THE SCULPTOR'S WIFE

‘From Donald Winnicott to the naughty step’

'Mother and child' ready for polishing — ‘Mother and child’ ready for polishing

'Mother an Child' in the studio — ‘Mother an Child’ in the studio

‘From Donald Winnicott to the naughty step’ was broadcasting as I drove home last night from meeting up with a group of friends I hadn’t seen in a while. The night sky was still light so it was a lovely spring evening drive back and I found this fascinating and felt in total agreement with what was being discussed. “Seventy years ago the psychoanalyst and parenting expert Donald Winnicott first broadcast his idea of the ‘good-enough mother’; the mother who wasn’t perfect and was free, to some extent, to fail. From 1943-1962 he gave some 50 BBC broadcasts. Aimed directly at mothers, they had a profound impact on popular ideas about motherhood.”

In tandem I was thinking about writing about the progress that was being made for the pieces for the solo exhibition as part of the FIRST@108 award. Up until now I have mostly written about finished works and only occasionally the process but actually now there is a need to document the process running up to the exhibition in October. The first piece for the solo exhibition is a reoccurring theme both in colour and subject, as are the discussions like the one I was hearing on the radio about;

Mother and Child

Winnicott’s ideas seemed to fit perfectly with this piece, “the idea of the body as important and needing to be taking seriously in bodily complaint but also the part the mind has to play in organising those or influencing them or producing them.” In the sculpture we see the mother in pink but if we look closer there is a subtle difference between the ‘body’ and the ‘mind’. The mother is facing the child, the indicators of eyes from the tiny holes suggest visual contact. So important in seeing the child from a psychological point of view as well as a bodily and physiological one.

It is one of the reasons I find it so easy to write about the sculptures my husband makes, in that they visual pictorial observations of human society, the human condition. Winntcott observed and was alert to the tiny signals, observation and listening to mothers and he documented this. It was almost mesmerizing listening to his strange dictation played back and it connects so well with this sculpture.

He spoke of the child being separated from the mother, “you are always an isolate, by the time he is born he has had experience both pleasant and unpleasant” which is visualised in this sculpture. The baby separated visually, literally from the mother yet fitting like a puzzle into one shape.. I can see this but I also think in the first three years there is a slow physical and mental detachment from the mother in to the ‘world’. The child in this piece also looks like a step, the naughty step we so often here spoken of today. Winnicott tells mothers to trust their instincts and I think in general I do. In some ways it is the only thing I am fully impassioned and feel confident about. It irritates me when that is thrown off-balance. That can so easily happen in today’s society where we have all kinds of information and view points being bombarded at us. The questions are the same now as to the time he was speaking, and we seem to be in a constant battle between those very strict methods and ideology a pose to more gentle approaches which I would class his as.

There are lots of mothers out there writing about motherhood and here are three I picked out of a bunch;

http://haywardhelen.wordpress.com/

http://studiomothers.com/

http://rhythmofthehome.com/

I do think we live in a society which down plays the importance of the role of the mother. We seem to focus on the wrong aspects. I would highly recommend listening to the programme and see what you think. Either way, it is one of those subjects which is going to be endlessly discussed and analysed. Some people write about it, some people analyse it and some people depict it. This one is to be polish and put aside ready for exhibition in October.

Vitruvius

I am getting a cheeky last April post in, just because I am playing a game with myself about the number of entries I write in each month and also now looking back a couple of years. A couple of years! it’s only taken me that long to start to realise that another of the games of this blogging world is to read others blogs and respond. Kind of like the real world really. Give and Take and all that. I am though being a bit lazy with pictures today and so am purely advertising this which actually is this week in my realisation that it is May tomorrow. As I write me husband is yet again in London moving sculptures from last weeks exhibition to this one…

“Nancy Victor is pleased to present Vitruvius, a group show by Natasha Caleia Ramos, Sam Shendi and James Winter. This exhibition encourages a new look at the cityscape and utopian visions with artwork full of vibrant energy and intensity. In this show the city manifests itself in many guises. With media ranging from a site specific light installation to steel thematic figurative forms, it offers a direct and honest approach by merging fresh ideas with older processes. The use of fabricated materials has a startlingly individual outcome for each artist. Steel, acrylic and aluminium play a vital role in the creation of each piece, exploring the formality between construction and finished article, design and commodity, idealism and realism.”

I would like to write more about Vitruvius as I had no idea what it meant when I first saw the title. Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (born c. 80–70 BC, died after c. 15 BC) was a Roman author, architect, and engineer during the1st century BC perhaps best known for his multi-volume work entitled De Architectura. There is possibly lots i could write about architecture in relation to my husbands work but I have 8 seconds left on my battery power….writing to the clock.

Self Actualisation

I was listening to the radio whilst driving the other day and caught a snippet of discussion about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which was a visual map about what motivates people. It was said that if undergraduates of psychology recall anything they remember the pyramid diagram of the stage model of five motivational needs. I smiled because, indeed as my psychology degree lies somewhere hidden underneath the blankets of motherhood and I could visualise the pyramid and it’s five stages , well I could remember the first being food and shelter and the last being self actualisation, what ever that meant.

The radio programme went on to discuss that Maslow, only listed 18 people who had reached self actualisation, including Einstein and himself I think. When looking at the characteristics of self-actualizers to write this, I think my husband ticks most of the list. He is so unbelievably motivated. On the programme they discussed that Maslow’s conception was someone who had a “heightened sense of awareness and reality” or “completely absorbed in an activity and don’t know time passing”. I would say this is totally my husband and could give countless examples. The thinking is all about “Possibilities not restraints” and the possibilities of change and of the human being.

There are so many flaws with Maslow’s theory especially if looking at artists. Van Gogh lived most his life in poverty and probably didn’t have the middle stages but arguments have said he was self actualised. However, I would perhaps argue Van Gogh wasn’t, he was exploring his creativity and pursuing inner talent but without the support of the base of the pyramidal needs he wasn’t able to reach self actualisation. My instinct is to think that in order to reach self actualisation you must have worked through the pyramidal needs. To have actually experienced what it is like to not have had. If we are from a privileged background where the basic needs of food and shelter are not tested and we become complacent that they are a given, then reaching our potential is hindered. The drive the ambition is not likely to be as great.

I am so unmotivated, far from being self actualised, however I do think in my role as ‘Sculptors wife’ could be classified totally as ‘helping others to achieve self s’. Which could put me at the peak of the pyramid in ‘Transcendence needs’ in the revised version and eight stage model. Not that it’s a competition or anything! Unfortunately that puts my whole theory on its head. I rather like the idea of being transcendent though I could get motivated about that 🙂

I have just trawled through my entries to see if I have put images of this piece up before. I was convinced I had but it wasn’t where I thought it was and looking very different in my past entry. It had a face lift after the fire, it is still bronze but somehow giving it this cover links with the ‘branding’ of my husband’s work. It sort of symbolises motivation. You do have to take that leap of faith and take the step forward in reaching your aims. I think Maslow would be happy with this;

Dandelions, Daisies and Daffodils

It struck me whilst walking in the park that it wasn’t long since a thick blanket of snow lay across the land, out of the depths of winter new life burst through. How quickly things can change. Like our mood, like the highs and lows of daily life. The rhythm of nature mirroring our own inner worlds. The flowers are finally starting to appear and little burst of sun shine pierces through the april showers. We have to ride the storms of life with patience and wait and hope for those joyful moments that makes us appreciate all we have. Happy Friday, enjoy this blessed day.

Handle with care

These are all pieces I have written about before, but newly photographed they look even more professional. They are currently in exhibition with ‘The Girl next door’ and ‘The Keyhole Man’ at The Collective show at London West Bank Gallery. The opening is tonight and the exhibition runs from 23rd -30 April at 133-137 Westbourne Grove. My husband phoned me this afternoon, to let me know he got there and that how the set up was going. He was all over the place today going on from the set up, to have a meeting at the Royal British Sculpture Society and then back to the West Bank for the opening and then back home later tonight. Another busy day. Apparently there was another artist putting up his work and getting cross that the sculptures were dominating the space. In the next scene my husband described he found this artists tools including a hammer laid on ‘The keyhole man’. I am not quite sure what happened next – I can only imagine! This happened before when another artist put their coat on ‘Mother and Child’. I don’t know why people have done that. I know from working in galleries that art work is handled with the utmost care, gloves, packaging. I understand more now, as to why this is the case. These sculptures are all steel and painted to a high gloss finish. If things are dragged or placed upon them a scratch can mark it. The money, time and energy invested into each piece also means any repairs mean set backs. I think it is rather disrespectful from fellow artists. Perhaps there is some issue between painters and sculptors. We need to make signs saying ‘Handle with care’, not sure if it they should hand on the work or the artist though ! 🙂

When dreams become reality, setting up the studio.

It has been a while since I have written, and not for want of writing. Daily life has been busy and other things have taken over my need for writing in the evenings. There could be a thousand words to write against these images but I think they speak for themselves and for now they tell the story of the progress over the last few weeks.

building — ‘Building workbench 2, all in a days work’

studio progress — ‘Last touches of paint’

sculptures in studio — ‘Sculptures ready’

studio stage 1 — ‘Giving the sculptures their space’

finish 1 — ‘How did Van Gough get in their?’

wall built — ‘addition of an internal wall for spray room’

wall built side — ‘Husband very proud of his handy work’

“Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you.”
Marsha Norman

‘The Wedding Dress’

Today is our wedding anniversary, I am now a number of years in to life as ’The Sculptor’s wife’. Last year I wrote about our day. It’s most often in the holidays and like last year I have been busy with the boys and have had less time for blogging. I have had several things I wanted to write about but for today. ‘The Wedding dress’ seemed rather appropriate. The amount people spend on them to me always seem so astronomical. I am not sure I see the point in spending thousands on a dress you only wear once.

“The average UK wedding in 2012 cost in excess of £20,000, 2013 brides are becoming more astute with their wedding spending with the average wedding expected to cost around £16,000, this is likely to be due to the economic climate.” Top designer dress for £4,000 or more! This still sounds so huge when you could buy a good quality second-hand dress for just £100 or less.

The white wedding dress has not always been the traditional choice of colour. In the 16th and 17th centuries brides wore different shades of yellow, green, brown, blue, even black, according to their age, those colours would symbolise fertility or maturity. Brides from a wealthier background would wear something more splendid, a bride in a white dress would be showing her poorer background and lack of money!

Looking back over the years at the history of the wedding dress, we now seem to have returned to the original starting point of the pre-Victorian era when brides could let their imagination run free to choose the colour of their dress, incorporating other colours either as part of the dress or completely for a more dramatic effect. In eastern cultures, brides often choose red to symbolize auspiciousness.

This piece shown above is currently in a photo shoot so this is just a quick snap my husband took in the new studio (will blog about that soon). It not only reduces the human figure into geometric shapes it highlights an issue about the price tag we put on getting married. The simple act of joining together two opposites. The geometric, decisive sharp, angular, strong and bold, out on top with the much-needed support from the smooth, curvy, flexible, calm, moody, full but dependable base. Very symbolic of our union. Here’s to more years as ‘The sculptor’s wife’. Better log off….we are celebrating !

Chocolate Eggs

I have an almost insatiable appetite for chocolate at the moment…(always!). I am not sure if there is any proof that chocolate warms you up. There is just something soothing about it when you are cold. We have been in, what feels like arctic conditions and last week-end we were literally snowed in. The boys and myself that is. My husband had gone to Switzerland to meet a gallery owner and spend time with a friend. Switzerland conjures up images of snow, however it was warm. He didn’t bring back the sun but bars of gorgeous swiss chocolate. A lovely friend also gave me some chocolate, probably for the whole family but I am quickly working my way through it and in the shops it is the season for chocolate eggs. although the weather is not helping the ‘spring’ feel. My son had an ‘inventive’ egg decorating competition in school this week, it was a big thing for him especially as he was very aware of his Father winning a competition. So we had to have the ‘winning isn’t everything’ chat and that it is the taking part that counts. He constrained himself to the ‘egg idea’, drew a fantastic hen and made a magical nest which had six decorated eggs in. I failed in taking a picture of it as it was a mission to get to school in the blizzard. His teacher humorously asked him, ‘Which came first? the chicken or the egg’? He very promptly replied ‘The Egg’.

This Egg is the wooden under layer for the coloured painted eggs like the one I blogged about in ???? entry . Some people can remain the same old egg. Some people change. The grains in the wood make it look like an onion. Some say that this personal transformation work is like peeling layers of an onion. Interestingly, there are 7 layers of an egg which parallels the 7 stages of transmission in my husbands First@108 public art work which is in the early stages of being made large-scale for the Royal British Sculptor Society. Rather than the idea of birth or rebirth it makes this egg more about the layers within us. We can shed the layers of our past, the insecurities and doubts of youth and as we grow in age and wisdom but physically diminish. The smoothness of our outer shell reformed into a new shape. I personally don’t believe in the idea that we can be reborn but more that we are ever-changing, adapting, growing. We can change.

‘Behind every great artist…

This weekend there was an article in The Guardian about those who work ‘behind’ or ‘for’ well known Artists. “The death of one of David Hockney’s staff this week has thrown light on the assistants who work for famous artists”. I know a few people have probed the question about the fact that my husband now has a fabricator and a painter to do the large metal works. I guess there is also me, what shall we call me, the PA. There is also his driver who drives the van and assists him in transporting the sculptures, and the man who works at our shop when my husband is away. We are already a team. There is already a ‘we’ behind the sculptor, the artist.

I can’t speak for anyone else but for me this is not a problem. There would be no creation if it were not for ‘the artist’. Anthony Gormley’s assistant may ‘regret letting go of his own practice’ but I think he is right when he says ‘maybe I am doing it because I am not brave enough to strike out on my own’. There are few people have the vision, the confidence and ultimately the talent to see a project through from start to finish. They personally may not the best welder, painter, engineer, or craftsman but in today’s world where large-scale creations need to be made with specificity, health and safety considerations then a team of people is needed to put together the final result. Without the artist it would never take off. Artists having been using assistants for years, centuries. I don’t understand why there is ‘a moral outrage- the idea that we’re being duped’ it is as Jeffries writes in his article, ‘ridiculous’.

I have purposefully , of course, put this picture in here. It is made from clay, you can see the technique of strips of clay. All done by my husband’s talented hand. It is to emphasis my point about talent. It isn’t just about talent though it is about ‘ideas’. My husband has often been asked; ‘where do you get your ideas?’, ‘what is you inspiration?’. His head is just full of ideas and the more materials and possibilities that open the wider the imagination becomes. From what I see ‘life’ is his inspiration, anything, everything. I may slip in an idea, an alternative direction every now and again but that is not something that needs crediting. The assistants working for these ‘famous’ artists may sometimes feel that they are ‘airbrushed from public consciousness’ but I don’t think it is due to the fact that ‘the lone genius myth’ helps sales and gives the artwork mystique. Assistants are simply assisting the process, a tool. Like Chapman (Chapman brothers) state, “It’s a job”. So what is it like realising someone else’s vision?

Well, yes perhaps there is the internal battle of knowing you are working on ‘someone’ else’s ideas. The inner dialogue of creativity for self or under direction. At the end of the day though, some of us are creators and some of us are ‘the assistants’ but hey, I think its fantastic, it is a privilege, a blessing. As I have written before, ‘On being the Sculptor’s wife’ even if it is ‘Behind every great artist’, you will find…………….

Studio Serendipity

Some times things do just happen all at once or as though things are happening as they are meant to. Serendipity, just sprung to mind. What a word ! it means a “happy accident” or “pleasant surprise”. This is exactly what happened the other week when I was walking, with a friend in a place I usually run and we spotted a sign saying unit to let. After a few conversations and phone calls by the end of this month this will be ‘The Studio’.

Oh yes it snowed here again this week. Spring is surely nearly here? The sun has been out but it is still bitterly cold but so good to be out and about.
It’s very exciting on so many levels. It’s finally a space for the sculptures we have, a place to do the spray painting, a place that experiments can happen. Simply put ‘Space’. I also suddenly had visions of the sunnier days and the boys being able to play around here and a new place to spend time making and creating. Great timing too following last weeks news. We still have to sort out what happens next so that things can go into process for the ‘Evolution’ sculpture . For now we can focus on getting the studio ready. The studio we weren’t specifically searching for, great ‘serendipity’.

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