Storey exhibition & hospital dramas

Hand cut paper by James Atwood

Embroidered portraits by James Fox

Printwork by Rachel Ann Powers

This project was a culmination of a whole years work. In November 2017 - 4 artists got together and set a date 1 year in advance and worked slowly towards a group show.

I instigated the project as a way fo giving 4 hard working artists a chance to show a body of work and a deadline to make us a bit scared. The idea of collaboration was floated several times but never really settled - personally I was happy to work on a body of work based on a single subject mater - Sparrows - and restrict myself to a media I was unfamiliar with - Oil paint - and keep working through out the year to produce 100s of sketches and paintings. I planned to show the work in its entirety - not edit out unsuccessfully pieces - as a way of being honest to the audience about the process.

I was super happy with how much work I was producing until October 2018 -  I was struck down with an emergency bowel blockage and spend 7 days in hospital after surgery (terrifying and horrid)  - I managed to get back in the studio after a few weeks at home and was prepared to just finish off a few pieces and add to collection - then more drama I was struck down again with another bowel blockage and back in hospital with more emergency surgery -  this time a 10 day stay!!! (Just awful) 

I was unable to attend the exhibition and my good friend and husband had to hang the show for me - apparently it was all well received but I didn’t get to see any of it! Boo hoo - I feel totally disconnected from the work now and haven’t been able to look at it since - Im hoping to return to the idea and try again producing a body of work and paintings but for now time will heal slowly. 

(Im totally better health wise - just have some amazing scars and a fear of food but heyho - Im fine!) 

The artists involved were

Rachel Ann Powers

James Fox

James Atwood