Saturday, August 21, 2010

Snails, slugs, a different kind of beauty

When we were in Hoersholm at Elin Friis' homestudio on Saturday, August 14, 2010 we were really rather fortunate in many, many ways.
We got there and the weather was still dry, we go set up in a very focused short amount of time, we did have a few visitors and ...... For it was very inspiring that this place is actually situated right one the edge of an area of protected forest, Tokkekoeb Hegn.


There were well groomed pathways both for pedestrians, non motorized bikes and horses. The area covers 631 hectares and is magnificently green and luscious.


There are benches and pieceful spots to take a break from a meandering walk or a brisk trot. Lots of wildlife too.


Slugs from my childhood memories, large red and black ones, about two pinkies wide and 3-4 inches long as they were meandering along the path and much shorter when they were protecting themselves or resting somewhere safe


I am quite infatuated with the texture of these beautiful creatures. One of these days I will figure out why it is that they have sort of a saddle around the front part of their bodies and are so different along the back part, flexibility perhaps.


That is surely the case about their 'edges' which help propel them along in their search for mates, food and protection.



One of the black ones, making some kids think they are made from licorise - like my husband's brother who ate one when he was 4 or so and didn't feel too good for the rest of that day.


And last but not least we met this very busy little dung beetle who was working on his pantry project both on our way in when we passed him the first time and on our way back whe he seemed to be at a slight standstill.
As I am looking at these closeups of some of the creatures we share the surface of this planet with I also end up rejoicing at the gravel which inadvertantly show up in photos taken close to the ground, texture close to my heart!




.........................Beach rock and sand from another fresh walk. ............ Pia

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Monday, August 16, 2010

Exhibit in Hoersholm, Denmark

Last Saturday we had the opportunity to exhibit in Elin Friis's private studio in Hoersholm, just North of Copenhagen. It is situated close to 30 kilometers from Copenhagen and we needed a car as opposed to public transportation to get there.





I had heard about the place but had never been to see it and so when we found the studio/house, really an old farm it was a wondereful surprise to see and feel the surroundings, not to mention the buildings themselves.






Behind those two large windows at the ground floor is the studio in which we had the pleasure to hang up our works.






One of Marilyn's beautiful felted vessels resting peacefully next to Pam's amazing copper crocheted neck piece.






Visitors intently listening to Kelly Marie's poem and watching the slidshow accompanying it. The display of a poem in this way, part listening, part watching a slide show and also having the words on a physical piece of paper in the hand seems to give people who choose to take the time to listen to the work a good experience and allows for questions and contemplation.






Another corner of this gallery, some of Marie's work displayed cosily alongside Marilyn's much admired Dragon Flies on the wall and Pam's Exchange piece had lots of space around it and looked beautiful on the wooden floor.

We had chosen to bring only a few select pieces from our exhibit to hang at the studio for this day since the car we were travelling was not large, but .... It seems to me that the size of the room and the number of pieces we had brought were an absolutely perfect match.
The cows shining on their wall and the tapestries on theirs showed clearly and eloquently.






Our information table, cards, brochures, articles and bios not to mention the guestbook displayed in the entry way.

It also has to be mentioned that when we arrived at Loejeltegaard in the morning we had time to sit down and have a tea with the gallery owner, Elin, who had so gracefully opened her gallery and personal doors to us both in Copenhagen and in now in Hoerholm.
I did not have the presence of mind to take photos during this time of tea and talk with Elin before we went to work in the studio, but .... I am able to visualize the beauty of her garden, the lushnes of the many green hues surrounding us out there on the terasse, with the dog chewing her bone and the sun working on shining its rays through a cloud cover which by the end of the day let down a deluge of wetness.

Peace, Pia


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