I’ve put other links about CoBrA but this is an excellent introduction to the movement written on the 75th anniversary of it’s founding, last year.
As the seeming stampede to world war by the western states and their proxies continues the political stance of the CoBrA artists is more important than ever.
A visit to the CoBrA Museum in Amsterdam is not to be missed if you find yourself in that fair city.
The spirit of the movement is anti-formalist.
A short walk from my home In Bristol Studio hosts a wide range of artists and makers – what a city! – “…an artist-led studio and home to over 50 artists and makers who work across multiple disciplines.” There are classes here and occasionally expos, the BS5 Arts Trail event on September 7th and 8th 2024 will be an open studio event.
I finally got round to putting the Hare – made last year – into the garden, the heavy rain of the last two months has eased and the ground is a little less muddy. Now awaiting some flowers. Not much chance of frost now, there has been very little this winter in southern or western England, but some of the most popular of annual climbers such as Black-Eyed Susan, sweet peas and nasturtiums like it to be a little warmer before being poked into the cold earth.
I finished off the hare with several coats of diluted pva, about three water to one glue, allowing it to dry between coats. I’m hoping this will extend the life for a few years, nothing will stop the elements for ever of course. I can’t quite remember all the various fibres, most of them came from Musgrove Willows in Somerset, others from garden centres and craft places, collected over years, includes wool, string, rope, willow and many more. Musgrove have an interesting website gallery
Summer 2022 I stayed on a willow farm in Somerset and bought withies and other fibres with a view to doing some sculpture. My previous experience with this material is that the whole project can quickly grow beyond first ideas and this happened again. I expected a smaller and much simpler mask but when the basic structure was made it seemed to demand more intricacy and detail.
I worked on it off – one of several projects – and on through last Autumn and into Spring this year and this is the result. The hare is supposed to be outside in my little garden but I haven’t got round to that, it needs a little shelter from the elements. Part of my reason for making this was to amuse my grandchildren and encourage them in artistic endeavours.
Another wire frame and tissue owl. Waterproofed with outdoor varnish.
A simple frame of florist’s wire – galvanised is best – covered with wet strength tissue, using pva, could use starch paste but then not at all waterproof. This owl is hanging in my cherry tree and hopefully deterring cats from my little garden.
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