Cornish mining – Bridget Macklin

sold1 I seem to have had the best of all problems recently – I do not have very much to put on the shelves at Klay and almost nothing at all for the Open Studios which starts on 10th November because I have sold so much work over the past few weeks. This is a wonderful feeling in some ways but it does leave me with a problem!

I should be in the studio every day at the moment frantically making so that I can put something on the shelves. Somehow that seems to miss the point of what I am trying to do though. I want, more than anything, to enjoy my making. I want to have time to experiment, to hone my skills and to learn new things. So it really does not suit me to be having to work hard. I am sure that it would suit my bank balance, mind you!

Actually it is worse than that because if I feel that I should be making it puts me off and I don’t want to do it at all. So here I sit finding all kinds of excuses for not getting anything done and just letting the clock tick quietly on.

img_20161017_122709 — Nothing looking very ready at the moment!

img_20161012_124204 — Experimenting with monoprinting

That said, I have been getting a bit of experimenting done and here is lots of stuff wrapped in plastic which is half made and I do have a bisque firing on at the moment which will hopefully yield a few good pieces but finished work, ready to sell off the shelf is going to be in short supply in November!

So I have decided that I am going to do something completely different this autumn. I have been making a number of pieces for Tregony recently and I know that they have sold at least one so this time I am going to make no bones about my activities over the four days that the studio doors are open. I shall have my hands in the clay and, in tune with Poldark Series 2, I will be continuing to create more of my Cornish Mining pieces. I am looking forward to showing people how I work and I can always give my hands a quick rub if anyone wants to take a closer look at the work that I do have ready to sell or to make notes for anyone who is after that very personal piece which reminds them of a time or place which is special to them.

There is a lot going on at the moment but little to show for it because everything is half finished so I think the best thing is just to share the news that I have been taken on by a lovely gallery in Cornwall.

Tregony is known as the gateway to the Roseland Peninsular. It is an ancient town with its roots going right back to pre-Norman times which now sits at the lowest ‘solid crossing’ of the River Fal, fifteen miles from the sea. Below here it is a case of take the ferry or swim. The main road is unusually wide – a reflection of the time when the river was navigable to here and Tregony was a busy port.

Now the river is silted up by outflow from agriculture, tin streaming and the china clay industry and it is a tranquil place. It is also a great place for me to exhibit my work and I could not be more excited about my new relationship with Tregony Gallery.

The gallery is in relatively new ownership. Judith and Brian Green have been living in Tregony for years but only recently took over the gallery and have worked hard to brighten it and give is a fabulous contemporary look.

I visited them last time I was down and I took the first of my series relating to the Cornish mining industry to show them. They seemed keen and asked to hang onto it for their summer show. Imagine my delight when I looked on their website to see my piece in pride of place! Tregony Gallery seems to be the perfect place for me to dip my toe in the waters of the art world in Cornwall, given my love of the Roseland and the link between my work and the mining industry. I am looking forward to a long and happy relationship with the Greens.

bridgetmacklin3[1] — Coming soon to Tregony Gallery.

Tag Archives: Cornish mining

Playing Catch-up

Cornwall Here I come.