Far Country - poems by Kyce Bello

It is a lovely thing when other artists and creatives contact you out of the blue.  Some time ago I had an email from Kyce Bello, a poet who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Kyce had read my article in called Soul on Deck published in Image Journal and was drawn to the image of the Bardsey Boats I created in 2013.  In her blog called Old Recipe for a New World  she recounts the story of finding the image in a post called SOUL BOATS:POEMS AS VESSEL.  She writes;  “It was love at first sight. I tore the page with the fleet of Bardsey Boats out and pinned it over my desk. They became a beacon as I wrote and re-wrote this book”. 

I was delighted when Kyce ask me if she could use the image for the front cover of Far Country, a new collection of poems published by the University of Nevada Press.  Her beautiful, elemental poems are tinged with grief and loss.  Somehow, they have a kinship with these tiny boat images gilded on to driftwood from Bardsey Island. We corresponded recently and in an email to her I wrote; 

“Simple pre-industrial boat forms seem to get “under the door” and seep into the soul like no other image.  There is something primal around the vessel cradling/nurture/protecting at birth and yet offering safe passage across the threshold from life into death. All very mysterious, primal and wonderful – beyond intellect and more to do with intuition, ancestors and spirit life.  They have given me so much and I am still learning from them.”

The Framers - Hand Crafted Picture Frames 

Jake recently took some more paintings and prints to The Framers to have them framed for various clients who have bought work recently. The Framers was established as one of the first businesses to emerge in the newly developed old Bird’s Custard Factory in Digbeth, during the early nineties. After many years of successful trading there, the company moved to the beautiful Hampton Works building in Stirchley.  What is special about their work is the degree of time, care and attention they give to each and every artwork that they handle, sensitively collaborating with artists over the choice of colour, size, weight and finish of particular mouldings, glass and boards.  This is bespoke, old fashioned service where you can take time to carefully consider options, secure in the knowledge that everything will be beautifully made and finished in accordance with your exact wishes.  Thank you Lawrence, Chrissie and everyone at The Framers for your skill, expertise and service. 

Jake Lever - the next generation of teachers 

For three days per week I teach at Warwick University, training teachers on the PGCE Secondary Art and Design course.  I am really fortunate to work with excellent trainees and staff who are committed to the three values that underpin the course; intellectual curiosity, creativity and social justice. 

We reflect upon classroom practice through the lens of research and theory, exploring key questions around what constitutes a high quality, relevant and meaningful art education for today’s young people.  Seminars and workshops focus upon issues and questions.  What is the role of drawing in the curriculum?  How could curriculum content become more diverse and inclusive?  How do we authentically assess in our subject?

These and many other questions are explored by a dynamic community of Artist Teachers, both face to face at Warwick and across the world through online teaching. Next summer I will be marking 40 years of continuous involvement in art education, so I look forward to sharing more in this blog and planning some events in the Autumn.