The Noisiest Stairs In The World

One of the best ways to get over a bout of cabin fever is to visit Stoke. We love going to Stoke. Our trip on Tuesday included a visit to two potteries and three trips to the Gladstone Museum.

After numerous cups of tea, we set off in good time for our eleven o'clock appointment. Although it was drizzly and grey our spirits were high.

We arrived in Stoke about 10.30 desperate for the loo. We agreed that the Gladstone Museum, which was close to both potteries and with ample parking, would also provide the necessary facility for our pressing needs. Cautiously we approached the museum. We entered an unmanned door and turnstile and clicked our way in. We read the museum tour blurb (quickly) and discovered that the tour required two and a half hours of our time. The entrance hall was devoid of staff, anyone for that matter. We discovered that the toilets and cafe were upstairs. Brilliant, we could use the facilities and have a quick coffee without doing the tour. As we ascended the stairs, the musty museum hush was suddenly shattered by the most extraordinarily loud creaking, it was like an alarm going off. It was impossible to navigate quietly, we had given away our position. The toilets were very clean and noticeably quiet. Our foil of buying something at the cafe to substantiate the use of the toilets was uncovered by the fact that it wasn't open until eleven.

The only way out of course was back down the Noisiest stairs in the World. CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK and then through the shop where we sheepishly brought a couple of marbles  informing the knowing staff that we would possibly be back for the tour later.

Between appointments we had enough time to pop back to the museum, through the turnstile, click click click. Up the Noisiest stairs in the World. CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK. Into the nice clean quiet loo's, flush flush. (It's difficult at this point not to turn everything into a techno audio soundscape) Into the cafe; where we grabbed a couple of sweet snack things to go. Back down the Noisiest stairs in the World. CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK. Through the shop, hi, yes it's us again and out the exit.

After our second appointment we once again returned to the Gladstone Museum. Through the turnstile, click click click. Up the Noisiest stairs in the World. CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK. Into the cafe for a quick pot of tea and a scone. Yum yum yum. Into the loo, flush flush.

 Instead of the usual written descent, here is an actual video account of the

                                              NOISIEST STAIRS IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!

A Stitch in Time

A few years ago, our 97 year old neighbour asked Linda if she would be interested in a Singer treadle style sewing machine which had belonged to her mother. The machine was in good working order other than requiring a new belt. We found a home upstairs for the "27 Model" and with the help of the internet found a belt. This beautiful machine is applying the Sunny Side Art label to our Shropshire aprons. No need for me to compose music for the video. Let the Singer sing!!

 

 

Beautiful Light Box

The lightbox that features in the time-lapse video is over a quarter of a century old and still being used by Linda on a regular basis. Originally it was  homemade and donated to an art class in a school in Yorkshire where Linda's brother was teaching English. The equipment in the art room was eventually updated and the lightbox was about to be thrown out. Luckily Linda's brother was on hand save it from the scrap heap and it's been with Linda ever since.

There's something to be said of the mark of the hand. It adds a depth, warmth and soul to a project, an organic connection between the artist and the medium.


                        



In the twenty five years of this light box's existence, nothing has changed, no software updates!! All you need is a little electricity and an idea and off you go.

Christmas Studio Sale

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We will be open Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th, 11am - 5pm

Ruth Gibson will be open  Saturday 12th, 1pm - 5pm and Sunday 13th, 11am - 4pm

Parker and Arrol will be open Saturday 12th, 10.30am - 4.30pm

We hope you will come and say hello. Old friends and new are all welcome. Please feel free to tell your friends or bring them along.

Next weekend- 12th-13th - we will be exhibiting at
Shrewsbury Christmas in the Quarry as well. It promises to be a fun event. 
(Hmmm we might have to rope in some help...)

Exhibition at Wem Town Hall

On the 19th of November 1995 the interior of the Wem Town Hall was completely destroyed by fire. The structure was rebuilt through lottery funding and now serves as a community arts centre. Twenty years  almost to the day, Linda and I have a Sunny Side Art exhibition in the Town Hall Gallery.

Emma Powell, assistant entertainment and marketing manager for the Town Hall saw the potential of exhibiting Sunny Side Arts prints, ceramic and textiles in the ground floor gallery and contacted us.

A couple of weeks prior to the exhibition, we explored Wem and found many interesting buildings along and nestled behind High Street. We discovered that the unusual name Wem comes from the Saxon word Wamm, meaning a marshy place. Linda began to sketch her way around the town and on returning to Shrewsbury, promptly designed a Sunny Side of the Street illustration of Wem which features in the exhibition.

One of the most fascinating and enjoyable requirements for the illustrations is researching the places Linda features in her designs. The buildings and people all have stories to tell and it's tapping into these that inspires us.

Recently we started setting up for the exhibition. Linda began a window painting of a Wem street scene on the gallery's High Street facing window while I hung the framed prints. The gallery has a fair amount of natural light and plenty of space. Here's a few words from Linda about the window painting:

"Painting on the window is tricky because everything has to be reversed! I used a template for the writing but the buildings were drawn freehand. Just take a deep breath and go for it!"

  

On opening night, Emma (a true Wem Gem) on behalf of the trustees of the Town Hall provided refreshments. Our first sale was a framed print - the Wem drawing.....nice.

  

The exhibition will continue until 21st December. come along and discover Wem's secrets for yourself.

Linda with Shrewsbury Market Hall Limited Edition Print

Limited edition print in blues detailed with hand applied gold leaf, to commemorate the halls golden anniversary. An edition of 50 prints to coincide with the market halls 50th birthday and the clock tower's 50,000 bricks! And an open edition print in yellows. On sale at The Van Gallery.

Linda makes the news!!

Happy Birthday Shrewsbury Market Hall

If you go down to the Shrewsbury Market Hall, you will find a celebration going on. This year, the iconic sixties building is half a century old. Open for trading in 1965, the hall replaced the crumbling Victorian market hall.

Today, fifty years on, there's a real vibrancy and buzz happening. The celebration coupled with an exhibition about the market hall, is also about how lucky we are to have this amazing, personal shopping experience in the town center.

Linda was so inspired by the market hall and clock tower, that she did an illustration of the building. The Van Gallery(situated on the balcony) asked if they could display the illustration on the stairway approach to the market as part of the celebration. The Van Gallery also have some limited edition prints of Linda's market hall design, detailed with hand finished gold leaf....very nice. Also checkout the stall holders portraits. It's these characters that make it all happen inside the heart of the market.
Part of the celebration included roof top tours. Linda and I were lucky enough to get on one of these. Always interesting to see where you live from above. Lot's of architecture through the ages all nestled in quite nicely in this lovely town.

The clock tower (composed of fifty thousand bricks and built by two brothers) stands impressively. In the original plans, a roof top cafe was drawn and built, as yet empty. What a wasted opportunity! You could call it "Birds Nest Cafe" Just an idea.

 While we're on the roof top, the very top of the lot is the 37ft aluminium finial. As part of their contribution to the anniversary, Keith Ashford and Liz Turner of Sculpture Logic, have built a life size replica of the finial. They were able to use the original plans and also watched footage from Pathé Newsreel of it being built. Amazing!

Theres a lot going on in and around Shrewsbury Market Hall. Here's to the next 50 and welcome to all the new university students some of whom will have digs in Mardol House at the north end of the market hall. Cheer's!!