea of Paradise

But for all pilgrims there remains one opportunity to see all the letters in a row. They are on display in the bar of the Swan Hotel, Harleston.

Figure 5  The Paradise letters assembled

CREDITS

Trail devised by Simon Raven

Artists:

P          Malcolm Cudmore on behalf of Black Dog Arts, Bungay

a          Paul Osbone of Papershaker, Great Yarmouth

R          Caroline Reeder and members of Lowestoft Arts Group

A          Members of Inspired by Becker Art Society, Wenhaston

D          Dragonmakers@21, members of Designer Makers @ 21, Diss

I           Lin Patterson on behalf of Harleston & Waveney Art Trail

S          Ron Fuller on behalf of Craftco, Southwold

e          Members of Eye Arts Guild

Paradise Pilgrim text and photographs – Melinda Appleby

Filed Under: Blog

New area reps, Lisa Henshall and Chris Reeve

4th March 2021 By Genevieve Rudd

Lisa Henshall is area rep for Harleston along with Nicky Stainton.

I’m an artist and a teacher and I run a pop-up gallery in Harleston.  As a massive fan of WBA,  I’m really excited to help promote and explore the opportunities in and around my local area.

My background is a traditional art school background, I studied Fine Art at Loughborough University and then Art Education at Cambridge University and I’ve painted and taught art since the late 90s in a variety of settings.

Sharing and promoting creativity is fundamental to my life and I see representing and supporting W&BA as an extension of this.  Thank you for this fantastic opportunity.

Chris Reeve is area rep for Bungay along with Ann Woolston.

I’m delighted to be asked to join the committee of W&BA, having been involved with the Guided Walks in the summer months for a number of years, and thoroughly enjoyed organising them.

My career has been as a Museum Curator, and for twelve years I was Keeper of Art  for St. Edmundsbury Borough Council. I took early retirement in 2000, and settled in Bungay taking a part-time role as Community Project Officer with Waveney District Council and then the Lowestoft Community Forum. This got me involved with many local groups assisting them with grant funding applications, and getting intergrated  into the welcoming, and vibrant ethos of our warm-hearted town.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, W&BA Activities

Helen Derbyshire

26th February 2021 By Genevieve Rudd

My work is about is about the textures and mood of the landscape around me – focusing sometimes on the details of vegetation and sometimes on evoking a sense of the season, of space, light and weather.

I draw and use digital photography, almost always in combination with experimental textile and mixed media approaches.

I work in series – responding to particular places, often the beautiful Waveney Valley landscape local to me, and exploring the possibilities of new techniques.

Instagram

 

Filed Under: Featured Member, Member Artists

Kay Barker

24th February 2021 By Genevieve Rudd

I try to communicate a sense of atmosphere by capturing the motion of the sea, the tranquility of the land, and the texture of the rocks.

I let my work develop and take over from my initial direct reaction.

The elements of the environment are not only beautiful, calm but vast, complex and dangerous. This relationship between fear and tranquility are emotions I can identify with.

Engaging with nature has helped me to overcome my recent surgery to remove a brain tumour. I admire and appreciate more so now the beauty found in an individual leaf or a spectacular view.

Website

Filed Under: Featured Member, Member Artists

Maria Clarke-Wilson

22nd February 2021 By Genevieve Rudd

A mixed media and natural resources artist creating a selection of contact botanical prints and paintings using the plants gathered from around Suffolk.

The art work is a calm and gentle visual experience that allows the natural marks and colours from nature to connect you to the natural world.

Finding sanctuary in nature and seeking deeper connections with the landscape, I have immersed myself in researching and discovering the potential of natural colours and prints from my environment. Following a path that led to completing an MA at NUA I have continued to work exploring my locality through mindful practice.

Each print or painting is a result of a unique process, from gathering materials on long walks, to preparing the fabrics, dye baths and paints. Embracing the serendipity of creating this way allows for the materials to become their own part of the collaboration. I am able to guide the process but ultimately the outcomes are unknown until they are revealed. Each leaf, fabric or colour used has a journey attached to it, to create with these natural resources adds a deeper connection to the art.

Making my own paint brushes and paints, or using some recycled fabrics, feels different to painting with shop bought brushes and canvases. Seeking the beauty in natural resources and awakening ancient practices in our contemporary world is the way I feel drawn to express my art and my love for nature.

Website

Email

Instagram

Facebook

Filed Under: Featured Member, Member Artists

Surinder Warboys – Myglassroom

19th February 2021 By Genevieve Rudd

I am a Suffolk based artist working in architectural stained glass: light and colour are my medium.

Most of my work is commission based for secular and non-secular buildings. In some commissions, in agreement with the client, I enjoy taking an experimental approach to painting on glass, allowing for an element of surprise and discovery.

I also offer stained glass courses at my studio – Myglassroom in Mellis. There is a personal element running through my work, that is not commission based, in which themes of environment are explored and completed pieces can be displayed in numerous ways and places.

Website

Filed Under: Featured Member, Member Artists

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