When Life Gives You Lemons...

That's right.

You've got it.

Make lemonade.

Lets not get into all the lemony details... if you really feel you must know, you can write to me and I'll fill you in, but this post will be long enough as it is!

Suffice to say, I had a big, figurative, pile of lemons and it did not really take me long to figure out what to do with them.

I sent a few emails and things fell into place quite quickly for me to come back to England.

I left on Thanksgiving day and arrived in England the next day, Friday, November 29th.

Lets not get into all the details of being detained at Gatwick Airport for a very long, tiring and at times frightening 6 hours before they decided I was who I said I was and was here to do what I said I was here to do... and let me into the country.

That was a 'Welcome to England' like none other. Take my word for it.

A couple days of rest over the weekend, hanging out with Duncan and Tina. Monday morning bright and early my volunteer time with John Waller began. Here's a quick run down of my first few weeks!

Mon-December 2
Living willow structures at a school... somewhere in Kent.
I was still suffering major jet lag and so barely managed to actually get some willow in the ground...taking pictures was last thing on my mind... hopefully I'll be able to contact the school and get a photo or two. The installation consisted of a dome, short section of fence and an arch leading to their 'Forest School'. And in a separate area, a stand alone arch leading to their sensory garden

Tues-December 3
Taking cuttings and planting a willow bed in 'the cage'... replacing an entire block of willow that had succumbed to some sort of disease and died...since I was last here.

This is Johns apprentice Jake, taking cuttings from a bundle of willow-

The willow cuttings, bundled and ready to plant. John, Jake and Mike had prepared the bed some time earlier... removing the brambles and laying down the gridded plastic mulch. 

Jake (foreground) John and Arthur the dog planting the cuttings. It's important to insert the cuttings in the ground so the top is up! But, I have seen the cuttings actually take root and grow even if they are put in upside down! The wonders of willow!

After lunch I did a delivery with John and we also stopped to look at a couple potential jobs, one of which was at the Otford school to look at a repair needed on the bower we installed last time I was here. This was really, really exciting!! The growth on the structures was amazing!

This bower consists of 3 bays, or arches at the front. If you look closely, you can see the arch furthest right is missing its right side. Apparently some utility work was done where the removal of that piece was necessary.

Wed-December 4
We installed a gate, replacing an old stile -that had become rather precarious- along the public footpath that goes thru the Bore Place property.

The old stile... (yes, the idea is that the walker actually climbs up and over a stile).

The new gate! Looks nice doesn't it? Makes for much safer and easier passage too.

Thurs-December 5
Coppicing hazel in Bushy Wood! Betty (remember Betty... my billhook?) and I did quite well. That alone was pretty exciting, since it's been awhile since we have worked up hazel. Really appreciate my new Silky Gomtaro saw too! Lunchtime included boiling water for tea in the Kelley Kettle... there is nothing like a steaming hot cup of tea sitting on a log in Bushy Wood. Jake, John and Mike enjoy their lunch.

Friday-December 6
No work on the schedule with JW so I spent the day with Basil and we went for a nice long walk around Rusthall. Me getting my bearings a bit.

Sat-December 7
Tina and I got a tiny little Christmas tree!

Sun-December 8
Willow Christmas decorations workshop with John which included a lovely lunch of giraffe bread and cream of broccoli and Stilton soup. Yum. On the agenda, wreaths, stars, Christmas trees, snowmen and angels.

A star, a star, shining in the night, with a tail as big as a kite...

Arthur, first in queue for lunch.

Mon-December 9
 Coppice hazel in Bushy Wood. John, Jake and me (& Betty). Kelley Kettle tea. Lovely.

Tues-December 10
It was a very early start in the morning to a house in London. On the agenda, a continuous weave edging for the planting beds and continuous weave panels separating the car park area from the garden. We drove past the O2 - and many of the now re purposed Olympic buildings. It was pretty dark at both ends of the day, and we were of course traveling quite fast so the pictures aren't great from that.

Part of the job was continuous weave edging along two planting beds. The curved one you see at the left below JW did. Jake and I worked on the one that ran parallel to the white brick building straight ahead... 

I did this short curved section below. All by myself. I was having a time with it shall we say. John came along and asked me why I had done it the way I had done it and halfway thru my explanation I happened to look up at him. I stopped my explanation and said "I should take it all apart and start over shouldn't I?"

"Yes."

So glad I did though because it really turned out so much better than if I had carried on the way I was going. Turned out quite good actually, if I do say so myself.

John was right. 

Of course.

The next part of the job was originally designed to be a continuous weave fence that separated the car park and the garden, but the designer visited us on site and decided instead to do panels in between the columns of the arbor. This turned out beautifully. Jake...

and me, looking just the slightest bit goofy and disheveled, yes.

The finished project!

The ride home... in the picture below you'll notice way off in the distance (centrally located in the pic) a curvy buildingy/sculpturey thing... that is one of the 2012 Olympic buildings. Also including this picture because I thought you might have an idea why that little phone symbol is showing up in the middle of it? Any thoughts?

Wed-December 11
Westwood to collect hazel then back to Bore Place where Jake and I processed it while John and David worked on Johns kitchen cabinets. Romain came to borrow Johns trailer.

Thurs-December 12
Lady Boswells School in Sevenoaks, to do maintenance on 3 living willow structures. This was extremely exciting for me because it is the very first job I went on with John 2 years ago to do maintenance. The tunnel below was just a year old then, 3 years now and the change is remarkable. The first picture is from November 15, 2011... you can see (if you try real hard) that the growth on the top is rather sparse and whats there is perhaps 18-24 inches tall.

Now look at it! This structure is growing vigorously! Some of the growth on top was 6 feet long!

And the next picture below... 'after', all neat and tidy. You can see several good sized bundles of willow on the ground, all that came from this one structure.

Jake, alongside the big dome. Again, there has been a tremendous amount of growth on this structure!!

And of course, what blog post would be complete without a picture of John Waller waving?!

Fri-December 13
Southborough Preschool with John and Mike to do a small living willow installation. A fence and small arch in the children's play area.

All the willow in the ground and Mike 'heeling in'.

Instead of cutting off the stakes and using binders, John decided to use the same method he uses to finish a basket.

A little difficult to see, but, the finished product!

Then on to Hunton to do maintenance on a structure at the school there. The structure is a big circle, the back is continuous weave using poplar (you can just about make that out in the following picture) and the front is living willow. Off to the right side is a curved entrance tunnel about 3 feet wide and 6 feet tall, also living willow. You can see the willow growing from the tops of all the upright stakes and it ranges in size from 3 feet to 5 or 6 feet long. Most of this gets harvested. Any willow growing in the fence itself will get woven in.
'before'

and 'after'...

the entrance tunnel 'before'...

and 'after'. If there's a gap, the new growth willow gets woven in to fill the opening, otherwise, the goal is to harvest all that is extraneous.

Sat-December 14
A day spent getting myself organized, my clothes out of my suitcase and away in the closet, laundry done, vacuuming (a.k.a."hoovering") and lending a hand for the last load of wood stacked on the woodpile. Supper (a.k.a "tea") at a local pub for fish 'n chips! Yum!

Sun-December 15
Friends over for dinner... roast leg of lamb, brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes. Yum again!

Mon-December 16 thru Wed-December 18
I caught a ride to the Edenbridge train station with Duncan on his way to work and then the train to Tunbridge Wells. Spent these three days wandering around Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall with Basil (Tina's dog).

Thurs-December 19
John collected me bright and early... or should I say dimly dark and early?! He was teaching a pole lathe demo class at Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve in Cuxton - about 45 minutes northeast of here.

John demos turning with the pole lathe...

While he was doing that, Jake and I were hauling Sweet Chestnut out of the woods and loading it into the trailer.

One of the course participants making a spatula with the shave horse and draw-knife.

and two others using the pole lathe - making a "dibber"

Fri-December 20
I awoke to discover the world was covered with a thin sheet of ice- so I opted to spend a few hours sending emails to other English contacts and eventually walked over to Johns workshop at Bore Place, getting there just in time for tea. Sometimes my timing is impeccable!
After tea I opted to do the washing up - mugs had been sitting in the sink for who knows how long!? I'd aspired to do a thorough clean last time I was here and never did, so, this was my chance to have a start! I washed every mug I could find, cleaned out a drawer, laid paper towels in the bottom and put all the clean mugs inside! Voila. Next... tackled the washing up bin, the sink and drain board and the hot water heater which was 'furry' with dust and cobwebs.

I felt better.

The workshop and yard was a busy place... lots of activity going on. Jake was working on various projects. Mike was there working on a chair with a friend; another fellow, Andrew was also working on finishing a chair from Johns last chair-making workshop (I think) and John was working on several things as well, including making 3 woven willow hurdles-see pictures below.

Sat-December 21

Laundry.

Sun-December 22
Jack and the Beanstalk Pantomime in Tunbridge Wells and pizza with Tina. It was fun! My first Panto ever!!

Mon-December 23
Another "do what you want day" for me. John and Jake were both making baskets and I decided to finish the spatula I had started at Ranscombe Farm and then made another one!

"How to Make a Spatula" coming soon!

A big storm blew in as the afternoon arrived... lots of rain and high winds. By the time we were leaving the drive way out of Bore Place was flooded! We made it out and I made it back to the cottage. Got the chickens in, fire stoked, candles on, torch located and settled in for the evening.

Tues-December 24
Morning arrived and it was the calm after the storm. I was grateful to still have power as many did not.

Wed-December 25 
Christmas day.
Tina and I volunteered at Tonbridge Baptist Church -along with a multitude of others- serving a wonderful Christmas dinner to many local elderly. Basil went too and was a big, big hit among the guests and volunteers alike!

Christmas evening we watched a popular British animated holiday show, "Snowman and Snowdog"

Thur-December 26
Boxing Day. We headed north to Cambridge to visit T's family for a few days.
Basil was ready to go!

Sat-December 28
Back to the cottage at Bore Place. Got a roaring fire going and then went for a nice long walk. Pizza and movie night.

Sun-December 29
Into Sevenoaks for a bit of shopping and, finally, finally finishing this update!!


Until the next time-
love to all.

susie

Awesome people doing awesome work...

Howdy-
Here's the link to the Pecha Kucha night at Yestermorrow YouTube video from July 24, 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sxeq_ZCFkrA

Some very interesting presentations!

Watch and Enjoy.

That is all for now...
susie

Art Review: "Exposed" at Helen Day Art Center

My first, very awesome review, in Seven Days...

Wow. I honestly feel like I have hit the big-time... and, as far as my reality goes, I have.

I continue to be stunned, delighted, wonderstruck, blessed (i'm not sure if any of those words  on their own, really express what i'm feeling... not even sure that all of them together capture it either) that I even have the opportunity to have a piece in a Helen Day Art Center exhibit.

That people really seem to like what I created.

Are touched by it.

Enjoy it.

Well.

I honestly have no words.

Hah! That is such a rare occurance. Relish it while you can!

And, by the way,  I wasn't the only one who got a good review.

Here it is...

One of the best things about “Exposed,” Helen Day Art Center’s annual outdoor sculpture show, is that it’s outdoors. Given the occasional vandalism and thefts over the years, the gallery deserves props for just doing it. And for making the formidable effort to site nearly 30 works on the gallery’s lawn, around the village of Stowe and alongside the town’s sinuous rec path. On a gorgeous summer day, taking in this sprawling exhibit makes for a stimulating stroll regardless of what one thinks of the artworks en route.

As it happens, though, the majority of pieces in this year’s “Exposed,” curated by Rachel Moore, merit stopping for a closer look — and listen: Dialing a number on your cell gets you a brief artist statement for each work. This may or may not tell you something you can’t see for yourself, but it’s a nice option.

The risk of selecting works for this exhibit is that not every sculpture can stand up to the distractions outside; some would likely garner more attention in a white-box gallery. This could be said of Hector Leiva’s “The Matter of Memory” pieces, which appear in several locations. The works — each a low-to-the-ground plaster square with a QR code atop it — are potentially more engaging conceptually than visually. But if you haven’t installed a QR code reader on your phone, you won’t know that you can “leave a memory behind” with the Matter of Memory app — which also must be downloaded. But outdoors, even tech-savvy viewers might find this cerebral activity too much trouble.

Success in “Exposed” can be defined by one of two qualities: The work is strong enough to render location irrelevant, or it appeals precisely because of how it engages with the outdoors. As space prohibits evaluating all of the entries, here are three of the best pieces in each category.

Location Irrelevant

James Irving Westermann’s large-scale, lacy sphere is ingenious on several levels: For one, it’s constructed from recycled bicycle gears. Second, how Westermann corralled them into an elegant sphere is a captivating mystery. And third, the piece looks light and airy even though it’s made of metal. The looming steel beams upon which it sits are overkill, though; the sphere could sit unaided on the ground, as ready to engage as a beach ball.

Judith Wrend’s geometric, two-pronged aluminum sculpture juts upward authoritatively, commanding attention not just for its signature bright-red, automotive-finish paint job but for its assured presence in the world. Sited next to a sidewalk in downtown Stowe, Wrend’s piece is aptly named “Attraction.”

Colleen Rudolf’s lifelike bronze “Encounter (Wolf & Dog),” on the gallery’s front lawn, is a standoff of the two creatures that evokes surprising drama. Rudolf fashioned her dog with ears back and tail erect; the animal looks alert, uncertain, but willing to wag. The wolf’s tail hangs down as the creature gazes steadily at the dog. Not to anthropomorphize, but the expression on its face might be read as indulgence toward its more domesticated relative. Placed some 15 feet apart, the animals are locked in an evolutionary tension.

Engages With the Outdoors

Also on the gallery lawn, Ethan Bond-Watts’ “Seed #2” is literally botanical, at least in part. His elliptical steel armature is fuzzy with green grass and the occasional miniature nasturtium, this planted within the form with the assistance of soil and burlap. According to a description, an invisible irrigation system maintains the sculpture’s plant life, and the pod-like outline of the whole piece matches conception to function. No word on whether Bond-Watts employs a tiny lawnmower to manicure his witty abstraction.

Susie J. Gray calls her work “Looking East, 6 Degrees North,” but the structure, sited along but facing away from the rec path, is more emotionally resonant than that geographical title would suggest. That’s because the band-shell-shaped quasi-shelter, loosely formed with bent willow branches and entwined with native plants, harbors three tree stumps for sitting. And as soon as you enter and take a seat, you project on the space the narrative that suits you. Whether that’s playhouse or bus stop or gazebo, the enclosure engenders a sense of privacy and intimacy, and by extension a fondness for the natural materials that embrace you. But Gray’s simple structure is not just aesthetically pleasing; it is an astute manipulation of the very idea of shelter.

Edwin F. Bennett’s work, aptly titled “Cut,” is an anomaly in “Exposed,” and when you come upon it you wonder why the exhibit does not attract more Andy Goldsworthy-esque, temporal art such as this. Bennett’s striking creation is an “installation” by virtue of deletion. He cleared a straight, narrow channel through a copse of trees and lined its footpath with red mulch. This immediately flouts the art-class admonition that there are no straight lines in nature. At the end of the path, perhaps 30 feet away, there is sunshine, like the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel — or the light that awaits us upon both birth and death. Or is this about humans’ imposition of rigid linearity (aka “development”) on the natural world?

“Cut” evokes multiple associations, but its greatest pleasure is experiential: Bennett invites viewers to walk the path and observe how this simple but symbolic alteration of the environment feels.

Oddly, it is the opposite of exposed.

BY: PAMELA POLSTON  [Seven Days 08.14.13]

Today is "Earth Overshoot Day" 2013

Hi Folks- this message came to me thru one of my e-mailing lists and I thought it worthwhile passing along...

August 20, 2013, 12:01 AM Geneva, Switzerland

August 20 is Earth Overshoot Day, the approximate date humanity’s annual demand on nature exceeds what Earth can renew in a year. In just 7 months and 20 days, we have demanded a level of ecological resources and services — from food and raw materials to sequestering carbon dioxide from fossil fuel emissions — equivalent to what Earth can regenerate for all of 2013. Humanity has exhausted nature’s budget for the year.

For the rest of the year, we are operating in overshoot. We will maintain our ecological deficit by depleting stocks of fish, trees and other resources, and accumulating waste such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and oceans. As our level of consumption, or “spending,” grows, the interest we are paying on this mounting ecological debt — shrinking forests, biodiversity loss, fisheries collapse, food shortages, degraded land productivity and the build-up of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere and oceans — not only burdens the environment but also undermines our economies. Climate change — a result of greenhouse gases being emitted faster than they can be absorbed by forests and oceans — is the most widespread impact of ecological overspending.

In 1961, humanity used only about two-thirds of Earth’s available ecological resources. Back then, most countries had ecological reserves. Yet both global demand and population are increasing.  In the early 1970s, increased carbon emissions and human demand for resources began outstripping what the planet could renewably produce. We went into ecological overshoot. Global Footprint Network’s 2012 National Footprint Accounts show humanity is now using ecological resources and services at a rate it would take just over 1.5 Earths to renew. We are on track to require the resources of two Earths well before mid-century.

Today, more than 80 percent of the world’s population lives in countries that use more than the ecosystems within their own borders can renew. These “ecological debtor” countries either deplete their own ecological resources or get them from elsewhere. Japan’s residents consume the ecological resources of 7.1 Japans. It would take four Italys to support Italy. Egypt uses the ecological resources of 2.4 Egypts.

Not all countries demand more than their ecosystems can provide, but even the reserves of such “ecological creditors” like Brazil, Indonesia, and Sweden are shrinking over time. We can no longer sustain a widening budget gap between what nature is able to provide and how much our infrastructure, economies and lifestyles require.

It is possible to turn the tide. Ecological debtors have an incentive to reduce their resource dependence, while creditors have the economic, political and strategic motive for preserving their ecological capital. Global Footprint Network and its network of partners are working with organizations, governments and financial institutions around the globe to make decisions aligned with ecological reality. Rather than liquidating resources, it is wiser to treat them as an ongoing source of wealth.

their website is: http://www.footprintnetwork.org

I have spent a bit of time just now checking it out and recommend you do so for yourself... I am not familiar enough with the organization to say I endorse it fully, but I do believe this particular message is a good one, that's for sure!

And might I add WILLOW has much to offer us in terms of turning the tide! It is an excellent plant to use for phyto-remediation (cleaning up of soils and water) not to mention all it's other amazing uses.

More on that next time, then!

be very well-
susie
 

Exploring Outdoor Play - anyone interested?

PLC

North Branch Nature Center

713 Elm Street Montpelier, VT

Thursday, August 15, 2013

5:30-7:30

I have been asked to be a part of the panel for the first meeting of this Professional Learning Community (PLC). I will be doing a slide presentation on Willow Weaving & Living Willow Structures as a medium for play and education.

The presentation will be a short and sweet 6 minutes and 40 seconds, following the Pecha Kucha format I mentioned on this blog last month. Plus a time for questions for which I will hopefully have the answers!

If any of you are close by and interested in participating in the series contact Jen Brown 802-245-4900 or jen(at)fourwindsinstitute(dot)org.

Also, if you are interested in learning more about the amazing potential for Willow & Living Willow Structures in our lives, please contact me!

I would love to speak with you and would be delighted to give this same short presentation at your local garden club, nature center, conservation group, library, church, school, permaculture class, CSA farm, heritage center, art center... even just a group of your sustainably minded friends!

It's a gorgeous day in the valley, sun shining, cool breeze blowing.

This is summer at it's best!

love-

susie

More Exciting News!

My structure was chosen as one of seven for a specially choreographed dance by The Montpelier Movement Collective! Info/invite from Helen Day Art Center:

Thursday, August 1ST 2013 - 6PM

Montpelier Movement Collective

The Dance Walk

The Montpelier Movement Collective has structured site-specific
dance performances to accompany the concept and story
of selected sculptures in Exposed. 2013.
There will be seven dance performances in this moving installation tour along the recreation path.
"The Dance Walk" will begin and end at Helen Day Art Center, with a reception following the performances.

Maybe I will see you there?
:-)
susie

Looking East, 6 Degrees North - Photos

Tony, the photo intern at Helen Day Art Center has sent along all their photos of my piece.

So, just wanted to share a few of them here.

I am struck by just how much better they are than mine. Crisper, better color, far more interesting composition and the lighting... just in every way...

Pulchritudinous... how's that for a word?

Thanks Tony and Nathan!

...my billhook, "Betty"...

...hurdle makers knot...

...ahhh, the wonderful world of willow weaving...

...the big opening...

The Pecha Kucha presentation went well last night! I thoroughly enjoyed all the other presentations too-such an eclectic mix of topics, which I think is what makes these Pecha Kucha nights so interesting, educational and fun.

I definitely hope to do another one at some point!

I feel inclined to let you know of two other HDAC Exposed events:

Thursday, July 25TH, 2013 - 6PM

Selby Dance Performance

 

Saturday, July 27TH, 2013 - 12-8PM

Andrew Oesch's one day library

...and that's all for now folks...
have a most wonderful day!
susie

Transition Pecha Kucha

Pecha Kucha, (pronounced petʃə ˈkʊtʃə), is a Japanese word for 'chit chat'. It is a simple presentation style where you show 20 images for 20 second each.

Slides are set up to advance automatically and you talk along with them as they advance.

This format was created by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Klein Dytham architecture in Tokyo.  The first Pecha Kucha night was held in their office space in February, 2003.

Since then, Pecha Kucha nights have gone viral! They happen frequently and regularly in over 500 cities all over the world.

It provides people of any age opportunity to share what they love with others... an artist can share their current work, a wedding cake baker can share their latest creations, a collector can share their beloved collection of otter paraphenalia. Pretty much anything goes!

Yestermorrow Design Build (www.yestermorrow.org) hosted their first Transition Pecha Kucha in June 2009 and have hosted them on a regular basis since.

I am participating in their next Transition Pecha Kucha night, which is tonight (oh my!!! :-), along with 9 or 10 other presenters!!

My presentation...

(woven willow hearts created by trevor leat/ image 'pinned' on pinterest by leatrigg.co.uk)

If you are in the area, please join us for what promises to be a fun and informative evening! The show starts at 7pm...

Yestermorrow Design Build School

7865 Main street, Waitsfield, VT 05673

(802) 496-5545

see you there?
susie

Willow... Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?

 

That is a picture of the willow sprouting on the portion of my structure in Stowe that is representative of the weave used to create living willow structures. As I've said before, this was not supposed to be permanent and therefore not a 'living structure'... some of the willow though, apparently had other ideas. And despite all my attempts to NOT give it ideal conditions in which to live, it has decided to live anyway.

I am really excited about this, tho wondering a bit how difficult it will be to remove the structure in the fall if it is rooted in the ground.

I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

In the meantime.

Pardon me for saying it again, but I do love willow.

It inspires me. I am encouraged by the fact that it can live and thrive even under the worse conditions. It gives me hope.

On Sunday when I visited the structure, I was in particular need of encouragement. When I saw those beautiful, fresh, little leaves popping out of the willow, I am not ashamed to admit, tears stung my eyes.

The previous Sunday, my friend Amalia and I had stopped by so she could do a little picture taking. We noticed several small Morning Glories just grabbing on to the structure.

(Amalia is a professional photographer whose work is, well... amazing, breathtaking, awe-inspiring, stunning, incredible... are a few adjectives that come to mind. Please, please, please have a look at her website (http://www.amaliaphotography.com ) and see for yourself... it is a feast for your eyes and will give life to your spirit to see the beauty of the earth.) 

It pleased me to no end to see that they are still growing strong, and now 12-18 inches up. I really wanted to plant both Morning Glories and Moon flowers to give the structure a little 'life' - and it was done for me. At least the MG part.

Another tidbit of encouragement.

For moi.

But, if it makes you feel encouraged, it's yours too!

That's a Susie pic... not an Amalia pic. If you visited her website, you probably were able to figure that out all by yourself.

I'm ending this blog with a poem I like alot by Edgar Guest... a reminder for myself, and anyone else facing challenging circumstances...

Don't Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit

much love-
sg