Where words are not enough

tripping the light

Even as christmas approaches the light is changing, the air becoming clearer and crisper as the frost draws in the nights.

before this however, at least at the moment of this, the latest paint work for the exhibition, the light was absolutely breathtaking, a rare occasion for one such as I, quick as a flash, the image was, literally burned into my brain, a little like looking at the sun for more than a millisecond and being left with a foggy blindness in the middle of your vision.

Contrary to trying to blind yourself in a vain bid to 'see the planet Sun through the glare' (has anyone else tried that or am I the only artist in the world to risk his sight in such a futile and reckless act!)

On this occasion this is that which remained, my back yard, the miserable sight that I wake to each morning, it is typical of so many of the places in Kendal that, in some strange associated way, remind me of the Berlin Wall of old except the wall that stands before me is the pathway to somewhere rather than the end of the path.

The shadows that are cast by the darkening sky are quite deep due to the steepness of the hill and Kendals amazing architects that seemed to cram as much as possible into the smallest available space though to still afford the residents a piece of valuable personal space, like a jigsaw, they all fit together nicely.

I have just written to a chap called arthur nicholls who writes the most amazing columns in the local community newspaper and by far the better person to tell you of this amazing place than I, hopefully I will be able to bring you his words and eagerly await reply.

The secret places

Does anyone ever really look at the town they live in, how much of a town does someone look at when they choose to visit, questions, rhetoric, no one could ever give a difinitive answer however my guess is that in general those who live in a town are so overworked, overstressed, over involved in lifes issues that all but the necessary is overlooked.

Equally so as a tourist, while signs and bill boards, restrictive and coersive instructions guide and direct people, in accordance either with traffic flow maintenance or by sending people to find, places to eat, drink to sit and rest, there are places of interest where people are signposted, the main tourists areas, but what of the areas that are overlooked or deemed unimportant, this town is full of them and eagerly await my artistic exploration, it is these places that capture my heart rather than the main drag.

Of these places there are many, the image of Castle How( above), erected to commemorate a great battle that once existed in times long past, equally as 'unimportant' are the areas around the site of the canal head, the very heart of the import and export of goods and materials. I have to admit that even the finding of this latter location was by no means a quick and easy task coming a full 3 years into my occupancy of the town; what other secrets lie ahead for me to uncover, only time will tell.