Feedback

The Ladies Salon are always happy to receive your feedback – recent comments include the following:

Hello Ladies What an interesting presentation you all gave today about the time you spent together at Can Serrat. Thank you! I thought the workshops you gave to one another would be a very useful way of challenging and reflecting on my own practice and something I would consider for the future. Looking, listening, writing and speaking, although very obvious past-times for us all as artists, they seem to me, to have challenged you all during the workshops and I admired your honesty in giving us your feed-back. I guess there is a way of listening, and we all do it very differently, there is a way of looking, which we all do very differently, and a way of speaking. Then there’s the writing; ah, the writing… and whether we truly express what we want to say. Taking the idea of a previous visitor to the Salon, i.e. reclaiming adjectives etc… I propose that we re-claim ways of listening, speaking, looking, and writing. But mostly I hope that the Ladies Salon will encourage and promote the creative ‘thinking’ we need, to bring meaning and clarity to our work. With thanks and congratulations to you all. Chris Hoskins

Enjoyed inspirational tete a tete at Ladies Salon lunch, gathering valuable insights into working methods and collaborations of the Ladies.  Time was of the essence and a future engagement, perhaps to include an introduction to the various projects in progress, generated from the sojourn in Spain would be very welcome.  I also feel that a salon day workshop for a wider group of artists, employing some of the successful strategies of Can Serrat Residency or ‘how to go about arranging a residency for yourself’ would be much appreciated.   Rachel White

If you have any comments about the Postmistress’s Blog and/or ideas for future Ladies Salon events do get in touch.

Ask the Salon: ICE

The Ladies were joined by Natasha Godfrey, Juliet Amery, Chris Hoskins, Rachel White, Jo Roberts and Jenna Hubbard at the  Institute of Creative Enterprise to view the Ladies’ Salon adventures on screen and to discuss and exchange ideas.

Jo, Ness and Julie discussed their experience of the Ladies Salon in an open and honest way that engendered much thoughful questioning from and conversation with the audience.  The ladies who joined them were keen to discuss  support structures for mid career and established artists , the rewards and challenges of working in collaboration across art forms and the ways in which the Salon had impacted on the lives and the work of the three artists involved.

Where would the Ladies Salon go from here?  Would there be value in other artists setting up their own Salons? Some of the Ladies commented that they could have stayed to  talk these issues through all afternoon but sadly the hour went by very quickly and afternoon appointments called the Ladies of the Salon and their visitiors away.

Today was also the day Jo Roberts (visual artist) met Jo Roberts (poet):

Jo Roberts:           Oh, so, you’re Jo Roberts.

Jo Roberts:           And you must be Jo Roberts.

After hearing so much about one another within the arts world of the West Mids it was good to see them as they came together to talk.

The postmistress has noticed that 3,108 visitors have visited the Ladies at this site and hopes that more of you will leave your calling cards in the comment boxes in future. The Ladies are happy to converse with you on line.

Open Salon at Compton Verney – Day 2

Today the Ladies met lots of visitors to the gallery (including the lost ones who needed re-directing) and were joined in the art of conversation by; Vanessa, Jackie, Moira, Clare, Ellie, Sue, Martin, Cathy and Mark. Topics of conversation included; the need for women to reclaim adjectives, body adornment, the resurgence of poetry in the public consciousness, artist groups, 17th C Salons, the influence of landscape, artists and empty shops, words and art, dialogue, listening and eavesdropping. 

Visitors to the Salon received an individually pressed embossed card (made on the press at Can Serrat) with details for this blog.  

Ellie visited the Salon (with her BIG DRAW day sketch book) and captured Jo in her Vivienne Westwood skirt.

As the Salon visitors wended their way home to; Chipping Camden, Compton Verney, Leicester, Chipping Norton and Coventry the Ladies waved goodbye to their splendid weekend retreat.

Open Salon at Compton Verney – Day 1

The Ladies approach their weekend residence.

John Frankland’s ‘Untitled Boulder’ 2001 (Portland Stone) comes into sight.

The Ladies prepare to meet their public.

The Ladies Withdrawing Room awaits its first guests.

Surrounded by faux books written by women authors including; ‘Conversations on Chemistry’ by Jane Marcet, ‘Lyric Poems’ by Sappho, ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley, ‘The Duchess of Newcastle’ by Margaret Cavendish and ‘Poems on Several Occassions’ by Mary Chudleigh.

Not faux but definitely fabulous – ‘Es Cuba’ by our friend and fellow Can Serrat Writer in Residence Lea Aschkenas takes pride of place on the mantlepiece.

A few good friends drop by to wish The Ladies well at the start of the first day. Visitors to the Open Salon on Day 1 include; Gabrielle, Matt, Sarah, Sue, Sally, Nicky, Alison, Janet and Elizabeth (travelling from Dorset, Stratford, Lancaster, Nuneaton, Birmingham, Dunnington, Warwick and Coventry). Conversations covered many topics including; collaboration, inspiration, definitions, practice, creativity, England vs Ukraine, career choice, Compton Verney, The Artist’s Studio, Peter Greenaway, apathy, Lancaster and The Midland Hotel (Morecambe).

2 Days to go!

Compton Verney foyer area.

What’s that say? Blue notice, bottom row…

 

Time for The Ladies last planning meeting on site.

Ness and Sarah (Compton Verney) discuss the finer details.

Emerge

Dear Emerge readers

It has come to the Ladies attention that Emerge has recently published incorrect information regarding the Open Salon Weekend (Compton Verney – see below for link/correct details) on 10th & 11th October and Ask the Salon (ICE – Institute for Creative Enterprise, Coventry University Enterprises, Puma Way , Coventry, CV1 2TT ) on 14th October 12.30 – 1.30pm which is a presentation about their residency at Can Serrat. The event at Compton Verney is included in the admission price while the event at ICE is free.

Two months today: Compton Verney

The postmistress would like to thank those of you who have visited this site since the Ladies returned to England in June for your kind interest in their activities.

We are happy to report that almost two and a half thousand of you have now been following the Ladies activities.

If you would like to attend the Open Salon at Compton Verney on the 10th or 11th October 2009 I am sure the ladies  would be pleased to make your  acquaintance.

The postmistress  would, however,  like to advise  those of you who are intending to join the ladies for the weekend’s activities to arrive as early as possible on the day of your choice and to notify reception staff of your intention to attend the Open Salon upon your arrival.

Further information about this event is currently available in Warwick Words Festival brochures and more details will  be available soon  in next season’s  Compton Verney brochures and on their own website.

http://www.comptonverney.org.uk/?page=whatson/activitiesAllAges.html

We do hope you are enjoying the refreshing rain of this English Summer Season and we look forward to meeting you in the Autumn.

The Last Post

The Ladies will be leaving Can Serrat early in the morning and heading back home. They would like to thank all their loyal lurkers (1,510  to date), if any of you would like to meet The Ladies Salon they will be holding an Open Salon at Compton Verney on the 10th and 11th of October 2009. This will be an event linked to The Artist’s Studio exhibition.

http://www.comptonverney.org.uk/?page=exhibitions/artistsstudio&type=banner1

Meanwhile, if you would like to comment on our blog, please do contact the Ladies at ladies.salon3@googlemail.com

Jo, yoga and Arab Baths

Jo was determined to immerse herself in Spain until the last minute – quite literally! So she took an early morning yoga class, with the yoga teacher talking it through in Catalan, of which Jo knows none; this was an extra challenge. She then treated herself to a visit to the stunning Aire de Barcelona,  Arab Baths, located in the Born district of Barcelona. Again no one spoke English, but Jo managed to immerse herself in salt water, jacuzzi, tepid water, hot water and cold water and Hammas……..finished off with a wonderful  massage. www.airedebarcelona.com

Packing and Reading

After returning to Can Serrat in the thunderstorm Julie and Ness looked in on Kristie´s studio in order to view her paintings by daylight.  Ness and Julie then packed their suitcases and continued reading.  Julie was determined to read Jan Morris´, Spain, while the ladies were still in Spain and Ness continued her reading of The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafón.